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 5 April 2014

Food

A special supper in College
Market day
I have been concerned that, owing to the tight budget of the college,  the students diet has been very limited and less than adequate of late.  So today I dipped into our Discretionary Fund (many thanks again to those who pay into it) and are treating the students to a 'slap-up' supper tonight. Stella, the college cook  pictured here, came with me to the local market where we bought vast quantities of fresh veg and 'slaughtered-this-morning' meat. I decided, for the sake of the squeamish or the vegetarians, against putting a picture of the butcher's shop on the blog! As I write Stella and Winifrida are cooking all this on the log fires of the college kitchen. Meanwhile at home we are having macaroni cheese in the company of our German friends from Shunga hospital. (Alastair bought the cheese in Mwanza on his dentist trip) - so we're having a treat tonight too!  I thought you'd like this great picture of the woman selling bananas this morning - she enjoyed posing for the picture, though I was obliged to buy a bunch.

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