October 31 Day Camp

Music, laughter and dancing -- these words express our latest day camp. We had 15 families participate with various intellectual disabilities. Our 19 volunteers came from China, South Korea, the US, Mexico, and several African nations. It was quite colorful.

 

~ Kevin

Coming Together

Whether young or old, abled or disabled, it is such a privilege to build friendships and to encourage each other.  

Coming together to watch the movie Chronicles of Narnia was great, but the best part of this afternoon was seeing each other again. Several of these individuals took part in April's adult retreat.

This young lady has attended the Family Retreat twice: once in 2010 and again in 2015.

This young man was so excited to have guests that it was hard for him to contain his energy. Thankfully, he stayed still long enough for a photo.

It was good to see Clyde again. Although he is still paralyzed from the waist down, he is able to sit up well, and he is regaining strength. We pray for the rebuilding of mind, body and spirit.

~ Kevin

Fun in the Leaves

Molly had a get-together with several of her classmates at an agriculture college campus to enjoy the autumn leaves. 

This is also the time of year when our neighbors place cabbages out to dry in preparation for making sauerkraut this winter. (This is the closest we get to taking our kids to a pumpkin patch!)

Happy Fall, y'all!

~Dayna

October 17 Day Camp

For this day camp, we served 21 families, the majority of whom we have known for a few years. They have attended various activities in the past, including day camps, picnics, English classes and family retreats. These families come together as family.

As the key message today, we focused on Max Lucado's book You Are Special. Thanks to book donations from a group in Beijing, we have used You Are Special several times with the children, but this was the first time we discussed it with the parents. Although a children's book, the themes were significant for the parents. Even into break times, mothers continued discussing the book. 

I (Kevin) led simple English songs.

The kids also enjoyed drawing and crafts with beads and modeling clay.

Shirley, who had read the book You Are Special to the kids, taught the whole group an accompanying song.

Helen served as the emcee for the kids as they sang solos, recited poetry or played a flute. Even kids who could barely speak wanted to participate.

Although this photo does not show the whole group (65 individuals participated), all of the children are present. Also, the volunteers from Dayna's newest group of students are in the photo.

After the group photo, several families took individual shots before having to say good bye.

This little guy was our youngest participant. His nap began as the day camp ended.
~ Kevin

Follow up

I had not expected to return to this town so soon, but I was glad to follow up with new friends. These photos give a glimpse.  

~ Kevin

2015 Medical Clinic

With Global Health Outreach (GHO), we hosted this year's remote medical clinic from September 13 to 23. We served about 1,000 patients, which included seven children affected by disabilities. 

This photo shows our view when walking back from the hospital to our hotel, which is to the right.

The first stop for patients was triage.

GHO provided four general physicians, an OB/GYN doctor, an oral surgeon, a radiologist and several nurses to see the patients.

My role in the clinic involved logistics as well as medical counselor since I served in this role in Texas. A great privilege was being able to interact with many children and their families. Seven children were affected by disabilities.

We invited these families to take part in a day camp on Saturday, although we were unsure where we could host such an activity. Tiger, the English name of the young man next to me, served as my main translator. He did a fabulous job and was a great encourager.

The man to my immediate right agreed to become our first volunteer in the area. We met him in June while distributing wheelchairs.

We decided the best place to have our day camp would be at the hotel where we were staying. At first, the manager (to my right in the lavender shirt) said it would cost 600 RMB to rent a meeting space, but when we explained how we were trying to bless the families affected by disabilities, the hotel offered the room for free. The hotel staff even helped take photos.

Five families came to our day camp, which was the first day camp we have offered outside our city.

And of course, every clinic comes with special memories.

Five of our translator volunteers this year came from our weekly study group.  

We also distributed 10 wheelchairs during this clinic with the Red Cross.

And I was in charge of organizing each meal for the team, aided by Rui Rui and Tiger. This photo shows me with a chef preparing jiaozi, dumplings.

People took photos of us wherever we went, including convenience stores where we purchased water. This particular store manager took my photo more than 16 times during the week. I stopped counting.

This is our 2015 GHO medical team, accompanied by three members of the Red Cross and two hospital staff. It was a great team ... a privilege to be a part.

~ Kevin