Taiwan: The Taiwan Minghui School Summer Camp 2003

Forty young Dafa practitioners attended the first Minghui School Summer Camp from August 4-8. In the camp, the children were required to do the Falun Dafa exercises, recite "Hong Yin" [Collection of Master Li's poems] and strive to follow the principles of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance. We told the children cultivation stories, taught them to sing songs composed by Dafa practitioners, introduced them to the concept of acupuncture points and stone carving, and provided opportunities for them to appreciate puppet shows and music, draw animals, visit zoos, and tour the Children's Centre for Music as well as other activities. These innocent and lively children treated themselves as cultivators when they encountered various situations and impressed the practitioners in charge very much.

On August 4th, the children gathered to register and meet their new friends. But when the music for the Dafa exercises began, the children immediately got organised to start. An observing police officer praised them profusely. The second day, these children from different provinces behaved so well that they left a deep impression on the teacher. She gave every child who completed the work a little award for special encouragement.

On the third day, we arranged for the children to share their own cultivation stories. Hanyu from the first grade told everyone her experience of going to Beijing to appeal in a very open and relaxed way. She described how her mother was arrested and taken to the police station and that she and her brother became homeless outside until a kind-hearted person took them to his home. The police wanted the Mother to write the "Guarantee Statement" to give up the practise, but she refused. Later it was the same kind-hearted person who bailed the Mother out of the police station using his own money. When we heard this story from the seven-year old girl, our eyes were filled with tears. We also used this opportunity to explain to the children why we need to clarify the truth to the precious Chinese people.

When we were teaching Music Appreciation, we introduced them to Chinese Guqing and Guzheng as well as to Western music. We let them listen to several famous selections from Guqing. We also included famous history stories in the curriculum and taught the children that, in ancient times, playing music was for cultivating mind and body. These children will be under the influence of ancient Chinese culture from a young age.

Among those who attended the Summer Camp, thirty children were below the third grade, two young Dafa practitioners were kindergarten age and one was a two-year-old. We asked the older kids from grade six to help lead the team and take care of their younger teammates. One "big sister" worried that a younger girl in the same dormitory might be cold at night because she did not bring her quilt. The older girl took out her own bath towel meant for her pillow and gave it to the young girl to use as a blanket. It was truly very touching how these "big sisters and brothers" from higher grades actively took care of their younger teammates. When the camp ended, several children from the first grade especially wrote letters to thank the "big brothers and sisters" for taking care of them.

The young practitioners returned to their homes with happy hearts, waiting for the next time to attend the Minghui School Summer Camp.