Don’t know why I didn’t show these to you sooner!
My boss at Compassion came with us to Guatemala – his first time on a blogging trip. Dustin heads up internet marketing at Compassion these days but started out at a church doing video and audio stuff years ago…a whole lot of years ago…waaaay long time ago. He’s a lot older than me.
Anyway, he pulled out his camera a few times, went all directorial on me and made me talk. Turned out OK for winging it.
I don’t know why we haven’t done any videos like this on our previous trips. Easy enough to do and I think gives you guys at home a little glimpse of where Compassion works and how it does that work.
First up, a tour of a Compassion child development center in Guatemala. #GU-888
Next, inside the home of a family with two kids enrolled in that development center you just saw. (All those white people are Compassion bloggers. The beautifully brown ones are Guatemalan Compassion staff escorting us.)
And, lastly, a few seconds of video from Dustin’s shirt pocket of some of the walk through the neighborhood served by GU-888.
What would you like to see more of on these blogging trips? Less of? Any other suggestions?
Tiffany says:
I love the videos. The raw visual of what you saw while you were there. When I saw the little girl skipping down the alley in the third video, I am instantly reminded of the innocence of the children. Even amidst the dump.
I think more videos of your environment are crucial for those of us following you to get a real sense of what you are seeing. Between that and beautiful lyrical imagery provided by the bloggers creates the desire for us to do something.
Including sponsoring a child.
Thanks for sharing Shaun! I can’t wait to see who will travel with Compassion next and to where.
jen says:
Somehow I had seen some of these – linked through Twitter, maybe?
Really liked them. Like for my kids to see them! I also like that they give us just a few more details that the stills and words do – children’s voices, people busy, classes happening.
Michelle says:
Thanks for sharing these!
Michelle says:
Thank you for sharing the videos and writing about your trip. I’ve been thinking a lot about the trip to Guatemala that I made, in 1998, as I read your posts, and Ann’s.
This is also giving me visual opportunities to share my thoughts and memories with my children.
thank you!
Stacy says:
Thank you for posting these…
I sat down and watched it with my kids, and was able to use it to explain what Compassion does in other countries as they partner with the local church.
(Our adopted son is from Guatemala, and he was anxious to see their homes and the kids his age!)
Thank you!
Barbara Anderson says:
Thanks for these videos, especially the one of the Center. I have visited Guatemala City and some areas in the mountains, so I know about the lives of people there and which is why I chose to sponsor there. Even though you were not in the area where my sponsored child lives and attends a center, the video helps to have some idea of what a center might look like.
Ruth Ann says:
the little girl skipping in the third video melted my heart.
larryjhoman says:
Wow. It sure puts a new perspective on the lving conditions in that area.
I have two sponsor children; one in India and one in Haiti. I would like very much to see a video of one or both of those areas so I can get have a better understanding for how my sponsor children live. I currently don’t have the financial resources to travel to either one of my sponsor childrens’ home countries.
I am grateful for the videos, Shaun. I thank you for continuing to promote the mission of Compassion. We need people like you and the other bloggers to bring the situation to us and help us to better comprehend just how much we really have…and how little some of our sponsored Compassion families have.
I personally would like to see more videos, lest I ever forget the reality of the situations in those countries. Blessings, my brother. I know I am counting mine after seeing the videos.
Kelly @ Love Well says:
These are great, Shaun. You seem comfortable in front of the camera, which is huge. It’s hard to watch a video where the host seems nervous or lost.
They could benefit from some editing, but I’m guessing Dustin knows that. These are all SOOC, right? Would you have the ability to edit mid-trips?
Speaking as a former TV producer, I think this would be a great component to add to future blogger trips. They communicate in a way mere words and still pictures can’t. (Or maybe that’s just me showing my bias toward video.)
Sherry says:
Waddaya know – you DO have good TV hair. ๐ Thanks so much for these! Just what sponsors are looking for.
Sherry says:
Just posted a link to this post on the OurCompassion.org site. I think many sponsors there will be interested. I know I’d love to see a tour of my childrens’ centers some day. Thanks — this is a super idea!
Douglas says:
Thanks for posting the videos. They paint a much more complete picture of what the projects are like.
Lysa says:
These videos are great. My mom(Teena Price) and I(14) followed your trip. I loved reading and watchig the videos. I just got a blog. I sponsor a little girl and correspond with another. They are such a blessing to me. My mom recieved your cd in the mail yesterday. I love your music. We have listened to it all day.:)
Blessings,
~Lysa