Looks like I left off in Idaho. Well, Idaho's in the rear view mirror now as we set up camp in Utah for the next few weeks.

Week one is in the books. Crazy to say that out loud. A week ago, 20 teams cruised down Mt. Soledad and dispersed across the country. We've had some really good presentations so far, a lot of people we've met just want to know more and want to know how they can be more involved. We've presented at two Paul Mitchells, Blackfoot High School in Idaho and Utah Valley University. It's been a challenging week as I try to adjust my life to the  business of the road as I am constantly faced with situations where service and humility may not be the easiest route, but it certainly is the best one. It's been humbling to learn and hear stories from past roadies that we've stayed with and makes my time doing this now so much more unique and treasured. It has also been pretty tough to hear Patricia speak each day, at times I just want to shake my head and ask myself "How many more tours until this ends?" "How many more films must we make until Kony is captured?". That's probably been the hardest part, just being heartbroken by the realness of this conflict.

I apologize for how jumbled this is, as it truly doesn't give too much insight into my week, but hopefully this mess of words connects with you in some way. Honestly, this may be the format my posts will be over the next nine weeks!

I am positive that I lucked out by having the most gorgeous region of all, Utah is killin' me right now; there are mountains everywhere. Today we hiked up a waterfall, who knows what we'll do next. It's been an adventure, it's been a struggle, it's been an adjustment, it's been a blast...and it's only week one.

Please pray for clarity, trust, energy and a heart of service this next week. Thank you all for constantly refining and shaping me, and for pouring out your friendship and love on me, as I certainly don't deserve it.


"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Aaannnddd, we're off!

Hello all!

It's been a wild few days.

We launched yesterday. What a feeling to finally be on the road. After weeks of training and booking, 20 teams began their trek across the country to bring this conflict to an end. We left San Diego at about 11am and arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, at 1am last night. This morning we drove three hours to Pocatello, Idaho, where we have our first screening tomorrow!

Being on the road yesterday was incredible. I got to drive , the first leg, from San Diego to Las Vegas and it felt like driving on another planet. Never in my life have I seen more open space. It was like something from a movie, and the mountains....oh my, the mountains. This is the America that I've never seen; this landscape is the most unique and incredible I've ever seen. We stopped at what seemed to be the only sign of life for hundreds of miles, a small little store with a incredibly friendly cashier named Dan. Dan had never heard of us or Kony, and after seeing our t shirts, he was so intrigued. He was so encouraging. These were not the only great interactions we had on our first leg of this journey. It was just what we needed to start off; support right now for IC is so encouraging.

Right now I'm sitting in the Rude's living room, a legendary host family, writing this. They've been hosting roadies since 2009, and welcomed us with open arms. I'm grateful to be here. Today has been a bit overwhelming. I think for the first time I realized how real this is. We're in Idaho right now, just a little over 24 hours removed from all being together in San Diego. It's safe to say I'm going to miss everyone incredibly much. Also our first screening is tomorrow, which has brought about a little nerves quite honestly. With everything from launch, saying goodbyes, driving thirteen hours yesterday, three more today, being in charge of the first week of promotion at our screenings and now getting a small taste of the excitement, nerves and fast pace that will be my life for the next ten weeks, I'm feeling the craziness. But what's so beautiful about this is that this isn't new. Legends have driven these roads, slept on these same floors and inspired thousands before me. They have been on the roller coaster that the first few days bring, they have experienced the challenges of the road and they have walked away having set out what they intended; giving it their all, working harder than ever before and learning immensely, all in the name of justice and peace. And that lesson still applies to me right now, and really all of us on the road. This tour has launched. We are now scattered across North America, the match has been lit. It is our job to give this movement oxygen, to stoke the embers and create a blaze. If we do this, we will be successful, and this tour will be successful.

It has taken a lot for many of the people I've met over the past month to get here and work for the organization behind Kony 2012. And that is why this class of interns and roadies is incredible. We are still standing, and this movement is very much still standing, we are running, in fact. And we will until this conflict ends. Sacrifice, humility and energy define this job. It's tough work, especially when all you want to do is sleep all the time, but no. We are here for bigger reasons, reasons we may still have yet to see. We are going to move mountains this semester. It will take trust in our leadership, in ourselves and in this campaign, and it will be incredibly hard at times, but it will be worth it.

Thank you for letting me process things as I write, and being willing enough to read those thoughts. The road has already been so kind to me. The Mountain West  is beautiful and I couldn't be more excited to tour this region. Tomorrow is our first screening, can't wait.

All is Love

My incredibly talented friend, Eva, made this. I won't write a lot tonight; instead, I'll let you watch this. It's beautiful, and a perfect capture of our first weekend hanging out with our new teammates.

Also, you bet I'll be keeping up with UCF's first football game this Thursday! Go Knights!

Much love.

WELCOME PATRICIA!

The team's complete

We welcomed Patricia Akello back to the U.S. tonight with an unforgettable scene. The moment our teammates came through the terminal we went absolutely nuts. What a special moment. There we're hugs everywhere, tears everywhere and smiles that stretched from ear to ear. I was told that Patricia gave amazing hugs...I heard correctly and was embraced in one from the moment we all shrieked in joy and ran towards her. It's crazy how real this whole thing is getting. We launch in two (or so) weeks and the road trip begins. Wow.

Santo's back as well! Great to welcome him back as he heads
out on his second tour! This time, to Canada!

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes...the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as crazy, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

- Steve Jobs

Making signs to welcome our newest teammates!

I can't believe it's here already but our team will be complete tomorrow night! The entire office will be heading to the airport to welcome our Ugandan teammates. I've been looking forward to this moment since I arrived here. I know that Patricia will open my eyes to the reality of this conflict through her own experiences and I imagine the 'why' to why I'm here will only expand. She was a roadie last semester with the NorCal (Northern California team, so we definitely are getting a talented and veteran teammate. I've only heard great things from everyone hear at the office about her, definitely excited to hit the road with the whole gang in a couple of weeks!

Just a quick catch up, we've continued to spend our days booking screenings and training in the evenings. It's been a bit of a challenge to balance things here. From personal time to studying to investing this community and so on, it has definitely been a busy few weeks. Sorry if this post isn't as eloquently written as my past ones....I'm exhausted. But know that I'm doing great, I'm proud of my choice to be out here this semester and I cannot wait for what's to come.

The first full week of booking is done, it was a crazy experience to say the least (check out the Fall 2012 booking video.It will get your heart pounding). We spent most of our days calling and emailing hundreds of IC supporters across the country, trying to see if they'd be interested in booking a screening this fall. It's a long and repetitive process but it's incredible to see the reach and scope that Invisible Children has across this country (and now world, for that matter). As long as the days have been, there is no way to ignore the impact that this system creates. One major thing that has stuck with me about Invisible Children has been how personal they are; how, as a supporter, you feel like you're a part of the family no matter what. I'm learning that in order for that relationship to form, hours upon hours of hard, un-glorified work must be poured in. With work Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm, I get home pretty exhausted. But it's the kind of exhausted that rests easy with my soul; a kind that is grateful it's being put to good use.

Mountain Best. We're 3/4 complete!

Living with 60 other people has been a whirlwind. Community here is just something that happens, regardless. And for that I'm incredibly grateful. It's easy, however, to just go through these few weeks and get psyched for tour, without investing much in the people around me. With the busyness of work and the exhaustion at the end of a long week, I understand, and have fully had the urge to just hop in bed and call it a night. But I'm learning that it's what I put into this experience that will determine the outcome. Every person here has a story and I want to hear as many as I can. I've already heard incredibly tales of how people became involved in this cause that relates us all, and I'm thirsty for more. My goal over these next three or so weeks before tour launches is to invest in this community. I know how special this community can be and slowly but surely, as the feeling out process has died down, I'm seeing it blossom. 

This community is unlike any group of people I've ever been involved with. Comfort lies within the halls of our office and the walls of our home. As I'm surrounded by so many different beliefs and stages of life, questions have arisen and answers are in the process of being dug up as my mind tries to wrap itself around this new entity. The growing pains are certainly not taking a break here, in fact, if anything, the muscles of my mind have already been stretched to new lengths here. 

The Ugandan Roadies are coming soon! Many of them
are students from IC's Legacy Scholarship Program

One thing we are all incredibly stoked about is finding out who our Ugandan teammate is; we should find out in the next two weeks or so. I am so incredibly excited about what I will learn from living with someone who has survived the conflict I've been fighting to end. Honestly, I cannot process it right now, but I know once our team is complete, my perspective will change immensely. That is something I welcome with open arms.

This place continues to teach me. I am here because it has been so crucial in building my faith and I continue to be drawn in by the mystery and
intrigue of growth. I am here because I have absolutely no idea what will come next and I want to be a part of that, whatever it may be.

Until next time, I love and miss you all.

PEACE.

It's been a wonderfully overwhelming first week.

This place is crazy in the best way possible, so forgive me because this post is going to be scattered. The first week consisted of intense training with all of the incredible people here; from financials, booking screenings, team dynamics, and conflict history. The people that make up the staff of this organization have an undeniable vision when they speak. You see the dream roll of their tongue and the horizon at the end of their sentences. I'm in awe of the way this place works. Of the fact that the few floors that Invisible Children occupies on 5th avenue is where the dream of the Kony 2012 campaign took form. The pictures that embrace the hallways tell the story of the history of this organization, yet the empty seat reserved for our 4th teammate that sits idly at our desk brings me to a stark reality.

We are not finished.

Just as the Fall 2012 Mountain West team is incomplete until we embrace our teammate from Uganda, the mission of this organization is incomplete until LRA violence has ended. This is something that really hit me today. I think it's sometimes incredibly hard to remember that the mission of IC is one that still deserves our full attention and efforts. This can be masked by the incredible progress we've seen recently, and it was incredible, or to realize how far this organization has come in terms of knowing that a few short years ago, meetings were held in an old warehouse. But today, for some reason, I was reminded of why this organization is even here in the first place; Joseph Kony and the LRA are still out there, looting, implementing fear and abducting children. And so, we will still exist. This entire issue is so much bigger than Invisible Children, which is incredibly humbling.

This past week has already pushed me to step out of my comfort zone in so many ways. It has challenged me to work hard and push myself constantly (these days are incredibly long and tedious, but wow, I am learning so much on so many levels), something that I feel I lack at times. It's only been one week, yet I have grown. And this community continues to grow, which is beautiful to witness in real time.

*Just some quick highlights from my week:
   - Our team went on our first team date to Mission Beach (it is everything I imagined Cali to be like - which is a good thing!)
   - I drove the van for the first time - to and from work (you know, those incredibly large, 15-passenger, sticker-covered, can't-miss-it IC vans?)
   - I began booking screenings for my region of tour - this may be my favorite part of this job so far.
   - I got burnt to a crisp this past weekend (because being outside here feels like it's cool, so you don't notice it, compared to Florida where the humidity makes it hard to breathe)
   - The word I would use best to describe this first week is 'excitingly overwhelming' - so true.

I expect the challenges to continue, the relationships to blossom, and the community to grow. I expect the sleep to decrease, the joy to be treasured, and the work to be rewarding. But I guess this job really hammers home one thing, which just may refute anything I just wrote: expect the unexpected.

I am blessed to be here in the presence of such people. I am honored to have teammates that are open, vulnerable, calm leaders, and wonderful friends. I am inspired by the leaders here and their trust in a group of 20-somethings to go out and share this incredibly serious issue, and I am grateful for each sunset I see dip under these hills.


Goodnight friends.

Day one is complete.

After three delayed flights, I made it here at 1:30am San Diego time (4:30am Orlando time) and was met by my wonderful teammates Jenelle and Randy and some of my friends from last Spring, Christian and Heather. I arrived in the roadie house (a two story, one basement, one attic, 16-people-per-room amazing house dedicated to housing the Fall roadie class during our 5 weeks here - I promise it's legal..somehow. We learned that today.), went to sleep and woke up four hours later to began my first day as a roadie.

I can only describe my feeling after today as being energetically exhausted. It was a full day (as I'm learning, this entire tour will be) full of staff intros, welcomes, new faces, old ones, and an intro into who IC is, the working environment and what we're all about here. As strange as it may sound, I think I'm most looking forward to the work and seeing myself grow as I learn and am challenged every day. There is no doubt (we we're reminded constantly) that this is going to be an incredibly busy, tough and exhausting time. It will require long days, little rest and as they told us, no time to process anything until our job is done.

Day one is about to wrap up. I'm tired, but thankful to be here. It's such a blessing. Lesson from day one: Humility in the work IC is doing is crucial. Things will get tough and my humility will be tested, but ultimately we are here for a greater cause, one that cannot be defined by one roadie team, one merch sale, or one screenings. We are here because of those that came before us, and those supporters that aren't here inside these walls.



This is a special place to be, a special place to work and a special place to grow. We have an insane belief in the impossible. We believe that this fall Joseph Kony will be caught.

This is something special.

At Peace

And so it begins.

Flight leaves to San Diego tomorrow night. First day of work is Tuesday.

My last evening here has already been full of goodbyes, long talks, wisdom, and laughter. Due to the emotional roller coaster I'm currently on, this post will be short, but hopefully rich.

Of all the feelings currently swirling around my mind, excitement is undoubtedly at the forefront. I've spent the past four days in Orlando helping my buddies move out, saying goodbyes and soaking up every moment I could stretch out of this precious time. From cigar smoke-filled evenings paired with deep conversation to past roadie stories, laughter and prayer, I leave the East coast filled and at peace. I leave tomorrow with the wind of deep encouragement and love from friends, at my back. I leave thankful. Thankful that I am surrounded by deep encouragement and love, evident in the prayers of my brothers as we said goodbye, the conversation amongst my friends and I, the hugs from my Mom and Dad, and the outpouring of support from my friends around the country wishing me well. I am truly blessed by the presence of each one of you, regardless of how much we talk, how well we know each other or anything in between, you have been a part of my journey and although it may be limited and simple, I thank you. I am here right now, at this moment, because of my community. You have given selflessly, loved immensely and forgiven quickly.

I am ready to work as hard as I can and serve with my whole heart, no matter where these next five months take me. I am humbled to be in this position and extremely excited; the butterflies in my stomach can attest to that.

No doubt this next season will be difficult, challenging, joyful, rewarding, educational, inspiring, and mysterious, and I can't wait to experience it all.

Please keep me in your prayers, as I will keep you in mine, and although I'll be gone this next season, please still keep me updated on your life, your dreams, your highs and your lows. To my UCF fanatics, enjoy the C-USA Farewell Tour (hopefully O'Leary will be gone once I'm back...but probably not) as much as you can, I'll be keeping up as much as I can. To my CRU family, continue to foster a community where Jesus' love is evident and grace abounds. To the Invisible Children Club at UCF, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU TIFFANY AND KIARA. You are going to kill it this semester, I'm pumped to hear how it goes. To my family, I love you and I'll miss you everyday, thank you for letting me take this on with such freedom, you're support is so important.

And finally, dear Invisible Children, roadies, interns and leaders, I am so honored to work alongside you. I look forward to community that will be built and the stories we will form that will be told for years.

Until I land...


1 day, 20 minutes, 15 seconds. Bring it.

Get Ready Mountain West

My journey is beginning to take shape. I'm headed to the Mountain West - Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada.

Five states I have never been to. Five states I can't wait to travel through. 

And if it doesn't get any better, I get to hit the road with Jenelle (Our fearless team leader who was a member of the Deep South roadie team this past Spring that came to UCF!) and Randall Stone (A dude that I've already heard so much praise for). Also, this is only 2 of my 3 teammates. My Ugandan teammate (who we are still waiting to find out) is currently in the visa process - I cannot wait to meet him/her!

My five month adventure begins, fittingly, two weeks from today, with five weeks of training, learning, booking screenings and unknown mystery. While I'm there I will be living in a beautifully jam packed house of interns and roadies (roughly 50 will be living in the two story house) and doing all I can to prepare for the adventure that lies ahead. 

I cannot wait to update you all as this continues to unfold. Thank you for being such a genuine and encouraging group of people. This is all I got for now. Still speechless, much alive, and genuinely grateful for what's going down this fall. 

I'm a bit apprehensive about asking you guys for money. After all, for the past year and a half you have helped me raise over $8000 for the mission of Invisible Children, and I couldn't be more grateful for what you have provided not only me, but for thousands of people you and I will never meet in Central Africa. YOU have brought hope to people, and helped restore the lives of thousands of children.

Despite how annoying all my Facebook status' were, or how many times I bugged you about donating, you came through, I am grateful. Nevertheless, I'm fundraising again. This time for myself - I will be responsible for covering my own expenses during the four months I'm on the road (the suggested amount I need to raise is $1500. More information about it can be found at the top right of this page in the sidebar above the 'About Me' section)

So as I see my need to reach out for money again, I want to make one thing very clear. Please, if you cannot give financially, I'd rather you not. Everyone that is reading this has helped me in some way or another over the past few years; that will always mean so much to me. This is not a guilt trip into getting money at all, know that I love you with my whole heart.

If you can donate, simply click the donate button (Again, at the top right corner of this blog. It's linked to my PayPal Account, so all the money will come directly to me - I promise, it's safe. If you have any questions email me at sveatch3@gmail.com) and voilà, you're done.

And lastly, whether you donate or not, I ask that you please keep my team (as of now, I'm still waiting to be placed - so whoever they may be), the organization, this upcoming season and myself in your prayers. Prayers for safety, for laughter, for learning, for servants heart and mind, but most importantly, that somehow, our acts in the office and on the road, will touch someones life. That it will awaken someone to their potential and that the spirit of justice, love, and mercy will sweep through wherever we go.

I've tried and I can't re-word or even do justice to the words of Come&Live founder, Chad Johnson. This is my prayer as well, for the Fall.

Lord,
Give me encounters. Allow me to engage in people the way you did. Come into my life and give me everything I need to be who you are. You have already paid the price, with your life, so that we can walk with abundance, with power, and with authority, but above all, that we can walk with compassion. We are taught to love you and love our neighbors. Re-instill in me the heart of Jesus, the heartbeat of Jesus Christ, the wind of the spirit to change us and compel us to keep going forward, to continue touching lives, to continue ministering to people no matter where they’re at, what they’re doing, who they are or what they look like; that we would go, that we would be obedient to make disciples. God give me an opportunity today to CHANGE THE WORLD, even in one’s person’s world. That would be enough. Bring one person into my path today and every day of my life that I can encourage, however you allow me and I will be satisfied with that. You grow us, you teach us, you mold us and shape us as you desire. Jesus, be glorified in our lives and make so much more out of us than what we could ever make of ourselves.

No doubt this road will be challenging, grueling, joyous, surprising and so much more.

I'm so blessed to be a part of such a loving community, you're kindness shines so bright.

I know a few of you asked to see my application video for this position. Well, here ya go.

I will be in San Diego in 27 days.

Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), I'm stoked...and a little nervous. But more than anything, I'm grateful for this next adventure. To my friends who have seen me go a little crazy and sustained interest in my Invisible Children rambles, sorry this first post is a little repetitive and formal, but I have to give some background. Secondly, if you're reading this and don't know me very well, I'm happy to have you come on this journey with me. To everyone, thank you for the support, the prayers and constantly supporting me in this journey. 

Here we go...

This blog will serve as a way to connect me with you; my family, my friends and my community. This coming Fall I will be taking a semester off from school at the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!) to intern as a roadie with the non-profit organization, Invisible Children; the organization behind the KONY 2012 campaign that exploded this past Spring.

Here's a quick 5 minute video on the organization, it's history, and it's goals. 

I have been involved (going to screenings, donating, raising awareness, holding positions in the UCF Invisible Children club) with this organization and cause for a little over three years now, and the opportunity to represent Invisible Children as a roadie this fall is just another crazy turn in what's been a wild, unexpected, and challenging few years being an advocate for this cause - this fall, I expect it to continue. 

So what exactly is a roadie?

Good question, and honestly, I won't know the full answer to that question until I've experienced it, but I'll tell you what I do know. Each semester, Invisible Children unveils their latest campaign, and roadies are the ones that bring that message to you. There are about 18 or so roadie teams per semester, each traveling across a different region of the U.S. and Canada. On the road, we will share Invisible Children's latest documentary, spark discussions about activism and talk to thousands of youth about the importance of this cause, this movement and advocacy. Each team is joined by a Ugandan teammate, who, at each screening, shares his/her story about how they have been shaped by LRA violence and what it means to them that Joseph Kony be captured. 

Being a roadie is something that I've tirelessly thought of during the past two years. As I entered college in the Fall of 2010, my involvement became more and more a part of me. Throughout organizing screenings and hosting teams of roadies, I have to say, I grew a little bit in awe of them. Here were people my age acting and  standing up for social justice, and doing it in such a way that was personable, story-driven and accessible. As I've formed friendships with these people I realized the work behind their purpose, which ultimately made me want to experience it myself all the more. They were not standing up for this cause because it was easy or the 'cool' thing to do; they were actually sacrificing to make this cause known. Leaving comfort behind (long days, a PACKED 15-passenger van, not much rest, and sleeping on the floor) to spread the message for something they believed in, something we all should believe in and fight for; justice and peace. 

So here I am now, about to have the title of a roadie, although, that's not why I'm doing this. I'm doing this because I believe in love, and the power of story to change the world, and I believe that that love and that story should not be limited to only those around us or to those we know, but also to the far reaches of this planet. I want to share this story because it's one that people need to hear. Along with that, today's youth need to know that they matter, and that the cliche line 'you can change the world' has meaning and truth behind it. I want to teach and be taught, to let people know that at the heart of love is service. The story of children being abducted and forced to fight should not be one that takes years to reach the world. Unfortunately, it has taken some time, but the world is on notice now; what a perfect time to stoke the embers of human compassion and servitude and ignite the flame of a battle worth fighting for. 

I'm stoked. 

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and no to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Isaiah 58:3, 5-7

*I'll be updating on here as much as I can. I can't guarantee how often, but I'll do my best. More to come...