Day 11 ~ Sunday 8/6 ~ Hua Mei

On Sunday, our team headed to the Hua Mei International Headquarters to meet with Richard who is the President of this Christian Humanitarian Organization which sponsored the English Camp in which we participated. Richard’s full time job is as the Director of the Chinese Christian Council for the Sichuan Providence and as a part time endeavor he has formed Hua Mei ~ it’s Mission Statemetn is to Educate with Love, Serve with Humility ~ it is a wonderful organization spreading the love of Jesus Christ legally through service.

While at Hua Mei, we were able to present Richard with 250 bibles that our Grace Chapel team purchased for the students (thank you so much for your financial support of our trip ~ this is where a portion of all your dollars were invested!!)

They are beautiful leather-bound bibles with thumb-tabs marked for each book and they have the Chinese text on the left side of each page and the English text on the right hand side. These bibles were not smuggled into China as many organizations say they must be, but instead they were legally ordered from the Amity Press in the City of Nanjing in the Jiangsu Province of China. These beautiful texts were 28rmb each which at an 8:1 conversion were approximately $4 a piece. Hua Mei will provide these bibles to those students who express a desire to have one after English Camp.

Here is a story about the hunger of the Chinese for the Word of God ... Pamela, the student assistant for Megan’s class, was provided a new testament by one of the teachers on Tuesday ... by Thursdayshe reported that she had already read three books. Our friend Dennis referred to previously, indicated to Steve that he’d like to read the bible but it would cost much and be hard for him to get. While at Hua Mei, we personally signed bibles for Pamela, Dennis & Bill and they will receive them this week from the whole Colorado Team.

On Sunday, we were also able to make a short visit the Chengdu Panda Preserve in the early morning, which is home to the most successful Panda breeding program in the world (starting with 6 pandas, they have now bred 48). The grounds of the compound were exquisitely designed and kept so that they were very inviting and relaxing.

Our team was so so so so tired on this adventure that after waiting in line and walking through one set of locked cages, many of them could take no more. Others of us, walked the whole grounds and met up with the others by the gate.

All but one of the 14 of the pandas we saw were in very small concrete caged encolosures with bars although there were beautiful open areas that none were in ~ perhaps because of the heat. The one that was out was being cuddled by tourists paying $62.50 for the privelege ~ I was amazed at the tameness of the Great Pandas! We also saw the endangered Red Panda (reminds me of a koutie-mundy!)

Mama & Baby Bear ~ Times 2!!

The one Great Panda out of his cage ...

These cages seemed far too small,
but the bears did appear healthy & content
(and happy to have air conditioning!!)

The Red Panda (I had never heard of before!) ...

Some of the Best Looking Bears at the Park...

Now this sign is very funny!
(Perhaps on an office door
when deadlines are pressing in?!)

Our tired trooping team then came home to our Sichuan Hotel located next to the times square of Chengdu and naps were the big order of the day for most. I categorized pictures and burned CDs of the week for Richard.

We then went out to a last night dinner at the China TeaHouse which, from an ambience standpoint, seemed a bit equivalent to a Casa Bonita … okay that is a stretch in some ways, so let me explain. A Chinese Lady was big puffy balls on the end of metal sticks was salking around rattling chimes and offering to clean the patrons ears (which must be a fairly common although unseen thing in China!), Chinese Men were providing chair messages, which most people at our table indulged in, for a small charge for 20 minutes), there were streams and bridges running through. We had another great Chinese meal and said good night as well as good bye to Richard. What a faithful brother in Christ with such a heart of love and service for Jesus. Each of our lives was enriched by joining his vision for touching the Chinese teenagers through English Summer Camp.

To bed, to bed! We were so thankful to be able to interact with and support the Hua Mei office and Richard’s great and faithful service. Bill & Michelle work with Richard and they are the Texas couple who have lived in Chengdu for two years and actually drafted each of the English lessons that we used for teaching. The three of these people are precious lovers on the Lord and gracious and loving servants of the Chinese.

Praises!