Local Color, on the Road

Driving six hours from Delhi to Dehra Dun, we counted miles of walnut plantations, sugar cane, rice, mustard, and tea fields along the way, each with a scarecrow or Hindu shrine, each separated by stands of eucalyptus or low brick walls. Often sharing the roads with us were brahma bulls and cows, oxen and waterbuffalo – their dung carefully shaped and dried in huge mounds roadside, to be used for heating fuel. Sheep, goats and shepherds took turns with gangs of uniformed school children slowing traffic. Huge trucks took whatever lane they wanted as they went around oxcarts, bicycles, and pedestrians without slowing down. Billboards abounded and most homes in even the smallest villages had sold out one wall for advertising cement, or for retirement comunities in the holy city of Haridwar. We travelled on India’s Republic Day, so there were special handcart displays of vegetables, lined up in the orange, white, and green stripes of the Indian flag. Signs for malls to be constructed soon showed the promise (or threat) of western influence. Schools everywhere, for technology, business administration, medical, dental, show how young India intends to become a superpower in the future. Men sleeping on woven bed frames in the open air, others smoking hookahs – show old India, waiting. Another hour driving 4,000 winding feet up into the mountains, and we were in Mussoorie which – after eighteen months here – now feels like home.

Surprise!

Our travel to California over the school winter break was a wonderful gift from Barb's mother, Jodie. She planned a surprise celebration for Barb's father, Jack, in honor of his 90th birthday. There were many events: a dinner party, "Jack Ogden Day" at the Leisure World Community Church and a surprise reception. We were joined by Barb's sisters, spouses and children, as well as long-time family friends including Jeff's father, sister, neice and nephew. What a family reunion!

Speaking in California

The Thomas family was invited to share about our work in India with the con­gregation of Leisure World Community Church in Seal Beach, California. Jeff and Barb preached, and Chris and Cole later on did a great job telling about life at Woodstock School, enhanced by a powerpoint presentation of photos. We are truly grateful for the generosity and hospitality of LWCC. It was an uplifting time – our first mission interpretation experience. We hope, with the help of PC(USA), to be able to visit other church partners in the near future.