April 15, 2007 Newsletter
Happy Easter
Soon after the Ides of March, and our last newsletter the weather turned, dramatically illustrating the lenten promise of new life. Chilly mornings suddenly became bearable, new flowers blossomed, the live-oak trees blossomed and pushed out their old leaves. Those with delicate sinuses respond to the new pollen in one way, but everyone marvels at the subtle change in colors. This year has been remarkably kind for the mountain rhododendron trees, so they have produced red flowers in profusion for weeks.
Easter chapel at school featured the brass section and staff chorus and string quartet, proclaiming the Good News. This message of redemption and new life is universal and relevant, especially for the seniors who now approach their last weeks of school.
Please keep the school in mind, as we search for a new principal, HR director, finance director, and residence supervisor. And also as students move into exam season: AP exams for the seniors, as well as the (UK-based) IGCSE exams for tenth graders, including son Chris.
Working Connections
The seasonal increase in tourism and building projects has brought employment for the migrant laborers – many are “undocumented workers” from Nepal, whose uncertain legal status and different language consign them to the most menial of jobs and housing. Our nearby community hospital – part of Emmanual Hospital Association, supported by PCUSA and other churches – has a small outreach program to serve the Nepali migrant workers, though frankly their main focus is outreach to the nearby mountain people of the Garhwal region.
The school is on the eastern border of the municipality. Farther out, the roads become narrower and scarier, and gas stations and electric supplies less frequent. Ironically, the federal government is funding better internet connection to rural areas. Last month, workers hacked out (by hand shovel) a small trench along the 100 kilometer length of the narrow mountain road, that will be filled with a fiber-optic cable to provide internet service to the remote villages! The school will get to tap in to the cable as well, thereby doubling the speed of our connection.
Health Concerns
Our newsletter this month is shortened a bit by our focus on Barbara’s health. Thanks to your prayers, and the surgeon’s skill, her surgery went surprisingly well today.
Barb will recuperate a few weeks on flat ground in Delhi, then Jeff will escort her back up to the hills. The stairs will be a challenge, so she will likely stay in the health center, at school level, for a few more weeks after that.
A social observation: in this Delhi hospital, almost all of the nurses are Christian, from the southern state of Kerala. This is partly due to the strong education system in that state, which has the highest literacy rates in this part of the world. But we like to think also that a Christian sense of service guides many to the helping professions.
Lights, Music, Coffeehouse!
Thanks to our friends and supporters at Pleasantville Presbyterian Church, for their fundraising coffeehouse this past weekend. Would that we could have been there to hear, and sing, and perform.
We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers and contributions of support. Keep in touch. Come visit.
Jeff, Barb, Chris and Coleman Thomas
Woodstock School
Mussoorie, U.A.
248 179 India
Thomas India Mission Fund
Doris Kersten, Coordinator
Pleasantville Presbyterian Church
400 Bedford Rd
Pleasantville, NY 10570