My story...

so what is your story? How did you get involved in "Invisible Children"?
this was a commonly asked question back in 2006. we were recently asked to send in any "cool stories" from our time there and it was fun to look back. it was such an important time that i can confidently say helped shape me into the person i am today. the next couple blogs are "stories" i sent them to share.


My story.
my best friend hannah and i worked hard to graduate a semester early from college. we went to separate colleges and we were dying to backpack around europe...see the world together. but a couple months before our big trip, i get a phone call from hannah. she had just seen Invisible Children -

"our plans have changed," she says matter of factly.
"um...can you explain? what does that mean?"
"'im sending you something," she says. "watch it. call me back. you will understand."

and that was it. it wasn't as if working with IC was a choice, but more of an internal programing. we graduated early for a reason and now the reason was crystal clear.
so in january of 2006 we show up. no expectations. ready for anything. ready for everything. and as we should be because as the "california team" we got off to a rough start. five screenings a day with a sweet original '76 winnebago (think wood paneling and orange shag carpet). after breaking down on the side of the highway (twice) we traded it in for a black van. The vision was to have decals - a nice child soldier pinned up on a completely black van. but decals were running behind...and so our new "home" was deemed the "black molester van." we tried not to be too creepy pulling up to screenings and houses. haha :) eventually, with the help of katie bradel, we made stencils and literally spray painted "invisible children" on the van. much better.
We were learning. we were the first tour. we were crazy.