Friday, August 22, 2008

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

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

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/

Monday, August 11, 2008

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

Monday, August 4, 2008

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