Thirteen students from Campion Academy spent the first two weeks of their summer vacation in western China, where they visited schools, made friends and took in new sights.
The majority of the trip was spent in Kunming in the Yunnan Province, where the group visited four different schools to teach, learn and spend time with the local students.
“It was awesome to be able to see how different their school environment was,” said Abby, a student at Campion Academy. “Meeting and getting to know different students was the highlight of the trip.”
The group attended Chinese art and music classes in addition to leading discussions in English classrooms. “It was so much fun seeing how excited the kids were to show us their Chinese customs and culture,” commented Tristan, another Campion Academy student. “They had big smiles on their faces as they showed us how to play the Guzheng (a Chinese harp) and how to fold dumplings correctly.”
One of the highlights of the tour for many in the group was visiting a panda bear sanctuary near Chengdu in the Sichuan Province. “Seeing the panda babies was the cutest thing I have ever seen,” said Tristan. “Seeing them flop around and cuddle with each other was adorable!”
The group also visited the unique and majestic Stone Forest in the Yunnan Province, Asia’s largest flower market in Kunming, and the ancient and beautiful mountain town Lijiang.
The group was even able to worship with members of the Adventist church in Kunming. The pastor shared how the number of churches in the province has been growing rapidly, especially in rural areas.
A group of teenagers at the church who have dedicated their lives to working for God shared their musical talents—singing and playing familiar hymns and local Christian songs using accordions, the Guzheng and the Hulusi (Chinese gourd flute).
The Campion Academy students also shared praise songs and testimonies. “Although we had a language barrier and are from different parts of the world, we all love God and praise Him in similar ways,” explained Abby.
Jillian Harlow is ELL teacher at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado.
