After our work in Taiwan, our group said goodbye to our friends from Cardinal Tien Nursing College and Fu Jen University, and flew to China. After a free day filled with visiting the Forbidden City, climbing the Great Wall, and watching a Chinese acrobat show, we spent our days volunteering at the China Little Flower orphanage. This orphanage specializes in caring for handicapped children. Unfortunately, for privacy reasons, we were unable to take any pictures at the orphanage, but Kate Blakely shared her thoughts on our experience there:
Caring for Orphans | Campus Ministry Service in Taiwan
Topics: Campus Ministry, Kate Steinel, China, China Little Flower orphanage, early childhood education
Farmers for a day (or two or three) | Campus Ministry Service
Gardening played a rather large role in our time in Taiwan. When we first met with the students from Cardinal Tien Nursing College- a group of enthusiastic teenage girls- we visited an organic farming community. There we learned about the importance of organic farming as well as a general overview of the methods. We also got some hands-on experience. We tilled, planted, weeded, and fertilized, as well as created compost.
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Kate Steinel, Zachary Zuck, Maria Solomond, Br. Matthew Lambert, organic farming
Teaching and Playing | Campus Ministry Service in Taiwan
While visiting the people living in villages in the mountains of Taiwan, the Saint Vincent students, accompanied by students from Cardinal Tien Nursing College and translators from Fu Jen University, split into groups to perform different services. One group was sent to teach and play with the children there. Zack Zuck was a member of this group and shared his thoughts regarding the experience:
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Kate Steinel, Lauren Harbaugh, April Smith, Zachary Zuck
Every summer a group from St. Vincent travels to Taiwan and China on a Campus Ministry service trip. I and eleven others were lucky enough to participate in the trip this year.
Topics: Campus Ministry, Taiwan, Kate Steinel, Lauren Harbaugh, Volunteer Abroad, service, Maria Solomond, Stephanie Rubin