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.

Friday 5 July 2013

Two worlds - and plans for 10th July

Tanzania and England
We are delighted to now be living on our narrow boat, and were welcomed by our canal neighbours with flowers, fruit and a beautifully clean and tidy boat. We have brought her to Gloucester and are moored just outside Sainsbury's which is handy!
Yesterday we welcomed two of our colleagues from Kasulu to our floating home. Eldah, who is my teaching colleague at the Bible College, and Jonas, a priest of a new church plant in Kasulu, have been in England for a month - at a conference and visiting the Diocese of Gloucester. It was a privilege to bring these two parts of our lives - and two very different parts of the world - together. For them lunch on a canal boat was certainly a new and memorable experience!
For those who don't know our boat - it is 51ft and 25 years old. Machili was my mother's name, and she was, interestingly, named after a tributary of the River Zambezi!

I'd like to repeat our invitation to my service of installation as a Canon of Gloucester Cathedral, on Wed 10th July - the service will start at 5.30pm. After the service there will be drinks in the Chapter House, and then we hope people will be able to "adjourn" to the Robert Raikes Pub on Southgate street, for a informal pub meal together.
IF you are planning to come for the meal (and feel free to come for that without the service) - please could you drop me an email so that I can send you a menu. It will be much easier for the pub if as many of as possible can order beforehand.


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