Dear Friends,

I am reminded by my friends at PC(USA) that I last wrote to you in this form in November 2000, only a few months after my return to India and work at Woodstock. The reminder has done its work and prompted me to sit down to update you on what is happening in my life and work. I suppose the framing word for what has happened in the world and here, too, is change. The media seems to keep measuring things in terms of pre- and post-September 11. I do not feel that delineating line as much as it is felt in the West, I guess. I have not been to Europe or the United States since that horrible day, so cannot compare how it feels there with how it feels here. But I do wonder if it has meant that the U.S. and Europe are now faced in a more palpable way with some of the uncertainties much of the world experiences as daily life.

For example, here in India we are not quite sure how the present communal tensions and violence will develop—will it simmer, explode, or fizzle for now? This has happened several times in my 18 years here; it is a part of the milieu we are in. It has meant being wise about what we say and do, how we treat each other. It means an awareness of the pain of others; it means a vivid sense that injustice to any person or group effects us all. Here at Woodstock we are safe, but also aware that freedom and safety are not to be taken for granted and that it is necessary for all of us, in the ways we can, to nurture these in our own lives and environments, "to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God."

Our state of Uttaranchal has only been in existence about 14 months, and two weeks ago were the first elections here. The BJP, which had formed the first appointed government, was defeated by the Congress party who will be setting up the next government. Since now the state capital is Dehra Dun, these state events are much more part of our lives than when we were simply the hinter/hill land of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state (150 million). Now, instead of being part of the largest state, we are part of one of the smallest. The possibilities and ramifications of all of this are yet to be discovered.

Awareness of world events and interpreting them, awareness of India—its culture and development—are part of our mission and goal here at Woodstock. I am always conscious as I write these letters that there is nothing "earth-shattering" to report. Certainly, nothing to compete with the huge disasters and huge (if not sensational) feats the media majors in. Ironically, the work of educating and providing an environment for children to grow and learn does not make for much news. It is however, the work which could well mark change for the future in individual lives, in communities, even in nations. Though many great works are going on around the world, the growth of a child is no less great or miraculous. So to open the themes of "Othello" to seniors for discussions of love, hate, jealousy, envy, is no less important than meeting other critical needs. The very thing the world needs, diverse peoples to know and understand each other, is the very work we are doing here. Teaching and the ministry of education is very much a "casting your bread upon the waters," just as our teachers and parents did with us.

My mind runs to these thoughts as present economics press organizations to prioritize their supported works. As you and your churches do that, don’t forget that not everything has immediate effect and measurement. Woodstock alumni are at work in ministry, environmental and development work, nation building, medical and educational work in their countries, and some are generous contributors to such works. Of course, we cannot trace the roots, but I like to think that some of this bread was cast from here in the Himalayan foothills.

I keep busy: last semester I helped direct the school play, "Death of a Salesman," which I have taught many times, but never seen. Both performances brought the audiences to tears, and even the cast was surprised at what power the play had and that they could be part of that. As head of the English Department I am trying to find new ways of guiding the department to meet the challenges of teaching this vibrant subject to a linguistically diverse student body and also make smooth transition for our too-regular staff turnover. I have been asked to be the internal coordinator of our accreditation process, which is a big organizational job, but a great professional opportunity. As part of that I have been invited to be part of an accreditation team to an international school in Myanmar in May. This is all beyond the daily teaching of literature (and thereby life) to high school students from all over the world— a classroom laboratory for global citizenry, not to mention the marking.

Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless your work. And rejoice that you participate…

Kathy Hoffmann

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 154