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.

Saturday, 20 October 2012

I'll be away

At Matyazo Orphanage
A rather sweet photo of two little girls at the orphanage at Matyazo - the same site as the hospital where Alastair works. I went with him for two days this week as college is on half term. The children usually come as tiny babies when their mother has died, and they are cared for beautifully with a very high staff ratio so they get lots of attention. The families must still take responsibility for the children and they return home when they are two years old. Occasionally this isn't possible, but the extended family system here usually can cope.

I'm leaving tomorrow for a mega-trip. I'm a bit nervous about travelling alone to far away places, so value your prayers. I travel to Dodoma by bus - 18 hours non-stop, arrive midnight. I'll then spend 2 days in another theological college so as to gain a new perspective on my work here, and then travel on to Mpwapwa diocese where I will be speaking at their Diocesan conference - about Women's ministry and about Mission. I'm looking forward to seeing new places and meeting new people. I'll be out of email contact, but will catch up on my return home. Alastair will be alone here, but Dianes, who works for us, is very good at making gluten free biscuits so he says he'll be OK!
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