31 January 2008

Knit 'Til You Quit!, The Boy With the Swollen Eye

Knit 'Til You Quit
You know how sometimes you have a good idea and then when you bounce it off someone else,it just becomes, well, an even better idea? Such was the case when the beautiful Holley finessed my sock knitting marathon fundraiser.

Yours truly, was going to sit around with alot of double pointed knitting needles between now and departure to knit as many toddler's socks as possible. The idea was, get people to sponsor me per sock. The more socks I make, the more money fundraised. Ta-da! I was determined, but inside, I was dreading the process slightly.

In comes, Holley saying, "When can I join your knitting marathon?" Join? Huh? Yeah, she says. Maybe we can sit around together for, like, ten hours or something and just... knit. People can sponsor us by the hour! People can come by and cheer us on! We can eat! Watch movies! Win first prize! Auction off the items we make! Waa!

I laid in bed, astounded at the idea of not having to go at it alone, tingling in my senses. Needless to say I am more giddy than seeing a Takumi bamboo needle set sale at Joann's. Thus, I present to you, "Knit 'Til You Quit!"



Sat., February 16, 2008
11 AM - 9PM


I have friends signed up already to knit as much as they can during that ten hour block. What's even more encouraging is that we are hoping to donate some items to Stitches From the Heart, a non profit that gives booties and preemie hats to the less fortunate.

Weather permitting, Chris is going to man the grill and serve up some food while our hands are busy purling and knitting away.

If you'd like to sponsor me - or any other knitter - by the hour, please email me at: michelle.yung@gmail.com. Thank you!

The Boy with the Swollen Eye
I had dinner tonight with Kelley. She asked me how I was feeling about my trip and I told her I was thrilled, which I am. And though I have no idea how it is going to be in reality, I told her about a BBC TV documentary that I had seen about Mercy Ships. I shared with her how that TV piece brought the reality of suffering so much closer to home.

The nurses and the reporter went to a local village to visit a patient. A little boy's eye was so swollen, bursting with pus and infection. What would've been a mild form of conjunctivitis grew into an incurable infection, fatal to this boy's eyesight. I remember his delight at the toy car he was playing with. I remember his little Spider-Man t-shirt. He had a name. He had a family. He is God's creation. It was my little six year old nephew, I thought. But this boy just didn't have medicine. Just medicine. How in the world does he not have medicine? It seems such a simple question, but it is such a complex problem. But we can be a much viable answer than we think. We must allow ourselves to feel with our hearts, then act without fear. Then, I know we will see a solution. Or at least be closer to one.

28 January 2008

My mug and watching the thermometer go up

I ended up writing a support letter after all. Which just means that I bought some stamps, printed up a newsletter with a SASE. Have you ever noticed that a lot of support letters arrive with a photo of the person that you are supporting? Why is that? Is it like you don't know what that person looks like? Perhaps to prove that the person has a trustworthy face? Like, "Oh hey, that person looks legit. Alright, here's a hundred bucks."

Despite this confusion, I added a photo of myself anyway. I was nervous that people would receive my letter and without the photo they might find it:
a) boring
b) impersonal
c) distrustworthy

This is the photo I used.

IMG_2108

I think my eyes are a bit beady, but hopefully I don't look too suspicious. What do you think?

I'm hoping to get a knitting fundraiser organized very soon. Stay tuned. Its going to be shoulder cramping-licious!

In other fundraising news, I am convinced that I can't find a user friendly free site that gives me a place to show my fundraising progress. When I was running my marathon, I had a cool little blog that had a rad thermometer. Everytime someone donated, it would go up. It rocked. No thermometer this time. And yes, First Giving dot com doesn't really help me on this issue. Looked into it.

All that to say, if slow and steady wins the race, I am going to be king of the world cos I still have $4500 to go. But $1000 is in. Thank you, everyone!

In other news, I am incredibly tired. We are working to put on the world's biggest live show in a week. Oy.

In other other news, God is really amazing. I was thinking about Romans Chapter 8 verses 37 to 39. It says nothing shall separate us from the love of God. Can you imagine that? Nothing. How many things/people can you say that about? I mean. Seriously. And God is love. By virtue of him being love itself, He cannot help but love us! This is so encouraging.

Ok, I must return to putting my mug in more envelopes. Please subscribe to this blog via the blog feed to your right.

22 January 2008

What tha?!

Frequently Asked Questions


"Why am I here? What happened to your old blog, 26.2? What's with the URL about Liberia? Is Javier Bardem's hair real in No Country for Old Men? Huh?"


First of all, welcome!

And, secondly, though the URL only has a little to do with Ricky Martin - ok, nothing to do with Ricky Martin, you're at my cyber home until until mid-October, 2008.

"What? What's a cyberhome? Where are you going?"

I know that 2007 has been often times a terrific and sometimes adventurous (to say the least?) year for all of us. And, at least for myself, 2008 will be nothing short of that. So what do we say? Bring it on! I am ready.

At the end of March 2008, I will embark upon my six month service to Mercy Ships. Marked by their compassion and love for the needy in third world countries, Mercy Ships has helped over 1.9 million people in the form of medical care, job training and community empowerment. Distinct to this organization - and to my service - are the hospital ships that provide mobility and flexiblity. The work that Mercy Ships there range from simple dental procedures, major facial reconstruction and cleft palate surgeries to healing VVF (Vesicovaginal Fistula) which is a common gynecological condition in third world countries.

"Whoa. That's weird... but cool! AWESOME! What will you be doing?"

I'll be doing general receptionist work, front desk stuff. I really hope to be visiting and talking to people who are on the boat. As I have an inclination towards the arts, I want to have informal but regular knitting and sewing groups if its possible. Liberian women have a tradition of sewing, so I'm sure I will be learning from them! Oh, and I'll be living on a ship with 400 people.

"That's more intense than Javier's hair."

Yes, well, I want to be completely dedicated and focused in service. I cannot and will not believe that some people have the right to be more fortunate than others. I believe that we have the power, corporately and individually, to provide everyone with basic human rights. Tangible things like an education, health care and electricity. And then the rare intangible things that can only be given through the toil of love and from the gut - dignity, respect, hope and love itself.

Please remind me of all of this when times get tough. Could you do that?

"Zzzzzz....zzz

Hello?

"Oh, yeah, sure! Sorry. This is awesome, can we be praying for you? Are you taking sponsorships?"

Since you've read all the way down here, thank you! And thanks for asking. I would absolutely love for you to be partnered with me in spirit! I am raising $5500 for my lodging/crew fees for my six month stay. I would love regular supporters, one time donors, spare change - anything. The donation is tax deductible. I have a long way to go! And as for prayers ... that's invaluable. Absolutely invaluable. Please do.

I'm still thinking of doing a sock marathon. It will involve knitting. Therefore, it'll be good.

"Will you knit me something?"

Yes. It's free upon donation.

"Smarty pants!"

Thanks for reading. Come back often, please!