Sanson, Dr Lawrence

- bn Darfield 1927 d. 2004. N.Z.B.M.S. Missionary, Tripura, 1955-1974. Member of Greendale. Dr Sanson arrived in Tripura in 1956, answering prayers for a male doctor to assist with the work there. He became Medical Superintendent of the Agartala hospital in 1958, where Mrs Sanson also worked (see separate entry). He gained a good reputation for surgery and his particular medical emphases were leprosy, TB and family planning. His primary concern, however, was always the Gospel, which he shared with practical wisdom and caring encouragement. He stayed on in 1972 when missionaries were asked to leave but then in 1974 was not permitted to return to Tripura after furlough. Subsequently he took up general practice in Ashburton and served on both the N.Z.B.M.S. and the Leprosy Mission Councils. In 1981 he served in Brahmanbaria for 7 months allowing other staff to take furloughs. Refs: NZB July 1999, 24; obituary NZB April 2004, 19.