7/20/09-Carlsbad to Santa Monica, CA

Stopped in to visit a business owner friend of mine to talk with him about the journey and ask for a donation to the HMI building projects.  He agreed the cause was worthy and would send a check directly to them. [my friend prefers to remain anonymous] After leaving his office in Santa Monica we rode over to the studios of LAInk.  As we approached the location we observed a long line of folks waiting to enter so we went around back.  Walked up to the six, heavily tattooed men standing at the door and introduced ourselves.  I pulled the poster of the Mathare baby crawling on the filthy path and explained the purpose of our journey.  To my surprise, every man was genuinely interested.  They suggested I share the information with the guys inside.  The door was opened for us-we entered.  Spoke to the man at the front desk about our mission.  His reaction was unexpected, considering the way he looked and his profession, he said he wished more people would take time to notice those beyond our country and then do something to help them.  After all, we live in the greatest country in the world where everything is handed to us, all anyone has to do is ask for it. People in third world countries have nothing but corrupt governments and little hope that things will change unless we get involved.  How profound. I was touched by his sincerity.  I asked if he would share the information in the package with the rest of the crew.  He said he would.  We left and ventured over to another friends office to talk with him about auctioning my hair to raise funds.