We are in the van headed for the trailhead on Kilimanjaro. I would be lying if I were to say calmness is the mood of the day. A nervous optimism fills the air. The fears that each of us owns have grown to monumental proportions by this morning. Those self doubts seem at time more real than the mountain itself, which at this point in the drive has not physically revealed itself to us—it is completely enveloped in clouds! We drive through the African bush blindly to our destiny. Today we’ll climb from the Lemosho Trailhead to Forest Camp at 9500 feet through rainforest. We’re all alert for glimpses of blue colobus monkeys, elephants, buffalo and giraffe which make their home among the huge fig, palm and camphorwood trees.

On a very exciting note, we have been informed that the Red Ribbon Foundation has received more than $20,000 in pledges to support their AIDS grantees including Nyumbani, the orphanage that we visited only days ago. We are so inspired and uplifted by your generosity. If you know others that could possibly help, please direct them to www.redribbonfoundation.org. Thank you all so much!