Return to the land of the unexpected

More than two decades since UK ministers Bernie and Gwen Collins packed up missionary life in Papua New Guinea to head home and resettle on British soil, they are preparing a return visit.

The former missionaries carved out a happy life for themselves in the country's Highland communities between 1974 and 1990, ministering in the church, bonding with the local people and raising their three young children as part of a 16-year CWM placement with the United Church in Papua New Guinea.

But since their return to England, family and ministerial responsibilities have meant they haven't yet had a chance to go back to the country they once called home - until now.

For seven weeks beginning this month, the United Reformed Church ministers have been invited to reunite with old friends and colleagues at the UCPNG for a special visit during which they will teach and speak at church retreats and workshops, share in the local ministry and catch up on the development of the region.

After more than 20 years away, it'll be an emotional experience to finally go back, says Gwen.

"This visit will be like tying up loose ends for us in a way. We haven't met up with the highlanders for many years. We have exchanged letters and have often been invited to go back but until now we just haven't had the chance."

She adds: "We were very warmly received as a family when we lived there. We were very much a part of the life of the church and our children were born and grew up there. They went to school with the local children and made friends. We all spoke PNG Pidgin, the local dialect. It will be an emotional trip meeting up with people we once knew and seeing how they have changed."

It was after much prayer and reflection that the trip to Papua New Guinea began to take shape.

Bernie, who is Minister of Ickenham Reformed Church in West London and also Ecumenical Officer of Churches Together in North Thames, had a sabbatical period coming up which he offered to spend with the United Church in Papua New Guinea.

He says: "We felt that we were being called to offer our services to Papua New Guinea again, so we prayed about it and talked it through. As things progressed we realised it was the right thing to do."

He adds: "While we are there will be reconnecting with the people in the Highlands, where we once lived to see what they are doing in their ministry there."

But although the visit will provide a great opportunity for Bernie and Gwen to reminisce, they won't just be resting on their laurels during the trip.

The couple have been asked to speak at retreats and workshops, teach in theological colleges and lead Bible studies at the church's Assembly Administrative Committee.

Making connections

"During the trip I will also be looking out to see how churches are relating to each other. There are various denominations across the country - the UCPNG has a Methodist background too - and it will be interesting to hear where there are ecumenical links and how these can be developed," says Bernie.

Over their 16 years in the Highlands region, Bernie took on various roles within the life and work of the church. He carried out circuit ministry for four years, was Principal of St Paul's Bible College in Mendi for three years, Secretary of Christian Education for two years and Bishop of the Highlands Region between 1985 and 1990 among other roles.

Gwen, who is Minister of Trinity URC High Wycombe, helped develop the regional literacy programme for the region at a time when many adults had not ever been schooled and couldn't read. She also administered Bible translation programmes and supported women's development projects while studying for her own ministerial training at the local Rarongo Theological College.

Development

At the time, there were many social issues surrounding people in the communities. Having only made contact with the outside world just 14 years before the missionary couple arrived, Papua New Guinea's Highland region was still very basic in many respects - from schooling and communications to healthcare.

During their placement, Gwen and Bernie were heavily involved in church initiatives to provide community healthcare across the region using funds from the government.

Bernie says: "By the time we left the United Church in the Highlands there were 25,000 people in 250 congregations. They have extended much further than that now and we'll see by just how much when we go back."

Gwen adds: "The region was quite basic when we arrived in terms of healthcare and communications links. Mail took a long time to arrive and we would only phone home perhaps once a year at Christmas, if that. It will be interesting to see whether communications have changed in the mountain regions."

"While we are there we will do a lot of listening and a lot of learning," she says. "The highlands people are very appreciative of contact if it's the right kind. I am hoping that revisiting the country will be a re-expression to the people there that not only do we care and have strong bonds with them but that they as a community in that part of the world have not been forgotten. It's about solidarity.

"I found it very hard to leave last time. We enjoyed our time there, even though there were some hard times, because we believed that we were where God wanted us."