Our journey begins

Our journey to Todonyang begins in Pimlico. Our two communities are 6,300 km apart, but our bond is strong and we feel close. Nine of us are going to Turkana this time, each bringing a different perspective. Sadly, Fr Pat caught a stomach flu during his recent pilgrimage to Greece and cannot join us. We are saddened not to share this trip with him, and we ask only that he keep us in his prayers.

Over the last couple of weeks, Marian and Elena have been busy packing the goods generously donated by Holy Apostles parishioners: children's clothes, stationery, second-hand laptops and mobile phones, footballs and toys. It may not seem extraordinary to us, but I know these goods will be a godsend for the children and young adults of Turkana.

It's 2pm. Elena, Emily and I meet at Holy Apostles church, load seven bags of goods into the parish "ambulance" and prepare to set off for Heathrow Terminal 4, where the rest of the group is waiting. Before we leave, though, it's time for goodbyes and a blessing. Tears fall from Mia's eyes as she says goodbye to her sister Emily, marking an emotional moment: Emily has chosen to spend two months in Turkana to experience first-hand what she has studied at university. Turkana is a remote place, and understandably this is not an easy goodbye.

Fr Chris comes to the rescue with his blessing, a few words of kindness that soften our hearts and prepare us for the journey.

At Heathrow we meet David, Debora, Fred and Polina. Two more, Giovanni and Guido, are already in Nairobi, and we will join them there.

It's a great group, and I am sure it will be a great trip. We board our Kenya Airways plane and jet off to Nairobi on an overnight flight. Let's hope we get through customs smoothly tomorrow!