Meet Becca Schott.
“Becca, internet… Internet, Becca… (Shaking Hands)”
I originally met Becca a little over a year ago at California Pizza Kitchen, through an incredible lady named Barri Brown. Barri organized this introduction and lunch date specifically because she loved both Becca and I and wanted us to be photography friends. It wasn’t until about 6 months ago, when Becca wrote on my Facebook wall about her acceptance to the YWAM Herrnhut School of the Arts, that our friendship really started. We met up for coffee and talked more in depth about the process of deciding to do Youth With a Mission (YWAM), her thoughts on the whole matter, and questions she had. And as I sat and listened to all she was thinking about, worried about, and challenged by…. I couldn’t help but see “pre-YWAM me” in her (sounds cheesy, I know). But really, truly, it was like a blast to the past and my excitement for her, for missions, and for all God is doing EXPLODED in my heart and the overflow of that explosion, of sorts, is another reason why this mini series of portraits is so important to me.
And again, before we continue, I want to give a little foreward to this Part Two of the mini project “GO | Portrait of a Missionary|“. I mentioned in the last posts, that my beginnings as a photographer started in missions. I remember what it was like being in a foreign country with a bunch of people I’d never met before. I remember, at times, feeling overwhelmed with all God was showing me/teaching me. I remember battling the stress of living off the support of family/friends/anonymous donors, worrying I wouldn’t be able to pay for even a plane ticket home…. But I also remember how powerful the prayers and encouragements of my blog readers were in all the triumphs and challenges I encountered. While actually partaking in the missions work was important, sharing the joys and the tough times on my blog was also important. It allowed people to journey with me and to connect on a deeper and more personal level to what God was doing… it wasn’t just me who was being challenged. So, in my efforts to support missionaries who are foregoing their comfort, their paying jobs, their family and friends, even their lives in order to give their all for the Kingdom… I want to encourage you, again, to dig deep into their stories. Follow their blogs. Send encouragements and prayers their way. And if you feel led, support them financially… even if it’s $20… it’s amazing how God can use the little you feel you have to move mountains. And please don’t hesitate to email me if you have questions. Ready? Let’s GO…
Becca is a vibrant 20 year & 11 month old Irvine-ite whose passion for photography, artistic culture, and God have all played a huge part in her decision to do YWAM for a year in Herrnhut, Germany… the same base I was at during my YWAM adventure! She’s AWESOME and her smile is contagious!
Q: Favorite thing to do in the entire world?
Becca: Hmm…I have three! 1) Traveling 2) Sitting in my yard in the morning with coffee and a book 3) Going adventuring with my friends or family.
Q: Latest obsession?
Becca: My camera! I’m learning how to use all the features I didn’t know were there and I just can’t put it down!
Q. Where are you headed?
Becca: I’m headed to Germany with YWAM for the lecture phase, which is classes and training and what not. I’ll be there for about 4 months and after that I’ll be going to another country for the outreach portion for about 2 months. This location is to-be-determined.
Q. How long will you be gone?
Becca: I’ll be gone about 6.5 months. The school portion of the trip will be about 4ish months and the outreach portion of the trip will be about 2.5ish months.
Q. If you’re working with an organization, what organization are you working with, and what will you be doing on your mission trip?
Becca: I’m working with an organization called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). I don’t really know what to expect or what exactly I’ll be doing besides loving God and showing others God’s love through loving them. I don’t know where I’ll be going for outreach yet or what God has in store for me…but I am expecting huge things… hugely unexpected things…. God often does hugely unexpected things…and I am now starting to realize that that’s how God works more often than not.
Q. What excites you most about international missions?
Becca: Sharing the beautiful story of Jesus with people that might not have gotten the chance to hear it. I will be seeing things I have never seen before, and I will be learning so much about others, God, and myself. It’s going to be a big adventure and I’m stoked to find join in what God’s doing.
Q. How did you decide that going on this trip was the right choice at this time?
Becca: Well, I don’t feel like I ever decided. If it were up to me, I’m POSITIVE I’d still be unsure. I was told about YWAM and the photography discipleship training school in Herrnhut, and I thought it sounded really awesome… so I went home and researched it some more. I felt like I should apply…so I did, and since then, God has not stopped working in me! Sometimes I feel so stretched in life that I just want to say, “God! I’m done learning! This is hard and this is annoying!” But I know that God is putting things in my life to teach me, prepare me, and show me that He can take care of me. He loves me and He hears me.
Q. How do you hear the voice of God?
Becca: I don’t so much hear it as I feel it. When something is right my body starts tingling and I get the shiver bumps. And when something is wrong, my heart feels heavy and my body feels weak.
Q. What do you think you’ll miss most about home?
Becca: My bed! I’m sure I’ll miss my family and my friends as well…but I know I’ll miss my bed first. hehe
Q. What would you say to encourage someone who might be considering a long term mission trip like yours?
Becca: Do not fear for God is with you, He will strengthen you and uphold you with his righteous right hand!
Q. What are some ways we can support and encourage you during this adventure?
Becca: I definitely need prayer! I’m still working on getting all the finances together, so prayer that the financial support would continue coming in, prayer for my nerves as I’m starting to get nervous, and prayer for safety. Prayer and encouragement are probably the most important for me.
I will also be keeping a blog while I’m gone, called
My Life Be Like . I’ll be posting pictures and sharing what I’m learning along the way. I hope you all will join me on this adventure and experience, with me, all that God as to teach and show us! I have a website, but I’ll mostly be posting to my blog for the duration of my travels. If you’d like to support me financially, you can send checks to:
Becca Schott
PO Box 60881
Irvine CA, 92602
Becca Dearest,
I am ECSTATIC beyond comprehension for this adventure you’re about to embark on. There will be tough times, and there will also be elated highs you’ve never experienced in your life. Document them in words and in pictures. Take them captive with your lens and camera and film. Soak up every possible experience you can and seek with every ounce of your being to see with His measure of Beauty… because, really, that’s photography at it’s core…. documenting the Beauty of Him.
Please know that we, as blog readers are behind you 100% and know that you’re backed with countless numbers of people’s prayers and thoughts. This adventure isn’t just about you and God, as much as it feels that way sometimes…. the things you write on your blog and the pictures you share connect more people than you realize. I can’t wait to experience Him with you in Herrnhut and around the globe.
“Gott es gute alles zeit (God is good all the time)”,
Kate
