Boxing

NOTE: this post is not appropriate for children or those who are easily grossed out. I'm serious, there will be blood and gore involved. If you are under the age of thirteen, don't read any further. Others, proceed at your own risk. Consider yourself warned.

Last night I had a first-time-ever-in-my-whole-life experience. I attended a boxing match. I've watched boxing before on TV and can get in to the competition of it all. In the past I've rooted for Evander Holyfield and rooted against Mike Tyson. I've cheered on Oscar De La Hoya. I confess, I even watched that low-rated TV show featuring Sylvester Stallone called "The Contender." Watching boxing on TV and watching it in person are two VERY different things. To be sitting two rows away from the ring to see the sweat and blood, to hear the sound of a fist meeting with some one's face. TV just doesn't capture real life in the same way. Kenyon's brother James has taken up boxing we went to cheer him on. They had little kids boxing - the 79 lb weight class. I called one of those boys Tigger the Tiger because all he did was bounce around the ring - bouncy, bouncy, bouncy. The bloodiest fight was between two 12 yr olds. With one hit there was a bloody mess. He busted his nose and lip. When he popped out his mouth guard he had a pool of blood in the guard. There was a moment I thought I might throw-up. The match was called in favor of the clean contestant and then they wiped up the mat for the next fight. James was round 13. He was in the big boy class. He is 30 years old, married and a father of two girls, and just taking up fighting. He was well matched with his opponent. There were some very big hits on both sides, but in the end James won. I told him afterward, I'm glad he's our friend because I wouldn't want to be his enemy. I know who I'll call if I ever need a body guard.

Starting an organization

You're probably thinking to yourself that I shouldn't be adding one more thing to my schedule, maybe some fun, but not another job. Well, it's actually what I call my third part-time job (unpaid, but most important of the three). I have a graduate research assistantship position which pays my tuition and a small stipend. I have a part-time job (10 hours per week) with the University Career Center to make ends meet so I don't have to go in to debt to pay bills, buy books, etc. I also work on my India projects - my third part-time job. For about a year I've known I would need to start a seperate nonprofit organization for this work. It was mentioned to me as a possiblity when I started transporting medical supplies. I chose not to do it at that time because I could do what I needed to through Wells for Life or my church, also it would significantly increase my work load and add to my administrative responsibilites - not appealing. Well, the time has come. I can no longer delay this decision. I have begun the paperwork to begin a seperate 501c3 nonprofit organization for my work in India. It may also encompass the international (Thailand, South Africa, India and Mexico) and inner-city work my church is doing. Some day I hope to figure out a way to do this and still get paid, until that day, I will keep doing what I'm doing as a volunteer.

In case you haven't heard, there are some exciting things happening with India. We are starting an orphanage for 500 girls and boys; a school for them to learn reading, math, science, and languages; a trade school; and a leadership institute/Bible college. In January, when we returned from India we had some land picked out that we wished to buy, but no money to purchase it with. The cost was going to be $500,000 just for the land purchase! I don't have that kind of money sitting around and neither did anyone on the team (if you do, we need to talk. Smile!). We knew if this was going to happen it would take some work and that God would need to provide. As of last week we have $200,000+ and we haven't even started fundraising yet. God has already begun to provide! We also have an organization, one of the top three in the world, willing to find sponsors for our children and give us a check for operating expenses. We will take 30 children in to the new orphanage in May. They will stay in a rental facility until we can complete the land acquisition and build the first floor of a dorm. Exciting stuff!

The new organization will help us in our fundraising efforts and in casting a clear vision for our mission and goals for the future.

I'll keep you posted.

Comedy Sports

There is a great improv comedy show in Kansas City. It runs sort of like "Who's Line is it Anyway?" where they take suggestions from the audience. There are two teams competing against each other, and a referee who acts as the master of ceremonies (that's where the sports come in). I took Kenyon for his birthday in July. Last weekend we joined Elaine and twelve of her close friends to celebrate her 35th birthday at the same place. It is a fun night out and offers good, clean fun for the whole family. Cussing or crude jokes are considered a "brown bag foul," which are not allowed and come with consequences. The comedians are hilarious, quick witted and very, very clever. It was a good laugh and a good time.

Funk moves forward...

Tuesday was the primary election. The mayoral race went from 12 to 2 in one day. Funkhouser was one of the two. I still think he can go all the way, and hope he does. He has received a glowing endorsement from the largest newpaper in this area. They actually acted as his largest source of public relations in the primary. He doesn't have the financing of the other candidates. He has some yard signs, some mailings, some volunteers like me willing to make phone calls to likely voters, and a website. He didn't have a TV commercial until the week before the primary, produced by a friend and featuring volunteers. It had it's debut Sunday night, prior to Tuesday's elections. He attends community events and debates and wins because he is genuine and offers solutions. There isn't anyone in his inner circle that would be called a political guru, many have never worked on a campaign before. I say all of this because he was not expected to get this far. His critics didn't think he could do it because it defies political logic; well, I think the political gurus should take a hint from the voters. Voters like this breath of fresh air, they like that he is a bit eccentric and unconventional, they like that he is real, transparent and authentic. There is an energy around his campaign that is exciting. His wife Gloria recently sent out an email to the volunteers that captured that. She and Funk had visited with a small church in the inner-city many attendees were mothers, she said this about the meeting:

Driving home, I had a sense that something big was happening, much bigger than Funk & I, and in the face of it, I felt very small. But, as corny as this seems, I really felt like we were being given a chance to do some good for a lot of people – that we were being given a chance to do some good on a much bigger scale. It was almost a scary feeling, but very uplifting as well. I tell you this to say that if Funk & I prove worthy and are chosen for this task, all I can say is that we’ll do everything in our power to make this a better slice of the world for regular folks to live in.

If, given the chance, wouldn't you want to vote for someone like that? I find their humility, commitment, vision, passion, and drive inspiring. Win or lose, this campaign is something special.

I'm a Size 5!

Kenyon and I recently got my engagement/wedding ring sized. I'm a size 5 (on my finger, not my hips. Too bad. I'd like to be a size 5 all over. Though, I must confess the last time that was true was maybe my freshman year of high school or earlier.) I don't have the ring yet, I'm still waiting on an actual proposal, but I know what the ring looks like. This is a picture downloaded from the website. Isn't it pretty? The ring Kenyon purchased has three bands instead of two. Don't fret, you will know when the proposal actually happens. I won't keep that secret.