It has been a great joy to return to Klibur Domin (KD) in Timor-Leste for the fifth time this year. Following my year volunteering here in 2013, I have endeavoured to return as often as I am able.

On this visit I spent three weeks at KD, primarily working with the Managing Director; the Managers of the Tuberculosis (TB), Inpatient and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programs; the Support Services Co-ordinator and the Administration & HR Co-ordinator. All the staff made me feel very welcome and we were able to ‘pick up where we left off’ as it were. I worked on reports, memorandums of understanding, funding proposals, budgets, presentations and other documentation to progress KD’s priorities, as well as trouble-shooting other issues as they arose. I also had the opportunity to accompany the CBR team on a monitoring visit to Hatolia in Ermera district.

In addition, with Joaquim’s permission, I was able to accept an invitation to speak to an English discussion group for senior high school and university students at the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room in Dili, which was a great honour.

My stay in Uma Newton was very comfortable, with many changes to volunteers’ accommodation since I first came to KD. Volunteers are very fortunate to have access to a consistent water supply, consistent electricity with more reliable generators and treated water in Uma Newton. The lovely cooks continue to provide delicious and nutritious meals for lunch and dinner.

During my short time here, I was serendipitously reminded of the Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran’s observation that ‘work is love made visible’. While the work at KD can be challenging and stressful, like any workplace, I hope that my work here demonstrates my depth of affection for my KD colleagues and friends, and my respect and admiration for the Timorese people, while at the same time making a contribution towards the relief of suffering.