My 2010 China Adventure

Dear Faithful Friends,

Wow. I sit here on my comfy, American bed and marvel at the fact that three years ago this whole China adventure started.

On July 7, 2007 I arrived in Beijing for the first time. So many firsts ensued in the following ten days. Real Chinese food, walking on the Great Wall, that first Chinese word I used incessantly: ‘Ni hao!’ {hello… I was such a linguist}, bartering at markets for cheap junk, meeting fellow Americans who have become some of my best friends, and spending five days with my first orphan buddies that stole my heart and left me changed forever.

Like true love, I couldn’t keep myself away. In the summer of 2008, I spent 6 weeks in Xinzheng, helping on staff to run camp. That fall I came on board fulltime with Bring Me Hope, taking on volunteering coordinating, promotional tour planning and staff/volunteer logistics. July 1^, 2009 found me packing my bags and moving to the city of Kunming for nearly six months. After staffing the 2009 summer camp there, I stayed on to help with a pioneer project called ‘The Ranch’ {a mentor/discipleship program for older Chinese orphans}

By the time I arrived home for {a very happy} Christmas last year, I knew that God was telling me clearly that China will always be a part of my life. From best friends {Chinese and American} to continued ministry in country through the summer camps to future plans of long-term ministry there. Of course the part I’m most excited about is the Amazing man God put in my life all the way back on that first day in 2007. Adam and I met that day I arrived in Beijing and we have built a strong friendship over the years. In January, he asked me to be his girlfriend. The chance to minister together in this new capacity is a beautiful thing. Adam’s love for China, orphans and ministry is just as big as mine. Truly two are better than one.

I am humbled as I look back and see God’s sovereign hand over the last three years. China has been one of the biggest sources of growth and change in my life. God has been so incredibly patient with me, leading me along and teaching me what it means to surrender all to Him. I love the ministry of reaching out to the hurting children of China. Thank you for everything you have done to make the last three years happen. Many of you have been there from day one, others have jumped on board somewhere along the way. For all of you, I am humbly grateful. Your financial support,

encouraging emails, and countless prayers have been the channels God has used to carry me through the tough days. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

On June 20, Adam and I will take off for Kunming and spend the summer there, splashing in the pool, getting colored marker all over our fingers, singing crazy camp songs and everyday we will hug all the precious kiddos who have been forgotten. We will tell them they are loved and they DO matter.

And it will all be for Jesus, who invented adoption and demonstrated it to us in the first place.

~ nicole

PS. My travel costs this year will be around $2000. I am needing to raise this amount before July 1st. If you are able to support me this year, you can send your tax deductible gifts to Bring Me Hope, 2169 Green Canyon Rd, Fallbrook CA 92028 with 'Nicole Chmelar' in the memo line. Thank you!!