(Above) The school is nearing completion. When this picture was taken we were waiting for the delivery of the roofing. (Right) Simon talks with Al about the construction. Al and his band LOW raised a great majority of the funds for the construction.
(Left) Inside the school, the a-frames for the roof rest. (Above) An aerial view of the main entrance. The building is a lot larger than it looks in pictures!
(Left) Students watch from the entrance as Al and I are given a tour of the school building. We were just as excited as they were about the new building. (Above) One of the 80 + students from the school started this small kiosk after she learned to read, write and basic math.
(Left and below) The teachers and students of the primary (elementary) school in Namuncha send their many thanks to the Linssen family of the Twin Cities for their donation of school materials for the kids. Here they are on their first day back from vacation eagerly receiving new pencils and paper!
(Left) I was happy to see that the school had just constructed a well. The teachers told me that so many kids miss school because they drink dirty water and get sick - this clean water tank should help!
Many of you may remember this little girl whom I met back in January (pictured at left) called Ene Kindi. For those of you who don't know, she's an AIDS orphan who has the virus herself. I saw her on this trip as well (right), she came running right up to me.
She has a chronic cough, her little body shivering inside her big jacket. It must have been 90 degrees out that day. (Left) she showed considerable weight loss since I last saw her. I was very happy to see her, but extremely heart broken at the same time. I heard that she is receiving some basic medicine now (thanks to doctors in Kijabe hospital), which I hope will help. She's not alone. According to community elders there are a growing number of AIDS orphans within the Namuncha community. There are 650,000 AIDS orphans in Kenya (according to the UNAIDS, Report of the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2004). I hope to return next summer on a fellowship to study the virus and efforts by the Maasai to combat it.
On the bright side, a medical team came down to a neighboring village to provide FREE medical care (left). Ene Kindi was one of those who visited the clinic. (Above) Simon stands next to a water tank being built in his community by a retired Maasai doctor.
(Left) Me with my Maasai mother Mary and (right) with my Maasai father Lekoora. This is the Tumanka family who adopted me five years ago.
(Left) Veronica, the wife of Simon (our host, translator, and good friend). (Above) “Hotel Namuncha” - Simon's newly constructed home where he had Al and I stay.
(Left) There were many others staying in the house, like this giant spider. Can anyone tell me what that is? (Above) Playing Frisbee with the kids.
(Right) Some guys play with a homemade soccer ball outside, while inside (above) Al entertains the kids with a song. They're huge LOW fans now!
(Above) Al walking with his new friends. (Right) Al stands with some men after a fresh cow slaughter (notice the bloody knife in the hand of the man at right).
Turns out Al grew up on a farm and impressed us all with his goat milking abilities (left).
(Above) Alan and Simon. (Right) All thumbs-up here!
(Left) “What's his name?” Al had asked the mother of this newborn boy. “What's you're son's name?” the mother asked in return. Thus, this newborn was given the name 'Cyrus.' (Above) Julius plays Al's guitar.
Saw a lot of wild animals, but no Simba! I guess that's probably not such a bad thing.
When we were bored we would throw spears with newly graduated warriors. It's harder than it looks. Notice the spear in the top left corner in the picture above. That's one reason why nobody messes with the Maasai, and probably why I've never been robbed while I travel with them.
(Above) I tried it myself, but was quickly reminded why I stink at it (right) “you're not from around here.”
Some of the guys demonstrated how they start fires as warriors in the “bush” with sticks and dried animal droppings (left).
(Left) Fifteen minutes later we were warming ourselves by the fire!
(Above) “This guy!” Yep, I ran into the only warrior who I couldn't beat in the jumping contests in January. (Right) Taking video with Al's camera.
Some random pictures of kids.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Sorry about the disorganization (it's been a busy week at the University), but it should give you an idea of how the trip went.


Thanks for all of your well wishes and support. Look for a new website and non-profit in the coming months…


Thanks!
Lemayian ole Tumanka
(aka Hans Johnson)

To learn more about the Maasai people visit:

WWW.LALEYIO.COM