The team from Nanaimo departed this morning for some sightseeing and then they will go to the airport for the trip home.  It has been a full 10 days of laughing, sharing, Kids Camp, Youth Meeting, and church times together.  They survived remarkably well in the heat of a Taiwan summer.  We had a total of 47 campers at the week-long event.  The children enjoyed themselves and some were very responsive to the Bible stories.  We have invited the children to register for the Saturday Happy Camp events that will be held at the church building (our house) twice each month beginning in September.  There are five students that have already registered.  We will continue to promote the Fall program and encourage more students to come.

Central and southern Taiwan have been experiencing heavy rains.  Although this is part of the normal summer weather pattern, this is not good timing for Kaohsiung–the large city in the south.  On July 31 they had explosions due to a petrochemical pipe leak that caused major damage to roads and buildings, also causing many deaths and injuries.  Now there is flooding in the area affected.  Please pray for those experiencing these difficulties and for those who are trying to mobilize resources to help them.  (Kaohsiung is about a three-hour drive south of where we live.)

We request prayer as we along with Albert and Elaine Lu discuss how to respond to the requests for involvement in local elementary schools.  They would like us to continue volunteering during the new school year that begins in September.  We will need wisdom as we seek to determine how much time will be committed to this community service.  It is an important part of how we relate to those living around us and helps us to make contact with people outside the church.  We appreciate you praying for us as we decide.

We are praying for our daughter Elyssa and trying to coach her from afar as she looks for a job.  Please pray that God will provide a job so that she is able to pay for college and for living expenses.