Profiles
NAVIGATION
David Atherton
I
joined New Tribes Mission formally at the age of 19 years as an associate
missionary after going out to Cote d’Ivoire and working at the New
Tribes International
School in Yamoussoukro on a ‘Gap Year’ after my ‘A’levels. In
August 2002 I returned with
David McCullagh who I’m sure all of you who don’t know me know! We
were both hoping to teach at the school for a whole school year. I was
teaching Kindergarten (reception) and Art classes, but God had other
plans!
We were evacuated after the country fell in civil war and after contacting New Tribes Mission Headquarters I felt God leading me to finish off the school year in Papua New Guinea. The New Tribes School there was in desperate need and so I went out in Feb 2002 for 6 months. I learnt so much in this time from God and felt like I matured in my relationship with him.
I am now returning to Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire at the age of 21 God willing to work at the school teaching Art (all grades), P.E. (boys) and Maths (7th & 8th grades). David and I are also engaging in a number of non-curricular activities for the school kids.
After returning to England my home country after 12 months I have a place at Leeds Uni to study nursing, but this means nothing to me right now. Currently I am squealing with excitement with the preparations of going back to Africa. If you haven’t been, then go it’s amazing!!!
You can contact David at davidatherton@coolsalla.plus.com
David McCullagh
Having
travelled to various countries in Africa I was invited to visit my cousin,
who was teaching with New Tribes Mission in Ivory Coast. Not wanting
to miss an opportunity to get another country notched up on my passport, I
went for a visit in October 2001 (after completing my BA Hons. degree).
I returned in August 2002 with David Atherton (see opposite) to teach English, African Studies and managing the school library. Our stay was cut short due to the outbreak of civil unrest and we returned to our home countries.
For the remainder of the year I worked with a local council in education and was involved with various mission outreaches. I also was able to visit Malawi on behalf of Scripture Union Northern Ireland. This year (2003/2004) I have completed a PGCE in Business Education and Citizenship and am now a qualified teacher.
Once again we returned to Ivory Coast in August 2004, doing the same work we had started in 2002. Everything was going well and the school was starting to get back on its feet again. Unfortunately our time was cut short again when civil unrest erupted in November 2004. Again, we had to be evacuated. You can read of our experiences on our publications page.
Our next steps are to travel to Malaw in January 2005 to work with Scripture Union. We will be involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, camping ministry and the literacy ministry. I have travelled to Malawi on several occasion and am looking forward to a return visit.
You can contact David at david@coolsalla.plus.com