Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - The Aitchesons settle back after two years in Romania

11th January 2010

Darren and Nicola Aitcheson have both returned to their old jobs after two years' service in Romania, where they served as Houseparents in Caleb House, an ‘aftercare’ home for former residents of the Aksza Mission home for street children.

Caleb House exists to provide emotional and practical support to young people from Aksza who are over 18 and undergoing further education.  While they are at Caleb they are encouraged to develop useful life-skills, such as cooking and budgeting, so they are better prepared for independent living. They are also taught the gospel and how it can be applied to their lives.

The acquistion of Caleb’s premises was aided by funds donated by PCI’s Youth and Children’s 'Wings Project'; while furnishings were paid for by PCI's Young Women’s Group (now integrated into Presbyterian Women). 

Darren and Nicola helped in the setting up of Caleb House and once it was operational they became resident houseparents, helping the young people to grow and develop into mature young adults with the confidence to move out and live independently.

As Houseparents, they were responsible for the spiritual, physical and educational well-being of Caleb residents as well as administration and maintenance of the home.

In September last year, Darren and Nicola returned home and both are now back in the jobs they had before going to Romania in July 2007.

Andrea Melzer, a 29 year-old qualified social worker with experience in Christian youth work, in both Romania and Hungary, was appointed as the Aitchesons' successor, taking up her new responsibilities on 1st September, 2009.

Unfortunately, due to ill health, Andrea resigned in December last, leaving Caleb House without a fulltime resident houseparent. All this has been very unsettling for the young people who live in Caleb and the Managing Board is now urgently seeking to find a suitable replacement.

We acknowledge the valuable contribution made by Darren and Nicola to the setting up of Caleb House, and as houseparents once the project was up and running. We share their concern that a suitably qualified and experienced person(s) with a strong Christian faith may soon be found to fill the vacant houseparent(s) role.

To this end we encourage prayer for a successor to Andrea to be found soon; and also for Darren and Nicola, settling back into life and work in Northern Ireland.