Goodbyes

In just under a week we'll be boarding the Dornier plane at Principe airport, for the last time. Our bags are half packed and the rest of our belongings - which are still to be packed - have been sorted out and organised. Since we can only physically handle four large suitcases, two backpacks and a pram - filled with one three year old, a lot of our things will be left on Principe. We've given away toys, clothes and non-perishable food and sold items like our portable pool and extra medicines and with a week to go I feel quite organised.


I think this is likely to be my last post about Principe and makes me feel quite nostalgic about my blog and the experiences I've recorded. I've definitely enjoyed the process of blogging and strangely enough have encountered a bit of fame (tongue in cheek) as a result. This island is very small and there is not much information about it for prospective travellers, so somehow my blog gets listed by search engines and read by those looking for some information. A couple of times I've had someone say on meeting me that they know all about me. It's taken me by suprise each time!

I will probably blog again, when our next adventure begins, whatever that might be, but for now I'm focused on my holiday in South Africa. As an aside, my travel documents are still pending, but such is the way of the island...

Going home.

Since my last post, it's been confirmed that we are definitely leaving at the end of September and that our time on Principe is done. We are very proud of our little family for having successfully negotiated this adventure on this small island off the West coast of Africa and will take many good lessons and a more robust inner strength and faith with us.

Our tickets are booked and suitcases lying open, as we pack up our house and possesions, collected over the last 19 months. On our minds is the knowledge that Ebola is creeping closer as well as the number of people we will come into contact with over our three days of travel back home. The alcohol hand sanitizers will be in close reach as we bustle our way throught the steamy Luanda airport and board the packed flight destined for South African soil.

As usual, I'm still waiting for a number of documents that will allow me to travel and am trusting God to work out the details so that we can leave on the planned date. The challenges here, have been and are continuous, so "leve leve" I remind myself, just roll with it.