Since we’re expecting our own baby this summer, we’ve truly begun to enjoy baby photography. Alyssa is such a natural with the little ones and getting them to be photographed. And it definitely doesn’t hurt to have such an adorable little one like Braya.

New and Old

Excuse some of the random boxes that pop up on this blog, still trying to work out the issue with tech support.

I’ve been making a huge effort this week to go out and photograph the plains where I live. There’s so much forgotten life and history here it’s unbelievable. I can just get lost for a day and drive down roads I never knew existed and make an image that reminds me that there is beauty in the place I live.

This specific trip led me down a road, miles, and miles of road to an abandoned catch and loading pen used for cattle. Everything I have to say about the hard life of ranching on the plains can be summed up here.

We met up with Sweet Cravings Bake Shop in Sterling, Co to talk about how we are going to find out and let our friends know. So, we decided on a cake that had a pink or blue filling, and when we cut into it, that would announce to everyone if it was a boy or girl.

What made the event even more special was the fact that all of our friends came to celebrate with us. Even more so, former brides (and current) that we’ve been able to photograph and become great friends with. On the left is Maree, center is Haley, and to the right Erika, who we have the absolute pleasure of photographing her wedding this summer! But, even better news!

Hailey, Maree, and Alyssa are all expecting…just for clarification, Erika isn’t….so naturally we had to take a picture of our brides and Alyssa together Now, we don’t know if getting your picture by us will wind up getting you pregnant, but….

Ok, I know. You want to know what we’re having…..

Almost there.

IT’S A BOY!!!!

We already can’t wait to meet our little man. This is such a blessing, and thanks to everyone, especially Sweet Cravings Bake Shop in Sterling, CO for sharing it with us.

I grew up in the wealthiest country humanity has ever seen. I wasn’t rich as a child, but by no means poor, and I was afforded the opportunity and pure blessing of having the hope of grasping the dreams of which I pursued.

However, the reality of my blessings comes in stark contrast to the the radical poverty and injustice faced by the true 99% in the world. They may have dreams, but the pure chance of longitude and latitude has rendered their dreams a near impossibility.   While I write this letter, there are those who are orphaned, sick, homeless, and inflicted.

I have the intimidation and satisfaction of feeling an intense, unwavering calling to do something more with the utilization of the richness of circumstance that God has bestowed upon me.  I know I am called this summer to fly to Mexico City to make an everlasting, eternal, and substantive impact on the lives of residents of a country that hangs in the balance and is still under the grips of terrible drug cartels.   I am not 100% sure how that will look, but I do know one thing. I will give everything I have to the people of Mexico City with all of my humble capacity.

I will be serving alongside a team that will partner with YWAM Mazatlan in launching a new ministry center in Mexico City. The Mexico City metropolitan area population is 21.2 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere. We will build relationships with street kids, conduct workshops for the local church, prayer walk, serve the needy with the local church, share hygiene tips with kids, and plenty more.

My specific calling is to use my gifting of journalism and communication to be the eyes of these children. In 2006 and 2007, I had the similar opportunity to fly to Ethiopia to work alongside the villagers in helping build their agriculture infrastructure and document their stories in order to raise additional funds and servants. That trip left an indelible mark upon me and an unrelenting calling to do more with what I have.

And as you may know, I’m expecting a child just 2 short months after this trip. About to have a baby of my own, my heart is breaking over and over again for the youth in the city and how I can somehow help their situation.

The cost of the Mexico City trip is $950, and the reality I face is that I cannot do this alone and must come to embrace the humility of seeking the kindness of friends and strangers. I admit I feel inadequate to even ask for a monetary donation, but the reality is this trip will not happen for me without some form of miracle.

So it is in this humble spirit that I ask you to consider helping in one of the following ways.

How we can partner together

Prayer – All things are possible through prayer. For those of you that pray, please pray diligently not only for the financial support to come in, but also for safety and the lives of the people that I  will come in contact with and that, in the most humble of ways, that I can somehow make an everlasting impact upon their lives.

Finances – Please think about it…pray about it…and think about it some more.  I trust your judgment as to whether you can partner with me or not.

Communicate – Please spread the word to any of your friends that may be interested in partnering with me to reach the children and people of Mexico City. You can simply “Like” or “Comment” on this blog and it can be linked to your Facebook account.

To make it as easy as possible, we’ve set up a way for financial donations to be given online at our church

website:

• VISIT: www.sterlingfoursquare.com

• CLICK: the “Online Giving” button on the left hand side of the page & follow the instructions.

• NOTE: Please make sure on the final checkout page to indicate the purpose of your gift, so that the funds may be appropriately distributed (e.g. Scott Stebner Mission Trip).

Should you prefer to give by check, donations may be sent to:

Sterling Foursquare Church | 427 N. 5th St., Sterling, CO 80751.

Please specify “Scott Stebner Trip” in the memo.

Thank you very much for taking time to read this, and if you feel so led, support by praying, sharing this message with others, or financially helping.