Joanne Heath - A day to remember - Friday April 22nd, 2011

Exhausted after a crazy few days before leaving Oz, I arrive into Katmandu greeted by Kate and Andrea in painting clothes and a representative from Annapurna Guest House.

“Namaste Madam. Welcome to Nepal” he says through a beaming smile as he places a lay of vibrant orange magnolias over my head. “So nice to have you here”

As the sun slowly warms my body after the over air conditioned Thai airways flight from Bangkok, I get the feeling I’m in for a special week ahead.

We hurtle along the congested roads, narrowly missing several rear vision mirrors - our driver, a man on a mission!

A mission indeed - to finish painting the children’s home before they return home from school in two and a half hours.

Mission impossible - never!

I’m greeted at the door by one of the house mothers. Hands in prayer in front of her heart, she bows  gently and welcomes me inside. I soon find a team of slightly weary Forget Me Not sponsors and supporters painting the walls a cheery blue and green.

I’m immediately given the grand tour of what twenty one beautiful Nepali girls call home, I’m inspired by the story of how far things have come over the last five years.

To work straight away, I begin chatting with Gunilla, Ebony, Ally, Mel and Gru as in the meeting room downstairs as we erect curtain rails, replace pictures and move furniture back to its rightful place. They relay with enthusiasm the events that have unfolded over the trip so far.

With the paint job complete, Ebony and Ally make a dash to the shops for a six pack of Red Bull as we continue tidying up and putting the finishing touches the sunlit room.

Before I know it, we’re lead two minutes down the road by Craig Manley - Master of Ceremonies to collect the girls.

Bursting out of the gates, twenty one shining faces launch into the arms of the Forget Me Not ground team, bubbling with excitement.

I’m hear a high pitched voice in perfect English “Namaste Joanne Aunty” as three younger girls reach for my hand.

There are many occasions in life I wish I had more hands - this is definitely one of them!

We leisurely return to the home, passers by smiling as we walk hand in hand with an army of happy girls, taking up the majority of the road we slow through traffic to a standstill.

The girls quickly inspect each room. Gasps of disbelief and shrieks of approval at the transformation that lay before them are heard from the rooms fortunate enough to get a face lift.

It’s amazing what a difference some rigorous elbow grease and some fresh paint can make to a home!

Seven proud painters follow the girls around, impressed themselves by what they have achieved in only twelve hours.

The girls get straight into their homework upstairs in the study room as sweet, spicy Nepali tea is served up by the adorable Miley.

With no English language at her disposal she communicates with hand gestures, an endearing wobble of the head and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen as her eyes sparkle with joy. 

“Dhanyabard” I say (Nepali for thank you), feeling right at home.

After an hour or so sitting around chatting over tea and helping the girls with their homework it’s time to head back to the guest house.

Weary but energized by the wonder that surrounds me I receive a heartfelt embrace from each and every one of the girls amidst the words “thank you for coming”, “see you tomorrow” and “bye bye Jo Aunty”

As I sit in the guest house restaurant preparing for my immanent three month trip to Uganda, I feel a renewed sense of inspiration and strength from only a few days spent with Kate, Andrea, seven dedicated supporters and the twenty one precious girls of Forget Me Not Nepal. 

With a vision crystal clear in my mind, I can’t wait to touch down in Kampala and be reunited with Mama Florence and the thirty nine beautiful souls that now make up Forget Me Not Children’s Home Uganda.

It’s been two years and four months since I left Uganda. As I reflect on the last few years I remember the heartache, the worry and the struggle born from the process of trying to find help for these children.

Without the compassion and selfless service of Lars, Kate, Andrea and other members of the Forget Me Not board, who knows what situation these vulnerable children would be in today? I hate to think.

Instead, momentum is building, sponsors are coming forward and money is being raised to give the Ugandan children a shot at the beautiful and fortunate life that the twenty one girls of Forget Me Not Nepal so gratefully enjoy.

Let the journey begin!