In February the middle school students of Kodaikanal International School had a Field Trip Week. As one of the middle school teachers and an advisor to eight 7th grade students, Betsy went along on the 7th grade Trip. Our daughter, Lisa, being a 7th grader, was also on that trip. We visited the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala. Kerala is the state just to the west of us here in the southern tip of India. In Kochi we visited history and art museums, took a boat tour of the backwaters area along the coast, and experienced the traditional dance form of Kerala, Kathakali Dance. We also spent part of a morning visiting a school for mentally and physically handicapped children, most of them suffering from Cerebral Palsy.

Up to that point in the Field Trip, the students had been typically boisterous 12-14 year olds, and as chaperones we were concerned that our students respect the children of the Akash School. We had no need to worry. As we walked through the small rooms with the groups of children in braces, standing boxes, and at special desks, divided according to their level of functional ability, our 7th graders began to interact with the children. Some helped them manipulate their toys, others talked to them and held their hands. They admired the crafts the children were learning to make and observed the physical therapy sessions. The questions began to come. "What causes this?" "How much can they be taught?" "Does she understand me?" "Why is this child unable to talk?" "Why does he need to be in the standing box?" "Why are there children in the world who have to suffer like this?"

Many of our students at KIS come from quite privileged backgrounds. Their parents are leaders in government, business, diplomatic service or the church. These kids will probably be leaders in the future. Some of the students had never interacted with children with handicaps like these. Neel, a boy from Mumbai/Bombay cried as we moved into the room with the lowest functioning children. "If these children touch your heart, perhaps you can choose a career of working with handicapped people. You can make a difference in the lives of children like these," responded the woman who runs the Akash School.

Please pray for the 7th grade students of KIS, that God would water and nourish the seeds planted in their hearts during our visit to Akash School. That the Gospel of the love of Jesus Christ would shape their lives and that there will be a great harvest for our Lord on the last day.