Dear friends,

Every New Year brings with it new ideas, new challenges and new promises. This coming year 2018, is special as we remember God?s faithfulness as we celebrate the centenary year in medical education. From the humble beginnings of ?The Missionary Medical School? for women in 1918, God has blessed and enlarged the medical mission work in the country.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year and a new phase in the life of the institution, it is appropriate for us to look back and give thanks to our God. ?This is what the Lord says; ?Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls?? (Jeremiah 6:16). It would be good to join together to ?Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever? (Psalm 136:1

This time also provides us with an opportunity to look inwards. The psalmist cried out, ?Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting? (Psalm 139: 23,24). As we look inwards and introspect we would be enabled to be moulded as vessels of honour.

Finally, it is a time to look forward. In these times of uncertainty and difficulty, we can be encouraged by the quote from Minnie Haskin?s poem, ?The Gate of the Year? read by King George VI on a New Year eve, ?I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ?Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.? And he replied, ?Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be better than light, and safer than a known way.? The Lord who has led us thus far will continue to do so in the coming year. ?For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future? (Jeremiah 29:11). What words of assurance! Can we have a better promise to begin this year! I wish to conclude with the Aaronic blessing, ?The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace? (Numbers 6: 24-26).
                                                                                                                                                         Dr. J.V.Peter, Director