Beijing Summer Camp 2007
Report No. 6: On & Off the Wall
by the editor, August 22
Monday, August 21 was the seventh day of the camp. The boys and girls visited the Great Wall and the Beijing Zoo's famous pandas. The photos on this page are from those destinations.
Because we can't think of anything to say about these attractions that hasn't been said a thousand times before, we thought this would be a good opportunity to let two campers describe their feelings about their experiences with local families.
First up is Xiu Xiu Cooney. Xiu Xiu impressed everyone by flying alone from her home in Hawaii, to Korea, and then to Beijing. Gongzhan Wu, who met her at the airport in Beijing, wanted to pass along his thanks to Korea Airlines for escorting her safely.
Then comes Joy Moats, who is on the trip with her sister, Faith. Finally, we will share with you a message from Joy and Faith's mother, Sandra Moats, who also comments on her daughters' fundraising efforts to make the trip.
My Journal: Chinese Friends
by Xiu Xiu Cooney, August 20
August 19, Beijing: Today was a lot of fun because we went to our local family! We took the bus in the morning and once we got there all of us had meet our local families but Sarah’s and mine. Our local family was in traffic. But once she had arrived my heart started to pound faster. I think it was because I was getting exited.
Sarah and I went into the car and we talked a little to the mom about us. We went to go pick up her kids. They had one girl that was 16 and one really tall boy that was 15. After that we went to their apartment. It was so big and white and really nice! I was really impressed. Then all of us discussed what we were going to do. We all chose to go and play basketball. I was really happy because I love basketball. The son was a really good player. Sarah and I both had a lot of fun. The son, daughter, their father, and Sarah all played. I think everyone really enjoyed themselves, I know I did. We played about an hour and then went back to their home.
Once we started to get to know each other I started to warm up to them a little bit. We all started to play card games. Sarah and I learned how to play a new game called “Bian Se Long.” It was a lot of fun. We also talked about what kinda music they liked. I also found out that the girl Vanessa really liked to read Harry Potter. She had all the books in Chinese.
Then after all that it was time for lunch. Their mother cooked for us. I really loved the food. She cooked so much. I really enjoyed trying out all the food she took her time on. It was really funny because I dared Sarah to eat a chicken foot and so she tried but had a hard time with it. So the family wanted to me try and eat a chicken foot too. I could not eat it. It was too hard and it tasted really funny.
After eating so much we all went to go to a mall to take pictures on this photo thing. It was like we took pictures and we could choose backgrounds and write on them. It was really cool because we really don’t have anything like that in Hawaii.
Once we finished with that it was time to say goodbye. The mother drove us back and we said farewell there. I think it was a great experience and I will never forget all the fun things we learned and had. I really hope one day I will meet with them again. I had a lifetime experience that I will always keep in my heart.
Xiu Xiu Cooney
My Homecoming
by Joy Moats, August 20
On the day we were to stay with a local family, I had the privilege of meeting the family of Mr. Lu, the Director-General of the CCAA. He so graciously invited me to stay with him because, later that day, he was to take me to visit my orphanage.
I was adopted from Beijing in 2000, when I was seven years old. I have been in the U.S. for over seven years, and am now 15 years old. I still love China, and was thrilled when I found out about this camp the CCAA was giving. Naturally, I wanted to go, and felt God had something in store for me here.
I had always wanted to go back and visit my orphanage, but it was seemingly impossible. I was soon to find out that God works in miraculous ways, especially when things are impossible to man! On the first day of the CCAA camp, I found I had been given divine favor, for Mr. Lu agreed to take me into my orphanage!
I could remember some things about the orphanage, but was very surprised on how many memories the mere sight of some rooms could bring. I had a chance to see many of the children in the orphanage, and though none of the kids I knew were there, there were a couple of nannies who remembered me. It's surprising that after all this time, they still remember me! Many improvements have been made to the facility, and after all this time, few things look the same. However, the floor that I was on is still pretty much the same, so I could recognize where I used to sleep, watch TV, and such.
All in all, it was a very memorable experience, and I thank Mr. Lu and the CCAA for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. God works in such wonderful ways!!!
Joy Moats
A Mother's Perspective
by Sandra Moats, August 21
The CCAA camp was exactly what Faith & Joy were hoping for this summer. They were excited and inspired about going. The only problem they faced was not having the finances to go. Our young son had heart surgery a few months before and the expenses cleaned out our savings.
The amount they needed to cover their expenses seemed huge at first but they began to look at it percentage-wise as money trickled in. When they hit the twenty-five percent mark they got excited. They knew it was going to happen.
Our church got behind them with prayer and some gave financially for their trip. They set up a special fund for their China Trip. We talked about them getting sponsors. As soon as we found out they were accepted into the camp they put together a great flyer with their pictures on it.
On the flyer, they wrote about the camp, why they wanted to go, and their need for financial help. They stated the amount we figured they needed to cover their expenses. They also let the people know that finances could be given to the special fund set up at the church.
Every morning during the week they walked downtown to the businesses to ask for sponsors for their trip. After they covered our town they went to the next town. Many of the businesses supported them. They went to the newspaper and asked them to do a story about their trip. The reporter loved the idea, took pictures, and interviewed them on the spot.
After the story came out a few days later, several people drove up to the church to give them money. One Sunday morning, the girl's doctor came and sat in the back row of the church. After services he handed the girls a check to help with their trip.
They sent out their flyer to all our family and friends. Some sent money to help with their trip. I sent out emails to my International Prayer List. Others on the list sent the request on to those on their lists. The girls began receiving money from all over the world for their trip, and from people they had never met. They got excited and loved to go to the mail box!
I sent out updates on their coming trip, and the remainder of financial need they had until all the need was met, and they were careful to send out thank-you cards to all who gave to help them. Even just before they left people sent extra so they would have spending money. They had all their money in a month. It has been a great experience for our girls from the beginning!
Sandra Moats
Faith Moats at Beijing SWI
Joy Moats at Beijing SWI
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.