SISTERS GOING ROUND WORLD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28974, 15 August 1959, Page 2

SISTERS GOING ROUND WORLD

Plans For Christmas In Bethlehem

Deborah, Alice and Honora Helfferich, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday, will not see their home in Connecticut again until September, 1960. They are touring the world with their father, the Rev. R. H. Helfferich, who is director of relief and rehabilitation for the Church World Service, an organisation of the combined Evangelical, Reformed and Congregational churches.

In their 13-month itinerary one event stands out They will spend Christmas in Bethlehem. Their father is leading the meditation at the field where the shepherds heard of Christ’s birth from the angels. Then they will attend the watch-night service at the Church of the Nativity, built over the manger where Jesus was born. They have come to New Zealand from New York, by way of Central America. They are now going on to Australia, Sumatra, Singapore, Manila, Japan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Calcutta, New Delhi, Uganda, Kenya, Cairo, Athens, Rome and Paris. Because of their father's work they will be visiting places which tourists normally never see, such as distressed areas, refugee camps and missions. Wherever possible they are staying with their father’s friends and are seeing as much of the country as they can. They are all interested in art and carry sketch pads with them on their travels. They cannot paint in oils while touring but are making preliminary drawings in pencil to take back to America with them. Each sister has her own style. Deborah paints landscapes, Alice portraits and Honora abstracts.

While they are in Uganda and Kenya they will be going on a safari. Deborah hopes -t > shoot some animals with her camera. She describes herself and her father as “shutterbugs”—people keenly interesting in photography

Mr Helfferich will return to the United States early in 1960, but the girls are staying in Europe to study. Deborah, who is 18, will attend Munich University, and Alice, 16, and Honora, 14, will go to school in Bavaria or Paris.

Their father is flying to Europe to rejoin them in July, 1960, and they will tour the Continent before returning to America to start school in September. They live on a farm in Connecticut, which Honora described as being “way out in the wilds.” Their nearest neighbours are two miles away.

Before their father took up his appointment with the Church World Service he was in charge of a parish in Pennsylvania, where five generations of Helfferiches have served as vicar. Mr Helfferich went abroad after the | last war and became very concerned with the problems of 'refugees. He now tours the world, visiting branch offices, .every 18 months.