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2011 China Trips
Past Events:
2009 China Trips
English Teaching
Trip Report
- Southern China
August 7-17th 2008
August 8th–19th, 2007
Southern China
Mission Trip Report
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Kristen, Eric, Ellie and Mindy
English Teaching Trip 2008
Southern China
August 7-17th 2008
In August 2008, Project Partner hosted its second English Teaching
Mission Trip. I led the trip and was accompanied by three other
participants, Mindy, Ellie, and Eric. This year's trip had the same
goal and purpose as last year. We desired to help Chinese students
improve their English, provide an opportunity for young adults from
the U.S. to experience China's culture, and serve the people of China.
Day One was filled with excitement, uncertainty, and some nervous
energy. For Eric, Mindy and Ellie, it was their first trip to China.
It was Ellie's first time on an airplane! Also, the night before
leaving I heard a typhoon was predicted to hit Hong Kong the same day
we were scheduled to arrive. All we could do was pray God would
handle our concerns. Our flight from Kansas City to Newark went
smoothly. Ellie did great. By the time we landed in Newark, her
anxiety transformed into enthusiasm. The next flight into Hong Kong
also went well and by the time we arrived the typhoon had already
passed through.
Our team spent the next day in Hong Kong sightseeing. We didn't let
the rain ruin our time; we crammed as many activities as we could into
one day. The following day we left Hong Kong and traveled to China
via ferry. At the border crossing we had some trouble with security,
but after 20 plus minutes of questioning they let us cross. At this
point we joined the Chinese team and traveled together further into
China.
Project Partner worked together with members the Macau church and the
local church to facilitate the English classes. For each class there
was one American, two Chinese teachers, and two teaching assistances
from the local church. Many of these teaching assistants were
students last year and are now involved in the local church. We held
the classes Monday through Friday with a morning and evening session.
We averaged about 250 students daily.
Each day our English classes were full of smiling students, ready to
learn. Our team decided it was important to learn a few phrases in
Mandarin and practice them with our students. They appreciated our
efforts. In the classes the students enjoyed practicing
pronunciation, playing word games, and increasing their vocabulary.
During the afternoon break between classes we had activities with the
students. This time offered a chance for us to interact with the
students on a more personal level outside the classroom.
The week passed quickly as we had a busy teaching schedule. As the
days went by we continually felt like we were being blessed just as
much as we tried to bless others. Our team had a great attitude and
embraced the cultural differences, especially the food. "We'll try
anything once" became our slogan; we tasted things like jellyfish and
chicken feet. We even ventured into a dried seafood market, sampling
many mystery items. Although we didn't enjoy everything we tried, our
willingness to embrace the Chinese culture made a positive impact on
our Chinese teammates. They would try to accommodate us by offering
Western things like forks and cereal. But instead we'd pick up our
chopsticks and eat our rice with a smile. Through these new
experiences, we formed a bond with the Chinese team. And by the
week's end we felt like part of the family.
At the end of the week we concluded the classes with a Friday night
celebration called "Night of American Culture." One of the students'
favorite activities of the evening was the Fashion Show. During the
week the students designed t-shirts that represented the United
States. Each class selected two shirts to present in the Fashion
Show. On Friday night student models walked the runway, proudly
wearing the shirts, as their peers took pictures and cheered them.
Our team had the challenge of judging; all of the designs were
wonderful. To conclude the night, our team shared personal stories
with the students. After the event we said tearful good byes to our
students and prepared to travel back to Hong Kong the next day.
Overall, the team and the classes were a success. As for the team, I
could not have asked for a better effort. They embraced the culture
and the people, showing Christ's love in their actions. The team left
the U.S. expecting to bring blessing to others, but they left China
feeling like they received an even greater blessing than they gave.
What an honor and privilege it was to serve and minister with my team
and the Chinese team.
Thank you for your prayers for the ministry and us. We felt protected
during the entire trip and saw God at work in many ways. Please
realize that by supporting us in prayer, you too played a part in
helping share Christ's love in China.
Serving Him,
Kristen Levitt
Director
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