A Tearful Goodbye to Jolly Mercy!



Shadia (on the right) sang beautifully at my leaving party!




The girls are a bit overwhelmed at our Saturday afternoon party!




Everyone wants to be in the photo!



Justine and I have a tearful cuddle!

So my first trip in Uganda has come to an end, I can't believe how quickly 6 weeks flew by!  I am currently sitting in Entebbe Airport waiting for my flight back to Heathrow and can't help but feel quite emotional about the time I've spent here, the people, the place, the kids have all captured my heart and I am already planning to come back at the end of May for another month. It is quite simply a beautiful country with beautiful people, the send off I was given was testiment to that.  My farewell started on Friday afternoon where the children were given the afternoon off and I was treated to singing, dancing and speeches from the Teachers and CALM Africa staff, the songs by the children were heartbreaking, with words like "Alison, Alison, don't forget us Alison" and we will miss you, here and there, we will miss you everywhere!!! But the moment that broke our hearts was when 13 year old Shadia who is physically disabled sand a solo,at that point all the adults were in floods of tears.

Part 2 of the send off was a party for the boarding children and staff yesterday afternoon and evening which myself and the other volunteers paid for, we had it at the school and had a wonderful banquet of Uganda food, with more speeches and again more tears, this time I was so touched by a lady we have come to know, she is a grandmother who looks after her 2 gorgeous grandchildren as the parents abandoned them, one aged 3 and one aged 9 months. Deborah makes a living by making beads from recyled paper, I have helped them out just a little by buying her some blankets, giving the children some clothes and shoes and visiting her once a week and helping her out with some bead making.  She came to the party on Saturday afternoon and presented me with a necklace, braclet and bag she had made especially for me, when she got the 2 boys Joel and Joanthan to present me with them I just couldn't help but burst into tears, unfortunately, this seemed to set off a crying fest with many of the children in floods of tears, luckily we put on some loud music and some dancing brightened up the mood.

Part 3 of my farewell was during the church service this morning where I had a special little ceremony where the preacher and pastor 'laid their hands on me' and wished me a safe journey and lots of special blessings, thankfully I held it together during this farewell!!

Anyway, I have planned already to return to Jolly Mercy and CALM Africa at the end of May so I cant wait to see the children again and hopefully help them with some more volunteer for for a month then! If anyone has any childrens clothes, particularly from aged 5 - 16 years, please do let me know before 30th March as I would like to send another box before I leave for the next leg of my trip!