For MCC News Service
March 16, 2004

Though I've done some shooting on location I'm still new to it and really loved being able to get out into the field. For me the technological know-how of shooting footage is interesting and appeals to the "how things work" part of me, but getting to travel and learn about things I wouldn't otherwise is really what draws me to this sort of work. It is the combination of interests that excites me.

Shooting on location, in another country none the less, required a lot more planning and preparation than what I expected. Preparation is very important as you can not go back and pick up spare parts or even order them from where you are as it may take weeks for them to arrive. Traveling with equipment was somewhat nerve-racking as I felt responsible for $5000 worth of equipment. Shooting in Latin America was fun because I have traveled there before and feel somewhat comfortable with the culture though language is still a large barrier. Being in El Salvador made me want to learn Spanish just that much more, but alas, I've got to take college courses for my Communication major now. Shooting out in the sun, on the side of the mountain with the farmers was amazing. Trying to capture everything I saw was frustrating as angles, transitions, and camera movement possibilities are absolutely infinite as action is always changing.

I felt I was successful in what I was trying to do as far as combining my talents and knowledge (videography) and an interest in using my gifts for service in some way. My part in playing a cameraman was only a small part in the production of a video that can be used to promote fair-trade coffee, but that part needs to be done by someone. I would like to use my skills to help companies and organizations who have limited resources and promote what I believe are good causes to create media that will further their organization's work. Fair trade products are something that I believe are very valid and that if more people knew about the positive effects of fairly traded commodities they would take action and spend their money in a more conscious manor. If I can help this process along with my interests in media well alright then.

During our trip to El Salvador I learned a lot about the documentation process and about video shoots. I learned a lot about fair trade products, and about El Salvador as a country. I confirmed my perceived interest in the field of study I have chosen through what I would consider work experience. I learned about myself. I was again struck by the poverty that surrounded me which pushed me to consider my lifestyle of consumerism and want. I had traveled to Cuba with Goshen's SST program a year and a half prior and have realized that it's easy to slide back into the lifestyle that surrounds us despite our desires to become more informed and globally-conscience people. Traveling again reminded me that I must continue to push myself to be that socially-just person I want to be as I return to the States.

I live on a farm in rural Iowa producing corn, beans, and stray cats... I connected with the farmers we spoke with as they talked about crop diversification and pesticides, erosion and government legal issues. These are some of the same things farmers in Iowa talk about as the low prices from overproduction yield hardships in all latitudes. Struggles to make ends meet with high pre-harvest costs and the search for niche markets to increase per bushel cash flows were direct similarities to my home environment. I wasn't expecting to relate to the farmers of El Salvador who grew coffee, but we all work within a global system now and I found myself empathizing with them.

(Mark traveled with the group as videographer)