We are now in Dunblane at the World Mission Council Meeting after having had 10 days in St Andrews. We moved to a rented self-catering house there at the beginning of last week for the wedding, though we have had a number of trips in and out of Edinburgh for medical appointments, picking up and seeing off family and friends at the airport including Ruairidh Fiona and Lucy from Zambia
Our celebrations really started on Friday afternoon with a braai (BBQ) for over 40 guests 'frae a' the airts' who had arrived early and were staying in St Andrews. From our family's point of view it was wonderful to have four generations gathered together under the one roof. Saturday dawned, a beautiful day, the house a buzzing hive, with cosmetics and costumes galore.
St Salvator's was the venue for the marriage ceremony, filled with guests from near and far; all the way from Zambia, India, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, France and even as was said, 'exotic Dunfermline'. We talk about globalisation and living in a global village, Kirsten and Stuart's wedding was living proof of that; a global wedding with a global family and friends. It was special too, that the Minister officiating was James Walker, the brother and brother-in-law of Donald and Judith, who have strong Zambian connections and have just been called to St Columba's in Mutare where we worshipped when we were working in Zimbabwe.
After the wedding breakfast, toasts and speeches, the reception continued with a ceilidh till midnight. Photos of the wedding can be viewed on line at: www.alastairstephen.co.uk then go to Online Albums
Friday, 18 June 2010
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Church of Scotland General Assembly
After seven days of meeting, the General Assembly closed on Wednesday last week. It was a good time listening to the debates and meeting up with friends from all over the country. As the Church continues to share and spread the Gospel throughout the world, it is amazing the diverse interests, concerns and needs that this brings to light as people speak and we hear often prophetically about passions shared or pain that we attempt to understand and address.All this feedback and information is living proof of Paul's metaphor in Romans 12 that in Christ we form one body belonging to each other all with different gifts depending on the grace given us with the further development of that in 1 Cor 12 that we are made up of many parts and as a body there should be no division but we need to show equal concern for each other in each of our own joy, pain and sorrow.
Business started appropriately with the Scottish Bible Society and we heard how the Word of God shapes lives here and overseas, contributing to the work of the Church: we have a vested interest here as Ida's mother worked for the Bible Society for many years.
Friday was another interesting day with the 'Third Article Declaratory' being debated concerning parish-based ministry bringing the ordinances of religion to people nationwide. It was interesting and sobering in the World Mission Council Report to hear from minority-status Christians who suffer for the faith. There were deliverences to raise awareness of this amongst elected politicians from Holyrood, Westminister and Brussels. Another echo of 'If one part suffers........' This was also mirrored at home by the work of Crossreach which includes counselling, addiction help, assisting prisoner families and the care provided for the young the old and the infirm of all ages, - the frail and the rejected.
Morning Service at St Giles' Cathedral was followed later in the day by a special service marking the 450th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation. A wonderful time of reflection on the influence of the reformation on education and on wider Scottish society. It was a medley of Psalms, Prayer and other Scripture cleverly interwoven with monologues, dramatisations and presentations on the theme.
The overall message similar to that delivered from George MacLeod celebrating the 400th and resonating from 16th century - A Reformed Church is forever to be reformed. In other words to make God alive and relevant for people today. Interesting too that there is no longer the same contraversy over the morality over the possession of nuclear weapons. The Church's position on them and Trident is thankfully unequivocally clear.
Monday was good with a report from the Children's Assembly, not just the future Church but part of the Church here and now. A reform of the Presbyteries is envisaged to make them more responsive and better able to deal with the changing needs of the Church. The Guild and their support of HIV and Aids at home and beyond. Ida spoke here wanting to raise awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS locally at Mwandi and asking the Church to advocate on their behalf to continue to make a difference to the lives of many living people worldwide with this disease.We heard the report from the Armed Forces Chaplains who look after the spiritual needs of members of the armed forces and their families wherever they are serving. Not an easy job. There is also need of a ministry for forces personnel once they retire to help them adjust back to civilian life again. Safeguarding children and other vulnerable people and the safe inclusion of sex offenders in Congregations came in the report 'For such is the Kingdom of Heaven.'
The Assembly closed on Wednesday with amongst others the Iona Community Board Report, again another area of personal interest to us, Ida's father helped to roof the Abbey just after the War. It was good to read of the good work being done countering sectarianism and working with young offenders.
Finally, another highlight for us was the address by Mona Siddiqui.
Looking back on all this, the Church at this Assembly has identified its task as not only to get out there and talk about Jesus but also to be someone to speak for the poor, those who are marginalised socially, politically, economically, educationally and medically and in doing this it needs to engage in effective advocacy in partnership with civil society and other faith communities.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Home again
We have had a pretty full diary since our return to Scotland. We have settled into the furlough flat in Leith, a lively and cosmopolitan part of the city. It has been modernised and gentrified in areas over the past ten years or so but fortunately has not lost its own special atmosphere.
We have been overhauled follicularly, medically and dentally and given the all clear. Our booster vaccinations are all that remain. We have caught up with Kirsten and Stuart; and Catriona is able to live with us as a day pupil for most of the time. It is good to be able to do again the normal things parents do for their children here. We hope to see Gregor after this weekend. Sartorially, too, we have ditched the more dowdy items from our 'salaula' and 'mish' box wardrobes in preparation for the wedding. Kirsten, our elder daughter, and Stuart are to be married on 12 June in St Andrews.
These past two weeks have been taken up with deputation work in the Presbyteries of St Andrews and Stirling, preaching at Sunday services and speaking to various Church groups at different times and places through the week. It has been good too to visit hospitals and schools and see the latest developments in health and education. The new St Andrews Community Hospital is a striking and beautifully equipped modern complex, with excellent and committed staff to go with it.
We have enjoyed visiting old friends in the various churches that support our work and raising awareness of the work and needs of the church, school and hospital at Mwandi. We have travelled from St Andrews in the east to Balfron in the west and have been struck by the warmth of the welcome and the hospitality and kindness we have received from the congregations we have visited.
Although it has been cold we have been fortunate that it has been dry with little rain and even some sun. Spring is a good time to be at home with the lengthening days, the daffodils, anenomes and bluebells in the woods and above the gean, haw blossom and the budding leaves. There are still patches of snow on the Ochils and new grass and lambs in the fields. All signs of grace in the springtime and the renewing of the roots of life.
*salaula (lit: choose, take your pick): Second-hand clothes sent to Africa from Europe and sold everywhere in Zambia. Salaula clothes about 95% of the nation.
We have been overhauled follicularly, medically and dentally and given the all clear. Our booster vaccinations are all that remain. We have caught up with Kirsten and Stuart; and Catriona is able to live with us as a day pupil for most of the time. It is good to be able to do again the normal things parents do for their children here. We hope to see Gregor after this weekend. Sartorially, too, we have ditched the more dowdy items from our 'salaula' and 'mish' box wardrobes in preparation for the wedding. Kirsten, our elder daughter, and Stuart are to be married on 12 June in St Andrews.
These past two weeks have been taken up with deputation work in the Presbyteries of St Andrews and Stirling, preaching at Sunday services and speaking to various Church groups at different times and places through the week. It has been good too to visit hospitals and schools and see the latest developments in health and education. The new St Andrews Community Hospital is a striking and beautifully equipped modern complex, with excellent and committed staff to go with it.
We have enjoyed visiting old friends in the various churches that support our work and raising awareness of the work and needs of the church, school and hospital at Mwandi. We have travelled from St Andrews in the east to Balfron in the west and have been struck by the warmth of the welcome and the hospitality and kindness we have received from the congregations we have visited.
Although it has been cold we have been fortunate that it has been dry with little rain and even some sun. Spring is a good time to be at home with the lengthening days, the daffodils, anenomes and bluebells in the woods and above the gean, haw blossom and the budding leaves. There are still patches of snow on the Ochils and new grass and lambs in the fields. All signs of grace in the springtime and the renewing of the roots of life.
*salaula (lit: choose, take your pick): Second-hand clothes sent to Africa from Europe and sold everywhere in Zambia. Salaula clothes about 95% of the nation.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Eruption disruption: Notes from last week
On Thursday last, Ida, Mubita and I arrived expectantly at Lusaka Airport at 0630h in the golden light of dawn, the bus carrying us out was throbbing to Lozi music as this weekend is when the Kuomboka Ceremony takes place, where the Litunga (King of the Lozis) moves from the flooded plain to the drier and higher ground – a wonderful and colourful traditional ceremony. We checked in our luggage and went on to Immigration. There was a slight complication here, as we are moving from Work Permits to Entry Permits in July Mubita is not on our present work-permit, however, we showed the Adoption Order and were allowed to proceed but advised to visit Immigration HQ on our return. We escalated, much to Mubi’s delight, to the Departure Lounge and awaited our flight to Heathrow to be called. 0850h came and went. We were not really concerned as punctuality and exact time-keeping here is the exception rather than the norm. At 0900h came the astonishing announcement that BA had cancelled our flight because of volcanic activity. We were told to proceed through Immigration again and collect our luggage. In the baggage hall we were met by a BA Rep, who arranged for us to be transferred to the Taj Pamodzi, Hotel where we would be accommodated until we were able to fly again. We are grateful to BA for taking care of us so well.
We have been allocated a very comfortable double room on the fourth floor. We have a satellite TV whose variety of news channels(BBC SKY & ALJEZEERA) keep us constantly updated on developments or the lack of them concerning the flight ban. We have our little Celtel modem which allows us to e-mail and keep in touch with family and friends. We went to Synod HQ to let them know our departure had been delayed. At the same time we took the opportunity to submit our entry permit, this process being expedited by Synod staff, and pleasant and helpful Immigration officials. They issued us with a Report Order and our receipt so we enter Zambia and pick up our Entry Permits in August on our return.
It has been unusual but enjoyable for us to be in Lusaka with so little to do. We bought Mubita a swim vest and have been enjoying a daily dip in the hotel swimming pool. On Saturday afternoon we caught up with some much-needed sleep with an extended siesta. On Sunday we worshipped at Holy Trinity, just round the corner. It was a wonderful time as we met up with two former pupils from Chengelo. Nawa is in his final year at UNZA doing a BSc and we were there to witness Kazynski’s Confirmation followed by Communion. This made up in some way for our missing the Sunday Service at Kildrum.
This time of frustration and waiting has been a good lesson for us, it shows that despite Western civilisation’s much vaunted pride in its technology and sophistication, thankfully they have still a long way to go before ‘nature is tamed’. We need still to use our God-given skills, gifts and talents to live with and overcome these challenges in a rational and moral fashion that glorifies God. It also underlines the danger in relying on one form of transport, even for long haul journeys, and points to the necessity of having a more balanced and integrated world transport network. It also points to the lamentable underdevelopment of alternative terrestrial modes of transport in Africa. Finally it is a clear demonstration of how interrelated and interdependent we all are in this world. To reduce it to a Sunday Post headline: Icelandic Volcano strands Scottish Family in Zambia…….. but the difference this time is there are millions of other similar personal stories world wide.
We have been allocated a very comfortable double room on the fourth floor. We have a satellite TV whose variety of news channels(BBC SKY & ALJEZEERA) keep us constantly updated on developments or the lack of them concerning the flight ban. We have our little Celtel modem which allows us to e-mail and keep in touch with family and friends. We went to Synod HQ to let them know our departure had been delayed. At the same time we took the opportunity to submit our entry permit, this process being expedited by Synod staff, and pleasant and helpful Immigration officials. They issued us with a Report Order and our receipt so we enter Zambia and pick up our Entry Permits in August on our return.
It has been unusual but enjoyable for us to be in Lusaka with so little to do. We bought Mubita a swim vest and have been enjoying a daily dip in the hotel swimming pool. On Saturday afternoon we caught up with some much-needed sleep with an extended siesta. On Sunday we worshipped at Holy Trinity, just round the corner. It was a wonderful time as we met up with two former pupils from Chengelo. Nawa is in his final year at UNZA doing a BSc and we were there to witness Kazynski’s Confirmation followed by Communion. This made up in some way for our missing the Sunday Service at Kildrum.
This time of frustration and waiting has been a good lesson for us, it shows that despite Western civilisation’s much vaunted pride in its technology and sophistication, thankfully they have still a long way to go before ‘nature is tamed’. We need still to use our God-given skills, gifts and talents to live with and overcome these challenges in a rational and moral fashion that glorifies God. It also underlines the danger in relying on one form of transport, even for long haul journeys, and points to the necessity of having a more balanced and integrated world transport network. It also points to the lamentable underdevelopment of alternative terrestrial modes of transport in Africa. Finally it is a clear demonstration of how interrelated and interdependent we all are in this world. To reduce it to a Sunday Post headline: Icelandic Volcano strands Scottish Family in Zambia…….. but the difference this time is there are millions of other similar personal stories world wide.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Blog down for 2 weeks
Please Note: This blog will not be updated for the next 2 weeks. Normal service will be resumed on 20 April.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
For the fourth week of Lent 2010
Create in me a clean heart, o God and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
In the Lozi dictionary the word for ‘Lent’ is given as Karesima. This word is used mainly by the Roman Catholic church; the other denominations that recognize Lent, tend to use the circumlocution, ‘the time to prepare oneself for Easter’. As Advent prepares us for the Incarnation and Christ’s coming again, so Lent prepares us for the coming of our risen Saviour.
As a whole in Zambia, Lent focuses more on the Church community rather than on the personal and rather private piety that is the case amongst Western believers. Christians here do use Lent as a time for personal introspection and examination but this is also combined with a greater sense of communal reflection and outreach. It is interesting that both cultures do both things but the emphasis is different, perhaps reflecting the nature of our respective societies and our respective general attitudes towards the individual and the communal. However, both would agree that Lent is a time to make a special effort to love others more.
On Sunday, for example, the members of the Mens’ Christian Fellowship rededicate themselves to their duties and work as they do annually. This is reminiscent of the passage in Acts 14:23 where Paul and Barnabas with prayer and fasting entrust elders to the Lord.
So what’s been happening on the ground recently? Well, we’ve had two American Medical Teams, the first group were paediatricians who did some good work at the Orphan and Vulnerable Childrens’ Day Care Centre. The second group were on their annual visit. They are the eye surgeons who do mainly cataract operations. They left today. We have another annual group of general surgeons arriving mid-month. They undertake hernias, fibroids and other such work.
We have also had two visitors to stay with us in our home recently. Alice Strittmatter, from the Gossner Mission, a German sister-organisation and partner to the UCZ. Alice also served in Zambia with the German Aid Service in the late 70s and early 80s. Alice was followed by Cathy Crawford who came to visit the Mwandi Aids Relief Project and a women’s support group in Livingstone. We look forward to catching up with them both when we are home on furlough.
Yesterday the 92 roofing sheets for the second classroom block were ordered and paid for - a cool K24m (almost GBP4 000). The steel trusses (24 x12m) for the roof are now ready. They have all been welded locally and to a good standard, so I bought red oxide paint (Forth Railway Bridge colour) and thinners to apply to and seal the metalwork . We are grateful for the Swiss-French Church’s financial contribution towards this part of the building. In the following weeks I will be purchasing glass and putty, electrical conduits, wires, light sockets, plugs and switches, paint and cement for the plastering and drainage. This should mean the block should be completed by the end of April or early May.
Work on the High School latrines has come to a stop. We received earlier this week new plans from the Ministry of Education District Officer. The pit has now to be increased in length by one metre. I have been assured this should not affect the Bill of Quantities but I’m not holding my breath!
We have two public holidays this week: International Women’s Day was on Monday and Youth Day on Friday. There will be sports, football and netball tournaments held on Friday at school to celebrate the Youth Day Holiday.
Mubita and I are ‘bothying’ at the moment, Ida left on Tuesday to attend the UCZ Synod Council of World Mission Committee Meeting in Lusaka and should return on Saturday. Saying that we are being well looked after by Dorothy, Florence and Stella. Dorothy has just returned to work; her eldest daughter died in hospital at the beginning of February. She is bearing up well considering, and has the consolation of her strong faith.
Ida has enjoyed meeting many of the other partners stationed elsewhere in Zambia and we were delighted to learn that Marina, one of the Bangladeshi nurses, gave birth to a little girl earlier in the week. Mum, Dad and baby are all well and recovering. This will be another grandchild for us along with Lucy and Akash, Liton and Leya’s little boy.
Finally, we’ve been reading ‘Salt and Light’ - The Letters of Jack and Mamie Martin in Malawi 1921-28. This book gives a warm and loving insight into the lives of a missionary family 90 years ago and of the people they served and stayed with at Livingstonia. All the joys and sorrows, the difficulties and triumphs and the wonderful variety in the work are all there. Despite the passage of time and life in a different era with different attitudes, there is still much that we, as workers for the same Kingdom, recognize and can empathise with in it. Plus ca change…
In the Lozi dictionary the word for ‘Lent’ is given as Karesima. This word is used mainly by the Roman Catholic church; the other denominations that recognize Lent, tend to use the circumlocution, ‘the time to prepare oneself for Easter’. As Advent prepares us for the Incarnation and Christ’s coming again, so Lent prepares us for the coming of our risen Saviour.
As a whole in Zambia, Lent focuses more on the Church community rather than on the personal and rather private piety that is the case amongst Western believers. Christians here do use Lent as a time for personal introspection and examination but this is also combined with a greater sense of communal reflection and outreach. It is interesting that both cultures do both things but the emphasis is different, perhaps reflecting the nature of our respective societies and our respective general attitudes towards the individual and the communal. However, both would agree that Lent is a time to make a special effort to love others more.
On Sunday, for example, the members of the Mens’ Christian Fellowship rededicate themselves to their duties and work as they do annually. This is reminiscent of the passage in Acts 14:23 where Paul and Barnabas with prayer and fasting entrust elders to the Lord.
So what’s been happening on the ground recently? Well, we’ve had two American Medical Teams, the first group were paediatricians who did some good work at the Orphan and Vulnerable Childrens’ Day Care Centre. The second group were on their annual visit. They are the eye surgeons who do mainly cataract operations. They left today. We have another annual group of general surgeons arriving mid-month. They undertake hernias, fibroids and other such work.
We have also had two visitors to stay with us in our home recently. Alice Strittmatter, from the Gossner Mission, a German sister-organisation and partner to the UCZ. Alice also served in Zambia with the German Aid Service in the late 70s and early 80s. Alice was followed by Cathy Crawford who came to visit the Mwandi Aids Relief Project and a women’s support group in Livingstone. We look forward to catching up with them both when we are home on furlough.
Yesterday the 92 roofing sheets for the second classroom block were ordered and paid for - a cool K24m (almost GBP4 000). The steel trusses (24 x12m) for the roof are now ready. They have all been welded locally and to a good standard, so I bought red oxide paint (Forth Railway Bridge colour) and thinners to apply to and seal the metalwork . We are grateful for the Swiss-French Church’s financial contribution towards this part of the building. In the following weeks I will be purchasing glass and putty, electrical conduits, wires, light sockets, plugs and switches, paint and cement for the plastering and drainage. This should mean the block should be completed by the end of April or early May.
Work on the High School latrines has come to a stop. We received earlier this week new plans from the Ministry of Education District Officer. The pit has now to be increased in length by one metre. I have been assured this should not affect the Bill of Quantities but I’m not holding my breath!
We have two public holidays this week: International Women’s Day was on Monday and Youth Day on Friday. There will be sports, football and netball tournaments held on Friday at school to celebrate the Youth Day Holiday.
Mubita and I are ‘bothying’ at the moment, Ida left on Tuesday to attend the UCZ Synod Council of World Mission Committee Meeting in Lusaka and should return on Saturday. Saying that we are being well looked after by Dorothy, Florence and Stella. Dorothy has just returned to work; her eldest daughter died in hospital at the beginning of February. She is bearing up well considering, and has the consolation of her strong faith.
Ida has enjoyed meeting many of the other partners stationed elsewhere in Zambia and we were delighted to learn that Marina, one of the Bangladeshi nurses, gave birth to a little girl earlier in the week. Mum, Dad and baby are all well and recovering. This will be another grandchild for us along with Lucy and Akash, Liton and Leya’s little boy.
Finally, we’ve been reading ‘Salt and Light’ - The Letters of Jack and Mamie Martin in Malawi 1921-28. This book gives a warm and loving insight into the lives of a missionary family 90 years ago and of the people they served and stayed with at Livingstonia. All the joys and sorrows, the difficulties and triumphs and the wonderful variety in the work are all there. Despite the passage of time and life in a different era with different attitudes, there is still much that we, as workers for the same Kingdom, recognize and can empathise with in it. Plus ca change…
Friday, 26 February 2010
It's a girl!
We received a telephone call yesterday morning at five to six from Ruairidh telling us that Fiona had safely delivered by caesarean section a little girl. We are delighted to have our first grandchild and are grateful that all is well with both Fiona and Lucy
Later in the day Ruairidh sent this email to family and friends:
Dear Everyone,
Just a quick note to let you all know that God has blessed Fiona and me with a beautiful baby girl.
Lucy Sepo (Hope) Waddell. Born: 25th February, 2010 (1345 Adelaide Time) Port Lincoln Hospital, South Australia. Weight: 7lb 1oz. Length: 49cm.
Mum and Baby are both fine and doing well. We would like to thank you all for the help, kindness and prayer directed towards us, we have greatly appreciated it and are so blessed by it.
Take care
Love to you all
Ruairidh, Fiona and Lucy
xx
Later in the day Ruairidh sent this email to family and friends:
Dear Everyone,
Just a quick note to let you all know that God has blessed Fiona and me with a beautiful baby girl.
Lucy Sepo (Hope) Waddell. Born: 25th February, 2010 (1345 Adelaide Time) Port Lincoln Hospital, South Australia. Weight: 7lb 1oz. Length: 49cm.
Mum and Baby are both fine and doing well. We would like to thank you all for the help, kindness and prayer directed towards us, we have greatly appreciated it and are so blessed by it.
Take care
Love to you all
Ruairidh, Fiona and Lucy
xx
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