Radtastic 80's Prom Fundraiser

Wednesday, May 8, 2013



Hey friends, just wanted to give you a heads up that Apex is throwing an 80s Prom to raise money for missions (specifically the Zambia trip I believe.) But I will be there running a radtastic photo booth to raise support for my trip! There may be a neon splatter paint backdrop and some totally gnarly props so please stop by, get a photo (or 5) snapped, and drop some moola in my tip jar! 


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Buy Some Pretty Photography, Help Fund My Trip

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Click the link to on my sidebar to visit my Society6 store. All proceeds will go to fund my trip. I'm super excited to be able to use photography to fundraise, since that's what my trip is focused on! I would greatly appreciate you purchasing something, and maybe even if you'd want to pass my store link along to someone else!



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The long [lone] road...Updates...Fundraising...Coming Soon!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013


My thoughts as of late are filled with a large array of emotions. There's excitement. A sense of urgency. The feeling that this will be both the longest next six months, and the fastest, all at the same time. 

I must confess, there are a lot of doubts worming around in my heart. Its so easy to allow myself to feel discouraged. 

Its both thrilling and extra hard to be embarking on this adventure alone. In the past, I've done short term trips with large groups. My first trip, with my peers in high school. The second, as a leader working with high school students and other adult leaders. There were others to work with. To bounce ideas around with. To pray alongside, people who understood and gathered around, working towards the same goal.

There are so many going out on trips. So many people asking for funding. For assistance. Vying for attention, working the Missions Cafe... though I have tried to serve diligently the past seven years, I often feel as though I am such a small, insignificant blurb... how on earth will this actually come to fruition? 

$10,000.00 is a lot of money. Visas, a Bluecard, paperwork, luggage. Plane tickets. There's so much to do... and so much to trust.

In my gut, I know this is what next. I guess a big part of my current adventure is trusting God. And trusting, you all, my family. I need your support. I need your prayers. Your encouragement. I will need actual physical help with fundraisers. And I obviously need monetary support.  

Pray that I will trust God to see me through...

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F U N D R A I S I N G// G E T   I N V O L V E D

I am in the process of scheduling a table at Apex to get the word out about my trip! I'm looking at the last three weeks in May- so be sure to stop by, say hi, and pick up some information!
 
O P E N I N G   S O O N: 
I will be opening a Society6 shop! Selling art prints, framed art, iphone cases- all with my photography. Link to come!!

S C H E D U L E SPRING P H O T O S!
Do you need some new family photos? Personal photos for your blog or website? Or just some awesome photos of yourself?
I am now booking Spring Mini Photo Session. All proceeds will go towards my YWAM trip. E-mail em(at)gmail(dot)com for details. 

Coming in May: Shop My Closet Event
(this is not a clothing swap. These will all be items from my personal closet, as well as items donated to me, from other fashion-forward friends. All proceeds will go towards my YWAM trip)
I will be hosting a backyard, shop my closet event. I have been in the process of simplifying and clearing out my wardrobe for about six months now. I will have an assortment of sizes, jewelry, bags, shoes and more. I get so many remarks and inquiries about my wardrobe, and this will be your chance to shop my personal closet! Tickets will be on sale soon, e-mail me if you're interested in being part of the pre-sale! (early shopping, first choices!) e-mail: em(at)gmail(dot)com

Clothes, accessories, music, refreshment and a raffle! Stay tuned for dates!! 

Keep checking back for updates and follow me on Twitter (@emogden)

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And...we're off

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Lord willing, come October 16 of 2013, I will be in Brisbane, Australia.

Should I back up a bit?

Last year, as my sister and best friend was packing up to move to the Middle East to teach for two years- and I took a hard look at my life. Honestly, I'd been scrutinizing life for quite some time now. At 27, I didn't have most of the things I assumed I would at my current point in life... and felt a bit like a clueless 17 year old. Constantly asking God...

"What am I supposed to be doing? Where am I supposed to be?"

Wondering a bit enviously why everyone around me seemed to be progressing with life and accomplishing goals... while I just sort of sat on the sidelines, barred from entering "real life".

Thankfully (albeit, somewhat painfully) I took a good look at things...

-I was not particularly fond of my job. (a slight understatement- I've been job searching and applying for several years)

-I did not own a house, or even have a lease to my own apartment

-Many of my close relationships were drastically changing due to moving, having babies, getting married, or even just friendships ending


 What did I have?

I had a car I was almost done paying off, and I had family. 


 Two great things, but not a whole lot holding me back from doing, honestly, whatever I wanted.

And what did I want?

What are the things that call out to me? God. Photography. People. Traveling. 
 

Since high school when I took my first overseas, short-term missions based trip, to my second one in college, I've always felt a tug for overseas missions work. But as I matured, I realized that I wanted more of a purpose in it. I didn't just want to "go on a trip and do good things for Jesus!"Please, don't get me wrong, short term trips are wonderful- but at this point in life? I wanted to mesh both my love for God AND the things that I loved doing.


One especially dreary Tuesday at work I did a random internet search for overseas missions paired with photography. The only organization that came to mind was YWAM (Youth With a Mission) because several good friends (including an old, family friend whom my parents are close to) had worked with them. Through my search, I discovered that they offer subject based studies/trips. I then narrowed it down a bit by searching for a photography/arts program with dates far enough in advance so that I could have time to raise funds, finish paying off my car, PLUS see my sister when she visited the US in the summer. (I wasn't asking for much, right?)


Amazingly, one school, located in Brisbane Australia, had the perfect dates. October 2013-May 2014.

And it was just like a still, quiet peace. I thought, this is it. This is what's next. Because life is always a series of those above questions. I never, ever want to find myself in a situation where I'm sedentary and completely content to not change, to not questions, to not try.

Over the next few weeks, I talked it over with my family and a few trusted friends... everyone rallied alongside me.

I just recently got all my paperwork together, passport renewed and sent off my application.

And I received my letter of acceptance to the October 2013-May 2014 Video&Photography DTS at YWAM Brisbane Monday night.

I'm going to Australia!

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To Australia... and Beyond...

If you are reading this, than you potentially know that back in the fall I started the process of applying to the Photography Discipleship Training program offered by YWAM (Youth with a Mission) in Brisbane Australia.


Well, for those of you who may have not heard, I was accepted as of last week! I am so excited for this next year and the journey I'm about to embark upon. I know God has huge plans in store and that this is truly what I am supposed to be doing.

The program starts October of this year and runs through May of 2014. Though this will be my third time out of the States, it will be the first time I am away from family and community for an extended period. Excited as I am, I am also a bit overwhelmed and would cherish your prayers as I prepare for this next stage in life.

As most of you know, there are lot of funds that I must to raise to be able to attend YWAM- and I would greatly appreciate any and all donations to my trip. I will be planning and carrying out fundraisers throughout the next few months, but I will definitely need the support of my friends and family as well. I would be so incredibly grateful if you would pray and consider supporting me. I will need to raise a bulk amount of funds for plane tickets, tuition and the outreach, but I also am in need of some faithful friends to support me on a monthly basis while I am away so I have the ability to purchase necessities while I travel.

In the next week I will need to put a deposit down to assure my place in the program- if by chance you have a desire to donate to that, please let me know. 

I will be sending out more updates, as well as keeping this blog dedicated with updates about my trip. Thank you all for the blessing you have all been in my life up til now- I know many of you have been praying with me for an opportunity like this- so its really awesome to see God answering our prayers.
Let me know if you have any questions, or if you'd like to hang out sometime and chat about everything- I'm so excited!

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