Beijing Summer Camp 2007
Thoughts & Commentary
Now that the camp has concluded, these are some of the closing thoughts of camp leaders, CCAA officials, parents and children.
Jessie's Best Wishes
by Jessie
It would have been a normal sweltering summer like any before. Yet, the arrival of thirty kids from America made it a less usual one, an unforgettable one. As one staff member of CCAA, I was blessed with the opportunity to be with these kids for ten days. When it came to an end, I suddenly felt that there had never been a more rewarding, fulfilling and meaningful ten days in my life before.
My role as a counselor has brought me face to face and heart to heart with these lovely, considerate and talented kids, and I’m totally convinced, from the life example of these thirty kids, that inter-country adoption is good, not only for the adoptive parents, but also for the adopted.
Faith Moats and Joy Moats, you are excellent girls, for everything you have done to make this camp possible for yourself. Daniel Clark, I love the rose you drew on my guestbook. It is charming! You made really good dumplings, too. Daniel Price, you are really fond of asking questions. You are a sweet boy, buying all the gifts for your family, friends, classmates and teachers!
Lauren and Ciara, you two are the unbreakable sisters forever, and I know you definitely love shopping with me, right? Jan, do you like the hair I did for you? Of course! I fell in love with your smile from the very beginning and you are such a nice girl! Kate, you are an excellent pianist and singer and dancer! Thank God you got the chance the last minute and joined my group! Maia, you naughty girl, making up stories about Chuck and Rain and others. You are really a talented story-maker. Joanna, you don’t talk to me much, but seeing you have fun with the other girls and boys convinced me that you are definitely a happy and friendly girl.
And all the others who are not in my group, I love you all! Thank you, Kielle, for the speech you made when giving us your gifts and spending the last night with me. Thank you, Leah and Carlie, for drawing such beautiful pictures on the guestbook. Anna, you are very talented in language, especially in Chinese. Xia, you made really fabulous scrapbook of your family photos. I love it! Sarah, our flag girl, your interest and devotion in every activity impressed me a lot! You did a great job in the dancing class! Xiu Xiu, our talented and charming dancer, poetess, sporty girl, I cannot even use enough words to describe you properly! Victoria and Britney, you sisters are really stark opposites, but each special and nice. Emma, Mallory, Joy, you three lovely and pretty girls, I hate it because I didn’t get enough time to talk with you and know you. And all the others…
Ten days is a drop in the bucket in one’s life, but ten days with these thirty kids will always be a spotlight in the play of my life. I feel lucky that I am directly involved in the work which makes all this possible, the work of inter-country adoption. Seeing you grow up happy, helpful, kind, versatile, and your attachment and connection to China, we feel what we have been doing is definitely worth the effort.
With the help of NCFA and Gladney and possibly other agencies in the future, I’m sure we will make it more fulfilling next time.
The China Initiative is a bold endeavor to benefit children in Chinese orphanages, children who have been adopted from China, and adoptive families. It is also an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the bond families and children feel to China.
Click here to learn more about the China Initiative.