Summer (from May to September) was very hot in Macau.  While the temperature and heat rose higher and higher, Macau’s casino revenue declined lower and lower.  “It has experienced 12 straight monthly gaming revenue declines, … a drop of 37 percent compared with the same month a year ago, Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said Monday.” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL 6/1/2015.)

This year was our first time to stay in Macau for the entire summer (we went back to attend WMC at Green Lake last summer,) and we have had many celebrations during these months.

You may recall that last year we had “The Kris project,” mentoring Kris academically and teaching her practical skills while discipling her spiritually. This year we celebrated Kris’ graduation from middle school.    From this entire project, Kris regained the confidence to manage her academic work; she returned to church and reconciled the relationship with her parents.

We had a celebration with ECF Children (the orphanage) with an “end of school year retreat” on 7/4/2015.  We also celebrated with a boy (from the orphanage) who was in Ivy’s Sunday school class.  He graduated from high school and began attending a college in Taiwan on 9/1/2015.

We celebrated with Grace for her new job.  Grace, a lady who loves the Lord, was an ex-ECF co-worker at Grace Chapel.  She had been admitted to the hospital for three months because she was burned out from the work.   We visited her a couple of times when she was in the hospital and befriended her by caring for her after she was released from the hospital.   Now she has rebuilt her confidence enough to return to the workforce.

July 12 was Macau Bible Institute’s graduation ceremony for the 26 students who graduated this year; 130 people attended the graduation celebration dinner.  July 24 was the official date for MBI’s new campus relocation which includes the completed renovation of new campus.   MBI had worked for a decade to complete the government’s compliance regulation, moving all the educational center/school from the residential complex.  In God’s perfect time, He used Emerson to complete this new campus relocation.   Rev. Ben Chan was the first guest who visited on this day.

In mid-July, both Emerson and Ivy went with Rev. Ben Chan (and his wife, Becky) and Rev. David Wong (and his wife, Kathy) to visit the churches at Swatow, China. Rev. Chan, Rev. Wong and Rev. Wu (Ivy) preached in three different churches in three different languages (Cantonese, Swatow dialect, and Mandarin) on Sunday. The Joy Church at which Ivy preached in the morning and the evening services was attended by 1,000 worshippers in total.  It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”(Romans 14:11)   We also visited a newly constructed Life Church which sits 3,000 people and is attached to a seven-floor building which provides classrooms and guest room facilities for pastors and lay leaders training. The chairman of Shantou Christian TSPM Committee and the chairman of Shantou Christian Association invited Macau Bible Institute to help them train Christian leaders in the future.  In mid-August, Emerson and Ivy again went along with the principle of MBI and another faculty to visit them. Praise the Lord. We had a good visit and fellowship time discussing the future partnership.

Please pray first that the ECF children grow strong in both body and spirit.  Second, that the discipleship training of Macau ministry can be extended to serve the churches in Mainland, China. Third, that Rev. David Wong, Emerson and Ivy will represent IM in attending the dedication ceremony of the Life Church on Oct 11 - 12.  Fourth, that God will continue to lead the Macau ministry.

We sincerely appreciate your cards, e-mails, phone calls, prayers, love, caring, encouragement and financial support.  They lifted us up while we were in the difficult time.

Note:  For the regular (such as monthly) credit card supporters:  when your credit card is compromised or expired and International Ministries is not informed, your credit card can no longer be charged.  When this is the case and you wish to continue your support of the Macau ministry, please link to this web site:  http://www.internationalministries.org/teams/445-wu to re-enter the online gift, or please contact Carol Snyder of American Baptist International Ministries at 1 (800) 222-3872 x2323.  She will help you to set up the contribution.   Thank you.