Dear friends,

This summer, the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship will continue its commitment to opening the eyes of its students to the world beyond the Ivory Tower. Two of us from opposite ends of the Harvard experience, Jonathan Liu '99 and Teresa Hsi '03, will be joining a team of twenty students and staff from around the country in a lingua-cultural exchange program in Western China (the same program that we have been involved with for the past two summers). We would like to share with you some thoughts on why we are going and some of our hopes and fears. We would love it if you would consider partnering with us in prayer and/or financial support.

Jonathan--This past year as a volunteer with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has been an amazing year of growth. I have learned about myself: my character, my hopes and dreams, my successes, my failures. I have learned what it means to be a leader and what it means to be a servant. But I have also learned that I still do not see the world with God's eyes, and that I still look for security in the things of the world. I am eager to go to China, to get out of my comfort zone, to see how big God's world is, and to learn how to love it. I have been blessed with much in this land of comfort, but I know that God wants to expand my view of the world so that He will be able to better use me. And so I go, with some trepidation, but a lot of excitement.

As this is my first time overseas in a program like this, I anticipate a lot of challenges, including culture shock and the inevitable difficulties of bringing together a diverse team to live and work in community. And yet as a leader on this trip, I will need to help students navigate these same challenges. I will need a lot prayer for that! But God is doing amazing things in my life: a few years ago I could not have imagined that I would be going overseas--now I can't wait!

Teresa--In high school, people (and colleges) judged you on your accomplishments. The focus was always on taking hard classes and doing extracurriculars. Not surprisingly, it was difficult to fit God into that schedule. I grew up in a Christian family, so I'd gone to church my whole life. But I hadn't really given up my life to God. Sure, I gave Him my Sunday mornings, and my Saturday evenings for Youth Group, but the rest of my life was my business, in which He had no part. I could handle things just fine, thanks. Or so I thought.

Then came college, and suddenly, the rules changed. When you're surrounded by so many brilliant, talented people, the question is no longer how to get the best grades or do the most activities, but rather how to survive from day to day without becoming discouraged and losing heart.

And that's where God came in. When things became so tough that I could no longer handle them on my own, I was forced to cry out to Him for help. Help me He did, supporting me through the year, and giving me strength and courage when I needed it. He gave me physical strength when I was tired. He provided Christian upperclassmen to give advice and to serve as examples for me. He led me to join Under Construction, the Christian a cappella group I sing in, and which has brought me so much joy.

All my struggles have really shown me how much I depend on God, how much I need Him. I feel God is calling me to go to China to teach me to rely on Him fully and to let go of anything I might still be clinging to. I still worry about the trip. I know I don't have the experience or skills I need. I often feel that I'm not mature enough or capable enough to handle things on my own. I know in my head that God can and will provide everything I need, spiritually and physically, but I don't always know it in my heart.

I ask for your support through prayer. Pray that God will teach me to trust in Him and to listen to His voice. Pray that He will work through my imperfections to bring Glory to Himself. Pray that He will provide not only the material things like funds and visas, but also the emotional strength and peace of mind. I'm really looking forward to this summer, and I pray that God will continue to strengthen and build us.

We welcome your partnership both in prayer and in finances. There will certainly be a lot of challenges this summer and it is tempting for Harvard students to want to take difficult situations into our own hands--please pray that we would draw strength from God rather than from ourselves! We also ask that you pray for the hearts of both the American and Chinese students in the program, that God would be preparing us for the mighty works that He will be doing. Would you consider praying weekly or even daily for us as we go? We ask for that partnership because we believe that it will be critical for our summer.

The two of us must also each raise $3,400 for the summer ($6,800 for the two of us). We do trust that God will provide abundantly through the support of friends like you. We will need to raise $4,000 by the end of May and the rest by the end of June. Financial gifts should be made out to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship with "GP-Xinjiang/Harvard team" on the memo line and are tax-deductible.

Thank you so very much for your friendship and support. You will be with us in our thoughts and prayers this summer. And now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.