Meet Carys, a member of our Hands & Feet Project family. In our Q&A, learn how she first connected with our mission and how she will use her photography skills in her new role. Carys is excited to share stories of triumph through images, videos, and social media posts.
How did you first get connected to HAFP?
I had been on a couple of short trips to Haiti with my church and already knew it was someplace special. During my junior year of college in 2019, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my photography degree after graduation. I’d been interested in moving to New York and shooting theatre, but it just felt off when I thought about it. So, one night on a whim, I googled “photography missions Haiti,” or something along those lines. Hands & Feet Project was the first result. I applied to intern in 2020 and ended up pushing it back to 2021 because of the pandemic. I fell in love with the mission of Hands & Feet Project in 2021, and now here we are!
What will your role as a missionary look like?
My role as a missionary is all about relationships and stories. I love spending time with people, getting to know them, and learning their stories. As a photographer and videographer, I’m passionate about capturing and sharing those stories and all the ways God has worked in each person’s life. At Hands & Feet Project, I’ll be sharing their stories through images, videos, and social media posts. I’ll also be working alongside our Sponsorship Program Manager to support her and provide whatever images she needs. I will also collaborate with our student photographers to teach them how to best capture images. I’m really excited to support Hands & Feet Project in their mission through media!
What is your favorite thing about Haiti?
Oh, gosh. There are so many things I love about Haiti. I love the mountains and the way you can see different layers of them in the distance. I love the breadfruit trees and mango trees, and I love the ocean and all its different shades of blue. I love the slower pace of life and the fact that everyone is late all the time. It means that when I’m running late, I’m still early.
I think my favorite thing is the amazing people I’ve gotten to know, as cliché as that sounds. They are hilarious and welcoming and creative, and I just really enjoy spending time with them. I can’t wait to get back to Haiti and continue where I left off with my relationships.
What do you feel most passionate about when it comes to Hands & Feet Project’s mission?
I feel really passionate about family preservation and reunification. I want to see Haitian families thrive together. I want to see them whole, happy, and secure. I love that Hands & Feet Project makes every effort to support vulnerable families or reunite the ones who have separated. I am honored to come alongside them and work toward that mission.
Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
Just that I’m really excited! This role is an answer to a lot of my prayers and questions I’ve been asking for the past couple of years. God has been so good and patient with me, and He’s taught me so much about Himself through this whole process. I’m really thankful to Hands & Feet Project for their encouragement and to my family and friends for their support. I’m ready to go! I’m ready to see what God is calling me to in Haiti, and I’m excited.
We can’t wait to see how God uses Carys’ talents to help share more stories of provision and care in Haiti.