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 17 March 2014

Power wipe out

Nothing else to do!
Scrabble a deux by paraffin lamp may appear to be the epitome of the relaxed, quiet life, but actually was the result of complete boredom owing to having no electricity for many days.  (I hate Scrabble, so this is definitely last resort).
Bath time
Electricity first came to Kasulu about two and a half years ago - just before we arrived. Until then most institutions had a generator which they would use for a few hours each evening. The mains electricity, which has been remarkably reliable, has changed the nature of the town, with people now relying on it for education, banking, business etc. The story we hear is that the electricity providers haven't paid their fuel bills, so fuel supply is now cut off. There's no news of when it might start again. One of Alastair's hospitals has its own electricity supply, so they are receiving all surgical patients from the Government hospital in town. Today the Bible college unearthed their old generator and started it up - hence my lap top is now charged for a few hours.
Although it's very frustrating for us, of course most of African life doesn't rely on electricity. None of the villages have power, and even in town it is a luxury for a few people. Here, Rehema, the daughter of one of my teaching colleagues, is having her daily bath without the need for modern technology!

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