T-minus 15 Days - Video Update

Video Update #6 from Drew Hayes on Vimeo.

The Latest update on the Africa Video Mission Project.

CAD Video Vimeo Channel -vimeo.com/cadvideo/videos

Journey Corps Website - myjourneycorps.com/

Bloopers - vimeo.com/48550624

A Prayer Supporters Journey - Guest Post

The journey to start this project has had it's ups and downs. One of the things that has helped keep me moving when things get discouraging is the team of people that regularly pray for me. Sarah Chambers has been one of the most faithful in supporting and encouraging me along this journey.  She has walked along with me and shared in many of the joys and disappointments.  Here are some of her thoughts on this journey: 

You've heard it said, "A picture is worth a thousand words." When you watch a movie and then you read the book that inspired that movie, you know it's true. Drew has understood this for many years and had the vision to partner with missionaries to share their stories. To help them create what they don't know how to, pictures to give them more words than they could give in a presentation. Drew's vision has grown and changed over the years (whose doesn't?), but being one of my oldest friends it's been a joy to be on this journey with him. 

I remember when Drew told me about this opportunity with World Venture. His face lit up and I could tell, not only was he excited, but God inspired this. To partner with Drew on this idea as it's gone from conception to reality has been a joy and what a ride it’s been! Not only has Drew come along side of me and prayed for where God had me serving, but my faith has grown as I’ve seen God provide for Drew. Then to watch the videos he’s created and see their impact. I have the chance to hear stories I would never otherwise hear, and to see what God [the creator of heaven and earth] is doing through His servants in Africa, though Drew, and in my own life.

When Drew told me that he was still at 57%, I was sad. I longed to see Drew released to serve, to do what he was created to do. So I began to pray fervently. I recounted God’s faithfulness that he showered on me only 2 months ago as I went on a short-term trip to Uganda. What seemed impossible was like pocket change to Him. I asked for the same blessing to be showered on Drew. Then, God did what only He can do. He made the impossible, possible. Drew was given the go ahead by World Venture to begin this amazing project!

To watch Drew’s faith grow during this process has encouraged me. To walk with him on this journey and to see his passion be used by God for God’s glory is inspiring… so if you're not a part of Drew's team, change that! Today. Drew's journey doesn't end when he arrives in Africa. Nor will it end when he comes home. His reach will far surpass him as the videos he creates touches lives around the world. Drew has told me many times that he doesn't feel this video project is his, but rather that the project is Gods and he simply has been asked to join into it. When you partner with Drew, you aren't just encouraging him, strengthening him, and being inspired by his work.  You are joining into God's project. We are all who we are because of the people who have invested in and partnered with us. Consider, "How will you partner with Drew and this God project?"

Good News!

I’m going to Ivory Coast to officially begin the project!  As you may know, the team at WorldVenture has made a language and cultural training program, called Journey Corps, available to me. Held in Ivory Coast the program is designed to help the participants to integrate into the language and culture of West Africa.  I will be involved in this program for 3 months starting in mid-September.

That’s right September! In less than 4 weeks I’ll be in Africa! This was a shock to me given where the financial support for the project is at.  Currently, I have 100% of the one time expenses and about 57% of the monthly costs covered.  After talking with Glenn Kendall, the Africa Director for World Venture, he and I both agreed that it was time to start the project.  With the current level of support I have enough to participate in the Journey Corps program and have all of my living expenses covered.  What is missing is the funds necessary to do the travel and work of producing videos. My hope is that over the months while I am training in Ivory Coast that those funds will arrive.

By the Numbers

Thanks to the wonders of technology, I have been able to track data regarding the videos that I have produced and posted on Vimeo.  To date these videos have been viewed 2000 plus times in over 60 countries!  Open My Eyes - part 1 , the video I produced to share my trip to Kankan, Guinea has been viewed 488 times in 44 countries!  It is so exciting to see that these videos are being watched around the world! Thank you for watching and sharing.
 

A Growing Hope from Drew Hayes on Vimeo.

In the midst of my busy summer traveling and working, I was able to finish a video highlighting the work of Nathan and Becky Kendall, and Brenda Allen in Kankan, Guinea.  After watching it, please share it. Lets see if we can get over 1,000 views for this video in 100 countries!

The Value of Video

I am so excited! The news about Journey Corps and the start of this project coupled with the growing viewership of the videos has driven home the value of this project. This project is all about “Telling stories of Change to create Change.” The goal is to share what God is doing around the world in peoples lives and inspire others to join into what He is doing. This won’t be possible without you. Would you please join this project? I still need approximately $1500 per month or $36,000 total to fully fund the project.  The monthly support breaks down like this. I person giving $200, 5 people giving $100, 10 people giving $50, and 12 people giving $25.  What level can you give at?   

To donate online please follow this link http://worldventure.com/ .  If you have any questions about donating or the project, please contact me
at DocSkribled@gmail.com
or phone at (502)-395-035.
Thank you being part of this project so far and I look forward to what is next.

Your Fellow Servant,
Drew

I'm Coming Home

At the beginning of the summer, I wrote down 3 things I wanted to see come out of time traveling in Europe.  These prayer requests were things too big for me to achieve, but they required consistent effort on my part.  They are as follows:

1. Fully finance the entire Africa Video Project ($35,000)
2. Conversations to change me and change others.
3. Teach me that Christ is my “Home.”

Prayer is … well … confusing at times and at the same inspiring.  I haven’t seen these desires come to fruition the way I had hoped, but still I can’t shake a certainty that they have been answered.

This is best illustrated by the last item on my list. In June, I gave up my apartment in the hope and expectation of being able to start this video project when I returned from Europe. That hasn’t gone according to my plans. I am still living out of two bags and trying to figure out where to go and stay. Part of this I anticipated and hence my prayer at the beginning of the summer.  And yet God hasn’t answered it. Even now that I’m back in the US, I don’t feel any more “at home” than I did sitting in a hotel room in Munich. It would be a lie to say, “I’m not homeless, because Jesus is my home.”

I have often pleaded this summer, “Lord, be my home. I’m tired of not knowing where to return to, of not having anything grounding me, of just floating by with nothing holding me to the ground.”  In reflecting on this summer, I have begun to see that is exactly what He wanted to teach me.  I am homeless.  

Chicago is not my home. Kentucky is not my home.  No place on this planet is my home.  I am a sojourner wandering through these lands and every once in awhile I see a glimpse of my home.  In the smiles of friends, the hugs of family, the laughter of strangers, the singing of the church, the encouragement of scriptures, and the beauty of a sunrise over cloud skirted mountains.  

But these are not my home and so I must carry on, confident that one day I will cross the threshold and drop my bags, kick off my shoes, and breathe in that refreshing aroma of “home.” 

Until that day, I am homeless.

Lovin' Summer

This summer while traveling in Europe for some payed video work, I got the opportunity to work with the Livies and Owens in Chevry Cosigney, France.  Take a look at what they are doing there.

Cooking in Chevry - English Camp 2012 from Drew Hayes on Vimeo.

My summer wasn't all work, I also got to have some fun and to see some beautiful and stunning scenery.  It was quite a great trip.  Here's some of what I got to see when I visited Paris, France. 

Le Gare de Paris from Drew Hayes on Vimeo.

So... What do you do exactly?

Telling people what it is that I do can be a bit of a challenge. It's easy to show them the results of my work. All I have to do is press play and they can see it. But explaining what it takes to make those videos and the impact it has on the people I serve that is another thing entirely. So I thought I would give someone else a chance to explain it. Becky Kendal is one of the missionaries that I got to work with in Kankan, Guinea this past April. This is what she had to say about my visit and work.

We so enjoyed having Drew Hayes come out to make a video documentary of life and work in Guinea. His efforts have yielded some great tools for telling others about what life here is like and also about our lives and ministry focus. Drew’s prior cross-culture experience gives him a comfort-level in the culture that most “newbies” and short-termers don’t have.  He wasn’t fazed by setbacks or the rigors of food prep, time schedules, or daily life in rural Africa.

Drew’s lens captured and portrayed the rigors of maintaining solar power, shopping for vegetables and meat in a bustling market, teaching your own children. More than just the activity he captured emotions – the quiet word, a smile, a caring heart or a listening ear. The neighbor kids who bully my children, when seen through Drew’s lens, were again transformed into the children I came hoping to draw to Christ. The dusty, trash-filled streets, a constant drab backdrop to life, were filled with beautiful people I care about and flooded with the hope of a beautiful sunrise.
 
What I am unable to communicate to my supporters and friends, because it is my everyday life, Drew captured on video as a beautiful story.

I’ve forgotten how my life is different here from what my friends in the US experience.  I’ve also forgotten that how I live and interact here is different than those around me - that the fragrance of Christ is on me.  But in Drew’s lens I saw again what I can’t always see, but what is the whole reason I am here – God at work in and through me, reaching out to those around who don’t know Him yet.  

Thank you Drew for your work."

Eye Opening - Part 2

Balancing work, life, friends, and editing has definitely been a challenge.  But I continue to make head way.  This week I was able to finish up two new videos.  Take a look and let me know what you guys think.




The next step for me is continuing and finishing the fundraising for this project.  I still need about 50% of my support in monthly commitments.  That roughly translates to $30,000 dollars.  If you haven't committed to giving already but would like to use the links on the right; or if you prefer you can give a one time donation. Again use the links on the side.  Thank you for being part of this project and I can't wait to share the rest of the videos with you all soon.