"We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in the Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally - not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation - I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

We want to apologize for not being in touch with many of you as much as we wanted and for not posting journals as often as we had hoped. Before we give any explanation, it first has to be said: God amazes us again and again! This was the scripture reading in our daily devotional on a particularly difficult weekend in April. This whole year has been difficult, first with the stress involved in added responsibilities for both - David in the Music Department of the school and for Betsy as the Assistant Dean of Students. Then Betsy was slowed down by illness in the first semester of the school year. God healed her and strengthened her body, but it seemed only to endure even more stress and tension within the work at Kodaikanal International School. It has spilled over into our home and family. As we read this passage we realized that God knew exactly how we were feeling "like we'd been sent to death row" Paul had put it into words a couple thousand years ago. With that amazing understanding also came the assurance that He had a plan to rescue us.

This year has been one filled with tension and torn by conflict. We live in a very diverse school community. Kodaikanal International School is truly international with over 30 nations represented. It is truly multicultural. And though it is very intentionally a Christian school, it has nearly every major religion represented within the staff and student community. The hope and dream is that we can live out a global experiment where children can learn about those who are different than they are, learn to appreciate the differences, and learn to live together in community - a community based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. With such diversity we always live with some tension and conflict. (For us, that has often been the tension of finding the right balance of respecting those of other faiths and honoring the Great Commission.) Our sadness this year is that the conflict has been within the Christian staff, particularly focused within the senior administrative team, creating divisiveness that has been fed by misunderstanding and mistrust, lies and fear. Just when we were despairing of how to move ahead, the tension culminated in a very public conflict between the school Chaplain and the Vice Principal and antagonistic comments in a congregational meeting, followed a few weeks later by the abrupt termination of the Dean of Students after an inquiry conducted by the school's Council of Management.

The reactions to these events have shaken the staff and students and reverberated out around the world to alumni and friends of the school. We have felt completely consumed in helping to pick up the pieces and see our way through. We lived hour to hour for many days for it was hard to imagine what the next day might bring. We felt torn between not wanting to be part of such a broken Christian community that was being such a poor witness to the unity of brothers and sisters in Christ, and hoping that God might be able to use us to bring some healing and guidance.

In these last weeks of the school year we have had tremendous ups and downs. We have had to deal with three seniors being expelled just 2 weeks before the semester ended. But we have also celebrated many students at the awards assembly and were blessed by a wonderful weekend of graduation events that included a beautiful baccalaureate service for the seniors. Our daughter Lisa was one of the graduates that made us particularly proud! Another great joy is being reunited with our eldest daughter, Anna, after not seeing her for a whole year! She came to be at Lisa's graduation and to spend a month with us before the two of them go back to summer jobs in the USA.

We have made it through this school year, by the strength of prayer alone. Now it is summer vacation. Someday we hope to be able to say, like Paul, "As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened." We are not at that point yet, but have confidence in our Lord and in the power of prayer.

Please pray for us:
* For Betsy as she carries the Dean of Students responsibilities, that include needing to get 2 new dormitories opened in time for the start of school on July 17th.
* For David as he tries to take the school's wilderness project ahead and continues to work with Baptist partners in India.
* For important family time for us and then for safe travel for Anna and Lisa as they go to the US on June 20.
* For Kodaikanal International School and its leaders.