Finished the Komen 3 Day walk and now got my eye on the Kili Summit. New training experiences now as I test out my cold & rain weather gear. My hiking boots seem to be perfect. I have not gotten in as many miles in distance as before but we have been getting 3 miles of trails at least once a week plus 3-5 street miles. Riding the stationary bike, and twice a week tortured by Amasa, my trainer at the Meyer Center. This rounds out my preparation activities. Larry and I have been walking in temperatures around 30 degrees a number of times including Thanksgiving day with a down pour of rain. We did stayed warm and dry! Yes we have bought good equipment — the guys at Dynamic Earth have become some of my new friends, the cash register lights up when we stop by.

I have moments of disbelief that I am going to be in Africa in less than a month. In my wildest dreams I would not have imagined this experience. The thought of raising awareness and money for villages with no clean water and the opportunity to get a water well drilled for a village is an inspiration and true motivation. We recently had the privilege of meeting Ron & Gloria Hanson missionaries with the africa oasis project, www.africaoasisproject.org – they shared with our Springfield climbing group about their work and how our climb will support their work. This couple is so passionate and in love with the African people and bringing clean water and the message of the Living Water to the many villages. They shared stories of women and children who walk miles each day for water, and they reminded us that the average person in these villages gets about 3 cups of water a day. WOW that is hard to imagine. I hope you go to the kiliclimb.org/climbers/rita-gurian/ and consider the possibility of being apart of this climb with a small donation. You will be glad you did.