08. Early Plans at Unjamap, 1952

Mendi, 1952 In the first full year with the new staff in Mendi, the mission group had to stay in the area close to Unjamap because the government patrol officers thought that it was not safe yet to go further away. They were busy with new buildings for a small hospital. Rev Roland Barnes andContinue reading “08. Early Plans at Unjamap, 1952”

07. Elsie Wilson, Teacher in Mendi, 1952

Mendi, 1952 Miss Elsie Wilson came to Mendi as a teacher to work in the new little mission school. She arrived with Rev Roland Barnes and his wife Miriam, and Sister Joyce Walker in October 1951. Elsie Wilson was an experienced teacher. She went to New Britain to teach in the Methodist Mission school atContinue reading “07. Elsie Wilson, Teacher in Mendi, 1952”

06. Medical Ministry Begins with Joyce Walker, 1952

Mendi 1952 Sister Joyce Walker was an experienced nurse who had been working in New Britain. As soon as it was possible for Australian women to return to New Britain after the war years, Joyce Walker joined the first group of Methodist women to travel to Rabaul, arriving by ship in November 1946. Rabaul townContinue reading “06. Medical Ministry Begins with Joyce Walker, 1952”

04. Memories of Mrs Grace Young, 1951

Mendi 1950-51 While Rev Gordon Young was busy establishing a new mission in Mendi, his wife Grace Young was also preparing to join him. At first, she had to wait while her husband went ahead. Gordon and Grace Young had been working in Namatanai Circuit on New Ireland with the Methodist Church since the endContinue reading “04. Memories of Mrs Grace Young, 1951”

03. Starting a New Mission, 1950

Mendi, November 1950 As soon as Gordon Young heard that the MOM Board had approved their new mission, he was very keen to make a start.  The next time Assistant District Officer Alan Timperley went on a patrol to Mendi from Mount Hagen, Young went with him. In his first letter from Mendi, Young wrote:Continue reading “03. Starting a New Mission, 1950”