Dear Friends,

I am in the admissions office tonight after having had a wonderful day of orientation with new students and their parents. All 16 students have come to Woodstock for the first time. They have come from Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, England, USA and two places in India. Beginning in a new school brings new routines and situations so it takes them a while to settle into what to do when and where. Very important also is making new friends and beginning to build relationships. The students and faculty come from various parts of the world so just language and the many different accents can be a hurdle to jump in understanding in the classes as well as living in school residences. Returning students arrived back at School today after the two month winter vacation. It is a joy to see them returning and the place feels as if life has been poured back into it. The young people bring energy and life to the whole campus. Tomorrow morning classes will begin, with 468 students, for the start of the second semester of the 2006-2007 school year.

A group of grade eleven and twelve students, on an exchange program at Woodstock, spent the month of January traveling in India with two Woodstock staff members. What wonderful stories they have to tell about their travels to the many diverse areas of the country. They visited the Taj Mahal, the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, saw several one horned rhinos in a game park in Assam, visited Kohima in Nagaland and learned about the Japanese invading that part of India during World War II, visited Mother Theresa's work in Kolkata, had a time of relaxation on a beach in South India, visited palaces in South India which were built during the time before India's independence when it was made up of many princely states, saw Mumbai, India's commercial hub, and spent a night in the desert of Rajasthan while on a camel safari. The trip was certainly an unforgettable part of their time in India.

The Principal unexpectedly resigned in late November and for personal reasons has decided to leave this month. Please remember the school in your prayers as they search for the right person who will uphold the school's mission. There is an interim principal in place at this time. Please remember her as she takes on this roll while the Board of Directors conducts the search for the next principal.

I expect to be traveling on a recruitment / interview trip to Seoul, South Korea later this month. I would appreciate your prayers in this endeavor. We have received a good number of applications from South Korea. We expect to interview twenty families over two days who have applied for their children to enter Woodstock in August 2007. It will not be possible for all of them to be offered places. There is simply not space for them all. Please pray that our minds will be clear and the ESL teacher, who will travel with me, and I will know which students would best be able to grow and gain from studying at Woodstock. We will return and recommend students to the admissions committee.

I was able to be with my Mother in December during part of the winter break. It was good to be able to help her get done some of the things that she needs a helping hand to accomplish. It was also good to be able to attend a baby shower for my great niece who has since given birth to a daughter. The day I left Wisconsin got about 3 inches of snow, the only snow I saw during my visit. It was a pretty scene as I headed to the airport. We sometimes get snow here, but it looks different in the mountains than in Wisconsin and usually does not last long. This has been an unusually warm winter here with very little moisture. This morning there was welcome heavy rain and the temperature dropped to the upper 40's. Many people were feeling cold as they moved around getting things done.

While in Wisconsin I was able to travel to Judson College, an American Baptist College in Elgin, Illinois, to visit several Woodstock graduates who are studying there. It was good to see them and communicate a bit about the old school and the new school situations. We enjoyed having a meal together. I was quite impressed with Judson College. It is certainly a good college option for many young people. In many ways it felt like a community similar to the feel of Woodstock School where people have shared values and are working and playing closely together.

Last week I headed to Delhi to meet Debbie Mulneix, who also serves at Woodstock, and a group from West Virginia who were on their way to visit in another part of India. We spent a day traveling to see the Taj Mahal. It was a joy to get to know the group and share with them. If you ever have a group coming through Delhi and would like to visit the Taj Mahal, but are not sure how to go about it please contact me and I will be happy to help you.

In closing I would again request that you pray for Woodstock during this time of transition as they search for the right person to be the next principal.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Blessings,

Cathy