Thank You!

A belated THANKS! to all of you who donated to my "Virtual Birthday Party" back in March! I just this evening received the final word on where all the money went, along with some wonderful pictures.

The first project we funded was a new tin roof for a rural school in Uganda. They lost the old one in a severe storm. Our money bought tin sheets, and local labor installed them free of charge.

The second project -- a bonus, since I didn't know we'd raise so much money! -- was a furniture donation for an orphan school, also in Uganda. Here is an excerpt from the email I received tonight:

As always in Africa, things happen slowly. We were able to get the benches for Living Hope Orphan school that we discussed. This is a great ministry helping over 200 vulnerable and orphaned children in a predominantly Muslim slum area of Kampala. I hope the photos give a sense of happiness of this place – its a rowdy but always exuberant group of kids. Actually every time I’ve visited they are more or less like this happy – even if we don’t bring anything. I know however, that the gift of the desks will make a huge difference. Please pass our deepest thanks to the lady who generously gave for this project.

So I extend their thanks and wonderful smiles to you who so lovingly gave! I found this email waiting for me upon my return from seeing a movie about an orphanage in China during the Chinese-Japanese war in the 1930's. I had come home feeling so suburban, so protected from real suffering, so irrelevant. And then... these pictures! Enjoy!!

Believe!

For Fathers Day, Harper and I staged our second annual Family Film Festival (to rival the Seattle International version - SIFF - which sucks up, I'm guessing, around 50 hours of movie time for Jay each June). On this year's line-up: Kung Fu Panda at the theatre and a home screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks. The latter is really not worth much comment at all except that the "Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pie" guy was in it.

Kung Fu Panda, however, gets my attention today. It was not a bad little flick. Several good laughs and quite beautiful with the animated Kung Fu choreography. I've decided to screen it for my 10th grade world lit students next year, nevermind that it's targeted for the elementary school set. The reason is its Eastern theology. If you want a quick course in Taoism, this is the Tao of Disney. I won't go into a detailed worldview analysis of the film (mostly because I'd need to see it again to get it just right), but one particular theme really struck me. A theme that has made its way West. The theme of believing. I can't believe how many movies have these absurdly profound lines about "believing." Believe in what, I ask? Sometimes, it's believing in yourself, as with Po the Kung Fu Panda. I was relieved that, at least, after the adorably obese Panda begins to (foolishly?) believe in himself, at least he goes through some intense Jedi-Master Kung Fu training. But most of the time, the message seems to be that the mere belief itself is the magical ingredient. Nevermind WHAT the person is supposed to believe IN. In the case of Kung Fu Panda, it's Taoism. And if you really think that Taoism is the answer to all the questions of the universe, then so be it. But what irks me is that no one is ever asked to examine the believability of the belief. I get the same feeling when I watch American Idol auditions. These horribly off-key and over-the-top contestants get furious at Simon for telling them the truth. "That's your opinion," they scream at the camera, insisting that they believe in themselves and they're going to take Hollywood by storm on another day in another way. They're doing a fantastic job of believing. But I don't see it getting them anywhere.

CyperPals

I am getting worse and worse at contributing regularly to the blogosphere. However, I spend a lot of time (mostly when there are papers to be graded and dishes to be washed) popping around to friends' blogs. Actually, it's my husband's friends' blogs... my friends by association and long-distance admiration. Sometime's I feel like one of the guys, laughing at the amusing ploys and one-liners of Todd, Rick, Steve, the Hubby James, et al. I especially enjoy the long strings of witty comments, particularly about fat ladies farting in the airport.

I just can't seem to get my gal-pals interested in blogging. What fun it would be to check in on Anne Marie's offbeat humor and Lorri's unique drama on a weekly basis. Now there's two wonderful women who would not shy away from a fart story!