Landour, India; May-June 198^

hll
Dear Co-workers, _ . . i
Graduation and Easter were the two Bilaspur highlights in April.
Arrangements were made for a visitor from the States to speak for the
Easter-week meetings. We decided it would be good to have graduation
as part of the final meeting. In the end the visitor was not able to
be with us, but we had the meetings with others speaking, and gradu
ated the three young men who had completed the three-year Ins^titute
coarse. The two young men from Sarguja will probably work with the
Getters in their village schools and churches program; The other
young man is a resident of Bilaspur and member of one of the local
Disciples Churches. He expects to work with that church and even
tually take over from his grandfather, the present pastor.
This graduating class started with 15 students. That seems to
indicate a trend in attitudes and desires of young people in recent
years. Most of the 12 who dropped out did so to pursue more finan
cially rewarding work. The government is offering many incentives
to tribal young people with a highschool education. This -affects
the Institute since most of our students are tribals. So far only
one family has applied for the new school-year, and they are not
highschool graduates. This coming year we may just complete the
coarse of study with the present students. Then the following year
try to enroll an all new group. _
We are spending two months, during the Institute vacation, here
in the Himalayas to escape the Bilaspur heat. It is a work vacation.
William is working on Acts notes, making a question and answer type
of commentary, which he will translate into Hindi. Jean has done a
Hindi harmony of the Gospels, cutting and pasting the portions of
Scripture, arranging them under headings of the various incidents.
We are having some rest and Christian fellowship, too. The Elden
Weesners came up from Madras in May. We had worked with them in
Madras in 1977 and 78, so it was good to visit again. We are stay
ing at the Edgehill boarding house so are free from housekeeping
chores. The atmosphere here is pleasant end spiritual. Each
evening most of us gather for a devotional time of singing and Bible
study. On Sunday evenings it is a longer service with one of the
Christian workers leading and presenting a Bible study and/or re
port about his work. The annual Spiritual Life Conference was a
three-day spiritual feast again this year. A Christian Psychiatrist
gave three papers on how to handle stress related to personal and
work relationships among Christian workers. An Indian evangelist,
trained in the S-tates, preached challenging messages mornings and
evenings. One of the restful aspects is the pleasant weather. At
7,000 feet altitude it is much cooler than down on the plains. We
have had to sleep with at least one blanket, and wear a sweater most
of the time. During the middle of June we had a week of heavy rains.
Literally living in the clouds has made it really cool. We are
hoping the rains will come to the plains, too, so it will be cooler
there when we return the first part of July.
Again we send our grateful thanks for your prayer and financial
support, making it possible for us to work here.
In Christian Love,