June 6, 2003

Dear Friends,

We are packing once again. We have a year in the States and then we have very little idea what we will do next. This is the worst part of this job, this time it is closing an era of 12 years. We are getting rid of all the things that we have used as a family in Nepal and here. All the questions of “should we sell or just give?” and “how to give without offending those we do not give to?” We are, as they say, in transition, and there are many things happening at once so this newsletter will reflect that state of change.

The last three years

Looking back over the past three years, we see a generally positive picture. I (Scott) continue to be impressed and challenged by the people working in Emmanuel Hospital Association. Their Christian and professional commitment is encouraging and challenging to me. I haven't “changed the world” in these three years but I am fairly happy with the progress made in EHA. When we first came, EHA was just beginning to ask questions about the way it works with village communities. Providing medical services is good but in the end, it is unsustainable? There needs to be a community-supported effort rather than being totally dependant on “the Christian mission” help. Also, the concept of “health” has to include more than just curative medical procedures. These are big questions for a national Christian health organization. There is more direction and clarity now about how to approach and work with communities than there was three years ago. There is still plenty to do on the practical side of changing the approach from providing services to empowering communities to be more responsible for their own health.

Robertsganj women's group

One example of how communities are taking responsibility comes from three women's groups in Robertsganj, Uttar Pradesh. One of the women had been “attacked” by a known drunk in the village. She had registered a complaint with the local police but there had been no follow-up. In a joint meeting of the three women’s groups they made a plan with several actions they will do to deal with situation. This was not the first time this person had attacked women in the village nor the first time local police had ignored the complaints of these low-caste women. I am pretty sure this particular “health hazard” will be dealt with.

Never know what will happen

We never know what might be the “ripple effect” of our actions. Melanie has been deeply involved over the past two years with a recycling and environmental effort on the hillside where we live. We live in a remarkably beautiful part of India, the foothills of the Himalayas. Mussoorie has been a popular place to come during the Indian hot season since before the British Raj. There are old many summer palaces of maharajas from past eras. But, of course, the most beautiful sights are the hills, forests, and Himalayan mountain views. In the past 10 years rubbish tips where people have become used to throwing their trash have spoiled this natural beauty. Melanie has been trying to get the people who live on the hillside to begin an organization that would clean up the hillside and take steps to educate tourists and prevent continued littering. There has been some success, 40 houses contribute to a weekly pick-up and separate their rubbish.

Now we have received a letter from someone who had visited us from Coles Bay, Tazmania (look it up), and had seen what was being attempted here. She went back home and started a campaign to make her town the first “plastic-bag-free” community in Australia. And it worked! Coles Bay, is the first totally plastic-bag-free community in Australia. National news and several radio and magazines have covered the way they have done it. OK, it’s not Chicago or New York City, but it could start something.

Meanwhile, Mussoorie continues to struggle to clean up its act, but Coles Bay is an encouragement.

Move to Louisville

In the coming year we will be in Louisville working as Missionaries in Residence with the Ecumenical and Mission Partnership office of the Worldwide Ministries Division at PC(USA) center. I have heard of many good partnerships between churches in the States and in developing countries. Frankly, I think it must be very difficult for both partners to keep the relationship from deteriorating from interdependence into a less-than-equal one. I know, from my experience with national local churches, it is very difficult not to find yourself “taking over” and that, in the long run, is not very helpful for the spiritual growth of the church. I am sure I will learn a lot from the experience, and I hope I can contribute something as well. In addition to that we will, of course, want to visit as many of our supporting churches as possible.

Family news

Timothy and Hilary will start school in Louisville in August. Kelli, after a year volunteering at Woodstock, will move to Boston and look for a job. Daniel is spending the summer in New York as an intern with a drama company. He loves it. He still has another year of college.

Melanie's mother passed away in May. Melanie has packed up the house as much as she could before leaving for England. The rest of the family followed a little later.

We are looking forward to seeing many of you,

Scott and Melanie

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 160