Tim Writes …
When going on study leave a vicar is asked to be involved in arranging an interim minister. I had informally talked to a retired Anglican priest in Christchurch, who was open to the idea of coming to St Paul’s for some time. But the Bishop had other plans for that person. The Bishop mentioned that
it would not be easy getting an interim during my stay. He suggested he could request some other retired priests from the Diocese, but indicated it might be difficult to persuade them to look after
a parish for two to three months. I also considered them not the best fit for the Parish. As I prayed about it, Geoff Lamason came to mind, a priest from the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki with whom I attended training and had many good conversations. I contacted him and after requesting some time to consider and prayer over the invitation he agreed to come to Papanui. I am delighted that someone of his faith and friendly attitude can come to Papanui. Geoff provided a brief
introduction:

I was born in Napier seventy-six years ago. The first of three children. I’m the eldest with a sister and a brother. After High School I trained as a Primary School teacher and had my first position in Kaitaia. Typical of the teaching profession I moved a number of times. In my second school I had the joy of meeting Gayle. We have been married for fifty-one years and have three children and ten grandchildren. The age range of our grandchildren is from twenty-two through to eight years.

As a teacher my family and I moved to Papua New Guinea in 1987. It was as a missionary to a secondary level, church school in Wewak on the northern coast. The school was established for the children whose parents were serving as missionaries in the Sepik province and one family from one of the islands. Coming to Hibiscus High School enabled them to study with their peers and have qualified teachers as mentors. We also had Papua New Guinean students. They all were on correspondence courses, most from their home country and others from the New South Wales correspondence school. There were three qualified teachers with knowledge in a range of subjects to support them. Inland students were accommodated in one of two Christian hostels. I was the last of the school’s principals as numbers fell because the students went back to their home country for their tertiary education and expatriate missionaries had trained local Paupa New Guineans to fulfil their roles.

Home was, and is now, Morrinsville in the Waikato. I taught for a number of years both as principal of a rural school and in a variety of positions at Morrinsville Intermediate. After I retired, I sought priesthood. Once ordained I have served in the priest’s role in two churches. Currently I am the Priest in Charge at St Mark’s Anglican Church in Te Aroha.

Gayle and I look forward to serving you for the next few months.

Geoff.