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, 17 February 2013

Mubanga Clinic - ready to be opened



from Alastair : The village of Mubanga is remote, and to get to it takes a lot of bumps on a bad road. There is no medical facility nearby, and the village community has wanted a clinic for many years. They had already put up the shell of a clinic building when the Diocese of Gloucester agreed to finance completion of the building. As soon as they knew there was money to help, the community got to work. In the first picture is the 'crew' who brought water for the cement and plaster. And the second picture shows a beautifully completed clinic building. Gloucester Rotary dipped into their pockets and have paid for most of the equipment including medical instruments and a solar electric system. It has been great to see things move forward quickly, to see the pride of the local people as their project has come alive, and to be a part of realising their dream of good health care. Bishop Michael is visiting us from Gloucester, and will officially open it in a week's time.
(and Alastair has been project manager over these past months!)


For those of you who live in and near Gloucester the Rotary Clubs are holding a  concert of Christian Music, by the Gloucester Songsters, of the Salvation Army  in aid of the clinic on Saturday 23rd Feb, 7.30pm in St Barnabas church - with slide show and recorded commentary from us!! Tickets £5-00 from the church, or on the door. 
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