Note: This is the first year that this ministry has been able to pay all the years expenses with financial donations. We’re thankful for every one who gave money, material, and time to our effort to provide computers to students and our effort to support youth groups doing service to others.

Computers for inner-city students and their families: This year has again been dominated by our effort to provide computers with Internet access to low income students and their families who can not afford to buy a computer. We now are rebuilding and giving Pentium 166mhz and better computers with 28.8 - 56k modems that work better on the Internet. We continue to install 1995 vintage software for the operating system (Windows 95) but have stepped up to version B on most of the computers given to students up through high school. This version of Windows 95 allows the USB port on these newer computers to be used.

We still give programs that allow the student to do their work that is similar and compatible with programs used at their school. We have started giving all college students computers with Windows 98 since some college based programs require Windows 98 and we have been given a good supply of this licensed software. We continually monitor Internet performance and upgrade the programs used for the Internet. In January we were given copy right permission, from MVP software based in Grand Rapids, to use seven learning type game software programs to put on the computers. These new programs add some pizzazz to the games and learning programs that we install it’s a welcome addition to the programs that we include on the computers that we give.

Our computer assembly shop is still in our home with storage in our garage and in the sem- trailer that was donated to us almost three years ago. The trailer, along with the bus, is being parked on property owned by Jim Gray of Gray’s Maintenance. Thanks, Jim! We have provided over 150 computers again this year to students and their families which included an hour of training given in our living room to each family.

Again this year the Public Schools have actively assisted students to fill out the applications and find volunteer opportunities in the community. They also refer businesses who want to donate computer equipment to us. We continue to have the Kent Intermediate School District office for home schooling (serving students expelled from school) refer parents to our program when they do not have a computer in their home. Davenport University Career Center has again donated some great computer systems to us and is also referring many more low income students to us for computers. Many students continue to apply for computer systems, and businesses, organizations, and individuals continue to make contributions of equipment because of personal and organizational referrals and news articles.

With each computer w e continue to give an advisory brochure to parents to help them protect their family from Internet predators and a tract explaining the dangers of pornography. We also give each family a brochure for the Alpha Christian evangelism program conducted at First Christian Reformed Church and a Four Spiritual Laws tract.

We continued to offer support to Christian youth groups doing several day field trips that were focused on education, service to others, and Christian devotional training.

The bus has been a blessing to operate. Last year we bought a "new" generator and this past spring we removed the old generator and installed this new one. The owner of George’s transmission on South Division helped us by converting the new generator from LP gas to gasoline power. He also tuned it to run at its best and worked with Bill to remove the old one and install the new one in the bus. For all this work he didn’t charge us anything and wished our ministry well.

Camp Tall Turf organized a work/learning experience for their Leaders-In-Training high school students in Indianapolis, Indiana. We worked for a home-based ministry which offered a variety of para-church activities to the community. Our group worked on the rehabilitation of 2 homes. One residence was changed from a tiny duplex to a single family home. Both homes were cleared out, cleaned up, and fiberglass insulation and dry wall were installed. We parked the bus in the back yard of one site and the students slept in two homes that were being renovated. We visited the local swimming pool, visited some historical sites downtown, and had a discussion with the founder of the ministry.

June 29 - July 3: For the seventh time we attended the annual Cornerstone Music Festival and Bible Conference outside of Bushnell, west of Peoria, Ill. We went with the people of Oakdale C.R.C. The trip was shortened as we were called home when Bill’s mother’s husband died and we attended the funeral.

June 6 - 19: We accompanied Camp Tall Turf for a return visit to Cleveland, Ohio. This year the group worked inside a school assisting with a day-long Bible School program with sports activities. We carried down 8 computer systems which Bill set up there for a computer learning area. He also repaired several computers for the church and a Head Start program at the church. In the evenings the East Cleveland church teens joined us for special recreational activities and joint spiritual studies.

July 13 - 19: We were scheduled to support a girls group in South Haven but the outing was canceled a few days before it was to occur.

July 29 - August: We accompanied Camp Tall Turf to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to help a small church rehabilitate 2 three-story row houses along a main street. The students worked on the interiors completing cleaning, painting, and demolition projects. They also did exterior demolition and yard work. They helped inside the church, which was converted from a synagogue. We parked in the street, with two wheels on the narrow parkway and two in the street. We toured some historic sites downtown Pittsburgh with the students. A highlight was a private concert with a three man gospel rap group called the Streetsweepers. The neighborhood was a low-income area next to a college in "Germantown"

At the end of the season we took our Somalian refugee neighbors, the Osman Ahmed family on our annual weekend vacation at our farm . A restful, relaxing time was had for all.

All contributions to Wherever God Wills Youth Group Support Service are tax deductible