Unterwegs...
The nomadic life of Mara & Raf
Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Mara
- September 14, 2026
- #Humanitarian
Almost a year ago Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. I am back in the country now, and together with Blair from the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) in the United States, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with our colleagues and visit some of the recovery projects that have been made possible since then. We’ve visited communities participating in the shelter repair voucher programme in…
La Guaira, Venezuela
- Mara
- September 7, 2026
- #Humanitarian
Returning to Venezuela a couple of months after my first visit here shortly after the earthquake hit, allowed me to see both the ongoing challenges and the remarkable resilience of its people. The title of this post comes from a piece of graffiti painted on the wall of a…
Kettering, UK
Like last year or the year before (or the one before that) we attended the Greenbelt festival. Again we managed to only make it t for the Sunday rather than the whole weekend. Even so, one day was enough to immerse ourselves in the unique mix of faith, justice,…
Castell de l'Areny, Spain
- Mara & Raf
- August 23, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #OutOfOffice
In 2017 we first visited our friends Ania and Remi in Catalonia. At the time, they had just bought a piece of land with more than a thousand olive trees and a derelict hut. Over the years, we have had the privilege of returning several times and watching their…
La Guaira, Venezuela
- Mara
- July 15, 2026
- #Humanitarian
Following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, I had the privilege of joining a disaster response deployment to support local recovery efforts. The scale of the disaster was difficult to comprehend, with thousands of lives lost, many more injured and entire communities affected. In the weeks after the earthquake, tens of…
Hemel Hempstead
- Mara & Raf
- July 10, 2026
- #Arts, #FamilyFriends, #Home, #Sports
The past few weeks in London have been packed with visits, celebrations, and plenty of summer sunshine. We enjoyed a lovely visit from Caro and her family, squeezed in a trip to the theatre with Johnny, and marked the retirement of Ced, my very first boss in International Emergency…
- Mara
- July 7, 2026
- #FamilyFriends
I met Drew during an emergency deployment in Indonesia in 2009, and from the very beginning, we just clicked. In the midst of disaster, tragedy and loss, Drew brought something incredibly special: lightness, warmth, humour and a kind of joy that felt almost defiant in those circumstances. We spent…
Copenhagen, Denmark
- Mara
- June 4, 2026
- #Humanitarian, #Issues
The annual Supporting Offices Forum brought me back to Copenhagen once again, a familiar setting for a gathering that usually proves meaningful and encouraging. This year, around 55 colleagues from various development and humanitarian Supporting Offices, together with representatives from IHQ, came together to reflect on current issues, challenges…
Hastings, UK
- Mara & Raf
- May 25, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #Guests, #OutOfOffice
It was such a joy to welcome Anett back to the UK once again. Over the years, she has visited us several times, and together with sister Rebsi we’ve already shared some wonderful adventures in the Lake District and Wales. This time, we headed to the coast for a…
Gili Asahan, Indonesia
- Mara & Raf
- May 14, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #OutOfOffice
From the buzz of Java, we moved into island life, starting in Bali, then taking a ferry ride to Lombok, watching the sea stretch around us. From there, we made our way to Gili Asahan, a peaceful paradise that felt worlds away from everything else. The days here were…
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Mara & Raf
- May 8, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #OutOfOffice
Our journey through Indonesia began in Jakarta, followed by a visit to Bandung, before boarding an unforgettable train ride. As we travelled towards Yogyakarta, the landscape unfolded into a peaceful tapestry of lush green paddy fields and distant hills, a slow, beautiful transition into the heart of Java. In…
Walthamstow Wetlands, UK
- Mara & Raf
- April 20, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #Guests
April brought those first welcome hints of spring—longer days, lighter evenings, and time well spent with friends. It was lovely to catch up with Rik, a retired colleague of Mara, and his wife Chris, enjoying easy conversations and shared moments. Our traditional “sisters’ hike” turned into more of a gentle…
Al Hez, Bastogne, Belgium
- Mara & Raf
- April 10, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #OutOfOffice
We recently gathered with Mara’s family in the Ardennes, Belgium… all 25 of us: sisters and brothers, sisters‑in‑law and brothers‑in‑law, parents, nephews, nieces, and even the little ones from the next generation. It was one of those weeks that feels full in all the best ways. The days were shaped…
Hemel Hempstead
- Mara & Raf
- April 2, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #Guests, #Home
The first three months of 2026 have been mostly cold, the kind of grey weather that lingers longer than welcome. And yet, despite the chill, this early part of the year has been rich with warmth in all the ways that really matter. There have been visits and meetings…
Llanelli, Wales
- Mara
- March 29, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #OutOfOffice
This past weekend, my friend and colleague Summra and I took a little trip to Llanelli to visit our former colleague and boss, Alison, who moved there after her retirement from London. We travelled down by train on Friday afternoon and were welcomed with Alison’s warmth, homemade dinner and…
United Nations, New York, US
- Mara
- March 13, 2026
- #Humanitarian, #Issues
Attending the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) as a representative of The Salvation Army was an inspiring and deeply meaningful experience. Each morning began with ecumenical devotions, a beautiful and grounding way to start the day, uniting our diverse backgrounds in shared faith and purpose before…
Concepción, Chile
- Mara
- March 5, 2026
- #Humanitarian
I had the opportunity to travel to Chile to support The Salvation Army’s ongoing response to the devastating wildfires that swept through the Concepción area in January 2026. These fires tore through the Biobío region with shocking speed, destroying several thousand homes across the Biobío and Ñuble regions. Since…
Balakot, Pakistan
- Mara
- January 20, 2026
- #Humanitarian
Twenty years ago, I boarded a plane that would change the course of my life. I was being deployed to northern Pakistan, just months after the devastating 2005 earthquake. I didn’t know it then, but those three months, from January to April, would mark the beginning of my humanitarian…
Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Mara
- January 12, 2026
- #Humanitarian
Coming back to Jamaica this month felt different. My first visit, just days after Hurricane Melissa struck in October, was filled with urgency, assessments, distributions, partnership requests and the relentless pace of emergency response. This time, the pace had shifted, debris has been cleared from many streets and families…
Stuttgart, Germany
- Mara & Raf
- January 1, 2026
- #FamilyFriends, #OutOfOffice
Spending Christmas and New Year in Germany is nothing new but it nonetheless was wonderful. It was a time to slow down, soak in the festive atmosphere, and reconnect with the people who matter most. We love being with family, sharing meals, laughter and traditions that make the season…
Hemel Hempstead
- Mara & Raf
- December 20, 2025
- #FamilyFriends
As the golden hues of autumn gave way to the twinkling lights of Advent, this past season has been one of connection, celebration, and joy. Our home (and calendar) was filled with visits from friends and family, each bringing their own stories and laughter. There were cozy evenings catching…