CAMP CJ  
By Stewart Whittemore

 

Camp CJ was nestled in the outskirts of Beijing adjacent to the preserve for the almost extinct Milu deer of China. It was here that 120 patriot and expatriate student campers were taught by a contingent of 29 international coaches how to be a winner through themes dedicated to promoting good character through team building and communications. Also we worked with our campers on developing friendships among cross-country and cross-cultural youth from nations around the world. This was accomplished through training on:

  1. Teachability - Learning from others.
  2. Fairness - Playing by the rules.
  3. Focusing - Setting goals.
  4. Self-discipline - Keeping goals.
  5. Being a good winner - Humility I.
  6. Being a good loser - Humility II .
  7. Being a role model - Responsibility.
  8. Servanthood - Helping others.
  9. Leadership - Independent thinking.

Although we were not allowed to overtly preach the Gospel of Christ in camp (the camp was funded by a Chinese Foundation linked to the Chinese Government), there were, however, many opportunities provided by the Holy Spirit to share God's truth which came about naturally through our interaction with the students.

It was amazing how, after just a few days, the students started to help the overworked hostel staff in setting up the dining room for meals and then performing the cleanup tasks afterward. And then as if to add icing on the cake, so to speak, one night I was approached outside the hostel by one of the local Chinese counselors who asked me if I would share with her my testimony that she had heard about through another counselor. As I started to share my testimony, a group of campers gathered around us thus providing a wonderful opportunity to tell them about the hope that Jesus gives us through what he had done for me in bringing me out of the pit of despair and depression.

At the end of camp there were many farewell tears, but the tears coming from one teenager, who had been a disruption in camp, were very special indeed. His "heart of stone" had turned to a "heart of flesh."

Oh, the initials "CJ"? They stood for Christ Jesus.

 

Stewart Whittemore writes from Grants Pass, Oregon. stewart33@earthlink.net