First announcements about departing

Barb's newsletter in June 2005:
It began with a recurring thought, one that was persistent and wouldn't go away. It developed into a gentle tugging at my heart a longing to serve and do something with a great purpose. I told Jeff about these thoughts and feelings amazingly, he reported the same to me! In time, we recognized it as a call from God, but discerning that call took work and prayer. We read, we studied the bible, we counseled with friends and pastors, we prayed to understand what God would have us do.

Now, nearly three years later, we wholeheartedly believe that we have been called by God to teach in a Christian school in India. We acknowledge that this call has deepened our relationship with God and increased our hunger to serve. We recognize that God has prepared us for this work by giving us talents for the job, providing role models in the mission field who inspire and instruct us, providing a place for meaningful work while being involved in our son's educations, and surrounding us with a supportive church, family, and friends. We are blessed with children who know God, and we are engaging in this mission united as a family.

Woodstock School is a Christian international boarding school, located at 7,000 feet in the Himalayan foothills near the town of Mussoorie. Woodstock began 150 years ago, most of that time as a school for children of Presbyterian missionaries serving in Asia. It has since developed into an independent, self-financing school serving a diverse group of students, especially children from families in Christian or public service. Over 30 nationalities are represented within the staff and student body, with a variety of faiths represented as well.
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How will the Thomas family do mission work at Woodstock School? As it is a residential school, we will have interaction with our students not only in the classroom, but in after-school activities in the evenings and on the weekends as well. I will teach Third Grade the
first year for residential students. My mothering skills will be called upon! Jeff is looking forward to working with teachers and students as the Electronic Resources Librarian, and engaging with the youth, chaperoning activities like camping and trekking in the
mountains. We will have the opportunity to role-model the Christian relationship and lifestyle everyday. Our home will be open, and we will provide opportunities for fellowship our boys will be especially good at recruiting new friends for that. In addition, I will seek out other Christian education needs on campus and in churches in the town. We will all assist the schools outreach efforts via community service projects in the nearby farms and village schools and clinics.

A final note about our approach to mission: We are Presbyterians, called to service both as educators and as "reformed, always-reforming"models of discipleship. We are, in 2005, mindful of the old stereotypes of the insensitive and domineering missionary. We want to represent our culture and, more importantly, our faith, respecting the myriad ways of God's creation, while still fulfilling The Great Commission.
Although we are mission worker candidates approved by the Worldwide Ministries Division of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we will not receive support from them this year. The process is underway and we are hopeful for next year. We took a leap of faith in going without the benefits of a sending organization, knowing that God would provide. Upon hearing of our decision, three local churches immediately expressed interest in supporting our work in India. The
Mission Team from the Presbyterian Church of Pleasantville will coordinate financial and prayer support, as well as communication. The Session of Scarborough Church voted to support us in this work, and the children's commissioning ceremony today is testimony to that
commitment. We have a personal bond with the minister from Irvington Presbyterian, who as a son of missionaries in Pakistan, attended Woodstock as a young boy.
Representatives of the member churches of the Hudson River Presbytery blessed our work with prayers at their meeting on May 21. We are truly grateful for our friends in Christ who are participating in this mission work.