Uganda to Scotland (and back!)

It has been a year of changes and covid drama, lockdowns, and curfews.  It has also been encouraging that Uganda has not had anywhere near the deaths the UK has had over the last year though our heart aches for those who have been grieving through the covid pandemic worldwide.  We have still been able to meet at our church (it's outside) and blessed to have warm weather so socialising outside is the norm here.  In some ways living in Uganda through the pandemic has not prevented the children from swimming, from travelling to a beauty spot and the like so we are thankful.  On the other hand,  the shoes are not fitting the kids,  the underwear has more holes than they ever should have and the dish drying towels have more holes than fabric left -  it must be time to get back to Scotland ;0) 

So many of you have been asking what is the next plan is for the Swanson's. I thank you for your patience as we have been finalising plans, flights and getting a minute in the midst of packing to write an awfully long overdue blog post!  It's time for myself and the children to return to Scotland for the next chapter. When Abigail was age 4 when we started with MAF and we knew that when she was ready to sit her National 5's (GCSE equivalent) we would come back to Scotland so she could finish her last three years of high school in Scotland.  Due to various delays over the years with work permits and the like, Andy's finish date is not quite on the same schedule as the school system, so he is going to be finishing with MAF Uganda in December and return to Scotland then.   Andy is flying with us to Scotland at the end of May for a long overdue furlough and to help us get the house ready before he returns to Uganda from August to December.   Thanks to the recent changes in international travel, we are now able to fly directly into Glasgow and quarantine at home in Lenzie for 10 days all being well.  We hope to get the children into their new schools a few weeks before the summer holiday's so they can get to know some other kids their own age, as well as the school and teachers and reduce the anxiety for starting the August school term. It is a big step for all three of the children as they settle into Scotland again.  All three are excited to get back to Scotland,  the freedom of cycling, wild camping and roaming the hills is a big draw for Matthew. Abi cannot wait to be able to get to the sales in the shops and just enjoy some independence meeting up with friends.  Eilidh is looking forward to meeting other kids her age who 'look the same as her' (her words!) 

I am looking forward to sitting on the couch relaxing with no ants crawling on me,  being able to go for a walk alone, reconnecting with family and friends and making new friends.  All this being said,  we will sorely miss our friends both Ugandan and International,  we will miss our pets and the beautiful sunshine almost every day.  Andy is in a difficult season as he watches us all say goodbye to Uganda - for him this will come later.  He is unsure what the next steps will be career wise and is beginning to look at his options - we would value your prayers as he navigates the next steps towards the end of this year.  I plan to re-register with the general teaching council and find employment in the schools in East Dunbartonshire at the right time when the children (and myself) have had time to settle.  

Last August I felt God speaking to me about being available, so I quit my teaching job in Uganda to home school Eilidh and support Abi learning at home. Abi was able to have zoom lessons with Scottish teachers in English,  Maths,  Physics, and French all year. She worked independently on Biology and Chemistry and music with myself. She has done amazingly well and is so focused on her learning that I have not had to motivate her to work at all.  The contact with her four Scottish teachers has given her a great balance and she feels more than ready for her National 5 year starting in August.  Matthew has been at his old school for the last year which he has loved. He has a great friendship group there that he is really going to miss.  I have been able to have lots of fun teaching Eilidh and navigate the packing up of our belongings from over 10 years on the road - very thankful to have been able to do this gradually.  

We are coming to the end of the packing.  We are sitting in borrowed plastic garden chairs and furniture, living out of boxes instead of bookcases, and now the suitcases are out.  - It's not till it's been taking down do you realise just how important that clock on the wall has been!  Some of our belongings such as my piano and Andy's toolbox will be shipped back to Scotland sometime in the future (could be a while!). These leave the house on the 28th of May but we have no idea when we might get to see them as the shipment won't go until the container is full with several families who are moving to the UK.  We can wait for these items though so will get by - we are seasoned travellers and this is the norm!  We have many people coming to pick up items over the next week as we clear out our house.  Andy will return in August to a guest house where he will be renting a room there so he also needs to move his stuff there this week as well as dismantle beds and the like. It will be a busy week and after moving internationally several times in our journey, ten days of quarantine sound wonderful. Time to rest and de-compress from the emotion and exhaustion of  moving is a necessity that is not always achieved. It's always traumatic saying goodbye to dear friends and pets that we love.  We had hoped to bring our cat back but just found out that the UK is not receiving pets just now so it is not going to be an option.  Thankfully we have found a good home for her and the dog but we will still be very sad to part with them both.  If you know of a kitten in Scotland that needs a good home in the next few months or so then please get in touch.  We have managed to secure full time jobs for both Emmanuel and Joyce when we leave with wonderful families where they will be such a blessing.  We enjoyed a meal together with their families at KFC.

 

We are not sure what this furlough will look like with covid and restrictions and how much we will be able to travel and visit supporters, but we will do our best.  Thanks for your patience for the update and please know that we have truly valued and appreciate your prayers,  cards, and support over our time in Uganda. It is good to remember that Andy is still very much part of the MAF Uganda team till December and we will have four months apart starting August, so your ongoing support and encouragement would be still appreciated especially during our time apart.  If you would like to write to us in Scotland then you can send to 22 Dungoil Road Lenzie,  G66 5PG.  We would love to hear from you especially during quarantine and through the summer.  This time I will be able to reply, and you might get it before next Christmas!

God Bless

Heather