Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! 

This acclamation is made by Christians everywhere as we greet the season of Easter and it marks a time of new beginnings. New Beginnings is perhaps a title we could give to this newsletter as we review the past three months. Having re-opened the Eye Clinic on 1^st January we were fortunate to have the services of Dr. John Sandford-Smith who came to us from the UK and spent two weeks with us. During that time John and the Eye Clinic team performed 124 sight correction operations.
 

Having worked in Pakistan, Cambodia and many other places around the world he brought a skill and efficiency and a calm demeanour from which our staff learned and the patients benefited. We are hoping to have  Dr. Vikram Khosla to join us from India soon with his wife and two children. Vikram is currently working for a charitable organisation in India and has teaching experience as well as surgical skills. His presence will mean a new beginning for the Eye Clinic with a full team headed by a full-time ophthalmologist.
 

The extension work has begun and is progressing well. Keeping both the Eye Clinic and the Medical Clinic open whilst work progresses has presented a few problems but the worst is nearly over because once the columns are complete the upper storey can be worked on with access from the car park and no further disruption in the compound. 

Patricia Kok, our nurse from Singapore, is leaving us on 1^st May after being part of the Christ Church medical team for four years. We are grateful for all that she has contributed since she has been in Aden and wish her well in her new employment elsewhere in Yemen. A replacement for Patricia is being sought and we pray that someone somewhere is feeling called by the Lord to work with us here. 

Pat Goodchild spent seven weeks with us at the beginning of the year. She had so many students signing up to learn English that she was very glad of help from Gail Smith. Together they taught and passed out over fifty students of varying grades. Gail is presently on leave at home in Scotland and will return in May to become our full-time English teacher – another new beginning! 

Work with seafarers visiting the port continues, sadly mostly in the form of seeking justice for those who have not been paid for many months and are in need of  help. Two previous cases continue without much progress to be seen. There is a real need for a ship visitor so your prayers are needed in order for the appointment of such a person to add to our new beginnings. The Nautical Institute in Dubai have helped us out financially in our work with the seafarers and are encouraging us to provide further much needed facilities for them. 

Use of our Community Centre picked up somewhat after Christmas and it has been good to see it being a place of refuge and rest for a number of people of various nationalities. It has been good to have visitors join us for worship on Fridays when they have been here and also to welcome several yacht crews who are making their way from place to place via Aden. 

On a personal note, Irene and I have been privileged to travel quite a lot recently. We have enjoyed visiting Jordan after attending Synod in Cyprus, going to Dubai for the Marine Charity Ball and the Dedication of the new church at Jebel Ali and being in Bahrain for the Renewal of Ordination vows and the Blessing of Oils on Maundy Thursday. 

Our grateful thanks to all who continue to hold us in your thoughts and prayers and give generously to the work and ministry of Christ Church, Ras Morbat Clinics and associated care and outreach to the local community here in Aden.

May God richly bless you.

Colin and Irene