What's Your Dream?

Last weekend I traveled to a small city, about 5 hours outside of Kunming, to take part in the Concordia Women's Leadership Academy (CWLA), our leadership program for rural high girls. I profiled this program in my March 2010 newsletter, which I also posted on my blog.

The topic of the workshop was: Dreams & Perseverance. We spent the day focusing on how important it is to dream, how to set goals, and how to persevere to accomplish your dreams.

Dreams are so innate in our culture, as evident by our resolute belief in the American Dream. However, that is not the case with these girls. Many of these girls are from impoverished, rural families who could not afford to attend high school without the scholarship funding provided by CWEF. Their dream is often only to receive a high school and possibly college education or to have the opportunity to live outside of their village.

The workshop provided an opportunity for the girls to learn about other people who have followed their dreams. We watched an inspirational interview of the Chinese man who created their equivalent of ebay. Susan Boyle was also a topic of conversation - an average woman who followed her dream of becoming a professional singer (how awesome, right?! we even watched the youtube video of her singing "I Dreamed a Dream.") And we watched the full video clip of Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a Dream" Speech from 1963 in Washington D.C. I have to admit, listening to MLKJ and seeing the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument while sitting in China was really difficult. Nostalgia washes over me whenever I see the American flag or hear the National Anthem - hence why I didn't watch the Olympics. You guys, it is so bad that I can't even listen to Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA. Humiliating, I know. In this case, hearing His four words, "I have a dream" provoked the same emotions. Luckily, I could visualize my friends saying, "Whitney, lock it up" so the moment passed without creating a scene.

After discussing several more successful Chinese entrepreneurs who dared to follow their dreams, we asked the girls to write out their dreams. Then in small group discussions, the students brainstormed what it takes to achieve your goals. Finally, the girls wrote their dreams on paper airplanes and let them fly!

The workshop also incorporated several fun team-building activities. The girls spent part of the morning competing in three-legged races, eventually joining 11 girls' legs together. And in another activity, they had to work together to collect all the necessary components of a puzzle.

Overall, CWLA Training provides a safe environment where the girls are supported, encouraged, and inspired. Within the leadership academy, they have a voice and an opinion. And most importantly, they have role models who believe in them. It was so encouraging to watch them interact with our CWEF Education Director. Their adoration towards our ED was abundant, and it is obvious that she serves as a great mentor for them.

These girls have a dream; it is our hope that CWEF's scholarships and training will assist them in achieving their dreams.

CWEF Scholarship Recipients

Discussing what it takes to achieve your dreams

If only I could read this...

Three-Legged Race

Almost to the home stretch!

The town where we hold the training is in northern Yunnan. It is a mountainous region that has extremely cold temperatures. The land is mostly used to grow potatoes, and there is an abundance of coal mining in the region.

Plenty of potatoes. Think how many french fries you could make!

Thank You

Dear Friends:

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. I cannot say it enough. I am continually amazed and humbled by your support. You have all joined me in this service – committing me to your “thoughts,” pledging to support me financially, and having tremendous faith in His power to work through us. Thank you for the love, encouragement and support you so generously give me.

It has been a little over a year since I began this endeavor. The phone call to my parents to say that I had accepted a position in China was one that I will never forget (They probably won’t forget it either because I am such an awful daughter that I called to tell them the big news on their 25^th Anniversary – I totally, accidentally, stole their thunder… sorry Mom & Dad!) Interestingly enough, the next few weeks after the big phone call were not spent on cloud nine dreaming about what life would be like in China; rather, we started to seriously wonder how in the world we were going to raise the financial support. Everyday newspaper headlines reminded us of the severity of the economic crisis. I read numerous articles about nonprofits struggling to find funding because donations had significantly decreased. And all the while, I couldn’t stop questioning how we would raise the money I needed to serve in China.

However, I kept reminding myself that this is the work He called me to do. He promises to provide for all of our needs. He is always faithful. I read the following pr-yer and thought it was great, “Help me to see that the mountain I consider impossible to climb is the one that You see as an opportunity for a better view.”

Well friends, today, I want to share that this mountain of fundraising, one that I thought was impossible to climb, is a mountain that He has used to give me a better view. Don’t get me wrong, fundraising was stressful and overwhelming at times. The hike up the mountain wasn’t always easy. But through my fundraising, He has shown that all things REALLY are possible in Him. I have learned that when we are totally and utterly dependent on Him is when we are truly living by faith. We trust that He will provide.

And provide He did, in ways beyond my imagination. Most importantly, He provided YOU! He opened your hearts to the work CWEF is doing in China, and He moved you to partner with me in this work. I am touched by the support and encouragement you continually offer me. Climbing the mountain of fundraising gave me a better view of how many incredible people are part of my life. I am speechless and will forever be grateful for your generosity, your love, and your kindness.

Thank you.

Whitney

Expect the Unexpected

Life in china is all about expecting the unexpected. Today was no different. I started the afternoon on a mission to buy something specific. My friend suggested I go near the Kunming sports stadium, which is an area of town I have never explored. As with most shopping excursions here, I got off the bus, looked around, realized I had no idea where I was, and began asking what direction to go next. I asked several people to point me the right way. (Note, it's always important to ask more than one person because it's likely at least one person will make up an answer in order to save face). Regardless, multiple people pointed at shops at the base of the Kunming stadium. It is interesting because where our stadium concession stands or box office would be, this stadium had actual shops. I sauntered around and made my way in and out of several stores, not finding what I was shopping for. Before I knew it, I had walked all the way to the backside of the stadium. I continued to circle around the outside of the complex, and as I reached the final side I heard a very familiar noise. I crept forward and peered through the doorway into the stadium.

My jaw hit the ground; my eyes popped open in disbelief; and I let out a squeal of delight. I immediately pinched myself to see if it was real. In China, you must expect the unexpected; but I didn’t expect this. As I looked through the opening, I saw a make-shift driving range in the middle of the stadium.

A company sets up little pieces of turf on the track and you hit to the other endzone. (It might be the best business idea ever because there’s no overhead and they make a ton of money). I wandered until I found the entrance to the driving range and rented a bucket of golf balls. I was definitely not dressed for the occasion in my cute flats and pearls, but it didn’t even matter – I had the opportunity to swing a golf club!

The driving range in China was an experience. The people wouldn’t let me rent a driver. They would only let me rent an iron. I think Dad paid them to tell me I had to use an iron because he’s been telling me for years that I should work on my short-game… well Dad, it looks like I am finally being forced to take your advice! Personally, I think it’s just because the Chinese men there didn’t want me to out drive them.

I was definitely a little rusty at first, but had a great time regardless. I met an older Australian man and his Chinese wife. He is a golf coach at one the high class resorts outside of Kunming. Very interesting to talk with them. They offered to give me golf lessons and tips whenever I come to the driving range, isn’t that sweet? I’m thinking I should take them up on their offer so maybe when I get home I will be good enough to give Uncle Mike a run for his money : ) haha!

Hitting golf balls was such a great and unexpected way to spend my Saturday afternoon. It was a familiar activity from home that I really enjoy, and I met some nice people in the process. One more example that you never know what a new day in China will bring.

June 2009, Dad and I at the golf tournament he planned in support of my work in China.

One more perfect example of how many people helped me get to China. Thanks to all who planned, volunteered, donated, and participated in our golf tournament. What a special day!

CWEF Scholarships and CWLA

March 2010 Newsletter

Due to poverty and discrimination, there are many talented girls in the rural areas of Yunnan that have no opportunity to go to school. As part of our commitment to furthering education, CWEF provides scholarships to rural girls in order to allow them to continue their education. To date, CWEF has donated over 500 scholarships to students in the Yunnan Province

In addition to providing scholarships, CWEF has also implemented a youth development program called the Concordia Women’s Leadership Academy (CWLA). CWLA is a training program that concentrates on the personal growth and development of the scholarship recipients. Rural girls often lack support and guidance in their education because none of their family members are educated.

CWLA addresses this need by mentoring the girls in four core subject matters: communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, self-evaluation, and study skills. Participants become more confident and skilled at dealing with their environment giving them a better chance to succeed personally and professionally in the future.

Li Daoli, a CWEF high school scholarship recipient, experienced the positive impact of CWLA firsthand. As described by our CWEF Education Director:

“Whether in others’ eyes or her self-image, Li Daoli is a ‘strong’ girl. As she said, studying to enter high school was a life-changing decision. She wants to enter college and become a policewoman. CWEF’s scholarship will help make that possible and help relieve her family’s financial worries. What is more, CWLA inspired her to begin to think about a lot of life questions. Now, she has some new ideas about herself and the world. What impressed her most about CWLA activities was the exercise entitled “12 changes I want.” In this exercise, the girls are required to write down 12 changes they want to see in themselves in 1 year and in 3 years. Li Daoli said, ‘I learned to ask myself questions and reflect about myself.’”

If you would like to know more about sponsoring a scholarship through CWEF, please visit www.cwef.org.hk for more information or email me directly. **Some of this information is taken directly from CWEF materials**

To be on my newsletter list, please email me @ whitneyheins@gmail.com

Rivers Flowing of Diet Coke

In September, Kunming’s supply of Coke Light (Asia’s equivalent of Diet Coke) ran out. It was a dreadful day as I was forced to confront my addiction to diet coke and go cold turkey. Every night, I began to dream of a place with rivers flowing of diet coke. Instead of candy and lollipops, this place had fountain machines with an endless supply of 32oz diet cokes with Sonic ice(my favorite thing in the whole world!) And each morning I would wake-up and sigh, as I came back to reality – living without diet coke.

After a month of suffering, I was left with no choice but to begin scouring the streets of Kunming in search of a diet coke. Surely it had to exist somewhere in this massive city! But with every rock I unturned came more disappointment. For example, several restaurants list Coke Light on their menu. My eyes would light up as I read it, and I would try, unsuccessfully, not to get my hopes up. Each time, I turned immediately to the waitress and said, "I want a Coke Light." The response was always the same, “We don’t have that.” Oh, the agony!! Every store I went into had Coke, Coke Zero, Pepsi, and Sprite, but Coke Light was always missing on the shelf.

As my last plea, I reached out to you, my friends, on November 12. I told you that the only gift I wanted for Christmas was for each of you to write a letter to the CocaCola bottling company in Kunming requesting a special batch of Coke Light. I even offered to go pick it up.

Well friends, OUR VOICE WAS HEARD!! Yesterday, I walked into the small shop near my house and almost fainted when I saw Coke Light sitting on the shelf. Rows and rows of my favorite pop – maybe not the river that I had a dreamed about, but at least three rows of cans. I started jumping up and down (once again playing into the “crazy foreigner” stereotype). I just couldn’t contain my excitement!!

My natural conclusion was that I had to buy EVERY Coke Light in the store! I grabbed every single can, wiping out the shelf and the drink cooler. I ended up with 43 individuals cans of Coke Light (they don’t sell cases here).

The CocaCola Company in China heard us and granted our request; and they even delivered it : )

The store employees trying to find strong enough bags so I could carry all 43 cans at once

I designated an entire kitchen cabinet for my Diet Coke... and then I padlocked it, haha!