Jambo from Nairobi!

I sit awaiting the final leg of my long journey which will transport me from my island Kiwi home back to my rural village home. I can’t wait to be back.

It’s been a whirlwind the past few days, weeks, months. We relocated to Barcelona for four months for Nath’s work with Team New Zealand and had an incredible time living a totally different life with the boys. Leaving behind the leafy suburbs of beach-side Devonport with our green back yard and peaceful beach, we rocketed ourselves into inner-city urban living, moving in an apartment on the edge of El Born, Barcelona’s vibrant gothic quarter, and the superyacht-studded marina. We were a 10-minute bumpy cobbled-stoned scooter’s ride from Barceloneta beach, with its pumping music, thousands of scantily clad bodies and hawkers weaving through the throng. Charlie’s favourite phrase to mimic became ‘beer, water?’ echoing the persistent call of the hawkers trying to entice us with cold beer and water. We lived life to the full, enjoying late Spanish dinners, grungy flamenco shows, glorious afternoons in our rooftop pool with the other families from the team staying in our same building, overlooking the sparkling waters of Barcelona, watching the boat crane out at the end of the day, knowing that would mean the arrival of daddy home on his scooter, much to the boys’ delight. Jack (4) and Charlie (2), charmed everyone we met with their smatterings of Spanish, calling over their shoulders to all they passed on their little scooters, ‘Hola! Muy bien! Adios amigos!’ The more the reaction, the more their theatrics grew. It was a really special time and leaving NZ in early July for full-blown European summer was something I’d quite happily do every year. We arrived back home last week, just in time for NZ to start warming up for our own down under summer and it’s been wonderful settling back into our local community and enjoying all that home has to offer – a far cry from the endless buzz of Barcelona but beautiful to move between the two such contrasting worlds.

But in the meantime, Uganda. Ever since Uganda first stole my heart back in 2009, I’ve done my very best to return every year which, except for the years I gave birth to the boys and lockdown year, I’ve managed to do. Returning regularly has kept me closely connected to my Ugandan family and I’m so incredibly excited and grateful to soon be back in my favourite land-locked corner of the world.

As always, it was really hard saying goodbye to the boys but we have amazing support with grandparents and Phoebe, our nanny who has come to be like a family member, and I know the boys will be fine. They’ve already spent the time since I’ve been flying sailing on Jack’s little dinghy at Cheltenham beach with Nath and I know he’ll enjoy this special time with the boys too.

I’ve got an ambitious agenda with 97 sponsor visits on my list. As people have kindly remined me, it might not be possible to see each and every one but as I pointed out to Nath barefoot on the beach yesterday having our farewell coffee, the motivation for these visits comes from a place of love not duty and I’m genuinely excited to see each and every face – many of whom I’ve known for 14 years now. Little Brenda, one of my original beauties from my Primary One class back in 2009 turned 21 yesterday and has just graduated from her Fashion Design and Tailoring Course. We’ve been regulary in touch the last few weeks as she’s been busy making beautiful crafts for me to bring home. Henry, my original 12-year-old spark who began this whole journey (now 27!!) is, mind-blowingly, about to begin the visa process for his PHD in Canada. Bruno, my cheeky seminary-dropout turned teacher, has just given birth to a son and has travelled through the night across Uganda from his workplace in the East to come and meet me on my arrival. Stellah, another of my original gems whom I have sponsored since 2011, has just returned safely from 2.5 years in Saudi Arabia – it’s a long story I will share later but for now, I’m just so incredibly excited to engulf her in a huge hug to help wash away the months and years of worry I’ve endured. We’ve kept in touch every few days during the time she was in Saudi and I just can’t wait to be back by her side. We have a lot of catching up to do.

So as I prepare to begin my final leg, Rose texts me saying ‘all eyes are on the airport at Entebbe’ awaiting my arrival. It’s going to be a very full 8 days but I’m going to cherish every moment I have. This time next year I’ll be back – with my boys at my side. Nothing will be more glorious than my two worlds meeting on African soil. But for now, my 11^th trip to Uganda is about to begin and I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.

Much love and anticipation,

Em xxoxoxo