Big Brother-Sister Program

From 1996-1998 Jane was teaching at a private university where she had made many friends among the students. Many wanted to become involved with the children so we formed a big brother - sister program. Sixteen of the university students each selected one of our sixteen orphans to be a friend and mentor to them.

We would frequently bring the children to the university to spend the day playing with the students. Once they stayed all weekend and got to sleep in the dorms. We sat under the moonlight and played games and sang songs.

Some took walks together and talked, some played tennis, ping-pong or basketball, some played computer games but all had so much fun. Always after hard play we would have a lunch of Hui mian (noodles and mutton and spices) and Coke-Cola and other delicious foods.

Our good friend and director of XinMi's Women and Children's Hospital always furnished transportation. She had been given a van from the Red Cross and freely helped us.


Christmas

In 1997 the students decided to help give the children a Christmas party. The young men put up a little Christmas tree and decorated it and the girls knitted scarves and gloves for each orphan child. Another group of students made hundreds of Chinese dumplings for the evening meal. The weather that day was great so some students took a long walk around the campus with the children while others played. All the children received gifts from friends from America such as cars, coloring books and puzzles and of course their beautiful new warm scarves and gloves.
In 1998 again we held a grand Christmas party with a larger tree and more gifts. The children had prepared entertainment as had the students. One of the girls made sparkly bags of special candies and these and all the presents made gifts giving a joy and excitement for all the children.

In the picture ,students are making jowdza together for the children's Christmas party


In 1999 a group of friends from Brazil and Australia spent Christmas with the children, singing Christian songs and putting on a drama of Christmas Day. It was mostly put on in Chinese with some being translated. Everyone was so happy to share Christmas with the foreigners.