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 7 December 2013

Market day - and cooking lessons!

Saturday is the big market day in Kasulu. People walk from up to 20 miles away to sell their produce. These pictures, taken by Mike a few weeks ago, sum up the scene- though don't give you the noise, the movement and the smell - nor, as it was today, the thick mud that everyone was paddling through!
I try to go each week to 'stock up' on fruit and veg for the week. I can buy a whole basket of tomatoes for the equivalent of 40p. We eat a wonderfully healthy and easy diet - mostly local fruit and veg with occasional meat or fish, and homemade bread.
I'm friendly with many of the local clergy wives, and we have started a little cooking group! We try to meet once a week and go to different houses to learn some cooking from each other.  In the first week I taught  cake making which was fine with our electric oven, but not so successful when we tried baking the cake over a log fire!

Last week was a special stewed banana recipe at Olivia's house - I was set the task of grating the coconuts, which involved sitting  on a special coconut-grating-stool, with a lot of instruction and laughter. (it's easier from a packet from Tesco's!),while others peeled the bananas and stoked the charcoal fire.  Next week it's cake icing under my instruction ... I'll post a photo of the finished product!


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