'They ran alongside the train as we left'

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

SILVERDALE — Service projects?
Those happened.
So did the formation of precious, one-on-one relationships between 24 young people from Silverdale Lutheran Church and their counterparts in Nanchang, China, during a congregational visit to Nanchang in July.
Today, the high-schoolers continue to Facebook with their new friends made during the trip led by the Revs. Steve Ray of the nonprofit ChinaConnect and Jonathan Sansgaard of Silverdale Lutheran.
"That part is incredibly key to what we were doing," Sansgaard said of friendships made.
The Silverdale group paired up with students from Nanchang No. 2 Upper Middle School on service projects that included cleaning a sports facility, painting a home for retired nurses and hawking newspapers, the proceeds helping to send Nanchang students to college.
There was some confusion at first, Sansgaard said. The Chinese students didn't understand the concept of a service project and hung back and watched. Local hosts stopped the work often for elaborate welcoming ceremonies and snacks.
"Every project had some kind of ceremony that went with it," Sansgaard said.
It didn't take long, however, for one half to pick up the rhythms of the other, and for personal friendships to build.
As the train pulled out of Nanchang, the students from No. 2 Upper Middle School ran alongside until they couldn't.
"We had a lot of tearful goodbyes," Sansgaard said.
Silverdale Lutheran has a large military contingent. One high-ranking naval officer told Sansgaard, "This is what we should be doing."

Pictured: The Rev. Jonathan Sansgaard holds greetings from students from Nanchang No. 2 Upper Middle School. It says "Auld Lang Syne" or "friendship forever," according to the Rev. Rowena Wang of Federal Way Chinese Fellowship.