In 2008, the Summer Olympic Games opened up a new short-term missions opportunity in Beijing.  After we organized a team and made all arrangements to go, a decision by the Chinese government shut down the opportunity.  Our team, still feeling led to go, ended up assisting a different organization that was being forced to scale back a planned orphans' summer camp outreach because of a shortage of help despite the huge number of orphans who were signed up to participate.

This small organization, called Bring Me Hope, provides summer camps for Chinese orphans. Some of these orphans are considered "unadoptable" and have special physical or mental needs.  Most are perfectly healthy, abandoned by their parents in a country where families are limited to one child.  These kids just loved to be "in a family," and that's exactly the way we did things.

Each of us is created with value, but the reality of these children is that no one is coming for them.  Bring Me Hope director David Bolt explains that the purpose of these summer camps is simply to "pick them up and look at them in the eyes and tell them that they have value and they are loved."

One of the challenges (or adventures!) faced in this country is the cautiousness of the government.  There are rules to follow, and we as volunteers are watched closely.  Even though we have the help of translators, some things must be communicated entirely through actions.

One orphan writes: "The experience I got from this camp makes me feel the love of family.  There are so many family groups here, which reminds me what love is.  Tracy (translator) told me you got up very early every day and pray for us.  You believe God will bless us.  At first I don't believe it... Now I believe God exists."

A volunteer team to assist Bring Me Hope will be organized for 2009.  Contact Paul and Christie for more information!