After 40 years in Duncan, Oklahoma, Barbara and Darrell Jantz have made the move to the big city: London, England.
The Jantzes are the newest host couple at London Mennonite Centre, which serves as a retreat center, workspace, and guest house for Anabaptists and other Christians in the United Kingdom and from all over the world. The couple’s primary role is to serve as hosts: caring for the property, changing sheets, emptying rubbish bins, making tea, and generally providing hospitality for those that pass through the center’s doors.
The Jantzes have been eyeing the host position for more than 30 years, ever since Barbara’s parents, Bill and Elizabeth Barge, served in the same role.
“My parents came in November 1979 and were here for six-and-a-half years,” said Barbara Jantz. “During that time, all six of us children visited them and all of us would tease each other: ‘that would be a fun thing to do.’ So, Darrell and I have talked about it through the years.”
Darrell and Barbara kept checking Mission Network’s website for the job opening, and even though it appeared several times, they weren’t quite ready to apply. But last summer, as Ed and Phyllis Shirk prepared to end their term as LMC hosts, the notice appeared again. Barbara’s brother sent them an email to let them know. And this time, the Jantzes thought the timing was just right.
“We sent in our application that night,” said Darrell Jantz. “We were approaching retirement age, and wanted to downsize in terms of our house and things. We also knew we wanted to serve while we still felt well enough to do that.”
The Jantzes arrived in London on January 27, and since then have been adjusting to life in the city. Darrell has been learning to drive on the left side of busy streets, and they’ve both been enjoying getting to know the various LMC guests.
“It’s an active place,” said Barbara, “because people come through from all over telling their stories. We’re just lapping it up.”
