Casey Carlson 2024
Hi, I’m Casey, and I’ve had the privilege of serving as the photographer and videographer for Community of Grace on what is now my third mission trip abroad with the church. Each trip has been unique for me, but one constant remains: the powerful blend of service, connection, and the lessons learned from stepping into another culture with humility and intention.
As the one tasked with visually documenting the mission, my role offers a special vantage point in being part of everything—construction projects, Strategic Ministry Time, Mobile Medical clinics, kicking a football around with kids, and impromptu teaching moments when curious kids want to try out my camera. (Spoiler: some of them are on their way to being better at it than I am.) The picture you see of me here was taken by one of the kids we were playing with this week!
Having now visited both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, I’m struck by how two nations sharing the same island of Hispaniola feel worlds apart. The contrasts in landscape, governance, and daily life are stark. The Dominican Republic’s lush greenery and more developed infrastructure stand in sharp difference to Haiti’s challenges. Yet, despite these differences, what unites them is far more profound:
The hospitality of the people.
“Hospitable” doesn’t begin to capture the warmth and generosity we encountered throughout the week. Whether in a church service, during construction work, or simply sharing a meal, the people we served alongside embodied a sense of community and care that I try to take home with me on every trip. I watched as members of our congregation worked shoulder to shoulder with locals, overcoming language barriers and measurement systems with smiles, and a shared purpose to build a bathroom for a church—a space that will also serve the wider community. I witnessed for the first time the power of our mobile medical clinic, doctors distributing medicine and answers to those who lacked access to even basic healthcare. And I saw pure, unfiltered joy as we sang “Dum-Dum-Dada” with a group of children, their laughter reminding me of singing that same song in the basement of CGLC as a child twenty years ago.
Watching the members of our congregation connect and grow in their faith over the past week has been truly inspiring. It’s no small thing to take the leap required to be here—stepping away from family, investing time and resources, and putting themselves in unfamiliar situations—to serve people we may meet only briefly and perhaps never see again. This leap is not easy, but it’s impact is immeasurable.
I’m often asked, “What do you hope to accomplish on a mission trip like this? What’s the point?” It’s a fair question, especially in a world that demands measurable outcomes. My answer, though, is simple: We may not be making a big difference. But even if we do make a small difference, it is still a difference worth making.
