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.

Friday, 18 October 2013

Tar road

1/2 a mile of tarmac may not sound that exciting, but it's a major event here! This is the road just outside the Diocesan compound where we live, showing the activity of last weekend. The tarmac only goes to the bottom of the hill - so won't connect with the other 1/2 mile of tar in town, as the different administrative regions can't agree on whose road it is! It should also be understood that the project has already taken three months, during which time all the traffic has been diverted down a small track, which is impassable in the rain. Activity speeded up eventually last week as the Prime Minister visited the town, though stopped again after his visit - so it's still not finished. You could argue that a dirt road is more authentic and in keeping with the African town, but tarmac instead of thick mud or clouds of red dust is - in reality - preferable.
Next time you drive to Sainsburies, take a thankful moment to admire the tarmac road!
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