Overseas

Rubislaw Parish Church

SCOTT COLLEGE, KENYA

For the last few years the congregation of Rubislaw has been supporting a student at Scott Theological College at Machakos in Kenya. This support covers annual tuition fees, and is met from an anonymous donation made to the church specifically for this purpose.

Aileen and Gavin McEwen have visited Scott College on several occasions from Nairobi. Martin Makusa is the student Rubislaw is currently supporting. Martin became actively involved with the Christian Union at high school. He plays tuba in the Christian Service Battalion Band at his home church of AIC Bomani. He joined Scott College in 2004 and is now in his third year. He takes part in various outreach ministries.

Elephants

Flamingoes

Masai

Baby Elephant

MALAWI

Rubislaw Church is partnered with Limbe Church of Central African Presbyterian, Malawi. Rubislaw is twinning with Malawi. This congregational partnership is part of the wider twinning of the Presbytery of Aberdeen with Blantyre City Presbytery of the Church of Central African Presbyterian.

ADESA PERU

The Los Rosales school which was built by the charity ADESA is situated in Villa Estela at km 39 on the Pan American Highway. Lima is surrounded by 'pueblos jovenes' or young towns which appear to grow from nothing overnight. Settlers move in and build their own houses and then have to lobby to get utilities, which can take years.

The latest settlers start building their houses with a type of reed which is sold in outlets nearby. Roofing is usually of tarpaulin. It doesn't tend to rain in the area but it can get very cold and damp in winter due to the proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The coastline is covered in a heavy damp haar from May to November. Dampness and poor living conditions cause bronchial problems and TB.

The school - surrounded by dusty roads

Starter homes - very basic dwellings

JAMAICA

In 1999, Rubislaw Church entered into a partnership with the congregations of Mount Zion and Barrett Town Churches in the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. At that time the Rev. Margaret Fowler was our Mission Partner, supported by the World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland. The partnership began with the invitation by Margaret Fowler on a visit to Rubislaw Church to visit her church in Jamaica. At that time Rubislaw Church received a substantial legacy from the estate of Mrs Betty Raven, which became the Betty Raven Bequest to advance the mission and work of the congregation, locally and in the wider world. A need in Jamaica was identified in the provision of a Basic School in the area served by Mount Zion and Barrett Town Churches. Responding to that need, Rubislaw Church helped build a nursery school in Jamaica in partnership with these Jamaican congregations.

Spot Valley Basic School now provides pre-school education for 30 children.

Rev Margaret Fowler, is now minister in Negril, Santoy and Green Island in Jamaica, still serving in the United Church.

Andrew Wilson, Minister (far left) with some members of Rubislaw Church visiting Mr and Mrs Dayes at Mount Zion Church, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Mrs Isola Campbell, Session Clerk at Mount Zion Church, visiting 'shut in' members of the congregation

Rubislaw Visitors helped run a holiday club for local children in Mount Zion Church

Mr and Mrs Dayes from Jamaica visiting Rubislaw Church as part of our church partnership

Rubislaw Parish Church of Scotland, Scottish Charity No. SC015841