Sunday, December 4, 2011

"Good job, team."

Working on the letter in a conference room.


Sunday, the group got together to work on the letter we will be using for our fundraising campaign. It was only a matter of time until we started to come together, but while editing the letter, I think we all got more of a sense of our roles in the group.

The letter was a bit of a challenge. Asking for money is no easy task, and the wording was especially difficult because we were all so concerned about how we wanted to sound.

The most difficult part of the letter was deciding what we wanted to ask for. Of course, we are all looking for monetary donations, but what about things that aren't material. Thoughts, encouragements and prayer are sometimes more important to people than figuring out how much more money they need to fly overseas. We had to eventually decide who the letter was going to be sent to and made our decision based on that.

Even though fundraising is a big concern for us right now, it is really the smallest part of this trip. We have so much to learn this next semester and we haven't even begun to think about what May is going to bring.


How exciting!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

First things first....

Hello readers, whoever you may be, 
My name is Beth Ryan. I am a freshman mass communications major at Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota, and I have exciting news...I am going to Africa.

Well, not just me. A group from this college is making the trip to Chogoria, Kenya in May of 2012. I have been given the job of the journalist for this group. Starting today, December 2nd, I will be telling the story of our trip and bringing everyone out there reading along for the ride.

 I will be posting pictures, writing update, making videos and sharing stories of our Journey to Chogoria. 

After Christmas break, I and my fellow travelers will be starting a night class to help us prepare for the trip. 
That class will teach us a lot about where we are going, what we are doing, what could happen and who we could meet.  
Our guide and main leader is Chris Hoke. Chris has already been to Africa, so he knows his way around the place and makes us all feel a little bit more comfortable about starting this journey. We will also be accompanied by Cindy Ault, a science professor here at Jamestown College. 

On this journey we will grow closer to one another, learn a lot about ourselves and each other, experience other cultures and learn more about the world around us.

Next week, the other girls and I will be meeting to put together a letter to send out. This letter will be sent out to our families and friends as part of our fundraising to pay for the trip.

Hopefully soon I will be able to post a picture of the group and tell you a little more about the people I will be traveling with.


Have a happy weekend!