Update and a few Photos from Our Summer in Oaxaca!
We have been so busy serving and photographing all over San Diego and Mexico, we have neglected updating our site. We apologize for lack of new content and we will be updating what we have been doing in last 6 months and share more about our fun crazy summer! For now, here are a few photos from our recent trip to Oaxaca with Adventures in Life Ministry. We will explain more about what God did soon…
Ensenada 2012 :: Summer Camp
Dave Miller, Executive Director of Adventures in Life Ministry shared this photo (that Terry Schwartz took) on the Adventures in Life FB page, along with the following text….
7 years ago we (AIL & Dios Es Amor Church) started this camp with a few volunteers and 15 kids from Dios Es Amor Church in Ensenada… Now we have a leadership team of over 20 people from Dios Es Amor and almost 90 kids, most of whom do not attend any church… God has been faithful in helping us see a dream move from an idea to reality…
Praise God for the work that’s happening in Ensenada this week. If you want to help more kids go to summer camp, feel free to email Dave at info@ailministry.org
Photopeeps Tonite!
Bolt on over to Photopeeps tonite. We will not be in Little Italy tonite, it’s sold out 😦 So we will be meeting tonite at our usual time and usual place tonite.
7pm in Rm 353 at the Rock Church
We will have some pizza to share, it’s not the same, but it is kinda Italian. Come and join us and let’s share photos and talk about Jesus!
Free pizza, free sharing, free fun! All are welcome!
Photopeeps this Wednesday…May 30th
Victory Loves Preparation!
Join us this Wednesday as we share what’s happening this Summer with Photopeeps. We have tons of fun things planned, some new classes, photo outings and summer bbq’s…
All are welcome, with or without a camera. If you do have a camera, please bring it with you…we might take some photos in class!
Photopeeps :: May 30th, Wednesday at the Rock, 7pm in Rm 353
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Rock Photopeeps Wednesday May 16th
Get your camera and lets go have fun…Photopeeps will exploring Liberty Station today, May 16th. We will be meeting in the lobby at 7pm, and walking out at 715…All are welcome!
If you want to join come on out. Any questions you can email us at photoministry@therocksandiego.org
Join Us Wednesday for an Evening of Fun with Dave Miller
Dave Miller, Executive Director of Adventures in Life Ministry
Dave Miller, in orange, is coming to town next week. The photo above was taken in the middle of Oaxaca City’s main market at the world famous NIEVES OAXAQUEÑAS CHAGÜITA .
I first met Dave back in the mid 90’s, after my good friend Grady Martine and Dave co-founded Adventures in Life Ministry.
MISSION focused first started going to Oaxaca with AIL in 2010, to help Dave document the work that God is doing there. Since February of 2010, we have been down to Mexico with Adventures in Life several times. The photo above was from February of 2011, with Dave is Cyndy Smith, Jim Wanglund, Terry Schwartz and Brotherjoe
Wednesday, May 2nd, 7pm at the Rock Church in Rm 353
Dave Miller will be sharing stories with us about our most recent trip with Adventures in Life, along with photos that we took. This will be a chance to learn what God is doing deep in the heart of Mexico and how you might partner with MISSION focused and AIL as we continue to help them photograph the work of God in Oaxaca.
Please join us, FREE fun, all are welcome!
You can learn more about Adventures in Life Ministry HERE
If you want to see what we have been doing with AIL, please go HERE
Photopeeps Sharing this Week!
Photopeeps this Wednesday, 7pm at the Rock, in Rm 353. All are welcome!
This Wednesday, April 25th is gonna be a sharing time…hopefully yall have been busy shooting photos over the past few weeks.
Yall are cordially invited to come and share with us! Sharing is Caring!!
Please bring 3 to 5 photos that you have taken this month, April, that you would like to share. Be ready to talk about your photos. It’s best to bring your photos on a thumb-drive, but you can bring them on a cd or on a memory card.
This is a great time to come and learn more about us. We have some fun things planned for the summer and we will be sharing a little bit of what we have planned this Wednesday.
Photography is fun! Sharing is fun!! Sharing photos is extra fun!!
The Old Town in My Backyard
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the “Birthplace of California.” SD is the birthplace of California! Sweet!!
I’ve been to Old Town San Diego many times over the years, my first time was when I was a wee lad in elementary school…but sadly, I have only been to Old Town 3 times over the years for the purpose of photographing this historic area.
Rock Photopeeps decided it’s time to venture out and take photos of San Diego. Might as well start at the birthplace of California! These are a few photos that I took Wednesday night. I definitely want to come down and shoot a few more photos…
At the beginning of the year I decided that as fun as it may be to visit other parts California for photo excursions, it was time to spend more time photographing in San Diego.
Love water! Great for taking fun reflection photos…
Learn something every day…I did not know that the first US flag raised in Southern California was in Old Town. Cool!
It looked like it was gonna be a cold and rainy night but it turned out to be quite lovely. The clouds gave a little more character to the sky. Overall…a fun night of photography!
Photopeeps :: Old (School) Town
No…you don’t have to photograph in black & white and shoot with your film camera. That’s unless you want to! 
This Wednesday we will be taking Photopeeps “Old School” as we venture out to Old Town San Diego for some photo fun. 
We will be meeting in front of the Immaculate Conception Church in Old Town, at 645pm (link to church HERE). We will start wandering around Old Town at 715pm. 
Immaculate Conception Church
Rain or shine, we will be ready to shoot and have fun! So come join us and don’t be just a fair weather photographer, that’s if it rains, and come have fun…photography is fun!
If you haven’t been to Old Town San Diego State Park, now’s your chance. It’s one of the more popular State Parks in California and it’s right in our backyard!
If you think your gonna come join us, please go to our Facebook page and let us know >>>go to the right of this post and you can get to our Facebook page>>>that way we can keep an eye out for you.
FREE Fun!!! Tomorrow, Wednesday April 11th.
Meeting in Old Town, at the church at 645pm, we hit the bricks at 715pm!
Rain or shine, we will be photographing. Bring a jacket and umbrella if it looks like rain.
Photography is fun! All are Welcome!!
Photopeeps Tonite:: Come and Have Fun with Us!
Photopeeps Tonite :: 7pm at the Rock in Rm 353
All are welcome. Tonite we will be wrapping up our Intro to Photo Fun Classes. But don’t fret, we will be teaching this class 2 more times before the year is done.
San Juan Capistrano trip is this Saturday, come and learn more tonite.
Sharing is Caring! Come have fun with us.
Photopeeps this Wednesday:: Aperture
This photo was taken on our last trip to Oaxaca with Adventures in Life. That’s Pastor Steve from Las Vegas showing off his wedding ring, ooops! Hopefully his wife Frankie doesn’t notice.
Watch out! Photopeeps gonna get you!!
Photopeeps this Wednesday, February 29th, 7pm 3rd floor of Rock Church.
We are in our 3rd week of exploring how much fun we can have with a camera….all are welcome to our Intro to Photo fun classes, even if you missed the first 2 classes. Please bring your camera and be ready to have fun.
Photography is Fun!!
This Wednesday we will be talking about Aperture…
learning how much fun we can have controlling the image…come join the fun!!
Photopeeps :: Intro to Photo Fun
Photopeeps:: Intro to Photo Fun! Classes begin this Wednesday
The fun is about to begin…Our 6 week Intro to Photo Fun classes are beginning this week, in Rm 353 at the Rock.
All are welcome and classes are FREE!
Requirements:
~Please bring your camera and camera manual to class with you each week.
~A digital camera is preferred, but if all you have is a Polaroid camera, your more than welcome to join us. ‘
~Each week we will be taking photos in class and you will be assigned homework assignments that you will share in class the following class session.
~Be ready to share. The class is meant to be fun and part of the fun is sharing photos we take and learning from each other as we share.
~Before you come this Wednesday, make sure your camera is ready to use and battery is fully charged with a memory card that is ready to use.
This Wednesday we will be talking about the Intro to Fun classes as a whole and what’s expected, and we will be talking about “the Camera.” No camera, no photos. No photos, no photo fun!
All are welcome, even those who don’t consider themselves as beginners. There’s something to learn for everyone.
Any questions, please leave a comment or email us at MISSION.focused@yahoo.com
Observations, Ocotlan & Being Yoked
Walking down the street from Casa Arnel, on the way to Ocotlan and guess what I see in the car window…Go Chargers!
The view from the road to Ocotlan…
On the bus ride to Ocotlan….reading God’s Word! 
Pineapples! Lots of Pineapples!
Walking through the market I saw this Dad talking to his son…it looked as if he was encouraging his son, he had a big smile as he was talking with him and gesturing and holding his son’s head in what can only be described as a loving manner. Not sure who the other kid was, if it was his brother or friend, but he was smiling too, even though you can’t see his face in the photo. Trust me, it was all good.
I love all the colors in the market, but unfortunately they use these blue and red tarps to cover and shield the market area from the sun…but it casts this blue and red shade on everything. So when i saw these beautiful bell peppers in the sun I had to get this photo! I wish yall could have seen this in real time…the colors just popped!!
I took this photo for Cyndy…since she couldn’t make it this time to Oaxaca and seems to only know how to take photos of flowers and her dog!
These guys don’t look so happy… after-all it is market day in Ocotlan and they’re for sale!
I love how big and colorful the churches are in Mexico. Yes it is a Catholic Church. But It doesn’t stop me from acknowledging the God I serve and having reverence and awe for how big He is and how small I am! And remembering that He died on the cross for my sin that I might have life and breath…to serve Him with my whole heart.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:29-30 ESV)
What a great reminder…this yoke weighed about 40 pounds. Can’t imagine trying to roll with this on my back for more than a few seconds. It reminds me that I need to trust Christ first and foremost for all my needs. That while I was the only photographer able to make it to Oaxaca this time, it is a team effort. The work is made easier and less burdensome with the help of many hands. I believe that’s why we are told in Hebrews
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
I am encouraged by what I see in Oaxaca…and the main work hasn’t begun yet. It was a great day with God!
Photopeeps this Wednesday :: February First
How many folks does it take to hold a ladder for a photographer?
Photopeeps this Wednesday, February 1st at 7pm at the Rock Church in Rm 353…Join the Fun!
Homework for this Wednesday is Shadows
Come join the fun as we share photos we took this week of Shadows. If you weren’t able to make it last Wednesday but want to share in the fun…go and take photos of Shadows. Please bring three(3) photos to share with the class, plus the photo you took and shared on facebook. Be ready to share, since sharing is caring.
We are starting our Intro to Photo classes on February 15th. Keep an eye on this site for more info…
Photopeeps this Wednesday :: Join the Fun!
Homework theme: Texture
Photopeeps this Wednesday, January 25th in Rm 353 at the Rock Church. All are welcome.
This Wednesday we will be sharing photos we took for our homework. The homework assignment was to take photos of Texture. Texture is the theme, how you choose to take photos that express our theme is up to you. You can join the fun this Wednesday by doing the homework and bringing photos to share. Sharing is caring!
Please bring three (3) photos of Texture to share with the class.
You can bring the photos on a thumb drive, cd, or memory card in order to share the photos.
Please bring your cameras to class with you. Time permitting we will answer any questions you might have about your camera or any other topic you can think of.
We will continue to share more info about our upcoming Intro to Photo Fun class coming in February.
Any questions, you can email us a MISSION.focused@yahoo.com or you can leave a comment and we will get back to you.
Be Prepared
I was chillin with a friend the other night when The Mechanic came on, we hadn’t seen the movie in awhile so we decided to watch it. I’m not giving anything away for those who haven’t seen the Jason Statham flick, but there’s a gun in the movie that has engraved on the side AMAT VICTORIA CURAM, translated from the Latin means Victory Loves Preparation.
As I thought about the phrase I began to think how well it relates not only to our relationship with Christ but also to the photographic world.
In order to have victory in our relationship with Christ we also need to be prepared.
Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
(1 Peter 3:15)
In the same way, if we are to have victory in our photography we need to be prepared.
How you prepare is the question.
In Christ, thankfully we have the Holy Spirit to guide us through the process of conforming ourselves to the image of God (Sanctification).
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:2 ESV)
As a photographer, we may not have the spirit of Ansel Adams in our ear to instruct us, but thanks to the internet there are tons of resources online to learn from to help us on our journey to becoming a master photographer. For those of you in the San Diego area, we have free photo-classes to help you along the way…
We want to help y’all be prepared. More prepared you are, more fun you will have, and more photos you take that you will love. At least that’s the idea… Come join us on Wednesday nites in Rm 353. Leave us a comment if you want more info on our classes.
Photopeeps this Wednesday…Join the Fun!
Photopeeps is back! Come join the fun this Wednesday, 7pm Rm 353 @ the Rock, All are Welcome!
This Wednesday, January 18th, we will be sharing our calendar of events and photo field-trips for the year and talking more about upcoming classes.
Homework for this Wednesday…was to take photos of palm trees.
Palm trees are the subject, beyond that it’s up to you…please bring three (3) photos to share with the class. Please bring your camera to class as well, because there might be a surprise in class photo contest…you never know!
All are welcome, with or without a camera. Classes are free and photographers from all skill levels are welcome. Come and share with us…sharing is caring!
Any questions…leave a comment and we will get back to you…
Photopeeps is Back!
Christmas has come and gone but the Gift of Christ still keeps on giving for
those who still seek HIM! 
If you didn’t know, it was snowing this past Christmas at the Rock. Great photo Cyndy!
We like to have fun and 2012 is gonna be fun.
We will be meeting this Wednesday, January 11th in Rm 353 at the Rock, 7pm. All are welcome!
Since we haven’t met since last year before Christmas, this Wednesday is gonna be a sharing night. Hopefully all y’all have been taking lots of photos during our break because we want you to bring your five(5) favorite photos that you want to share with the class.
Being the 1st gathering of the new year and the fact that we like to have fun, we will have some snacks for y’all as well. Feel free to bring some snacks, soda or steak to share with the class and come learn about all the fun we’re gonna have in 2012.
Any questions feel free to email us MISSION.focused@yahoo.com or leave a comment at the end of this post and we will get back to you.
MISSION focused 