Dear friends,

It has been a very long time since last I've written. Many things have happened since then. I thank each of you for your support, both in finances and in prayer. Though I obviously cannot know what this summer would have been like without it, I'm pretty sure it would be even more challenging than it already is.

As some of you have heard, I am actually not working at Place of Promise. I have been working at Project Destiny, a summer camp sponsored by the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church, teaching math (among other things) to middle school kids. I spent some time at the beginning of the summer trying to determine God's plan in closing the ministry of Place of Promise to me; I had been really excited about working there. But perhaps (or almost certainly) it's not for the likes of me to understand fully His plan and I'm beginning to see how I can be working for His glory in Chinatown. He has certainly blessed me with wonderful co-workers and I just hope we are and will continue to be working faithfully for Him.

I have now been teaching for three weeks at Project Destiny. I did not realize how hard it would be. Trying to gauge students' abilities and interest levels and trying to write appropriate curriculum for them . . . well, it's been a real stretch of my abilities. <:) I never knew what my teachers must have gone through. At the very least, this summer has given me a new appreciation of my teachers. <grin>

Some exciting things have already happened. Kids are starting to show interest in the songs we sing and in the Bible stories we present in the morning during the time we call Charting our Destiny. Other people have had serious talks with the kids about Jesus and Christianity. The Holy Spirit is certainly moving at the camp. Praise God!

Prayer requests..... Well, first and foremost for the kids to whom we're ministering. I lead a small group in the morning and I have been having trouble reaching them. Prayers that I might minister to the needs of Chris, Jeffrey, Justin, Richard, Ricky, and Nathan would be greatly appreciated. And prayer that I might just show forth God's love in the many interactions I have with both kids and other counselors would be invaluable. Also for the neighborhood: we're trying to show love to the people (there are quite a few stories in that, too). For me? God seems to want to make me a better person in a lot of ways. If you can, I would ask for prayer to make me more humble, less judgmental, and able to love as God does.