Tony Geisler - DC Region YMD Ldr, Zone YMD Secretariat Ldr

Nearly a month ago I was speaking on a teleconference attempting to promote the YMD Conference. In the back of my mind I knew that May Contribution was on the horizon, and I had to not only speak of participating in both our commemorative contribution and going to the YMD Conference, but I had to take action to do them both myself. As I was trying to encourage those I was speaking with, I was thinking to myself, how on earth am I going to be able to accomplish both?
I had been chanting to reach my goal for contribution and to have the finances to attend the Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC) this summer, but did not yet have the actual proof to do both. Immediately after that call I spoke my mother, who still does my taxes (I have great fortune). She told me had good news.....I would be receiving more money in my tax refund than ever before! All of a sudden I could afford to accomplish both goals and luckily still have enough money to fix my car. It was such a huge benefit. Since then I have been facing many obstacles, but I know as long as I challenge them head on I will win in the end. In this noble cause for world peace we can never quit no matter how daunting things may seem at the time.
"We are now in the process of creating an ushakable foundation meant to last for 10,000 years. For that reason, we must not be impatient, nor is there any need to try and look impressive. It is important that, person by person, we increase the size and scope of our movement by developing friendships based on humanism. Making true, genuine friends and creating a core of capable individuals is crucial. No great development can be accomplished without painstaking effort."– SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, January 11, 2007