"WINNER: The guy in the white tank shirt and red shoes was the first-place U.S. finisher (and the only U.S. participant) for the Machakos Half Marathon. Got this photo just before the race began, between drizzles. That was an amazing experience to run with Kenyans on their own turf. Most of the course was along the rural roads (on the dirt and pebbles) as cars and motorbikes zoomed past and through the scenic countryside. Honored to help raise money and attention for Tumaini International Ministries to help educate AIDS orphans in this area. I was super-impressed with the speed of the Kenyans. -- in Machakos."

"NO EXCUSES. This shy, young Kenyan girl ran the half marathon barefoot. Most of the course was on rocky red clay, sandy paths and loose gravel. Her name is Jacqueline. Way to go! Hope to see her winning Olympic gold one day. She was WAY ahead of me -- in Machakos."

"KENYAN KIDS are pretty awesome. Met these youngsters this afternoon on a visit to Machakos -- a town of about 150,000. -- in Machakos."

"My friend Mitra donated some flashlights for me to give to the kids we are meeting. They LOVE them. Almost all homes in this area do not have electricity, so I image they are having fun exploring with the flashlights at night."

Mr. Rudd has also been uploading daily photo galleries:

• Day 1

• Day 2

• Day 3

Kenya is in East Africa, more than 3,200 miles from West Africa where the deadly Ebola virus has taken several thousand lives. Nairobi, Kenya is an air traffic hub for Africa, and in August it did what the U.S. government hasn't done: it closed its border to flights from west Africa...and has kept its borders closed to flights from west Africa despite pressure from the World Health Organization, the International Civic Aviation Organization and the East African Community Civil Aviation Society and Security Oversight Agency (which say the risk of Ebola transmission through air travel is minimal (source: AllAfrica.com).

If Ebola concerns Mr. Rudd, he hasn't mentioned it on the internet.

[Rudd text, prior to leaving]...We'll be working and visiting alongside children orphaned because of AIDS in the villages surrounding the rural area of Masii, Kenya -- about an hour outside of Nairobi. The purpose of the trip includes connecting with sponsored AIDS-orphaned children; visiting homes and school; and connecting with business co-ops...One of the projects we'll undertake is helping with construction of a 3-room place for a grandmother and her young grandkids (AIDS orphans) who are currently living in a small 1-room place. A highlight of the trip for me will be running the Machakos Road Race (half-marathon) on Sun., Oct. 5 with about 3,000 Kenyans as we help to raise money to educate some AIDS orphans...IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME to leave Ralph and POTUS the Bulldog. And, it will be tough to leave the day-to-day work I do in Long Beach, but I know that God has given me this opportunity to continue to make differences in lives of people I'll come in to contact with in Kenya...To get me there, each person on the team is raising funds to cover their airfare, housing, transportation and meals. I'm shooting for extra money to cover vaccinations and some other minor expenses...I am blessed to be a part of many great opportunities, and count on my friends and family for their prayers, financial support and encouragement as I serve.

LBREPORT.com will have more on Mr. Rudd's journey as we learn it.