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	A letter from Tom and Judy Harvey in Singapore

	July 4, 2003 Greetings on America’s Independence Day! Even though across the ocean, we share in your prayers and celebration for our nation and the values it represents even in these troubled times. Moreover it reminds us that we must work all the harder to model in our life, speech, and service the virtues of Christ and his Kingdom, especially to those who have come away angry with America and all Americans due to the events of the last year.

	"Though far from Singapore, the conflict [in Iraq] has had huge ramifications for the region politically, economically, and religiously. These will take years to sort out and will affect mission work in the area for years to come."		Certainly the last six months have not been easy. First the SARS epidemic affected life and ministry, as one of our students (a local pastor) caught SARS while visiting one of his stricken parishioners and died twelve days later leaving his wife and two daughters. Naturally, this hit the campus pretty hard and raised the anxiety level significantly. Since then, it has been a daily regimen of temperature checks, reading the latest news, and vigilant prayer as the disease receded, and Singapore is now SARS free. The seminary was closed for 10 days during the height of the outbreak, which forced us to squeeze in our necessary lecture hours into a shortened period, but in the end we were able to hold graduation as scheduled. We are very thankful that the epidemic has passed and for the excellent response of the Singapore government and the seminary to the situation we faced.

	In the midst of all this was the war in Iraq, which created a lot of tension in Singapore as well as on our campus. Much time was spent discussing with students and faculty the political and theological concerns that were on their minds. Though far from Singapore, the conflict has had huge ramifications for the region politically, economically, and religiously that will take years to sort out and will affect mission work in the area for years to come.

	Students in the entering class at Trinity Theological College in Singapore, where Tom Harvey teaches systematic theology and ethics. TTC prepares men and women to serve the church throughout Asia as well as Africa—as pastors, teachers, missionaries and church leaders. TCC has over 270 students enrolled with over 20 nations represented.

	The family is doing well. Joe will begin his junior year in high school and has been active in the orchestra playing the double bass. He took a trip to Perth, Australia, to study the natural habitat, which included snorkeling off the coast. Paul has been serving at our local church in the Sunday school and has gotten the name “go go Paul,” which in dialect means “big brother Paul.” Emma continues on piano and had a great year at school. All three were on soccer teams this year. Judy has been leading a Bible study here in Singapore, and the number of attendees continues to rise. They have begun to consider alternate locations since there are getting to be too many people for their current location. She also continues to teach English in the local schools as well as here at Trinity Theological College and is developing a mean forehand in tennis. Tom has written the first chapter of his new book and hopes to get more done this year. He plans to travel to northeast India again this winter to teach at Eastern Theological Seminary for two weeks in December. That’s all for now. Blessings from Singapore The Harveys (Tom, Judy, Joe, Paul and Emma) The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.188

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