The struggle continues.

Happy International Womens Day!

At times I struggle with the idea of a day devoted to women across the globe. Why the special treatment and recognition I ponder? Ahhh - lucky me -- having the luxury of man's perspective without a shred of understanding of what women actually face and feel. I am admittedly naive and clearly frighteningly comfortable in my ignorance. So with that in mind, I reflect through the fog of simplicity and tip my hat to the fairer gender on this day and turn my thoughts to the woman who raised me. It is here the fog lifts.


For my Mom, I have a special place in my heart. It's not just because she's known me for 9 months longer than anyone else, but because my Mom opitimizes beauty and grace. Tough when needed, engaging always, and has the wisdom of someone well beyond her tender years. I have watched with fascination as she handled the passing of her partner in life and bravely opened the book to not read, but write the next chapter in her book of life. A cackle of laughter so familiar to friends and family, is the signature of a woman comfortable with herself and both delighted and amused by the life she leads. Happy IMD Mom!

WE be on the farm!!

Part of my work with my new team WE Charity is looking after two farms in the Mara. ( the northern part of the Serengeti) Not knowing the difference between chicory and chickens makes me an unlikely leader for the team but luckily we have a farm manager who deals with the milking of cows and the tricky bit of regulating the fertilizer for the green houses we maintain.





As part of our 5 pillars strategy, (Education - Water - Food - Health - Opportunity) we grow food for the community and to support our operations. I must say that farm to plate is a wonderfully nourishing exercise for both the palate and soul. We are currently working on a plan to add drinking water by harvesting the rainwater off our green houses and converting to drinkable water. With Honey hives, the harvest of methane gas (something to do with cow poo I think) and all the growy stuff on the fields, this is a really fun part of my job. New info - broilers and layers are not the same chicken - good to know!

The Malezi Technical Education program

It was fantastic to be back with the kids and the thoughtful band of volunteers that give selflessly for these youngins. The kids are from the Majengo slum which is definitely not at all like Disney Land and are ferried to Father's Johns office for some time with volunteers and to learn about computers.  It was a fun class with my friend Andy doing an extremely good impersonation of a professional teacher. Well done Andy!!. I noticed that the kids (this is a brand new group for the next 5 classes) have a much higher understanding of the basics of computers. Something must be going right! My little guy Jeremiah did a great job learning computer basics over the 3 hours we worked together. While admittedly, Juma's lunch was a high point, it was also rewarding as Jeremiah opened up to me and the material as the morning skipped along. A big thanks to all those who have done their part to keep this program going.


And most importantly - a new guitar. The world continues to be assaulted by my off-key plunking though I remain undeterred!!!









Thanks for reading ...Layno!!