As always the summer has flown by here at HPCO. We just returned from a week at overnight camp (and took the whole weekend to recuperate!) and are entering our last week of day camp. Here are just a few highlights of our summer so far:

1- An incredible group of staff: One of our staff made the comment today about how we are such a tight-knit group. It's been incredible how God has brought together such a variety of people to serve Him. Our teen staff this year have been AMAZING! I was excited to again hire one of my girls Ashley and it's been great to watch her grow.

2- On that note, Ashley had the opportunity to go to Illinois with the youth group from Revival Tabernacle. This trip was such an answer to many prayers I have prayed for her spiritual growth. I encouraged her to go knowing it would give her the rare opportunity of meeting other Christian youth in the city. She found this to be true and said she was overwhelmed with being surrounded by so many who loved God. It also was one more way to get her closer connected to the youth group.

3- We have reached so many new kids this summer, many of them who live close to our house. This has been a great way to also hopefully reach new families.

4- Our youth had the opportunity of receiving a week of "Urban Arts Camp". The group at Urban Arts came in and taught our kids music, dance and art and they were able to perform in front of their family and friends at the end of the week. I was so proud of all they learned and the way they stepped up and accomplished so much.

5- Not receiving the grant this year was really a blessing in disguise. God has provided for us financially. And, with out the grant we are given a lot of freedom in what we teach our kids. This means the Bible lessons can overflow into all aspects of our program (art, education time etc). It's been great to have this freedom and be able to consistantly reinforce lessons the kids learned a the beginning of the day through out the week.

6- Overnight camp: As always an exhausting experience but one that is worth while. We brought 11 of our kids to Camp Jubilee with us, and 3 others attended Wildwood Ranch in Howell, MI. At camp, we were able to build even deeper relationships with our kids and see them make commitments for Christ.

Thank you all for your prayers! Please continue to pray for us as we enter our last week that we will finish strong and be open to all that God wants to do in and through us!!