It was with mixed feelings that I left friends and family in the UK on Tuesday, having been back there since July. The highlight of the return trip was sitting next to the Power Dynamos, a Zambian football team who were returning to Kitwe having played in Madagascar at the weekend. They have invited me to go and watch them play Mazembe, one of the Lubumbashi teams in a couple of weeks. The temperature of 33 degrees which met me when I stepped off the plane at Lubumbashi was very welcome after the freezing temperatures we had been experiencing in the UK over the last month. The journey with Kenya Airways went smoothly and despite only a 40 minute turn around in Amsterdam my luggage even arrived intact on the same plane, a miracle! Whilst in the UK I was able to visit Churches, schools and individuals who have been supporting Kimbilio. It was also a chance to make new contacts who are now taking an interest in the project. I really enjoyed meeting so many people who are so supportive and enthusiastic about what we are up to as well as being an advocate for children who live in situations unimaginable for many people in the West. As well as having a chance to spend time with friends and family the last few months has given me a new found appreciation for the comfort of 24 electricity, hot water, reliable public transport, well stocked shops and supermarkets with reasonably priced goods! I had clearly started to take it all for granted as on the plane I was planning my ‘to do list’ for the following day which involved completing various emails and reports, both of which require electricity and an internet connection. After a warm welcome at the Anglican Diocese Headquarters I was dropped off at my house only to find that the electricity system which has been on its last legs for several months had finally burnt itself out only that morning! What a great welcome home! Without electricity there was little point in paying for an internet reconnection! All of my ‘to do list’ went straight out of the window as finding an electrician took number one priority! My bedroom which has been locked up during my time away had a thick layer of red dust throughout which added a nice colour dimension but not so practical for daily living! As I had only two hours sleep on the overnight flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi I didn’t actually miss the electricity when I got back home later after a very welcome meal from Rachel Newby at Rest-a-While. I negotiated my way to the back door tripping over my dogs and the litter of puppies who are a new addition since I left, lit a candle to get me between the bathroom and the ‘spare’ bedroom and was very quickly fast asleep! I was woken this morning around 6am, I would like to paint you a romantic notion of the African sunrise streaming through the windows welcoming me back to the scorched continent but in reality the litter of puppies were yapping outside my bedroom window and the neighbours goat was joining in, making quite a dawn chorus! Despite this rude awakening, the very mixed feelings with which I left the UK, the lack of electricity making it difficult to work in a planned way, at the moment, I am actually pleased to be back to life in Lubumbashi and am very much looking forward to seeing the children and young people at Kimbilio tomorrow and the on-going development of the project!
