Where are they Now?
Two former WEC Japan workers from Australia, and one from New Zealand, update us on life after Japan.
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JENNY MASON
I am now in Newcastle, Australia, teaching in a Christian school. I teach French, another missionary language I learnt to go to Zaire, (now Democratic Republic of Congo) with my husband Lindsay Mason and our daughter Kathleen. Due to war and ill health we left and couldn't return and have served with WEC Australia as mobilisers in the Newcastle area. I recently resigned from WEC but Lindsay continues as a mobiliser though severly limited by a chronic voice condition. We have 3 childreen-Kathleen,19, in 1st year uni, John,17 doing his last year at school and Laura, 14, in Year 9 at school.
I still have contact with Elaine and Shuichi Kitamura in Japan and the Roundhills in NZ but not as regularly on my part as I would like. I follow new WECers from Australia to Japan and our church has contact with other missions in Japan too.
Of course my time in Japan changed me - still love it, interested in it, read about it, watch movies etc, pray for, considered returning as a full-time misso until God redirected me to Lindsay and Congo. I expect that interest to be lifelong. We regularly have Japanese students stay with us for a couple of weeks/year via a school program,
---Jenny Mason formerly Jenny Fletcher, who was in Japan 1983-1984.
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DON BARNS
I arrived in Japan in April 1960. Fay came two years later. We were married in April 1964. Three of our four children were born there. We had an extended furlough 1967-69, and left the field November 1974. I have not been back since. The only ones I keep in contact with are Elaine and Shuichi.
We lived on campus at the Tasmanian MTC for twenty years. After that I have been a visiting lecturer. Otherwise I preach regularly in various fellowships, mentor some men, and participate in some home groups. Overall it keeps me busy [my main ministry is teaching Bible and encouraging the saints].
Fay passed away October '03. Her one regret was that she only had one grandchild. There are now five.
The Lord bless you.
Don
---Don Barns was with WEC in Japan from 1960 to 1974.
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GEOFF AND JOAN ROBERTS
Geoff arrived in Japan, April 1952 and served altogether for 19 ½ years focusing on church planting in Hikone, then Otsu reaching out to Moriyama and Kusatsu as well.
Joan arrived in Japan in December 1957 and was involved predominantly in Bible study ministry among students. We were married in Japan on December 19, 1959 and continued with these ministries in Yokaichi, Kyoto and Otsu. We were blessed with four children whom Joan home-schooled as they grew. She gained her Shihan (teaching diploma) in 3 divisions of Japanese floral art as a once a week hobby over 8 years.
In 1971 we responded to an I.O. request under Len Moules, the then International Director, to take over the leadership in Taiwan from Horace and Margaret Williams whose health was deteriorating. After considerable Mandarin language study, plus home-schooling, the Lord miraculously provided for our children to enter Bethany Christian School in Taipei, a satellite school of Morrison Academy. He wonderfully opened the door for me to join the staff as a full-time teacher for four great years, thus covering the considerable fees for our children. I flew my wings with music, art, drama, science as well as straight teaching until our eldest daughter was ready for high school. At this stage I applied to the Taipei American School and was accepted. So all of the children and I transferred to this large secular school where we remained for two years. By that time, Elisabeth, our eldest was ready for higher education.
After 7 years in Taiwan, we returned to New Zealand in 1978 attending a leadership conference in Kilcreggan , Scotland, en route. In 1979 Geoff was appointed as the Missionary Representative for the Tertiary Students’ Christian Fellowship and visited all of the tertiary institutions and teachers’ colleges twice during the year. As a result of that he was invited to become the Interdenominational Chaplain at Massey University and Palmerston North Teachers’ College , a position he held for 7 years (1980-86). We both squeezed in study during that time at the university, Joan gaining a BA and Geoff, a Diploma in teaching ESOL. Subsequently, we both did Masters degrees in Japanese.
1987 found Geoff in charge of candidate orientation at WEC Headquarters in Auckland as well as becoming Assistant Director of the New Zealand Evangelical Missionary Association. I did office administration for WEC Headquarters in Auckland and also became the International Education Advisor for Missionary Kids for 3 years.
In 1993 Geoff became the interim pastor in two Baptist churches, one in Auckland for 1½ years, then with a Chinese church in Wellington for 3 years. Joan entered the teaching profession again at secondary school level for 7 years teaching Japanese language in 3 different colleges which was a very rewarding experience. She retired on the high note of seeing all of her students passing their external exams!
Retirement has found us living in the beach resort of Orewa, Nth. Auckland, attending Orewa Baptist Church where we have both been Elders for 8 years and very involved in other leadership roles: worship leading, music, floral work, running adult discipleship courses, women’s ministries, care and support group, intercessory prayer and a home group.
We do have continued contact with both Japanese and Chinese folk who also come to visit whenever possible. In this respect we are looked on as their Mum and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa to the children. Throughout this journey God’s faithfulness in provision, physical healing and empowerment in spiritual ministries has been awesome. It has been a most humbling experience and greatly fulfilling with deep joy in walking with the Lord step by step. We are so thankful to be His children and to know that He has a place for His people, our times are in His hands and that He watches over us continually.
---Geoff and Joan Roberts were in Japan from 1952 to 1971.