Christmas Photos

All the older kids in my family pitched in to help buy the BEST Christmas tree ever. I think it’s 10ft. Here are some photos. It’s funny how our tradition has changed into all of us older kids sitting on the coach and pressuring the others to go up and decorate. When someone gets tired they sit down and say something like, “your next to do something.”


Me and Dad helping Mary put the star on
(Andrew– got some marketing in there for you)


Abby helping decorate the Christmas tree. (She especially remembered where all the candy canes got put. Even though mom said to put them high


Resting up after decorating the tree.


I think Bethany is just as tired. But she looks much better sleeping. I inherited the gene that makes you sleep with your mouth open. (That would be dad’s side of the family)


Jason and I putting up ornaments while comparing muscles.

Do you think I'm in trouble?

This weekend I had some help to "surprise" Nicole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA3z_ztiyhQ

I was just interested in hearing from the readers, do you think I'm in trouble?

2 children runaway from orphanage

I don't know if you all heard about 2 of the children that ran away from the orphanage after camp.They WALKED a day and a night to get to the camp.I don’t know if they realized that camp was done and life had moved on for all of us. Please pray that camp would ignite in people’s heart the passion to use their gifts and resources to help provide homes for children like Billy!

Letter from Sarah: (Shortened and edited)
Billy with another kid ran away from orphanage to find me at the university where we held camp.The children walked about one day and one night from their orphanage to the university.Luckily, everything is well except Billy hurt accidentally.Please don't worry, it's ok.

They arrived at my school on midday September 3.They wandered in our campus for they haven't any money to give me a ring or eat and they didn't know where I was in the campus.On the way to my school, they picked out some bottlessell and get 1 yuan to ring me, unfortunately, I didn't picked up it because I was having class at that time.

Anyhow, they found me at about 8pm that night.Another translator at camp met them by chance when they wandered near our school.And another girl told me she saw him falling asleep ontree of our campus at the noon.

Billy told me he went to the bookshop 30 times and waited me wherebought books for him at camp.Wethe orphanage and the orphanage assigned workers to come our school to take them back at last.Theyback orphanage11pm.I was moved very much, it's a little unimaginable to me.

He is looking forward me to looking in him. I am keep touch with him by phone.I am very happy for contactinghim and I am so happy for I can help and encourage him.

Thanks. Miss you! Best wishes! Love,
Sarah
---
From David: On a sad note, I heard from a friend in China that the orphanage punished Billy by not allowing him to attend school for a year.

My Time in Jail

I haven’t really shared this story with many people, so you probably don’t know about the time I spent in jail this summer. It was towards the end of camp in China, and a small group of us were out at night. We were supposed to just go over to the swimming pool to pick up the life jackets that needed to be stored until next year. On the way there, we stopped and started talking about the bamboo scaffolding that had been setup to remodel some of the buildings. I asked my Chinese friend if we could climb the scaffolding (expecting to hear him say no). Well, he didn’t say no, instead he walking over to the scaffolding and climbed up a few feet and said, “Sure, we can climb it!”

I have to explain something about China. During the last 5 years, I have learned that a lot of things that we would consider illegal in US are really ok in China. Like the time we were going to jump off a tower into a lake. My good friend Adam was in the process of climbing around the chain link fence to get into the tower when we heard a village local start yelling and running towards us. Of course in the US those are clear signs that you are doing something wrong. Well, when villager got close enough we heard him yell some things to our translator. She relayed the message up to us, “He says that there is a nail you can take out and open the door. You don’t need to climb around the fence.”

So now you can see why I would think about climbing the bamboo scaffolding. My Chinese friend had just gone up a few feet and then came back down. I decided to go further. I was up about 20 feet when I heard the bamboo crack. I kind of panicked a little and looked down to see a long drop. It definitely would hurt. Fortunately there was a window up at that level that led to a breezeway in the building. I climbed in and made my way for the stairs. Well, little did I know that now I looked like a robber, especially because it was so late. Things got worse when I got to the bottom of the stairway. The gate across the opening was locked.

I look at my friends who were on the opposite side of the gate and told them I’d get someone’s help to unlock the door. (That was a very bad idea) The lady I found in the building panicked and wondered what I was doing in her building. I led her to the gate where my friends were so she could hear my story. That didn’t help at all. My Chinese friend couldn’t get the story out without laughing for almost the whole time he was talking. And you don’t have to understand Chinese to see that SHE WAS NOT HAPPY.

Finally, the lady left for her room to get a key. Little did I know that she was calling the cops. After several minutes passed, I looked at my friend and asked him what was going on. He said, “I think she is calling the police”

So that’s when I decided that I would not await public embarrassment. I decided to make my way back for the scaffolding. That didn’t work too well because when I walked passed my jail keeper she started shouting at me and then grabbed my arm so I couldn’t leave. So there I am, far away from home, exhausted from just finishing camp, in the middle of the night, with a Chinese lady hanging on my arm and yelling at me. And that’s when it hits you, “Wow, this is different.” So I walked back down to my locked gate and sat there looking at my friends who “kept me encouraged”. After a few moments, the campus police came and heard the lady’s story, looked over at me, said a few words, and then walked away. The jail lady grudgingly pulled out her keys and opened the gate. And that was the last time I’ll ever climb bamboo past 15 feet.

The Day I got back from lunch and the accountant and office manager locked me out

Oh, and they were hiding under the office desks. :>)

Nagaland

I have been asked MANY times- “What is the point of loving the kids when they will just be left again?” If you have come to camp, I’m sure you have asked yourself that too. I want to challenge you to keep thinking about that question- even as camp grows distant and life starts again. Was camp the end for you?

I just finished talking with Elilo. She is a young woman from Nagaland, India. Her ancestors were headhunters. Her parents both grew up as orphans. And now she wants to start an orphanage in her village. She has already bought the property and started construction.

I asked about travel to the orphanage and she said that on her last 9 hour bus ride to Nagaland they were robbed by bandits. She was scared for her life because sometimes people die. But they always face that danger when going through Hindu areas. Her life radiates Christ and truly reminds me of the quote from William Carrey, “Expect great things from God, Attempt great things for God.” (Her website is: www.nagalandorphanage.org )

Each of us has our Nagaland- Starting an orphanage, teaching overseas, becoming a foster family, adopting, mentoring a younger believer, or ... It looks different for every person AND it might not look too exciting. So think about it, what is your Nagaland? And are you willing to make sacrifices?

I am currently reading the story of Jonathan Goforth, a missionary to China. Before getting married he asked his wife if she would be willing to use the money he had saved for a wedding ring to send to a mission that God had put in front of him. Of all the most personal and special belongings someone could give up, it would have to be a wedding ring. And yet they both put God above ALL else in following His call for them.

Definitely a challenge to fix our eyes on Jesus and make Him the focus of our life!

Good times, -David

P.S. I was recently challenged by chapter 9 in Desiring God. Grab a cup of coffee and print out the chapter below for your next quiet time. It will be worth your time! http://www.desiringgod.org/dg/id172.htm

I Found My Twin

My grandaddy mailed me an article from Tennessee about another David Bolt.


http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/28/efficient-frontier/

Raising support for the next year

With the start of a new year I’m sending out my support letter to let you know about what I’ll be doing and see if you would be interested in joining my support and prayer team. Also I’m going to be organizing a garage sale to help raise support. Thanks so much and please email or call if you have any questions.

Camp Craziness

Week 2 and 3 in Xin Zheng almost did us in! But ALL the staff did amazing in handling our biggest weeks on record. Great Job!!!

"POLICE!"

“POLICE!” I can’t even say how many times I heard that word.
The Olympics brought huge challenges as we faced a VERY strict government. We had multiple police checks and searches. One of our camp locations was shut down with a four day notice. And about half the time I was at camp we were confined to our camp location.

But camp went on! And so did all the smiles and laughter and memories. Some were great memories and some left me completely stretched, like the day one of the kids pooped on the floor 3 different times. People stepped on it and the smell was everywhere. Actually, the smell would normally hit us first and then I would go frantically looking around for the poop before it spread. I can not tell you how happy I was when diapers for older kids arrived.

One of my best memories had to be taking 5 orphans to the Olympics. The highlight was meeting Olympians that had just won bronze medals. Not only did the kids have the opportunity to hold (and bite into) Olympic medals, but the athletes gave them piggy-back rides outside the stadium. I smile to think of that little orphan girl, who was left as worthless, holding an Olympic medal atop an athlete who represents the greatest strength and glory possible for an athlete. How beautiful!!!

And so with the close of the Olympics came the end of the 2008 Bring Me Hope summer camp. We had nearly 800 people attend, 350 of them orphans. Each of them deeply injured at some point. And that is why we come- to shine God’s love where hurt and rejection exist. I think this letter from one of the orphans captures the goal of our camp:

“The experience I got from this camp makes me feel the love of family. There are so many family groups here, which reminds me what love is. Tracy (translator) told me you got up very early every day and pray for us. You believe God will bless us. At first I don’t believe it…Now I believe God exists. –Sarah”

Thank you all for making this summer possible! See you in 2009!

NBC and WORLD Magazine

WORLD Magazine Coverage of Camp:
http://bringmehope.org/worldarticle.jpg

NBC Coverage of Camp:
http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=286883

Wait here, I'll come back

I'm HOME! I really, really missed my family! For the first couple days I just couldn't hug my little sisters enough. This was the first year that my whole family didn't go to China. Mary, my 6 year old sister told my mom, "Mom, let's not do that again."

Today is my first day back in the office. Ahhh, it's so hard to get motivated. We had all put soooo much into this summer and it hurts to think about starting over again. But at the same time there are some exciting new possibilities developing. I'll keep you posted.

Before I go, I wanted to share this story with you. Definitely motivation for me to keep going!

From a Camp Volunteer in Nanchang: (Tom Pfingsten)

This is Jonny. He's a little slow, but he remembers one phrase very clearly. And he doesn't talk a whole lot, but he repeated this phrase several times into my translator's ear tonight when we asked him if he could remember anything about his childhood. It was the last thing his parents ever said to him.

"Wait here, and I'll come back for you."

Going to the Olympics

Yesterday was the capstone to the whole summer. We took 5 orphans to the Olympics on Thursday and Friday to finish our Olympic Summer camp in Beijing. NBC covered the children's trip to the Games:

http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=286883

Superman Daddy

Some exciting news! This week NBC will be filming our Beijing Olympic Summer Camp. The kids will have a chance to see the games first hand as well as meet some famous Olympians. I can’t wait!

Last year several of these kids were just amazed to see running water inside their room. While at camp they asked us, “Are we in America?”, even though their home was just a few hours away. It is so fun to give when they have so little. I’m looking forward to sharing their story with the world. Please pray that people will see the orphans amidst all that is happening in Beijing.

Here’s a Youtube video from our last week of camp in Xin Zheng. Somehow those dresses always make it into the camp video :>)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aETsUpjtFri5oY

Favorite quote from last week:
“You are my Superman daddy.”
-From an orphan to his buddy

Photos & stories posted at: http://misschmelar.blogspot.com/

More Unknowns & News from Nanchang Camp

Hey Everyone, Wow, another busy week in China with unknowns around every corner. The Olympics started and everything is just CRAZY! At the beginning of the week we heard that we might have to cancel the rest of summer camp. And currently we are not allowed to leave the camp premises. But each day has led to another day full of smiles and hugs and permission to continue. One more week to go at our camp in Xin Zheng. I'm also excited to send you an update from our camp in Nanchang. This was our first year running two camps in different parts of China. Great job Nanchang! I can't wait to talk with you all!

Week 1 Nanchang Update:

Our first week in Nanchang was amazing! Swimming, making memory books, dancing, singing, eating together were all highlights for the kids. We even had an impromptu water fight out by the hotel lake (with only one small casualty who briefly fell into the water) and enjoyed a firework show on the last night of camp. Yet simply hanging out and playing during free-time were some of our favorite times together.

From the kids:

“My delightful friend, this week I felt really good. I got not only happiness, but also friendship, unity, and security…The existence of you is just like a beautiful picture in my life.” –Tom #1

“Your name is pretty interesting. We all know that Jordan is a basketball player and he is a well-known basketball star…Before I know you, I just like a wild child who had no idea how to treat people. But now, you change me a lot. I have to get rid of some bad habits such as impolite and mean. I really appreciate you.” – Tom #2

Difficult Week 2

We just finished another week of camp. This week was really hard. I was talking with a friend and they said that people love to hear the truth; so the truth is that the first part of the week stretched us to a breaking point. We had several kids with severe special needs that we were almost unable to handle. With the added stress on volunteers and staff, it just felt like everything was in a downward spiral.

I can’t even explain what happened, but by mid-week the tide begain to change. We got diapers for one of the kids, moved one of the girls into a room with just staff, and overall learned how to care for them. Our volunteers and staff were incredible as they were pushed to new limits. When it came to say goodbye there were many changed hearts.

One of my highlights was a boy that we nicknamed Strong. He had Down Syndrome and just kept us smiling the whole week (he’s shooting a watergun at the camera in the Week 2 Youtube). In a staff meeting we were talking about the verse, “He who is least will be the greatest.” I was thinking about Strong and how he is a beautiful person; so loving and caring and full of joy although I'm sure he has been frequently treated as the least. Some day I hope to serve under him in heaven.

Youtube of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYo3Ou-VFkw

From a volunteer about the child he spent the week with:
"I showed my little buddy the pictures of my four girls and wife. Billy stopped, looked at the picture and then looked at our translator, Andrew, and said "Two Chinese?". Andrew told him how we adopted both of them to give them love. He then said that I was a good person with a big heart to adopt two girls. Billy stopped again and said with a serious but sad face, "Why has nobody adopted me?". There was no way I could hold my tears back so I put my head down to hide them. I heard Andrew tell him that I was praying. I lifted my head and said, "No, I am just sad". Billy could see the tears on my face. He paused and then said, "Don't worry, God has adopted me".

From the kids to us:

"Katie, I’m a boy with few words. I lost my parents when I was young. I never feel the warmth of a family and stay at the orphanage. Though the time we stay together is very short, I have felt the love and warmth. I felt very happy. At last, hope you happy every day." Tom

"I’m sunshine. I am very happy to stay with you and form a family. These days I feel the true love from you. It is like the mother’s love. I will become a good child and go to visit you."

"Dear Uncle, I really appreciate your kindness. It is you that make me feel more love. You also make my life more colorful and meaningful. These several days will be my permanent memory. Thanks a million Uncle. If it was possible, I will return to your kindness and love." Love yours, Zheng Yuanyuan

"I’ve been having a feeling of being happy and having a home! Although we have only a short time together, we learned a lot! For example, we make the “suncatcher” together, we swim together, we play in the waterpark together, we have meals together, etc... All of these have given me a home! You know that we are from the orphanage and we grow up there. So thus, we have no home actually. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve been feeling with family." Yours, Qi

Weekend Update - Camp #1

Here's the weekend update from China. Thank you all for your part in making these smiles possible for the orphans of China!

From the kids: "This wonderful week made me feel our relationship is just fish and water, we cannot depart..." "I can say I am the happiest girl in the world."

Youtube videos of the week: From Zheng Zhou Camp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It2qTAG6q9c

From our Staff: (Nicole Chmelar)This afternoon when we told each other our life stories, we learned so much about each of our girls' lives... things that hurt to know. Things like the fact that most of the girls from my team were orphaned because their parents killed each other. When they started telling, it was like a water fountain broke loose... they were almost sobbing so hard they couldn't talk. How can you comfort an eleven girl who lost her parents only four years before? We listened and I told them that I was so sorry, but that we love them so much. We held hands. We cried. I wanted to pr so bad... I am so thankful that our Father can see their little broken hearts and He cares for them so much more than we ever could.

Beijing Pre-Camp Update: Plan B

Hello from Xin Zheng, China! About 1 week ago we had some news that none of us saw coming. We found out that our Beijing camp would need to move because the government was shutting down the hotel we were staying in. I still don’t understand exactly what happened. But everything is CRAZY in Beijing with the Olympics coming. Anyway, we had four days to be out of the hotel. So we prayed! The months of preparation for the Beijing camp were gone in just a few seconds. And we still had over 400 people coming. We began putting the word out and ended up really connecting with an orphanage that has about 600 orphans. We found a college university (www.sias.edu.cn) that was willing to host our camp and within 2 days we were off to explore. We got the approval from the school and had the rest of the team leave Beijing and take the train to our new camp. One of my favorite memories was unloading the truck with ALL our random camp items. One of the translaters said, “You brought everything but the kitchen sink… But I saw that you brought one of those too.” Kids and volunteers and craziness arrive at the train station tonight. I’ll let you know how the week goes!

Leaving for the unknown

In just a few hours I'll be on my way to China. Even though I've been so many other times, this trip feels different. There are more unknowns than ever before. But it is a God summer and I'm really looking forward to seeing God perform miracles in the hearts of people and with the obstacles we face. Thank you all for your prayers. I'll be keeping you updated.

A couple days ago several of us went down to Mexico. I met this little girl at the orphanage. Her name is Chloe and she is getting adopted soon. The mom that is adopting her wanted to bless us before we left. Chloe put her hand on our heads and then her mom prayed. At the end Chloe said, "Amen!" This little girl gave me the most amazing send off for China I could have ever hoped for!

May Update (Click to Enlarge)

Night Walk Phone Call

With heavy heart

Sometimes life is SO PAINFUL!!! I just got a call from my dad that Steven Curtis Chapman's family lost their youngest adopted daughter from China. Maria Sue Chapman. I'm so grieved by their loss. Their ministry has been such an inspiration to Bring Me Hope!

And as you all know, several weeks ago an earthquake claimed many, many lives in China- the worst disaster in 3 decades. Please be in prayer for all the families that are hurting right now.

What to say?

right now I'm just trying to figure out what in the world I should say on the Night Walk conference call tonight. I feel like I've told all the stories a million times. And honestly I'm a little nervous that it will go ok. That I'll say the right thing, that the kids will be on the phone, that the battery on my phone won't die... Yesterday we found out that of all things the torch relay was in Nanchang and the kids would have to do school during the Night Walk to make up for the time off. I just smiled thinking, "how in the world could we have planned for that happening?" Luckily the director is really great and said ok for the kids to still walk. But still, just don't know what will happen. I seem to be saying this one line quite often, "We just do the best we can and leave the results to God."

Also, as soon as I get a chance I'm going to be posting. Sorry for the long delay, it seems like everything hit at the same moment. (2 concerts, camp training, night walk) As my dad says, it's like being in a bathtub full of ping pong balls and trying to keep them all under the water. You just run out of hands. And I guess lately the blog ping pong ball has just been hanging out on top of the water :>) ok, back to what I'm going to say tonight.

Stress!

We found out that if you squeeze this dog's neck, his eyes bulge out of their sockets.

Mexico- A hidden pregnancy

Last weekend I went to an orphanage in Mexico and was reminded again of WHY WE ARE ALL DOING WHAT WE DO. I was holding a little two year old named Lydia. As I interacted with her I could tell that she had some serious handicaps. Her body was curved unnaturally and anytime someone made a loud noise or I moved suddenly her whole body would twitch. I was looking at her face and thinking about her when the founder started telling me her story.

Her mom was in prison and hid the pregnancy from the guards. When she gave birth to Lydia she tried to suffocate her or something to kill her own baby. The guards came in and rescued Lydia before she died. Now she will live the rest of her life profoundly handicapped. I think the first response is complete anger. How could someone do this to a perfect little girl. But then as I think about it I am just sad. Sad for Lydia and sad for the circumstances that led to a mom that would be willing to kill her own daughter.

I know you all have stories of the orphans you have met. But maybe it's been awhile since you thought of them. I'd encourage you, take a second and think about them. And let Lydia's story be a reminder to all of us why we are spending our lives for children. To help those that have suffered and been rejected- to let them know they are valuable.

Lydia

My little sister's book she made for me

I thought you would like to read the newest book just made by my little sister Mary. (age 6)

Australia Tour Photos

We were told that Australia has the most dangerous animals in the world. Or at least most poisonous. When we passed this sign I thought that Australia was posting the current number of human deaths by the wildlife. I thought wow! This is an interesting way of warning people to stay away. Just keep track of who's died and post the number.


Speaking on the radio. We had lots of fun and the station aired the broadcast twice!


I don't think I would have ever come to Australia unless God had presented the opportunity to speak about the orphans. With all the open doors that are here we are already talking about our next tour.


Sam & Julie Vidler. We have had so much fun working with them on this tour. I can't even begin to list out all the ways they have been a blessing to us.


On this tour we have been able to speak to hundreds of people about the orphans in China. Please pray that God would touch lots of people to volunteer for this summer's camp.


Thomas and James Vidler. Last Sunday we went to a bunch of church services with them. That's hard for a little guy. But they did great. Although Thomas said that his hand was sore from handing out so many DVDs. :>)