As many of you know the biggest thing I photograph is sports, which would make me a sports photographer. However, when it really comes down to it, I am a photojournalist. I love telling stories with photographs, whether I am photographing a sporting event, a wedding, etc. Recently, I had a new opportunity to photograph something I had never photographed before, but something I have been wanting to do for a very long time. I traveled down to Nicaragua where I documented a mission trip.
Months ago I was planning on going to Nicaragua to participate in the mission work, but God had a different plan for me because I was asked to document the trip. I gladly accepted, and I could only hope the pictures would do some good for these people.
Before going down I really did not know what to expect. I had never been on a mission trip before, in fact I had only been out of the country once and that was to Canada which is an hour away. It would also be my first time flying. So, this was a trip with a lot of new things for me.
As we descended for landing in Nicaragua you could begin to see how different and poor it was. After landing we had a little over an hour car ride to the city where we were staying and working. The city was San Marcos. The town seemed so different from anything I had seen before. It seemed poor and rundown compared to what we are used to here in the States. We spent our first day there in the city. We had breakfast at a local restaurant, went to church with the people of the city, got to know each other and our translators, and became familiar with everything there.
The next day was the day that we started our work. We were working in neighborhoods in the outskirts of town. When we got out there, I couldn’t believe it. It made the city of San Marcos look like town back in the States. The houses were made of bricks with sheets of metal for the roof. Many of them had a dirt floor. The streets were filled with trash, and when it would rain the streets would flood due to poor drainage. The people did not have cars, and some would only be able to have one small meal a day, yet they smiled! Yes, they suffer greatly and it showed everywhere you looked, but they were also happy. Amidst the suffering you could find happiness. A true happiness. They showed you how to be happy. You can give all the material things in the world, and not receive any in return, but you will still receive more. They showed you that life is so much more than just things or money. That family and God are so important, that love is what makes you and everyone around truly happy.
This trip was a real eye opener for me. I can’t wait to go back. I didn’t even want to leave. I truly hope that these photos can some how help those people and tell their story. I hope they touch you and I thank God for allowing me to be able to go down there! The people gave me so much more than I could have given them. I am very thankful for that. Lastly, I want to thank all the translators, without them it would have been impossible.