Christmas 2005 Barbara, Jeffrey, Christopher, and Coleman Thomas Woodstock School, Mussoorie UA 248179 India
			A view of the Gujjar people near Woodstock School
		The Thomas family wishes you a blessed Christmas time and wonderful new year. We send our greetings from high atop the foothills of the Himalayas.  Here Jeff and Barb are engaged in a teaching ministry at Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India, where sons Chris (14) attend high school and Coleman (11), middle school.  We are blessed to be in such a beautiful part of God’s creation, yet we miss you all and often miss the food, comfort, and sense of security we had when in the U.S.   Here we have a heightened sense of resting secure in God’s loving care, as we rely on God’s guidance daily to keep us safe and provide for our needs. That list of needs has diminished since we arrived in India a half year ago.  By comparison with the less fortunate living all around us, we have much to be thankful for. Barbara has been particularly concerned about a small group of homeless poor – Gujjar rag pickers--who nestle in the hillside near the school, under plastic tarpaulins.  Chilly winter weather has arrived in Mussoorie, and their barely-clothed children beg to passersby in the street.  How will they stay warm when the snows come? During the school’s Christmas Chapel Service, at which Jeff and Coleman sang with the beautiful choir, we heard a poignant message in the modern carol Night of Silence, written by Daniel Kantor: Cold are the people, winter of life,   We tremble in shadows the cold endless night.   Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping,   Flowers that will echo the sunrise.   Fire of hope is our only warmth,   Weary, its flame will be dying soon. God has brought us many opportunities to serve through helping others – counseling a struggling student, encouraging youth on their spiritual journeys, providing hospitality to boarding students who miss family life, helping a local sweeper family with school expenses.  And now to the poor in our midst, what is God asking us to provide – blankets for the cold? A warm meal? Clothes and shoes for the children of the rag pickers? Recently we opened our home to the local Hindustani Church youth group who came caroling.  Twenty-five young people sang Christmas carols in Hindi, led by a young man who -- we later learned -- desires to become a youth pastor.   He will need financial and prayer support to pursue his calling at the theological seminary in nearby Dehra Dun. The song concludes: Spirit among us, shine like a star,   Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar,   Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely,   Rising in the warmth of your Son’s love,   Star unknowing of night and day,   Spirit, we wait for your loving Son. We hope that with your prayers and support, we can fan the embers of hope in those around us. We are grateful for your love, friendship and support, and wish you Christmas blessings that continue throughout the new year.  We hope to hear from you soon. ---Ogden.thomas@pobox.com barbarathomas@woodstock.ac.in