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.

Saturday, 25 January 2014

Over 2000 miles .....

Relaxing at the beach!
Above the roof tops of Stonetown
... and only one 10 minute welding job needed on the car.
Since the mountains we have spent 2 days in the heat and traffic of Dar es Salam, sorting some necessary business, and then travelled to the beautiful island of Zanzibar where we met with our friends Ian and Frankie Marsh (from Painswick). We stayed in a beautiful complex on the beach, enjoying some sea swimming and walks along the white sands, good meals and some days of luxury - and the excitement of our first English newspaper for many months.
Then we went to Stonetown, the extraordinary Arab-style old city,  wandered through the narrow streets, ate freshly cooked fish on the sea front and enjoyed staying in one of the very old hotels - where we had a 45 foot long bedroom complete with stone bath!
We are now, with Ian and Frankie's company, driving back around the south of the country, with a 'day off' yesterday spent in the remote Ruaha national park. Tonight we are in the highest town in Tanzania - Mbeya - staying in a mission guest house.

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