Hi Everyone! Just wanted to share a few highlights (or unexpected moments) from China.
First of all, I am just AMAZED how God has opened the doors for orphans to come to summer camp. About 1 month ago we got word that all orphanages were not allowing kids to leave the orphanage in fear that they might get Swine flu from a foreigner.
The developing news looked so dismal that I was getting ready to fly to another country to see if we could set up camp somewhere else. But as I thought about leaving China, it was almost too hard to bear the thought. And so we prayed and asked others to pray and God did a miracle. I don't even know what happened. But in the last couple weeks some of the orphanages started to be willing to send their kids to camp. Currently all camps are full!!!
But we are not out of the woods yet. Yesterday an orphanage canceled on coming to camp. A few weeks ago a friend told me about another organization that canceled their work with kids. And here at my camp locations we have to take our temperature everyday. So please keep praying!
Second... Kind of an EMBARRASSING story. but those always make the best. Last weekend all of the camp staff flew in to my camp location to connect before camp begins. We heard about a local park that had go-carts, bumper cars, and zip lines. Well, as you can imagine, things aren't as safe in China. But this park seemed rather harmless. First was bumper cars. A little faster than usual and maybe a few sore necks but all went fine. Next we went over the zip line. This seemed a little more sketchy but the zip line went out over a lake and also had a safety net under the wire.
I waited my turn as most of the team went across the lake. I decided that when it was my turn I would make an effort to push off faster than normal. The Chinese man hooked my harness to the zip line and I pushed off. As I started across the lake I had another idea. bounce... so I started bouncing.
Everything was going well until I looked up to get ready for my landing. I saw the Chinese man waving at me quite urgently to pick up my legs. It was then that I realized that if I didn't pick up my legs, they wouldn't clear the dock. So I lifted them high into the air... But ... the bouncing and my weight timed just wrong and instead of clearing the landing I landed on the landing in sitting posture.
Well apparently, I didn't hear the back side of my shorts rip off. Maybe I was just too stunned because everyone was watching and I didn't want to look like I was hurt. So I just calmly waited for the guy to unhook me from the harness. As I was walking down the stairs I realized that all the girls were gone.. And the guys were laughing. and that is always a sure sign that something is wrong. I went to feel my injury and realized that there was nothing back there. Just air. And on top of that, there were people everywhere!!! And I couldn't really go anywhere. Eventually I figured out how to use my shirt for covering and decided that I'd be a little more careful on the zip line next time.
So, that started our summer off with the first of many more stories to come in the next month. that's what I love about China, you never know what might happen next.
Good Times,
-David
Here's a note from a buddy I had last year. Looking forward to seeing the kids in less than a week:
Wanghai's Goodbye letter:
David (Big beard :>)
You played with me, laughed with me. I think it’s the happiest time I have ever had this year. It is in the BMH camp where I played with you happily! :>) I hope you could send your photos to my email. Best Wishes! Keep fit!
I asked the summer camp staff what we all can be praying for them for. Below are the things on their hearts. Let them know you're praying by sending an email to: info@bringmehope.org
I'd encourage you to take TEN minutes and lift up their top TEN requests.
Top TEN Prayer Requsts:
1. Safe travel to China and that no one would be quarantined when arriving to the country. (Some officials are withholding permission to enter the country if potential Swine Flu carriers are also traveling on the same plane.)
2. Logistics of getting everything to China. (Guitars, Games, Crafts, etc.) It’s a lot of stuff!
3. For health of those involved in helping with the Summer Camps.
4. Love between all the staff members.
5. Peace in the midst of fear and unknowns.
6. God’s strength for those helping to lead camp.
7. For good documentary footage that will later challenge people to reach out to needy children.
8. For the staff to keep their eyes on Jesus.
9. That God would keep the doors open for lots of orphans to come to camp this summer.
10. Strength, Peace and Joy from the Lord so people may see and know that He is God.
Control; It’s an idea and pursuit that the American culture holds dear. But when even a step is taken onto the mission field (even if it is on our own soil), that illusion dissipates and we are left with the truth that nothing is certain.
Bring Me Hope runs summer camps for orphans in China. But what happens when the Chinese Civil Affair Administration has told ALL the orphanages in the country that the children are not allowed to attend outside activities because of the Swine Flu (H1N1 virus)? And what do we do when a camp location looks like it might fall through?
“I don't feel like this means that we should just give up,” David Bolt wrote to all the summer volunteers. “There are still lots of children that can benefit from summer camp,” he encouraged them.
Alternative plans include having camp for children in foster homes, on the streets, and whose parents are in jail. But the Bring Me Hope team doesn’t have to look too far back to remember how God brought just the right children into their path last year.
“We had been asking God all year to send us to the neediest orphans in China, and he took us right to them when our Beijing camp site unexpectedly was shut down,” Kristen Chase remembers.
“Everything seemed to be in complete chaos when the team relocated to another city, but in retrospect, we see that God was sending us to orphans who were in more desperate and dire situations than where we had planned to be,” she said.
So while some camp details remain uncertain, the Bring Me Hope team presses forward in faith.
“We are in a situation right now where we have to either give up or trust God that things will come together last minute, and that He will do a miracle,” David Bolt said. “And one week before we leave for China, things are falling into place,” he added.
Encouraging news came recently from Tim Hedden, the camp director in Kunming, explaining the opportunity to care for children found in bad home and family situations and who are on the verge of becoming orphans. Also, we just got news that a wonderful camp location that was in question came through!
“I'm really excited about this summer,” David encouraged the volunteers going to China. “Even though there are a lot of hard things happening, I REALLY trust that God is going to work it all together for good, and it will be much better than I could have ever planned,” he said.
Please be praying for everyone involved with Bring Me Hope this summer. We are after whatever God has for us, so please pray for willing hearts and His guidance! Thank you so much!
For more information: info@bringmehope.org
Location: China
PC: Dennis Chen
Location: LA, CA
PC: Becca Berthelet
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Location: Maine
PC: Donna Chellis
Location: Wichita, KS
PC: Stephen Dyer
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Location: Kansas
Location: MI
PC: Carmella Hepworth
Location: New Jersey
PC: Mark Padden, Kate Padden
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Location: Fallbrook, CA
PC: Becca Bolt
Location: Lake Isabella, CA
PC: Kyle Arcurio
Location: Murietta, CA
PC: Amanda Varnell
Update on the Mordick Family's Adoption for Maggie. Read their story here!
Kids are not numbers. Statistics choose to represent them that way, but every child is an individual life. An undying soul.
Li Weng Xi is one such child. He came to camp this past summer in China, where we learned that he had Osteogenesis Imperfecta (or Brittle Bone Disease.) Because of a low production of collagen in his body, Li Weng Xi’s bones were very frail. Each step he took was chosen with caution, to protect his fragile body.
When asked how many times he has broken his bones, he told us that he had forgotten. The number was too great.Camp ended, and Li Weng Xi returned to his orphanage. But he was no longer a number to us; he was a child we knew that needed help. So this past January, Hope, an experienced care-giver of children with special needs and a friend of Bring Me Hope, drove about twelve hours to check on him.
So that same day, Hope took Li Weng Xi with her to a Foster Home in China who provides special care to children with Brittle Bone Disease. He has been living there since then.
“He is happy to be there,” Hope told us of Li Weng Xi’s experience in the Foster Home. “He likes the food there, and thinks his friends are nice. He’s really excited to have piano class, and he really likes to sing.” Li Weng Xi will be getting his casts off of his legs any day now. Surgery and follow-up physical therapy will help his once bent legs to be straight, finally. He will be strong. And he will know that he is so much more than just a number.
Epilogue:Because of our care for Li Weng Xi, his orphanage has given us permission to send two other orphans, Obadiah and Peter John, to live in Foster Care!
Download, print, and handout the Night Walk 09 poster. 
(to download click on the image. In the new window right click on the image choose the option to "save image".)
You might have heard rumors that Bring Me Hope was in Europe, and it's true! David and Jason Bolt visited Claudia Munoz (who will be involved with the Ranch Project) in Italy during early April.
Here is a clip of David sharing at a Church in Villarica, Italy...