Not sure I’ll make it to Defcon this year, bit i think it’s just as well.
It looks like flights from EBB to Las Vegas will be more than $4300. Combined with room and incidentals, that’s more than we’ve ever made fundraising at Defcon. It also looks like I won’t get a speaking slot despite rather heroic efforts from Defcon staff.
On top of that, I just got a bill for shipping charges on computer gear that was supposed to be used in the States. Now the gear is here and I’ll have to do my best to make it work. That bill is about $4500 so that tells the tale.. The exact amount I would have needed for Defcon.
Things have been going horribly lately, so this is just the icing on the cake. It’s one thing after another.
Our 501(c)3 is still stalled, the Ugandan government is nickel and diming us, those I trust turn on me no matter how mush I’ve poured into them and a couple weeks ago we got the biggest kick in the teeth yet. I’m still drafting the post on that one.
The whole thing just has me scratching my head..
You know, it really is (was) an insane concept and an even more insane move. I am obliterated and frankly I’m lacking the resources, stamina and heart to float the org any more.
“So ask for help,” you might say.
That’s good advice, but I’m terrible at delegating and have failed miserably at properly engaging the skills of the community. So it’s been the “Johnny show” for so long that now even the most basic requests seem to fall flat. I can’t blame anyone except myself.
So it’s probably best that I’m not going to make Defcon. I’ve got a lot of work to do. I have an f-ton of donated equipment I need to distribute and make the most of. I owe it to you, the donors, to stretch what you’ve given as far as possible before making any final decisions about the future.
It’s good timing for me to dig in with what we have because financially we can’t afford much more than that.
These words are sour for me to even read. Pre-Africa, in some previous revision of me, I’d like to think I would have been up in the face of these things, standing, fighting.
But right now I feel like I’m just fighting to make it through each day, to end up “on the right side of the grass” as my Shidoshi used to say, practically a lifetime ago.
First, I want to do something. I’m honest about that. Tell me what I can do. I am disabled, I cannot hold a job. I’d lose my health insurance and all income if I received more than ~50USD in a month. I have nothing to do. I’ve been working on a site for a local non-profit under the name of HFC. Contact me and let me know what can be done. If naught else I can just monitor the email for you to make sure you get contact prioritized.
Keep your head high Johnny, you don’t have to do it all on your own. Let us know what you need and the community will try and rally around you.
God often opens another door you hadn’t seen when you have circumstances shut one in your face – a hard lesson I’ve had to learn recently losing my own job and wondering what I’m doing with my life…
God is in the victory and the defeat…
Agree 100% with Tsky – we’re here and ready to help :)
Hang in there, when everything seems against you, when the place you are trying to help kicks you back, you still know you are not alone.
Obstacles are meant to be cleared.
God bless.
I hate to see it come to this, but maybe you should seek out a larger, more established charitable organization that could take over the administrative work of HFC. Management is hard. God bless
I wish you well, Johnny.
I bet if you were to solicit the help of the Reddit community, your financial difficulties might suddenly disappear. So, um… maybe consider placing a Reddit link next to that RSS icon. :)
Was hoping for a word from God for you today… came across Psalm 143 in my reading – I hope that offers you some encouragement.
The adversary relishes the opportunity to dishearten us; yet God works mightily in our weakness. It is His power, and not our own, that sustains us.
I pray that God strengthens you and uplifts you in dependance on Him. :-)
Word. Just dropping by to see if things have lightened up – i hope they have :) You’re doing important work … keep that in mind all of the time. :)
You, your family, and the *community* are making it happen. Don’t give up hope you have more resources at your disposal than you know. Just ask and whatever power moves heaven an earth, along with your support group, will get ‘er done!
Do you want some folks to man a booth for you at Defcon? That’s very doable… What can we do to help you on the home (Africa) front? Hang in there!