Camp China

Back in America

Everyone from our Summer programs has made it safely back home.  We are thankful for a remarkable Summer of teaching, fun, and impact in Asia.  The stories that we're hearing from the teachers is life-changing.  We've all been changed this Summer in unique and unforgettable ways.  Our hope is that many of these teachers will feel compelled to return next year or even come live in Asia for a season of life.  If you or anyone you know might be interested in a life changing Summer please tell them to visit www.elic.org for more information.

Camp China Does Debriefing

Today, all of the Camp China teams returned to Beijing where they had the chance to spend time debriefing their summer experience. We began with 'mixed groups' in the afternoon. Each of the teachers met with individuals from other teams to process and share about their summer. This was followed by a time of discussing how to tell others what we experienced while in Asia with friends and family back home. Knowing that sometimes 'reverse culture shock' can be a big challenge for readjusting to life back in the States, we talked about how to transition back home effectively. Alumni teachers of Camp China shared their insights and encouragement about the process. Teachers were given the opportunity to hear about future service opportunities with ELIC and also gave their feedback and thoughts regarding their Camp China experience via an evaluation. At dinner, the teams enjoyed their last meal in China with one another soaking up their final tastes of favorites they had come to love over the summer like gong bao ji din (spicy chicken and peanuts). Our evening session began with each of the teams sharing songs and dances that they had performed at their schools over the course of the summer. Highlights included the 'Summer Dream' chant, an appearance from the DeYang Spice Girls, a rap by "END" of Shashi, LonDe's rousing rendition of "Lean on Me," team Tai'an's climb to the top of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and team Wujin showing everyone "A Whole New World." Things turned more serious as we spent time in song and reflection, thanking the Father for His faithfulness throughout the summer and hearing stories and testimonies of His provision. The evening ended with teachers writing a letter to themselves that they will receive later in the fall, as a reminder of the things they had learned this summer. Tomorrow, everyone will get up bright and early for the 7:45am flight back to the States. It's been an amazing summer. Thanks so much for reading this blog and remembering us as we've served. Partnering together with you--Camp China 2010.



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From Camp Shashi...

Hello again from Shashi!

So much has happened in the past week since we have written. Classes went smoothly last week and culture nights were a blast. We had fun with the students while learning about Christmas, weddings, and Valentine’s Day. Some of our team members even got married. Don’t worry, we did not abuse the ELIC no dating policy. There was no dating involved.
This weekend, we got the interesting experience of going on a field trip with all of the students and the Chinese officials. We visited the city of Yichang. We ventured through mountains, caves, and rivers. Spending quality time with our students was an absolute blessing and it was very neat to see some of the beautiful scenery that China has to offer.
We are sad that our time is almost over in Shashi. Getting to know these students has taught us so much about our hearts individually and as a team. We hope the we have made as much of an impact on these students as they have made on us.

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Longde #1 Final Update

Longde 1 has said goodbye to the students they've taught and loved. We were showered with many thoughtful gifts, notes, tears, and followed back to our hotel by a posse of our students helping us carry things or just wanting to spend a little more time with us. It's amazing what 3 weeks can accomplish in relationships, even cross-cultural ones. While the day brought much sadness, we're grateful that this sadness means that there was a real connection. We can only hope for what that will mean for our students in the future. I have continually been blown away by how my team truly loved their students even when it was difficult, how He brought us through our exhaustion, how He provided us with a team that gets along (!), and how we have been so warmly received in Longde. We are all so excited for the laborers who will continue investing in this place.

Thank you so much for following our journey here. Please enjoy these pictures from our last couple days.

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Team Deyang Goes to Chengdu

Team Deyang had the amazing opportunity to travel to Chengdu last Saturday to visit the panda reserve.  Our outstanding Foreign Affairs Officers arranged the trip for us in the school bus.   The STP team serving here this summer and the AFS group at our school also enjoyed the field trip.  During the last part of our day we were able to watch several pandas playing, sleeping, and lounging.  It was so much fun to watch these incredible creatures up close. A memorable day!


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Hello again from Team Deyang

Last week Team Deyang had a packed schedule:  lots of classroom time, outside activities, and culture nights.  We have shared Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, including our Hope in our Risen Savior!  Last Wednesday night our students performed for us in a talent show which included violin, piano, saxophone, and dance performances, singing, skits,and chirades.  The evening ended with the microphone being passed from student to student as they shared how much they love and appreciate their North American teacher.  Our hearts were full as we walked back to our dorm rooms that night.

Several from our team have had opportunities recently to spend more time with students one-on-one or in small groups.  Our desire for deeper relationships has been honored by the Father in fun and memorable ways.  One team member attended a birthday party for one of her students and conversation was meaningful.  Two team members went with students (and a student's parents) out to eat and did some shopping and site-seeing.  

We are noticing how most of the students' comfort level in spoken English has increased greatly.  Watching them gain confidence blesses these teachers,who are working so hard to plan lessons appropriate for the levels of their students.

With only three days left of camp we are feelling the urgency to make every moment count.  Thank you for Lifting Up our Camp China teams! Please Ask for significant, salty conversations and that we would bring honor to our Father in every way.

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Team LongDe 2 :: Final week!

With our last week of camp halfway over, Team LongDe 2 is facing our last few days here with a desire to end well and make a lasting impact. Though many of us are ready to leave behind our status of "celebrity foreigner" and the paparazzi that come with it, we are not yet ready to leave behind students and fellow Chinese teachers who have made the past three weeks so meaningful for us. The next few days will be bittersweet as we teach last classes, play final games, and prepare to leave our summer home of LongDe. As we say our goodbyes, we are comforted in knowing that the love we have known in our hearts this summer will remain with our students, even when we cannot.

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A Letter from the Hanyuan Team Leader

Hanyuan is a tiny little village about 6 hours south of the city of Chengdu. The village is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Sichuan with green trees all around. We have had the privilege to work in this special place and meet hundreds of students and show them love. Though our team has had a couple of small trials, the Father has continued to show us His love and allowed us to pour out into these kids from all around the surrounding areas. As a team leader, I was called to accompany an ill teammate to Chengdu, however, my team continued to teach in my absence. Here is an excerpt from one of my teachers named Valerie, explaining an afternoon activity with the students:  Last Wednesday, we were able to play water games with our students and it was a big hit! They told us that they have never played with water in our ways before. They got to move around to stations of bucket brigade, water trivia, water balloon toss, water gun tag, and duck duck splash. It was a little hectic for the teachers when the students got a little rowdy, but we know that they had a blast! It was so much fun to be able to do something new with the students that they could just let loose and enjoy. 

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A Field trip to the Earthquake Region of Sichuan

We mentioned previously that most of our students are from earthquake-affected areas here in Sichuan province.  Last Saturday our Foreign Affairs Officer took us all on a trip to Mianzhu, a city about 30 km north of Deyang.  We passed rice fields, noticing smaller houses rather than tall apartment buildings.  The small city of Deyang (population of 3.8 million!) offers a lot for us to see and do during free time, but being out in the countryside, seeing people going about their daily lives outside the city, was a refreshing change.  Many of them were working in their gardens, using every available space to grow food.

Our time in the town of Hanwang, a “suburb” of Mianzhu, is hard to describe.  Most of this town was destroyed by the May 12, 2008 earthquake to such an extent that they are unable to rebuild in this area.  We were told that Hanwang was near the epicenter of the earthquake and is very close to the mountains.  Rather than the earthquake originating at the epicenter and radiating outward into the plain where Chengdu and Deyang are located, the mountains held the earthquake.  The affected areas are located in an elongated zone that fingered into the mountains.

The section of Hanwang we visited will be preserved as a memorial.  There was an eerie quietness as we walked past cracked, destroyed, and fallen buildings that were vibrant places of family life 2 1/2 years ago.  Seeing empty and broken shops, factories, schools, and homes that once held busy workers, parents, and children made our hearts ache for the loss of these people.  

On the return trip to Deyang the bus stopped at a newly created community that was built by people from another province in China.  Beautiful shops and homes for people whose lives were turned upside down two years ago!  The people of Hanwang and other earthquake-affected areas are out of refugee buildings and into new neighborhoods.  We are hoping that lives are being truly changed after experiencing such a horrific disaster.  We hope that they see our hope.

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