Location: China
Welcome to the Lifeworks China blogs! Below is a little bit about the staff that will be leading this summer. Enjoy!
Thomas Johnson – Thomas was born in the U.S., but spent most of his childhood in China. He considers this cross-cultural background a great blessing, and as a result, speaks fluent Mandarin. Thomas attended ActionQuest as a student multiple times, and from 2008 onward has served as a translator for the Lifeworks China program, working his first summer as a full staff member in 2012. He is currently attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney, majoring in Secondary Education (English and Biology) and recently studied abroad at University College Roosevelt in the Netherlands.
Liu Jingtao (Ruth) – Ruth came to work with Little Flower in 2012. Ruth is a graduate of Hebei University of Science and Technology and has a bachelor’s degree in information science. She began at Little Flower managing all childcare agreements with orphanages, tracking important statistics, and overseeing the HR Department. Now, she is the Group Educational Foster Care Manager and works directly with foster families and children.
Li Weihua (Joy) – not pictured – Joy works for Little Flower Projects as an assistant with Group Educational Foster Care Program. Some of her regular responsibilities include providing periodic reports on Group Home children, organizing monthly outdoor activities, taking photos of the children, and supporting Group Home parents. Joy loves to serve kids and appreciates the liveliness and love they bring into her life.
Emily Vincent – Emily was born in Belgium and spent part of her childhood in Australia before moving to New Jersey. In 2013 she was a student on the Lifeworks China trip and had since developed a great love for Chinese culture. Emily is currently a Hesburgh-Yusko scholar at the University of Notre Dame where she studies International Economics and Mandarin. Her proudest achievement is completing a 3-week Outward Bound course in the Rocky Mountains. Emily’s favorite place to be is outside her comfort zone.