This year Willow’s goal was to provide  500,000 seed packs for families in Zimbabwe. During the Celebration of Hope series volunteers held various seed packing events on the 5 campuses for three weeks. The packs consisted of vegetable seeds for carrots, squash, tomatoes, onions, and cabbage. Volunteers responded by packing 514,500 family packs, well beyond their goal. How great that Zimbabweans are now going to be able plant gardens and start growing their own food. Below are photos from one of the events.

Celebration of Hope is a three-week series that Willow’s Compassion and Justice Ministry put together. They support a village in Zimbabwe, and do this series every year to raise awareness, and provide support for them.  It is a time for Willow attenders to identify with them, and learn about ways they can get involved. They challenged the congregation to eat the diet of a Zimbabwean for 5 days (water, beans and rice, oatmeal, and tiny bits of chicken, tomatoes, squash, carrots, and broccoli). I attempted the diet, and it made me realize how fortunate we are to not have to eat the same thing every meal. It got to the point where I just wasn’t hungry because I didn’t want to eat the same meal again! I photographed the event and the exhibits they had on display in the lobby. Below are some shots from the opening weekend.

The Step Up Leadership Book is a 5 day series that all potential Community Life leaders at Willow go through before making the commitment to lead a group. They wanted the layout to resemble the All In Devotional Book that I had designed previously for them. I changed out the content, colors, textures, and designed a new cover for the book.

We had a great time in Puerto Peñasco this past weekend. It was one of the best trips yet! I was so excited that Matt was able to make it down from Chicago, and brought a couple of buddies to serve with us. I started the day off at the kids program at Julio Mesa’s, and then painted a house for a family that was built by Amor Ministries. While painting, I ended up giving a photography lesson to Betza (the family’s 5-year old daughter). She is so precious, and I loved seeing her interest in photography. Then it was on to food distribution, and finished up with a fiesta at Nueva Creacion. On Sunday we got to walk around the main tourist strip, and enjoyed some great tacos. All in all it was a great trip! Slideshow is coming soon.

This is Betza. She has such beautiful eyes!

This picture was taken by Betza, of her friends (3 brothers that live in the house next door).

Matt and I at the ocean on Sunday.

My friend Natalia with two of her amigas.

love love love Miss Amilia

The December Rocky Point trip was a blast. LGLP, along with a few other organizations working in Mexico, put together a Christmas outreach event in what is known as The Invasion Area (where we normally do our food distribution).

Around 3,000 people came out for the event. It was so cool to see familiar faces in the crowd from Nueva Creacion and the kids program at Julio Mesa’s. LGLP ran the game booths, cotton candy and popcorn machines, and a Santa booth. Hundreds of kids were able to take their first picture with Santa.

For a slideshow of all the pictures from the trip click here

I had a great time in Puerto Peñasco last weekend. I would have to say this was one of the best trips yet. It was a blast hanging out and capturing photos of so many children and their families.

Thanks to Carrie Perry, who planned such a special retreat day for the women at Nueva Creación. Usually time at the fiesta is spent playing with their kids, so it was great to spend some time pampering them (manicures) and talking with them. What incredible women. Their strength and courage amazes me.

We ended the day with a Thanksgiving Fiesta, finished off with some pumpkin pie!

For complete slideshow click here

adorable solei

he has such a little model face…precious

this was her first picture ever taken with her child, and she is almost 2… the small things I take for granted

such a fun family!

beautiful amilia

dulce…

the amazing women who attended the retreat..

I just got back from another trip to Mexico with LGLP. It is amazing that I get to spend time with these kids each month. I am so blessed! They are all such precious children.

silly Nico…