2017 Team Introduction - Rob Butcher

Rob Butcher


I'm Rob Butcher, a retired GP and now the organist at St Andrews Church in Biggleswade. I've seen the work that HANDS do at several events and spoken to friends who have visited already.

I've always been interested in missionary work since I was a small boy. My uncle was a medical missionary in Africa  in the 1950s and 60s and built a hospital there. I was brought up on stories and photographs of the work that he did. He was my inspiration to become a doctor and I regret that  I never had the chance to see his work first hand.

I'm looking forward to seeing a bit of the country, meeting the people and sharing in the work with the children if only for a short time. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to visit Africa. I'm sure it  will be a moving and thought provoking experience.

2017 Team Introduction - Rebecca White

Rebecca White

My name is Rebecca White. I am 23 years old and I’m from Potton in Bedfordshire. Although I currently live in Ipswich, where I am currently studying for my degree in Fine Art at the University of Suffolk. I will be graduating this year and then I hope to continue towards my career goal of becoming an art therapist.

I have a passion for travelling, which stems from my year teaching abroad as my gap year in 2012. I spent a year in India teaching and living within a small community in a town called Ongole, in Andhra Pradesh, South India. Within this I experienced an entirely new culture, lived with about 100 girls aged 3-18 and was involved with the Christian community that they were a part of. Throughout this experience I also gained a knowledge and experience of other religions, which was a learning experience. This experience was truly life changing and is definitely something that I would love to experience again.

This is why I jumped at the opportunity to go to South Africa. I love travelling. I love meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Finally I love experiencing worship in different cultures.

2017 Team Introduction - Holly Donaghue

Holly Donaghue

I am really looking forward to SA because I think it is such a great opportunity to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. After hearing Claire talk about Africa for two years I was always interested in the trips ‘Hands at Work’ offer.

I am currently on a gap year but in September I will be moving to Leeds to study classical singing. This passion started in the church aged 8, when I joined the girls’ choir of All Saints Church, Northampton. I loved my time with All Saints. I am also a baptised a member of St Aidan’s Church, Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

One element of our trip I am mostly looking forward to is leading prayer through song and hymns with the people of the villages, as I feel this is a part of prayer I can be most confident in. I really enjoyed meeting the SA team in April, and I hope as a team we can really make a positive difference to the villages we visit.