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.

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Plans for our trip home

It's really soon now : we leave here around 27th June to travel via Kigoma, Mwanza and Dar, and arrive home on 30th. We'll be in Gloucester, living on our narrow boat, from 2nd - 12th July; then in Scotland for Pete and Cat's wedding on 20th July, and back in Gloucester from around 26th for a few days. We fly back on 4th August.
We'd love to see all our friends, though as the time is short it may not be possible, but do please be in touch to see what we can arrange. Everyone is very welcome to my service of installation in Gloucester Cathedral on Wed 10th July at 5.30pm - and then we can all adjourn to a local pub for a drink and/or meal. I'll be preaching in St Barnabas on Sunday 7th at 10am.
If any one - by some extraordinary chance - has a car they could lend us for a month that would be great!
What are we looking forward to most? - Seeing family and friends of course. It's lonely here at times and although quiet evenings at home are nice they tire after 14 months! And - eating cheese, wearing trousers (that's me not Alastair!!), long walks, strawberries, clean bath water, nice shoes......

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  1. Anne16 June 2013 at 14:19

    Sorry we're going to be away when you're in Frampton , maybe catch you at the end of July. Anne S

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