Hi! My name is Kallen and I am going to Angola! I have been given the opportunity to travel to southern Angola from July 20th to August 12th (About 3 weeks). Angola is a large country located in southwestern Africa. It has varied terrain including semideserts, rainforest, highlands, dense towns and cities, and lots of rivers. The official language is Portuguese. Angola is known for its rich natural resources, incredible waterfalls, and wildlife. 30% of the nation lives in poverty, especially in rural areas.

I will be joining Branden and Lauren Bender. You can learn more about them and their work in Angola and other countries here: https://benderbeat.wixsite.com/benderbeat I will be landing in northern Namibia and then be driven north (12 hours) to the farm the Benders are staying at, crossing into Angola. During my stay, I will be supporting their ministry. The Benders work with OverLand Missions: https://overlandmissions.com/?r=end My work could involve labor, teaching, and sharing God's word. I will be traveling with the Benders from the farm I am staying at in the truck pictured above. We will be heading primarily to remote villages.

This trip will cost me about $4000. I am asking friends and family in my community and afar to support me financially for this trip. I would love to share my experience in Angola with you. This will involve photos and updates about what I am doing, as well as what Lauren and Brandon are doing. I will share how people are being helped and what I learn and how I grow. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me that will change the way I view the world. I will post photos and updates on this page for you to see.

I am looking forward to making an impact by helping other people in Angola. I would like this trip to be about more than just me, so I hope to help propel others' lives in a positive direction. I am excited to have my worldview challenged and to return with a more complete view of the world that I can use to continue to help people. In August, I will be going to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to study Computer Engineering. https://www.rose-hulman.edu/ My hope is that I can apply my engineering skills with an expanded mindset, taking into account people from counties like Angola.

My expenses come from the plane ticket ($2135), vaccinations and shots ($500), the passage from Namibia to Angola and back ($250), gas money ($250), and lodging and food ($500).

I also would super appreciate it if you could share this fundraiser, either directly, or on social media. Spreading the word will have a large impact.

Any and all extra money raised will be given directly to the Bender's ministry.