Helen and Alastair - some background

Helen and Alastair - some background : We have always hoped to return to Africa once more before we're too old (perhaps we already are!). Alastair first went to Africa in 1974 as a junior doctor, working for the Church of Scotland in a small hospital in Transkei, South Africa. I met Alastair there in 1982, were married in 1984 and continued in Transkei until 1988. From there we went to Kenya, as employees of the Church of Scotland, where Alastair ran Chogoria Hospital. We left in 1995, with Alec, Peter and Becky to establish the children's schooling and our work in Britain. Here Alastair found himself as consultant in Breast cancer surgery, and Helen initially trained and worked as a GP before "evolving" to full time ordained ministry. Alec is now married to Ruth, and they have baby Zach; Pete is in his final year of medicine in Edinburgh, and Becky half way through nurse training in Oxford.

The Diocese of Western Tanganyika is a partner of Gloucester diocese. The plan is for Helen to join the teaching staff of the Bible College, teaching those preparing for ministry. Alastair will teach English to the students at the college, as well as doing some surgery at the church-run hospitals, and helping with project management in the Diocese.
We will keep you updated on our plans over the next few months and will greatly value your prayer support. Our current prayer requests - and thanks to God of course - will be posted on the side bar.

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Back to work

It's good to be getting back to normal life and work again.  Thank you for all your emails and messages, and I will reply to everyone in due course. Becky is at home in Oxford, and back at Uni, and Zach's operation went really well.
College is busy, as we have reduced our staff numbers and each of us picking up more of the work. I'm the "Academic Dean" which sounds very grand, though I will enjoy looking after the academic progress of the students and slowly and gently lifting the standard of teaching and learning. At present we have 40 students in the college. I teach New Testament, Pastoral Theology and Research, as well as being overall responsible for the Diploma course. I also teach English to the evangelists, who come for a  9 month course. Oh yes, and I'm the college chaplain, so work with the students organising the worship rota, leading etc. That all keeps me busy enough! We are delighted to have one female student in college, and hope for more.
Students relaxing
Elisha's ordination party.
All the students are residential, and this picture was taken outside the dormitories late this afternoon. Elisha, in the picture, is a refugee from Burundi. Formerly a Clinical Officer in the refugee camps he studied at the Bible College, and is now a teacher and in charge of the internet department. The picture, with his wife and their youngest baby,  is of his ordination party a few weeks ago. Becky and I made the cake!


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