This morning I went back to Iraq.

This morning I woke up, made coffee, (Rwandan, of course) checked my email and Blackberry, then I went to Iraq. Now before my father and children start calling let me explain. A good friend of mine Karen Pavlicin, is the keynote speaker at an upcoming event and she is in the middle of putting together a presentation. She asked to use some of my photos. So this morning I went back to Iraq. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I first flew into Baghdad. At that time I went in to support a project my friend Malcolm Nance was working on. Now it's no secret I will go anywhere in the world for Malc. And I know he always has my back where ever in the world I am too. Malc and I have been through a lot together to say the least. And Malcolm has given me a priceless gift.

The gift of knowledge and skills to stay alive in hostile situations. I've taken these gifts around the world many times now. They are ingrained, they are part of who I am now. They give me confidence, and allow me to take control of my own security. So, as I spend my morning sipping coffee with a fire in the fireplace, looking at photo after photo,

my thoughts drift back to Baghdad and our house in Mansour. Our death defying trips into the Green Zone, through the gauntlet of blast walls at Assassin Gate, a drive down Route Irish to the airport, or our road trip to Erbil in Kurdistan. So this morning as I revisit Iraq, I pause and give thanks to Malcolm and all the others who successfully kept me alive. Those who everyday told me they would die for me

and meant it. -Peace to all, love and blessings to my friends in Iraq-Linda

It's hard work trying to do good.

The emails have been flying back and forth between St. Paul, Kigali and India.
Terry, our kind-hearted Dir. of International Solar installations (I can't pay him but I can give him a well deserved title) has been pulling his hair out waiting for a site assessment to come in from Kigali. We're getting ready to leave soon for Rwanda to light a medical clinic inside a refugee camp with solar lighting. Delays, holidays, and more delays. In the mean time I put in a order with our solar lantern supplier in India for 100 lanterns for our Rwandan coffee growers. I want the lanterns to be shipped as we leave for Rwanda. Terry is growing more anxious everyday. There is energy all around. Life is wonderful.

It's time for me to slow down, take a deep breath, exhale and give thanks to all of my friends, family and supporters. With out your help and understanding we could never keep Fifty Lanterns moving forward. You give your time, money and energy to help a person in need that you'll never meet. Your generosity and faith is nothing short of remarkable.

I want to give a special thanks to Kelly C. Weiley, for her incredible energy and insight.

Bless you all,
-Linda