Hi All,

I am onto the fourth leg of this trip. I started off in Colorado, went to Seattle and then Boston. While in Boston, Emily and I sneaked into Vermont to see Ditra and Molly. Next was Ohio, Cleveland and Cincinnati with Nancy Hodous. Now I am headed for CA after which I will go back to Colorado for the final leg.

Let me start from the beginning. On landing Jody came for me at the airport and was waiting for me at the Internationals Arrivals, while I was at the Local Arrivals - remember, I came in through Minneapolis or Chicago, I forget which now – too much water under the bridge!! Poor gal, she waited for me (I had not graduated to an American cell owner yet) – this is what made Michele so mad that she got one for me – thanks Chel!!! So, when I called what I thought was her cell number, I mixed her home and cell phone numbers and that voice came through telling me she cannot be found – or something to that effect.. I thus took a shuttle and headed for the address down town Denver where I was supposed to stay the night before heading for Vail the next morning. Fortunately, Jody called her home, updated Kent, who sent me an email and once I got into the house I checked emails, responded to Kent’s message from Jody and to cut a long story short, Jody (bless her) was able to come where I was and we stayed there overnight, went to Church the next day with my Iliff friends Jinnie and Laura, had lunch after Church and then Jody and I left for Michele’s house in Vail and prepared to present at the Vail Symposium. Thank you Michele and Jody, for opening your homes for me – what I call ‘home-away-from-home. It is always a delight to spend time with you and your families.

In Vail, CO, I presented at the Vail Symposium, an event organized by the Vail Foundation to celebrate one decade since UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was created. This resolution requires governments to recognize the role women play in peacebuilding and thus include them in decision making positions and peace agreements. I am a proponent of Resolution 1325 and was very honored to be part of the celebration of this important milestone. In fact, for those who may not be aware of the source of the IPI Women’s Congresses, the idea was to bring women’s voices to the fore and to showcase their initiatives that mitigate the effects of war, disease and poverty on their lives and that of their children. The goal is to show that women are in the forefront of fighting these challenges in their lives and actually making a difference

In CO, I also spoke at the schools of Ty and Shay, Jody’s grandkids. Ty came to Kenya last summer with his grandparents Jody and Kent. When I visited with him on this trip he said to me: “You, last year, I did not know what I was doing. When I go back there, I will do a lot of work. I want to go back and do something.” I love it when Ty says he went to Kenya thinking he was going to help, only to find that he learn a lot himself. The Spanish teacher at Ty’s school said she is willing to sell our jewelry at the school – so after the exhibition, I will send her a package.

In CO, I also visited Silver Creek High School where Abby attended High school and this is the school that supports Dominic. We updated them on KACH and Dominic and shared with them the difference they had made in his life and that of his family. In addition, I went to Vail Mtn School and met some of the kids who came to Kenya last summer and showed them pictures of KACH and the kids.

I went to Seattle, Washington and presented at Abby’s university – Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) – a very beautiful campus. I met a Kenyan kid who does nursing at one of the colleges in Everett (I forget the name of the school) and also met with Dylan who came to Kenya with Will to make the movie Education is Hope. If you go to their website: www.educationishope.com, you will see a preview of the movie. This movie will be out in August this year. Dylan works at a lab researching HIV/AIDS vaccine at the Washington University. The owner of the lab called me in Kenya last year because Dylan had given me as his reference. He is convinced that whatever I told that man led to his getting the job – which I am happy to claim that role because Dylan is a great young man. Dylan drove for one hour to come to my presentation at PLU – that made me very happy.

At PLU I met this phenomenal woman from Northern Ireland who has been instrumental in running the peace trainings that have brought peace to Northern Ireland and the Balkans in Eastern Europe – I should know her name, but I forgot it. However, she will write and share some ides on their training models so that we can use the same in our “Pre-Emptying 2012” in Kenya. Pre-Emptying 2012 is about creating a strategy to ensure election violence does not happen in Kenya in 2012.

Then I flew across the USA (it was like flying from UK to USA) to the East coast – ya, who did that itinerary??? Only Karambu can, so I did it!! Anyway, in Boston Anne Fitzgerald had graciously organized an event at her house where I spoke to about 20 people. We sold lots of jewelry and also got some donations. At that meeting was a Masters student from Harvard who was very interested in our work and she is the one who is organizing for me to present at Harvard in the Fall. I also attended Anne’s church although I did not present there.

While in Boston, Emily Morris the New Hampshire lady who volunteered with IPI-Kenya for 4 and a half months in 2009 drove all the way to Vermont to Ditra’s and Molly’s school – CVU (will get the full name). I spoke to three different groups there and we sold jewelry too and some donations. There local newspaper covered my presentation and I have the article in Facebook. The article was well written. Ditra’s family is awesome and we stayed the night at their home. The Dad offered us their Lake house as a place for retreats and meetings. I said I will most likely go there to write my book!!! Burlington is beeeaaaauuuuuttttiiiiffffuuuuullllll!!!!!! I loved it.

Emily is a polished driver and so we had a great time catching up on her life in Syria and mine post-Gary (she met and knew Gary) and we talked about her next visit to Kenya. I spent the night at her parent’s house. They are the sweetest couple on earth – very nice and hospitable. I feel at home in their home, really. The next day in the morning (poor Emily, like me, she is not a morning person) we drove to the airport and off I went to Nancy and Boston.

Nancy is AAAAMMMMAAAAZZZZIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!!! Ohhh my gosh, I have added some kilos from eating the best milkshakes on earth - I am addicted – Merry will have to deal with withdrawal symptoms – pole sana. Then we discovered the Chick-fil-A (y’all know how to say that word, right?) – another level of addiction – their chicken is divine!!! I was trying to be vegetarian – not for now, I guess – oops!! Then Nancy makes this great something banana cake – that was my breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snacks!!!

When I was not eating, we met people at the Procter and Gamble, the Femi Dept (they produce all the tampons, Always-type of items for women’s hygiene. In this department, you REALLY have to LOVE women to work there – that is a basic, then you must REALLY, REALLY LOOOOVVVEEE women and girls to get a position here – you get the picture… – where I made a presentation on the impact of education in changing the circumstances of a girl in Kenya. P&G have a ‘protecting futures’ program for girls around the world. I was fundamentally going to thank them for the pads they donated.

We visited Mathew25Ministries, the container people. No words can describe how I felt to see the things that were coming to Kenya. In my mind, I KNEW they would get there – it was just a matter of time and money. And so, warmer weather is at last back and just on the morning I was going to Cincinnati, David Hodous, Nancy’s husband gave Nancy a sealed envelop to give me when we were on our way. It was for the amount we need to have the container get to Meru!!! And the dining hall at KACH will be roofed (I hope) so we will be able to store a lot of things there. In other words, we have enough space at KACH to empty the container. But I am also investigating the possibility of having the container remain in Meru so that we can use it as our Library once all the stuff is out. Patty said it may cost up to $2,500, but she will confirm the cost. So, the prayers keep going!!!

I also spoke at NASA – that was like going to White House – the security is amazing – I guess it made me feel that some unwanted person cannot get in there – I mean, I had to send my passport info and visa page ahead of time; a photo ID was made at the gate, we were escorted to and from the venue of the presentation. It felt safe, that is all I can say. The audience was very engaged and interested and some great ideas were shared – including the one about CFC – getting donations via deductions before paycheck. It is a Federal Government thing.

I also visited the International Partners in Mission (IPM), and organization that has programs in Kenya and other parts of the world. Nancy has been keen on keeping in touch with them and even though there may not be a funding possibility with them now, I got some excellent networks and connections from Mahesh, their Asia region Director.

In a Cleveland newspaper, was a story about this kid who has created a solar panel that is energy efficient. Sunflower Solutions (SS) is the name of the outfit and we checked out their address online and went by their office. We met Chris the founder and he said to keep in touch and to send him info on our work. I told him we would like him to be the efficient green energy provider of orphans’ homes in Kenya. His eyes actually lit up (according to Nancy) when he heard what we do.

IPM and SS were my last events before heading out to the airport and CA. Nancy was so exhausted by then she was like “I am too old for this, Karambu.” She joked that if energy was picked from my brain (she thinks my brain works too fast) we could power KACH!!!! So, if you are interested in a research topic, there you go!!!

I am writing this on the way to CA. We are way up the skies and my seat is next to this humongous wing so I cannot see much. One of the panels refused to go back where they sit after the plane takes off – and so it has been hiccupping all the way. It is still hanging loose – I just looked!! I am wondering whether the pilots know this – but since we are still in the air, I guess I need not worry – I stopped checking it out when my neck started getting cramps!!!! I will watch it as we land – so, probably I should be saying ‘kwaheris’ just in case we do not make it down – but who will find this lap top??

My goal is to see you all again – so sorry, if you had started celebrating!!! Okay, in CA SFO, I will present at the New Living Expo (that thing cut through my tummy cos my speech is not quite ready and it is tomorrow, Thursday that I am presenting – or is it the nest day – ohhhhh dear, I wish – anyway, no amount of wishing will write that speech, so, I will have to complete it between now and tomorrow in between laying out the tables for the jewelry exhibition!!!

Andrew, it turns out, has an uncle from his Dad’s side who lives in CA. So, he will come to visit them as well as be with us in CA. Fredah must be thinking it is Christmas – when all good things happen – like having Mom and brother coming to visit at the same time!!! I will also meet with Lisa of AI and she has graciously organized a ‘Beads Party’ at her sister’s house. Lisa has also organized for me to meet this person who had developed the “Sustainability Labs” concept and has projects in Israel and speaks all over the world.

SFO, CA is beautiful and I have a wonderful family there – thanks to Gary – and so I love coming back. I have invited EVERYONE to the event on Thursday – 9pm, yes, 9pm is when I present – and I am excited to be part of all these powerful social change agents who are presenting at the Expo. Another nice thing, Jan Folsom from Boulder - the Pro- photographer, my friend who came to take campaign photos in 2007 - is coming to help us with the jewelry selling!!! Very sweet of her, really. So, expect some professional photos from this event for sure!! The only challenge is that I am already tired of the new AP dress I made – so I have to figure what to wear for the event.

Remember the wing thing I spoke about – it is really shaking now – wow, we are really ‘flying through potholes.’ The guy just switched the safety belt light on (fasten the safety belt) – phew, let us see how this goes. I need to write faster so I will have completed this piece before I ‘kwaheri’ you all – ha, ha, ha, haaaaa!!!! But seriously, that piece of the wing is still “at large” – loose and not in its place. Probably I should show it to the crew: what do you think? Oh dearie, dearie, if I did not love flying so much, I would have freaked out and jumped out of the window, really!! Well, KWAHERI for real….

Sorry,I did not jump!!!

  So, see you when I land…. 

Amani and much love to you all. It was fun speaking with you via my lap top. And tonight, this will transform into an email. I think I need to start a blog, yes, I will.

Lala salama. 

Love and Light, 

K