This morning I was forced to stay in the RV, waiting for the thunderstorms to pass. I dealt with the same situation yesterday, only it stopped by 9:45, and I was out the door by 10:00. Today we haven’t been so lucky. By 11:45 the storm was just as intense as it was at 7:00. I finally got to walk today…the latest start I have had…6:30PM!!!

Hugging the wall on this narrow curb to avoid getting hit oncoming by cars!

I didn’t get all the miles in today that I wanted before the sun was falling down into the horizon, so I’ll have to make up some miles in the next few weeks.

I’ve been walking mostly east for the past couple of weeks, making it all the way to the eastern side of Kansas City, and now I’m finally starting to head north again towards Iowa and Minnesota. Before I headed that way this evening, we stopped by two YMCA after-school youth groups in Prairie Village, just south of Kansas City. I’ll post all about that tomorrow, along with some of the pictures we took of these two great groups.

The past few days of walking have been an adventure; I’ve been lost a couple times on unmarked roads out in the middle of the country,

Does this mean I'm done?

walked through some tougher neighborhoods in KC, seen more fireworks stores in one block then I’ve seen around entire cities, and this morning I sat in the RV waiting for a never-ending storm to pass for the first time in almost 7 weeks! It just doesn’t feel right to not feel exhausted by 2:00pm!

We’ve all been working hard. Dina, Anne, Kathy, and everyone on our team have been working their butts off to make sure ASM4P is as successful as it possibly can be. I think they are willing to work so hard because they know the importance of what we are trying to do, and the possibility of change in the world we can all make through ASM4P and War Kids Relief.

It feels good to know so many people care about this cause,

Crossing the Missouri River. I was happy to find a footbridge.

but the best feeling of all is finding how well kids connect with the message of helping their peers suffering in war-torn nations. Talking with these groups of kids about the children of Iraq and Afghanistan, letting them see that the kids there are just like them but may live in a harder and more dangerous environment, strikes a cord with even some of our youngest participants. Kids want to help their peers in these war-torn countries. It’s inspirational to watch their eyes light up with the possibility that their letters and fundraising projects may actually help a child just like them who is living in a much more difficult situation.

When I talk to kids or groups of adults, I always address the current problems the children face in Iraq and Afghanistan. I also talk a little bit about some of the projects and initiatives War Kids Relief has designed. I thought I would share some of the projects we are planning to complete.

I need to get some fireworks...anyone know where I can buy some?

One of the projects War Kids Relief would like to complete is the building of a Youth Rehabilitation & Jobs Skills Training Center. The center provides psychological/social/rehabilitation/economical supports for the teenagers of Neinewa (Mosul) province as preventive and curing measures to combat trafficking and exploiting children and teenagers by insurgents. I often describe this to people using a comparison of a youth center built in the inner city here in the US. Youth centers built in the inner city here in the US are often built to provide a safe place for kids, a way to deter the recruitment into gangs, provide an opportunity to learn good values, be surrounded by caring adults and teachers, etc. The youth center in Iraq would obviously be different in many aspects, but the general purpose is the same. In Iraq, it would prevent the recruitment, use, and manipulation of children by extremists, militias, and insurgent groups, while also providing counseling and job skills training to provide opportunities for kids who may not otherwise see options for themselves outside of insurgent recruitment.

Gotta be a place to get a hold of some fireworks around here somewhere...

Another project we will complete is the construction of a Vocational Training & Development Center in Khost, Afghanistan. As a supplement to the school in Khost, this vocational training and development center will create opportunities for sustainable employment to students in 7th grade and older through highly marketable skills including embroidery, tailoring, briquette making, jam making, and carpentry. Through this entrepreneurial program, the goal is for each student to create a small and viable business by graduation.

Often the problem in Afghanistan is that while millions of children get

If only I could find some fireworks in this town...

the opportunity to go to school (sometimes all the way through high school), there is little if any opportunity for employment. Getting to the point; they may have no other way to pay to put food on the table for themselves and their families other then by joining a paying militia. These new opportunities created by the vocational center will prevent hundreds otherwise vulnerable children from getting drawn into insurgent groups. It doesn’t stop there though! It will help entire communities and generations to come!

Helping these vulnerable children see a real future for themselves is vital to our future as well.

I can't believe I can't find any fireworks in this town!

Maybe if I just ask someone for directions to a fireworks stand? Nah, I'm a man. I'll just keep walking till I'm complete lost.

What kind of town is this? No firework stores?

Is that a fireworks store? Nah, couldn't be.

Well, maybe I'll find some fireworks in the next city I go through.

Walking up a closed bridge into downtown Kansas City, Missouri. (pretty sure that was illegal)

Walking through downtown KC.

Downtown KC.

Taking a break in KC.