Dear Friends,
 

Who would have thought this time last year that this year we would be writing our Christmas letter from the Yemen Republic!

Traveling and arriving here in Aden just four days after the events of September 11^th was not the best time and to a large extent has affected life here ever since with some firms and organizations pulling out and ex-pats returning home. At the last count there were only 8 of us from UK left in Aden! Despite all this we have settled well, find the Yemenis very friendly and we are quite at home in our new surroundings. Our apartment is within the Christ Church compound and is a comfortable three bedroom flat. We are able to find our way safely to most places we wish to visit in the area. The “supermarkets” are not exactly “super” but our needs are few and we are able to buy all we need to eat well and live comfortably (except alcohol of course!) We are equipped with satellite TV that receives BBC World( poorly), CNN(well) and around 25 Arabic channels. Some of these are in English quite often and there are occasional films, but there’s no way of knowing when they are being shown! However, we also have a video player and some tapes so that’s something if we’re desperate.
 

Our two puppies are doing well and will eventually make adequate guard dogs although we have no reason to feel insecure.  Obviously we have watched events in Afghanistan carefully and taken no silly risks but have gone about our business as usual and trusted Our Lord who called us here.

Colin once said that he’d like to work with Mother Teresa among the poor and it is our privilege that 90% of our ministry is just that. The medical clinic, eye care, prison ministry, refugee work and much of the seafarers work benefits the poor who would not otherwise receive such help and that is only made possible through the loving generosity and prayer of so many faithful people. Our Church fellowship is very small, usually around 20 or so at our main worship on Fridays and 6 of the staff meet with us for prayer at the start of each working day at 7.45am. Officiating at the wedding of members of the Ethiopian refugee church was a wonderful occasion and we have another to conduct for them on 28^th December.

Archbishop George Carey and his wife visited Bahrain in November and we were invited to join them. It was so good to be back there 32 years since we left.

We are due in Cyprus at the end of January for Diocesan Synod and hope to stay a few days extra by way of a break.

The Remembrance services at Ma’alla and Silent Valley cemeteries were memorable times standing among the graves with dignitaries from various embassies and representatives

 

December 2001