05/08/2026
🕊️ Lai & Kaci: The Reunion That Was Meant To Be
Written by Wilfred 🤍
This journey was always about one thing above all: to be by her big sister Kaci’s side. After thirty years away, Lai travelled home to Cicia, Lau — to Mabula — for this very moment, sent with all my love, my blessing, and everything I could give to make this possible.
Kaci’s story is one of the strongest courage anyone could ever know. Years ago she survived a terrible car accident: weeks in a coma, broken bones, injury to her head — and through every dark hour she fought her way back to life. Now she carries another heavy cross: diabetes has taken its toll, and she has faced amputation, with health that grows more fragile each day. It was Kaci’s own wish to go back to her island home, to live simply, eat fresh from the land and sea, and rest surrounded by family, rather than anywhere else. This is her final journey home too.
When Lai first walked in to see her, our hearts all held their breath. Kaci looked at her — but at first she did not recognise her little sister. Between her eyesight and the lasting effects of that head injury, she called Lai by another sister’s name. She truly could not believe that Lai would leave her life in London, travel all this way across the world, just to come and sit with her. But once she knew, once it settled in her heart — there was no greater joy. They are together now, and Lai’s heart is full beyond words.
Kaci has her own home here in the village with her husband, her children and grandchildren — she is not in the old family house where they grew up, but right where she belongs, among her own people. Lai is only able to stay for one precious week; this emergency journey came so suddenly I could not travel with her, nor bring our children — work and commitments here held me back, and believe me when I say I carry a weight of sadness that I am not standing there beside her. But I gave my full approval, I covered every flight and every cost, because this was the most important thing she could ever do. If this is the last time they meet in this life, I would never have let her miss it. We will come back together one day soon — all of us — to walk this land properly with Lai, for that long-awaited second homecoming.
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
— Matthew 17:20
Faith that moves mountains, faith that crosses oceans, faith that makes a ten thousand mile journey nothing at all when love calls.
To every single relative who met Lai, looked after her, helped bring supplies, welcomed her, walked with her these days — from the Lau and Ba community to everyone who has shown kindness: thank you. Thank you from the depths of my heart. To her dear brother Dr Jone Lako , sister Dr Jima Lako with niece Dr Filomena and family : please accept my sincere apology I could not be there myself, and my deepest gratitude for receiving our Lai with such open arms, and for your loving care of your sister Kaci there in Mabula, Cicia, Lau.
This week is for them: the little sister who came all the way home, and the big sister who waited for her. Nothing else matters right now.
🙏🏾🇫🇯🤍
Willfred
