Fellowship focus 2 - March 1997
Now and then: a missionary's memories
In July 1956 I travelled by train from Bombay to Poona in India. I could hardly believe that I was actually in India, the monsoon rains were causing waterfalls to gush down the hills and everything was so green!
About 14 years previously I had come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour and after a short time at bible college during 1955/56, God had wonderfully opened up my way to join the former Poona and Indian Village Mission team of workers in western India as secretary to the field chairman. During 4 of the 9 years I was to spend in India, I also had the opportunity of working amongst women and children in the Konkan (the coastal area of western India). With a senior missionary colleague, who had worked in the Konkan for many years, I was able to visit a number of villages in that area, having contact with women and children in their homes.
One memory I have of that time is of going into a village home where a number of women (and no doubt children) had gathered to listen to the gospel. As I left the house one elderly lady, who had been listening intently to what we had to say, asked, "What did you say his name was?". What a joy it was to be able to tell her his name was Jesus.
After my second furlough I was unable to return to India as new regulations had been introduced concerning the issue of missionary visas. However, God had other plans for me. I was able to join the other staff at Mission headquarters in north London. (The name was later changed to International Christian Fellowship - ICF). In 1976, the ICF office moved to Hounslow and I remained on staff until I retired in 1983. As I look back over the years I praise God for all his guidance and provision. Truly, "Great is his faithfulness".
Gladys.
It was a great loss to all of us when Gladys died early in 1999 after a brief spell in hospital. We were always amazed at her good humour, even in the face of painful arthritis and increasing difficulty in getting about. She knew that for those who love God, in all things God works for their good. "If God is for us, who can be against us" (Romans 8:28,31)