Gladys came from a Mennonite family whose origins lay in Russia but at the time of her arrival they were in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, The Mennonite tradition decreed that the real people were farmers. Her father set out to establish a homestead on virgin land at Shell Lake, west of Prince Albert in Nth Saskatchewan. The terrain was difficult, Jake was not really a farmer, times were hard,it was the depression era of the 30's. Mother died in childbirth, father followed soon after and the family broke up and scattered. The three boys joined the Army.

Gladys shared a very devout tradition with her Mother and saw her future in the Christian ministry and then later in missions and specifically India. Rheumatic fever attacked her three times. On the last occasion the medical people told her to forget going to India as she was too weak and unhealthy with the potential for relapses. Gladys had this great sense of calling and against all advice persisted in following through on her conviction. This necessitated going out independently as no Mission Board would accept her health record.

She joined an orphanage ministry in Kotagiri near to Conoor in South India. Her youthful idealism found the divergent living standards of the missionaries in the bungalow and that of the girls very difficult to accept. The resultant strain brought on problems for her weakened heart causing uncontrolled rapid heart beating.  The missionaries no doubt influenced by her intransigence said she should go home and took steps toward this end. Gladys with teh help of some other friends 'escaped' and began another life.

The most happy and positive period of this first furlough was spent with Swedish Lutheran missionaries in Central India not far from Itarsi.  Magda Karlsen was a person of similar heart and conviction. At her dispensary she sent patients away with medical help but with also prayer a ministry in which Gladys took a significant part.

Return to Canada in 1953 was a difficult experience. The group to which she had belonged found were in the midst of a 'revival' - the Latter Rain experience in this Pentecostal orientated group. During this period they were waiting and praying observing signs and wonders at their centre in North Battleford in Saskatchewan. The conviction was formed that they were a unique group similar to the early disciples in Acts 2 who were to await the falling of the fire from on high and then they would go out and evangelise the world.  the vision of Gladys for mission did not fit this easy solution requiring her to leave and seek other fellowship.

When I met Gladys in 1955 she was a lone figure learning Hindi in Landour, Mussoorie Nth India. In fact the two of us were rather lonely. I had gone out to Pakistan in 1953 with Howard Harper. We were close friends but this situation brought out previously unknown strains. Howard went his own way believing that the answer to the situation was to return to the UK on finances his father was offering, qualify for A levels then go on to become a Medical Doctor.  He left suddenly in September 1954 to pursue this vision. The decision was a right one for Howard but due to lack of effective communication and preparation I was left in a difficult situation. The challenges were resolved by taking up living quarters with a Pakistani friend and then going to Landour for the following summer of Urdu language study.

I found a place in a boarding house run by the American Assemblies of God mission. Gladys was also staying there. We were outwardly very different people, there was a ten year age gap in Gladys favor, she belonged to the Pentecostal tradition very different and in many ways the accepted opposite to mine. Although very committed to one another friends and well wishers raised eye brows as the gaps to be bridged were substantial.

The resultant challenges came not from our sense of commitment nor from our cultural differences age or denominational upbringings but from much more basic causes. the book Men are from Mars women from Venus would explain very well our personality differences which we little understood but persevered to overcome. A very different understanding of the nature of the Christian ministry was also a source of tension. I was not the classic pastor/teacher type but rather an administrator and policy planner. This was not easily understood by Gladys. It took a long time but by the time Gladys passed on in 1986 after close on 30 years of interaction we had found peace and resolution. I am deeply grateful that I could make a fond farewell to Gladys with deep appreciation for her sterling qualities and no real regrets about any outstanding issues.