Yizhou Day

This has been such a busy year....we are already making plans for this year's Hope4China trip, and I have covered so little of last year's trip....one year we will make it!

We are just so thankful that there is so much we can do together to make a difference!

One of the highlights on a trip is always meeting the Guangxi Girls and seeing how much they have grown in height AND confidence. 

This year was extra special because Mrs Manna and Co were back again to meet the girl they have sponsored since 2005. 

It is clear to see in the photos how much this has meant to Lian and how delighted she was to meet with them all again

            It was also special for Linna to meet with her long time sponsor, Lady A for the first time!

Here is the whole Yizhou Team, with Sponsors, Teachers, Woman's Association along with some new girls who needed help...all excited to meet and share together.

This year, we were meeting mostly with the older girls, spending more time talking with them and more importantly listening. We wanted to hear more about how the girls were doing, how they felt  and what we could do together to make a difference

First task was to create a card to reflect their identity, likes,dreams etc........

This idea created lots of laughter, but settled down into quiet contemplation.....

We were able to go round the tables chatting with each group. At these times we are so thankful for Matthew's wonderful impromptu translating skills and of course the girl's growing confidence in speaking English. I am as always ashamed that my Chinese has not developed at quite the same rate :-(

                           Everyone had to take part ( some more artistic than others :-)

                                         But this one was very special ( can you spot the reason?)

Lovin the concentration here :-)

Our Paparrazzi Photographer then got on the case to take "mug-shots" to share with sponsors - 

this caused much hilarity too :-)

Job Done!!!!

 Simple Task- but we had all learned a little more about each other!

Hungry work...time to eat together!

                          After the tasty chicken, time for the by now famous Birthday Cake,
where we celebrate ALL of our Birthdays together,
as many of the girls never have Birthday Celebrations!!!!

In China, they do have this activity down to a fine art with everything you need provided - 

paper plates, knife, candles etc........

                                         ...and the girls do such a brilliant job of organising it all

Happy Birthday in Chinese and English to Celebrate ( along with the Sponsors) our Connections

                Then our new tradition, begun a few years back ( reflecting the ease of our relationships)

We had some Questions & Answers Time in the Pink Hat, 

where the girls could ask any questions they wanted and pop them in the HAT!

They wanted to know about life for their sponsors, why they wanted to help them, why we came......

It was great to be able to share our joy and pride in them and 

to remind them that they gave so much also to their sponsors!

Wonderful to share and keep on building connections....

Speaking of sharing............

......we were going to end with this photo of the 4 new girls who needed help. 

We are delighted that they all now have sponsors and can have hope for the future!!!!!

But can you spot the change here?

                                            One young lady, desperate to have the "granny beads"
                                                                         What could I say?
                                                                       Lots of crazy laughter.........

So after lots of laughter, 

some tears, 

great fun 

and genuine sharing, 

the privilege of being the connection between the sponsors and their girls...........

 I think this photo says it all?