The people of this area are mostly of Nepali descent — many do not even speak Bengali, the official language of this State. The houses, dress and customs reflect the Nepali culture. Women, washing clothes by hand, sit beside their small houses situated on the steep hillsides. Driving along narrow, one-lane roads you find small villages where shops and venders sell their wares. "Peaceful" is the word that comes to mind, unlike the hustle and bustle and noise of many of India’s cities.

This seems an unlikely place to have a training school for Nepali and Bengali students — yet this is where the Lord led Sandra and Terri Horner when they were looking for a location to set up shop. The Lord who is "full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Ps. 86:15) also provided a large house, complete with three main bedrooms, a large kitchen, a classroom area, and two sets of showers and toilets. What's more, the landlord, who is a Buddhist and lives downstairs with his wife, is proud to have the school "upstairs!"

More Than a Training School

The students this year are mostly from Nepal. A few are from the local area, and one is from a Bhutanese refugee camp. Some of the students are not yet committed to God, so the school is not only a facility for training, but is also an evangelistic effort in understanding God's love and mercy.

After two years the cream of the crop will be sponsored to go back into their countries to be health educators and workers. Several nationals are now working full time for Laymen Ministries. Some serve as field workers, other as teachers. Sara works fulltime as a Bible worker inside Nepal. Debora, and Rachel work as teachers in the training school. Daniel serves as a boys' dean and helper. Others are going into the villages as health educators, answering question, providing a great deal of help with health issues, and sharing their faith with those who are open.

This October, the school's landlord invited many people from the community to attend a drug and alcohol prevention seminar at the school. The program was put on by the students, with Sandra and Terri Horner and Jeff Reich speaking on the main topics. The landlord gave a strong appeal to those who attended to help the school by educating the community on drugs and drunkenness, which, as he said, "Are destroying our community more and more each day."

The next day the Administrative Inspector of the police in the whole Darjeelng area, asked the team to start holding meetings in many of the government schools. He said drug and alcohol use was rampant, and the children need to be educated away from such things.

Any time the group shares about these evils, they also share that God made us, and that our bodies are the temples of God—we need to take care of them and not defile them. Temples are something the people of India and Nepal can easily relate to, as temples are found anywhere and everywhere. The custom here is to always remove your shoes before entering a temple.

Those attending the classes were asked, "Why do you take your shoes off when you enter a temple or a church?"

"Because it is a holy place and we want to show respect. We do not want to defile it by bringing in dirt," responded one man.

Many of the local people come to the school to get help with simple medical problems. At the time of this report, a neighbor came by with a dog bite, which was successfully treated. Cases of poisoning have ended up on their front door, as we have reported previously.

The students have a strict schedule. Beginning at 5:00 a.m. they have quiet time for study. At 6:00 a.m. there is group worship where they are currently learning about the book of Daniel. Breakfast follows. The rest of the day is full of classes—everything from hygiene and physiology to Bible. English language classes are taught by a humble Nepali/Indian man named Michael Smith, who recently converted to Adventism. The students are daily growing and our prayer is that they may soon go out to the highways and byways of Nepal, North India, West Bengal, and Bhutan to share the messages of a new life in Christ.

We ask that you remember this mountain school in your prayers, that these student may have a deep spiritual awakening in their hearts, thus becoming "an army of youth to-day who can do much if they are properly directed and encouraged." — Messages to Young People, p. 2.

Meanwhile in Nepal

Back in the tiny strife-torn country of Nepal, quietly and as steadily as the political conditions will allow, a core group of dedicated workers continues to focus on translation and printing of health and Spirit of Prophecy materials. These workers prepare some of the printed material for the training school in India, and other essential materials. Our coordinator in Nepal writes:

"Everything is all right with us so far, though there is bloodshed and violence everywhere. We are living moment by moment. Everyday bombs go off, even in the busy streets of Kathmandu. The armies are seen patrolling the highways and streets with heavy arms and they are on the highest alert level. The Maoists are looting even tourists, and it is quite unsafe for foreigners. People are being kidnapped, tortured, and finally murdered. We are really thankful to God that he has been taking care of us every moment. Please pray for us and our country so that God will lay His protective wings over this much suffering nation.

"We are hoping to extend our work into the villages soon. People are asking for literacy classes for older, illiterate village folks and they are interested in Christianity, also. We are just waiting for the completion of our house. Since there will be many people coming to visit us it is not possible to begin this work yet, as the landlord may not like too many people thronging the house all the time. Hindus definitely would oppose these types of activities. Nobody will be able to oppose us in our own home.

"We actually are already living in our new house as of two days ago, though it is still only partially finished. One room has a door and windows installed, and there is a main entrance door and a door and window in the bathroom. Since the winter is already at hand it is kind of cold. Still, we decided it would be better to move into our own incomplete home than to continue to pay rent. We are anxious to have our house finished.

"Even before moving in, we have been able to help some of our neighbors with various health issues, and they are very grateful. 'Why didn't you tell me before!' one woman exclaimed after we shared some simple remedies and advice.

"By God's grace we are still safe and sound in this critical time. Please remember to pray for us, and for this work."