My Pokot family in Kenya, safe so far

I've been in SMS contact with my friends in Kenya since the start of the violence. When the clash was restricted to Nairobi it wasn't much of a concern to most of them, as they live out in the Rift Valley (except for the students in Nairobi, and I can only hope they are safe).

I grew more concerned as I saw that the violence has spread to Nakuru. Those of you who followed my trip may recall that Nakuru is the last city on the edge of the Rift Valley, and is also home to the amazing Lake Nakuru National Park. IHF (the organization I was shooting for) had purchased a building on the edge of town, for the children to live and learn in. Many from the orphanage had been moved there over the last several months, and as soon as I heard that the violence had reached Nakuru, I started to worry.

I'm happy to report that there is good news. The clashing tribes appear to be primarily the Kikuyu (generally the ruling tribe in Kenya, and the tribe of President Kibaki -- the one who is accused of stealing this election), the Luo and the Kalenjin. My friends are Pokot, and their tribe is considered savage by many Kenyans (tourists in Nairobi or Nakuru who say they are traveling into the Rift Valley are usually warned not to -- told that they will meet a brutal death at the hands of the Pokot and never be seen again). While the Masai have the spotlight as the warrior tribe, the Pokot are the ones who are truly feared.

Reportedly all the buildings surrounding the children's new home have been burned to the ground. But the IHF buildings have been left alone. The Kikuyu and Kalenjin know these are Pokot children, and know to leave them alone.

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IHF needs help!

I woke up this morning to find this email in my inbox from Carol Sasaki, founder of IHF.

Dear Volunteers and Sponsors, IHF is currently in an extremely vulnerable financial situation. I am being told by board members that there is simply not enough money this month to continue providing for all the children in my centres. I cannot let this happen. I cannot tell any child that they must leave because there is not enough money. I cannot tell them that they have not been picked when they have been told this so many times before. I am determined to prevent this from happening and I hope that by revealing to you all the true situation of IHF, you too will feel my determination. This letter, therefore, comes to you as an urgent appeal for help. I am pleading with you, with whatever dignity I have left, to come up with enough money for at least one class ($30) and donate it today. This month, IHF's children depend on it. For next month onwards, I am asking you to please make it your personal duty to find at least one sponsor. If everyone who received this email did this, IHF would survive and thrive. We need to just make it until February when we have regular funds guaranteed. It would be absurd to for IHF to fall apart now. Please, please, if you are in denial, let this email be a wake up call. Please help ensure the future of IHF, by going to http://ihfonline.org/donating/ Yours Faithfully, Carol

I already volunteer many hours to this organization, as well as the photo trip to Kenya I did on their behalf, and am additionally going to sponsor a child now because of this situation. Just to drive the point home, these are photos of children who are not under the care of IHF.

And these are children who are.

Yes, you can make a difference. Please, if you can, help.

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A "welcome letter" for future Pokot visitors

I thought this would be fun to share. I've written a (lengthy!) letter/document on "what to expect in Kenya", written for the western traveler, which will be included in a "new volunteers manual" that the IHF is working on. Probably a good read for anyone going into the wild of a developing nation! It's too long to just drop in the blog, so you can read it here.

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Letter to the children

The 'goodbye' letter I wrote to the children in the Pokot orphanage has been posted on the IHF website; how sweet. I'll copy it here for your enjoyment.

My dear children, I am so sorry that I was not able to say goodbye properly. When Past President Moi departed, I ended up getting a ride with his security team back to Nakuru and had to leave immediately. It pained me to not be able to say goodbye in person. I so very much enjoyed my time with all of you. You are wonderful, wonderful children, and I wish I could take you all home with me. The welcome you gave me when mommy Carol and I arrived was one of the most amazing, warm, and loving welcomes anyone could ask for. Your constant hugs were a treasure and made me feel immediately at home. When I went to Nakuru for a couple of days then came back to you all, I felt truly like I was coming home again. Thank you for your love and affection and for teaching me so much about your lives. And thank you for such a wonderful opportunity to photograph all of you. I will be sure to send pictures for you all to enjoy just as soon as I can. Chemariach Lomertelo, my poet. We never had time to record your poem or for me to write it down. I hope that you will write it for me and have Daniel send it to me by email. Never stop writing. You are, and can always be, an inspiration to us all. I love you. Chepkopus Lale, always with a smile for the camera. Never stop smiling; you can brighten any room. I love you. Kevin Kiyech, never stop looking to the stars for knowledge and wonder. You are blessed with one of the most amazing sky's in the world to gaze upon. Always know that when you look up to the stars and the moon, your daddy Joseph will be looking up as well. I love you. Newton Kamarino and Patrick Ruto, you both have amazing futures ahead of you. Stay strong in school and you will go far. I love you both. Moses Korireng, You amazed me with your knowledge of American politics and your thirst for knowledge. I wish you the best in your quest to study Business at Kabarak University. I love you. And of course Chepanga, my special Pokot daughter. I will miss you terribly, and I will be watching over you from afar. I look forward to hearing about your life as you grow into a young woman, and know that you always have a daddy, somewhere in the world. I love you. And to everyone else, my greatest love to you all, Daddy Joseph

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Back in California

Hi everyone, I'm home now. After many long flights from Nairobi to London, London to Los Angeles, then Los Angeles to San Jose, I'm home. Amazingly my baggage made it 10,000 miles to LAX where I cleared it through customs, only to have them not manage to make it the last 350 miles to SJC. Go figure. (They just arrived at home a few minutes ago) It took a while to find my way home last night as every freeway entrance to downtown San Jose was blocked off for the Cinco de Mayo weekend, but I finally got through. I wandered out for a sushi dinner (ahhh, food!!) then passed out around 10. So good to be back on a nice mattress instead of the 3-inch thick foam I've been on for two weeks. A hot shower! Smooth roads! Cappuccino! Ahhh But… I miss Kenya already. I miss the kids. The smiles. The stars. The sound of animals instead of traffic. And lots of other little things that will undoubtedly sink in over the course of this first day back. I love you Kenya, you were good to me. I will return one day, without question. I have a TON more to write and post, and will do it as quickly as possible. I shot over 6,000 pictures and need to finish sorting them. On Friday, the orphanage was visited by past President Moi, and I have a massive gallery of that visit.

Me meeting former President Moi.

Photo credit: Solomon Kipsang Tallam, President Moi's personal photographer

On my last day we went out at sunrise to see the Lake Nakuru National Park, home to 1.5 million flamingos, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo, dik dik, black and white rhino, baboon, monkey, and many many more wonderful animals. As I go through these and other pictures I'll recall other stories to tell, and will get them up here quickly. For now though… it's back to the other world. Thank you all for following, and for posting comments, and generally coming along for a ride with me. The show is over but the stories will continue. hwakerini, -Joseph

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