Africa update... $$

Well, we just received more information on how much money we raised, and how much the trip is projected to cost. Fortunately, a good portion of the cost has been offset from the fund raising. Unfortunately, it will still be a bit expensive. The ball/silent auction fund raiser came up with about $10,500 profit. So, in that respect, we did quite well. But with the total cost per person of over $3000 to fly there, plus building materials, that puts most people paying about $1200 out of pocket. Because I jumped in on the project late, I'll be required to pay more like $1800 out of pocket. Ouch.

There's still time for me to do some personal fund raising, and my Mom has been hard on that trail at my old Church. They're having a free will donation this Sunday afternoon in order to raise more funds for me to get to Africa. I don't really expect a huge sum from that kind of activity, but every little bit helps. All this really means is that I'm really starting to hope that I don't get laid off from work for going on this trip... but I'd still laugh if it happened. Hey, you have to laugh or else you'd cry right?

I've never done much... or any fund raising before, so this is a completely new idea to me, but I guess because the funds are going through Zion Lutheran, anyone who donates can get a tax ID# and then they can write off that amount from their finances. Makes me think I should donate about $1500 to myself... ;-)

In other trip news, we received the first pictures of where we'll be staying. It's called the Bull's Eye Hotel. Look at the date stamp in the corner of the picture... that's right: '2007 4 13'... what are the chances of that? Of the other three hundred and sixty-four (and a quarter) days it could have been, it just so happened to be taken on my birthday of this year... Boy-oh-boy was I supposed to go on this trip or what?

Oh, it should be mentioned that I found the green stubbly prickly stuff in the foreground surprising... I know, I know.... not all desert... still, you know how it is.

Beard update:

Here's a late breaking news story on the recent modification of my beard... The beard was last seen before the Africa ball, and has since been missing. If you happen to find it, or have any information leading to it's capture there is a cash reward available. It has been approximately eight years since this portion of my mug has been reviled to the public. For obviously reasons. (*Smacks his lower lip onto his upper* "It feels so weird...")









In related news this man was seen dancing all night with this pretty lady. This is a crime in forty-eight states. Good thing he was in Alaska. Swing, Cha-Cha, Rock, and slow dancing was seen in varying quality and quantity; but oddly enough both parties appeared to be enjoying themselves. Only you can prevent this kind of mayhem from happening again. Should you choose to accept this mission, you will be required to drive/fly/swim/crawl to Alaska and witness the sights for yourself. They are truly breath taking, in more ways than one... ;-)

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Africa Trip - Health Center

So, as a few of you may know, I've been presented with an opportunity to go to Africa on mission trip to build a community Health Center in Kumpa, Kenya, which happens to be just outside of Nairobi. Everything is being arranged through Lutheran Hour Ministries, so all we're responsible for is raising money and getting ourselves to Kenya. Here's what we're doing:

First the back story: The village of Kumpa has no medical facilities and a pregnant woman started having complications and was unable to procure a vehicle to drive her to the nearest medical center some distance away. What ended up happening was that she died in the birthing process and the child could not be saved. This caused an outcry from the community to the government of Kenya who responded that the community was to raise the funds for a facility and the government would staff the building.

Currently, we have raised the money that we were responsible for building materials through a garage sale, private donations, and a silent auction and ball. We still have a need to cover some of the travel expenses, but it seems that the majority of the cost has been covered. There are about fourteen people from Zion Fairbanks going on the trip (including myself) and we leave from Fairbanks on January 15th to return on February 2nd.

It seems really strange to say, but it feels like I was supposed to move to Alaska when I did because I became involved with a group of people that got to know me for a month or so before an opening presented itself in this trip and they felt comfortable asking me to join the group. It feels like God has made things too easy for me in a lot of ways. First, my trip up to Alaska went extremely well. Then, I found a job within three or four days upon my arrival in Fairbanks. Next, Zion Fairbanks welcomed me quite quickly and introduced me to many people that have become my closest friends in Alaska. All these things combined together to make my decision to go on this Africa trip a non-decision. They only reason I could think of for not going was because... well... it's Africa, as I have never had a strong affinity for anything on that continent. In fact several of my friends in Lincoln called me out on this one. "Weren't you the one who said that you'd never go to Africa?" Yes, yes I was, but I guess that you can't rule out anything when your life doesn't belong to you.

All things considered, it will be a life changing trip with people I consider my friends to a new and exciting (and warm) place come January in Alaska. What more could you want? Let the wanderings continue...

Blue Leisure Suit

Remember back in the 70's when you wore leisure suits? No? Ok, so I wasn't born yet, but that doesn't mean that I can't live the dream. I don't remember old I was in this photo, but I was either in, or just out of high school when I wore this. Those of you that know me know that if I dress up, I go all out. I wore this same suit a few years after this picture was taken to my Fraternities Winter Formal. And yes, I rode on my motorcycle. You couldn't keep the horns from honking in my direction. It's a good thing that I had a full face helmet on, or else I would have ruined the moment with a huge smile instead of play'n it cool.

Now, I'm going to have the opportunity to wear this suit one more time. There's an Alaskan Formal for the Africa trip. Oh, yeah, I'm going to Africa. More on that later, right now all you need to know is that this suit looks good on me.