Today’s economic  world makes contributions, whether in the form of money or time, difficult for all of us and most of us are very selective about the organizations to which we contribute.  As I have chatted with people I know well and with strangers about digging the Oltorotua wells and building the latrines, I am surprised at the interest people express and I am eager to actively begin to solicit funds, once our project is affiliated with a US tax-deductible charity.  Hopefully soon.

Author Jake Richardson writes: “The 675,000 acre forest catches so much rainwater it is the origin of a number of important Kenyan rivers. One of the rivers, the Mara, runs through the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife conservation area. This area is world famous, and its fame is well-deserved due to the concentration of wild animals such as lions, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, elephants, antelope, and wildebeests.”

Here’s a photo husband Carl took while we spent several hours watching wildlife along the banks of the Mara with Peter Liech and Jackson Liaram.

Check out the full article to see how conserving water and planting trees combine to create a healthy ecosystem.

Yesterday I had lunch with Carol (CAP) Saucier, author of The Lucy Man: The Scientist Who Found the Most Famous Fossil Ever (of course, the Leakeys have found a few famous fossils too!).  Carol’s book is very readable and tells the story of Dr. Donald C. Johanson, including, of course, his discovery of ‘Lucy’ (Australopithecus afarensis).   Carol told me about an essay contest on the topic “What makes us human and why?”  There is a fantastic prize for each of the three entry levels (grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12)—Dr. Johanson will speak in their classrooms.  Other prizes too.  The contest runs Aug. 15-Nov. 15, 2011.  For more information and to download the official entry form, click here. 

“It is very good news that Water Resources Authority has released the permit for the drilling of the three boreholes. It is an Interim permit as they work on the permanent one. Perhaps they thought of not keeping us waiting long if we are ready to drill the boreholes.”

Jackson also said that Dan, the hydrogeologist, is checking about the status of the other permit.  Moving right along….

Anyone who loves animals, has been to Kenya, or is thinking of going on an African safari should see this movie. The photography is spectacular and Samuel L.  Jackson’s narration is spot on. I wondered how I would feel about a movie in which the lead actors only growl and roar, but the 1-1/2 hours passed quickly. Others in the theater must have liked it too–there was clapping at the end. Stay while the credits are rolled. Not just to see Paul’s name! — The wildlife are given funny titles.  All in all, a super movie!

About a year ago I received an e-mail from a retired teacher turned librarian who was setting up his own lending library in Olesnica, Poland.  He asked me to donate several of my books.  Since writers buy their own books from the publisher, we must choose carefully to whom to donate books.  But I sent a few books to him.

Yesterday he sent me a photo of his gorgeous granddaughter Daria Drozd reading one of my books.  He wrote: “On this map there are places-countries from where I have books for my library
or illustrations for “Gallery of World’s Illustrations” at GLOWINSKIS’ LIBRARY.
There are 88 countries !!! I dream about more and more …
That map is in my flat, in my library there is too little place!”

I got permission to post the photo.  Please check out Teddy’s website (be sure to click the flag in the upper right for English or whatever your language of choice is) and, if you are a writer or illustrator, I know he would love to have a contribution and mark your location on his map.

Here’s a 2008 photo of me, daughter Hope, and Paul in the Mara Intrepids lounge.

I hardly know what to tell folks who want to contribute or help, except that the project is progressing but veerrrr-y slowly.  Here is Jackson’s latest e-mail, in reply to well-guru Steve’s request for dimensions of available blocks:  ”The blocks’ dimensions that you are looking for are available(4, 6, 8 Inches). I asked the mason and confirmed with block buildings. The nearest block mine is about 60 Kilometres from the village.” (The distance is a little over 37 miles of very bumpy roads.)

Why, you may ask, do we need the dimensions of cement blocks for a well?  The blocks are not for the well, but for the latrines.  For health and sanitation, building latrines when digging a well makes the most sense.  Phyllis, a retired professor friend in health education services from Towson University, is searching her contacts for a group that can provide training in sanitation and maintenance procedures.  (If you know of such a group, please let me know.)  I have mentioned other friends who are helping–Steve, Judy, Barbara, Tibby, my husband Carl, Dorothea, Clare.  Which reminds me of an old Maasai saying Jackson sent me several years ago:  “One finger cannot pinch the louse.” (Everybody needs other people in life — Unity leads to success.)