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.

Monday, 2 July 2012

Church Planting

 This is church planting in Tanzania! Two vague meetings during the previous weeks, very few obvious arrangements, no apparent advertising, a few chairs under the trees and mats on the floor, a sunny Sunday morning, and lots of faith and optimism! 72 children arrived for Sunday school from the nearby houses, and clearly enjoyed their time together. About 250 attended the service (which started an hour late as we were looking for an electricity cable to wire up the loud speakers!). The area is just outside Kasulu - an area where lots of new houses are being built.  I was preaching - though still not able to do much in Swahili. Choirs sang and people joined in and danced. They hope to start some sort of building in the next week or so, and no doubt it will go from strength to strength in the same way that many other such churches have done so recently.
Family news - Becky is here - its great to be together and lots to laugh about. Peter and Cat arrive tomorrow.

The clergy team!
72 children at the first Sunday School
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