I Need the Wisdom of Your life...

For the record, i'm pretty sure i've mentioned this before but i'll do it again, New York rain is great...15 minute serious thunderstorm and finito...geographical weather patterns amaze me.

So our friends Jeanne and her mom are currently on the way to Laguardia to fly back to SC and we had a good time with them this weekend. Tammy as usual played the patient role of tour guide, we have decided to start charging a nominal fee for her services of guidance and my google maps researching contributions to peoples trips. and for the record we love our new little buddy Gus. He is a wonderfully inquisitive ferret, very energetic and prone to claw, shred, dig, break, fall, knock over, climb, or randomly attack things...like our knees and shoes, but he is super sweet and strangely (as compared to jeffery who tolerates it) loves to be petted and rubbed much like a dog...

And so everyone know Tammy made it back safely from Vegas and had a really good time plus got the chance to see the Cirque du Soliel KA production, which was mind blowing she says and if you know her fascination with Cirque, was a fantastic dream come true...

We are very much still discussing the plan for my teaching in the future and what that's going to look like this next year. And i think i still think in a college time frame, partly due to my association with schools here, but also due to our schedule with CV...so i mean this school year. On that note, Tammy and i have discussed time and again my involvement in continuing to teach evening classes over the next year and here's the lowdown:

As i mentioned before CV and Sheng Tai Studios (STS) are going into a public school here in our neighborhood in partnership with an organization from Dallas called Heart of a Champion (HOC) - we like initials in the non-profit organizational world - HOC has been actively providing materials for character development in public schools in a number of states in the country, but has struggled bc of costs to stay afloat here in NYC. So through Divine orchestration, we are able to partner with them and take their program of simple materials to the next level (and not the summer missions experience) with onsite followup, advocacy for the school and families to the community and political leaders, launch event with pro athletes, and of course my role - martial arts instruction to reinforce the materials in about 50 students. 

My role will be a paid position by the program and i will be responsible for 4 classes a week with 2 on Monday, 1 Wednesday, 1 Friday. This is great for me bc i'm working with slightly older students 6-9 grades and able to really focus on mentoring students and helping develop character, i like this hands on ministry style. However this leaves me in a pickle...

Tammy and i decided for me to focus on my training with the Gracie's as an investment in our future since that is what i want to be teaching for a number of reasons, as well as working toward competition. so between those two, it makes a challenging schedule to be also offering evening classes and not running myself ragged. When i talk about training i need to clarify that i am training for 2 goals, 1:to gain the knowledge to instruct champions, 2:to become a champion so i can teach champions. So i realize most people are like, "what's the big deal with training? Just do it then teach." But i need to clarify that i leave the house Monday - Friday at 6:30 in the morning and don't get home from training until 4 in the afternoon. We're talking about a full time job here. And on top of that add all the physical abuse i take and the mental strain of the sport, and i am pretty much beat. so we are trying to be wise with our time so we can also have time together. mind you she leaves around 7 which is a prime time for teaching a class, and we want to see each other.

so anyway all that being said in way of explination, we want to be wise in our decision making. i want to be consistent in what i do but realize i can't do everything so any wisdom in that area would be very much appreciated from you guys. Also if you could be praying for the funding for this program to come in, since we need to raise my salary, cost of materials, launch event costs, etc. all in all we budgeted $300,000+ for this years program, thankfully we have connections to some sports teams and all, but still need to raise it. so be in prayer and if you know anyone that want's to sponsor a child, or any businesses that want to get behind this please let us know at jonathan@citivision.org. The cost to sponsor a child is $250. 

please feel free to pass on to tammy and i your invaluable wisdom as well...i'm still new to this business thing and life is always a beautiful and challenging ride...

love you all,

Jonathan