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.

Sunday, 1 April 2012

Sunday evening

Thanks for loads of messages from friends - its great to hear from you, and really encouraged by your support and prayers.
Have had a good weekend - long bumpy drive to Kigoma (Alastair seems to have become the Bishop's driver!) - then to Matyazo which isone of the church hospitals right up in the hills near the Burundi border, wher Alastair met the staff and sarted talking about how he might help. Then down to Ujiji this morning ; felt good to be in robes and sharing in worhsip. Big church ? 400+ people and 3 1/2 hour service. I enjoyed preaching, and the Bishop was very appreciative. Then a fabulous chaotic communion at which I was distributing ..... Long muddy drive home, and now tackling curtains.
Have achieved some cooking - now have a paraffin stove on the floor so made tomato soup and interesting pancakes. Bought a large blue plastc basin that we call the washing machine (it doubles up as a bath!!).
Please could you email me at gmail address instead of posting comments on blog as can't always access blog as internet very slow. I'll try to get some photos up.
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