Cathy is director of admissions for Woodstock School, a Christian international school which has approximately 465 students from 25 countries. She also looks after a group of high school students who come to Woodstock for a year under the SAGE (Studies Abroad for Global Education) program, helping them make the transition from the U.S. or Europe to India and life at a boarding school. Cathy sees whatever she is asked to do as an opportunity to witness to Christ’s love. “We can know that God’s goodness will reach many places we cannot go through the lives and Christian witness of many of these young people,” she says.

The students, grades one through 12, attend Woodstock School from around the world. About 40 percent of the students are from non-Christian homes. The strong Christian emphasis at Woodstock ensures that every student is exposed to the Gospel through Bible classes, chapels, residence devotions and Christian activities offered during their time of study there.

Ruth Mooney, an American Baptist missionary recently visited Woodstock School where her mother had attended. She writes of Cathy’s ministry: Woodstock has played a part in shaping who I am. What sparked my interest in exploring other parts of the world? Why have I wanted to dedicate my life to serving others for Christ? Why do I see differences as exciting rather than threatening? Those attitudes came from my mother, which to a large extent she learned at Woodstock School. Another Woodstock graduate is Sara Wiegner, who served as an IM missionary with me in Costa Rica, and clearly reflects the values of this Christian community. Today the school continues to prepare students to be global citizens, using their lives to improve their world and serve others.

Our hostess at Woodstock is my friend Cathy Holmes, who has served here for 34 years, 26 with International Ministries. I have been impressed with her passionate love for children. She has been a surrogate mother to these students for many years. My sister has been horrified to imagine sending her two boys away to study in a foreign country at an early age. Yet many parents in this part of the world find it necessary to make that unthinkable sacrifice. Some are missionaries working in remote areas who have no schools available for their children. Other parents live in countries with few opportunities for their sons and daughters to have a future. Cathy has told us of students who come to Woodstock as refugees, with their parents unable even to visit them or for them to return home.  For all of these children, Cathy has been a teacher, mentor, and surrogate mother, helping them to adjust to a radically new culture, rules, food, and language. She has served in many different roles during her years at the school, but has been a consistent advocate for the students. We have heard over and over from her in these past few days, "We exist for the children. We want what is best for the children."

• Pray for Cathy as she serves Christ by pouring herself into the lives of the students at Woodstock School.