My wife & I founded the Swallows Nest Children's Homes in 2006 where we work full time with special needs orphans in Henan Province ... http://www.swallowsnestzz.org ... we first learned of Peter's work with Children in 2001 when my wife started corresponding with Peter's mother .... Peter intrigued us because he was reaching out to poor city children near the college where he taught English ... most English teachers at that time would only tutor students outside of the university for money ... Peter taught the children for free ... we were volunteer teaching at an English summer program for Home of Home Orphanage in 2002 and traveled with the owner to SIAS University for their pioneer graduation of students ... later we found and had a short meeting with Peter ... this was the start of a long friendship involving cooperation & networking with Peter in Henan China ... over the years we have continued to visit and stay in touch and I have assisted Peter with teaching and consulting work at times over the years ... and Peter has also assisted me by helping me obtain my current teaching post which I started four years ago ... always with sincere interest Peter has helped children in China ever since we have known him ... his foster daughter Alayna is a product of a child rescue from years back ... the Big Stone Foundation is the product of Peter's vision for sustaining a movement to help the people of China, especially children at risk ... whereas my wife and I work with special needs children registered in the government orphanage system ... Peter works with children who do not qualify to be cared for by the state and would just live a life of extreme poverty with no hope for education or a future ... his work provides opportunity and a future for these children in so many ways ... the reasons stated above is why we recommend Big Stone Foundation as a very wonderful charity worthy of your attention and funding ... through Peter you will have a direct effect on the life & future for many children in China ... thanks for taking time to read my recommendation ... blessings ... Clay Williams
In 2008 I with a group of other students visited China and worked with Big Stone China. We spent 3 weeks traveling through the Hunan province. We visited an orphanage almost daily and spent time playing and loving on some of the most beautiful joyful children I have ever met. It was there I really got to True Pure Joy! We met so many orphans who had so much PURE JOY. They had so much to be sad about: abandonment, underfed, poverty stricken, and some living with aids. But through them I came to a greater understanding that joy is truly is in the heart not in circumstances. That we are so loved by our heavenly Father; Peter had spent time loving on these kids and sharing Gods love for them they were filled with it. A matter of fact they filled us with their love and joy. I reflect back on my 3 weeks in China as one of the most impactful times in my life. And am thankful Big Stone China was the organization that led me to this experience
I have just recently gotten involved with this wonderful charity and have been able to see and experience first hand the great work they are doing not only to better the lives or orphans or underprivileged children but to help whole impoverished communities around China. I have found their can-do attitude to be uplifting. I look forward to being involved with this group for years to come.
I am honored and blessed to serve as Big Stone Foundation's International Director. I have been directly involved in starting and running our programs, as well as day-to-day operations. I love being involved in these children's lives, and I love knowing that my commitment to service is having a real, measurable impact.
This is not my first experience with Big Stone China. I have worked with them on and off since 2008. When my interest in China first began to develop, I was looking for ways to be involved in changing people's lives. What I later found after my first, (and subsequent) experiences with Big Stone, was that not only did I help to change the lives of others, but that my life was changed as well. The staff, volunteer coordinators, drivers, Everyone, was wonderful to work with, pleasant, happy to have us there, and very accommodating. They worked hard to make sure that we had the right balance of sight seeing and service projects included, and kept the cost of our trip / work camp very, very affordable. I can't wait to enjoy our next experience with Big Stone, probably coming in 2013!