Christmas in HK

Christmas in Hong Kong is a little different. Well that's not to say they are not trying to ignore the true meaning of Christmas, but here.....
They don't even bother with Santa its straight to Disney. They like the Holiday though. On Christmas Eve they have a countdown ah la New Year's Eve and crowds in the city with funny hats........ Very strange. The buildings around the harbour have the most spectacular light displays. We had a wonderful 9 lessons and carols on the harbour with our club surrounded by the lights, although playing guitar and singing into a microphone are not recommended activities on a rolling sea, let me tell you.
So enjoy the photos. Thomas and friends Christmas, Pixar Christmas, trees with shapely legs and others made from old toys and who knows what. But at least one building understood.

I'm A refugee

Watch this amazing video.


This song was written by Helen Mottee who works here at Crossroads. The video was made by Lyn another CR staffer.

Tell me whether you think it is as powerful as I do.

November News

In this newsletter: 1. What a month (or so) 2. The marriage of DJ and Liz (Whiz) 3. UK Visited. 4. A big month for Sue. 5 Suddenly cooler Christmas 6. Cards are coming. 7.Hand made dignity 8. A FABBA-ulous match story. 9. Your Partnership with us.

What a month (or so)
It seems so long since we wrote (as our extraordinary month left us with little time). October started with an extraordinary and wonderful wedding between two much loved team members (Liz & DJ). Then on that very evening (after the wedding) Phil left for the UK for the whole month to speak at over 20 meetings. While Sue was kept busy back in HK with new staff to train and several shipments to get out

2. The wedding of the year
The marriage of DJ & Liz was much longed and hoped for. It was a delightful day, a great celebration, which very much reflected this precious couple’s heart for the poor and downtrodden.

It was conducted in the slum built here at Crossroads and each facet reflected different parts of the world, as did the food at the wedding feast. The MD’s compassion was very much in evidence to all who witnessed this great event. Both the hundreds gathered here on site and the many who watched on-line all over the world.

3. UK visited
With the wedding over Phil headed for the airport to catch an Oasis flight to the UK. The flight was provided at no cost to Crossroads (apart from tax) by the airline. In fact some wonderful, support through the provision of hire car, accommodation and even the covering of expenses, has meant this amazing trip was conducted at almost no cost.

But the outcomes were far better than we could have hoped for. The team have told me that over 100 names have been added to our hotline list and a good many of those have expressed interest in coming to work as volunteers at Crossroads. Please do continue to Chat for the many who are now considering whether the MD would have them come to Crossroads

I was told by friends in that it was a mild autumn but it felt cold to me, coming from the Hong Kong version. The thermometer even reading -.5 degrees on at least one occasion! The autumn colours were amazing with reds, browns and gold. And the warmth of the people I met more than made up for the single digit temperature. I really did enjoy seeing England again.

4. A big month for Sue at home
While Phil travelled to the UK and talked himself hoarse, work continued as busy as ever back in Hong Kong. The highlight of this time for me (Sue) was definitely the period when our colleagues from Kazakhstan AKA the Crossroads Central Asia Team were here. During this time they were keen to learn all they could about how we process, inventory and recruit and work with volunteers. They were joined here by a team from a Sydney club, who have supported them for some time and all were able to help pack goods and load a container for Kazakhstan. The goods for this container had a focus to help groups setting up businesses and training people to earn a living. The unemployment rate in the “stans” runs as high as 80% in some areas and hence this work is addressing huge needs in places where there is no safety net of social security. The container was filled with many precious gifts: hairdryers & stylers and mirrors & massage tables for a beauty salon project: fabric, wool and sewing machines for tailoring and crafts; exercise equipment for a gym; cooking equipment for a catering business; car maintenance tools; draughting tables; and (my favourite) wedding dresses and evening wear for a wedding hire shop. What an awesome range of goods came together in this shipment. It brings us such joy to know that so many lives will be changed for the better by what we are able to send.

Another focus during this time has been on training and settling in a number of new team members. Our 2 wonderful Goods Officers, Sheila and Tari are both moving on: Sheila to a new role as proud mum of little Jeania and Tari to married life and more study. To replace them we have 2 equally awesome young ladies, Anna from Cameroon and Monette from Australia. As you can imagine, there is a lot for them to absorb about their new job as well as getting settled into a new country and a very different way of life. Another complication during this changeover has been a key person in processing being on leave for a month and many of the Kazakh and Aussie team needing training in Processing as well. Despite these extra demands on our time we have managed to continue the preparation of goods needed for the shipments and for the local groups that we help. During this time we have also managed to document more of our procedures, which will make for smoother future changeovers.

5. Suddenly cooler
With Phil’s return to Hong Kong has come some cooler weather (Phil is taking credit for having brought it back from the UK). We always look forward to the change of seasons here in Hong Kong, when the Monsoonal shift sees the weather come down from the North. This time of the year is very pleasant. A lull between air con and heater. The only downside is the pollution. The air takes on a grey haze as the Mainland sends a little by-product of industrial growth to us.

6. Want a Christmas card (with special bonus gift) …………. Email your address today
Right now we are starting to write and send Christmas cards and we would love to include you. This year’s cards are wonderful (see story below). But if you want to receive a card, we need you to send us your address by return email. Even if you are certain we have your address, a few minutes sending us an email will ensure that you do not miss out.

7. HAND-MADE DIGNITY
Have you ever employed anyone before, just by receiving a Christmas card?

Each year for the past few years, we have employed groups of various people in need around the world to produce our Christmas cards. We have given people work in Bethlehem, China and Rwanda, each making a nativity scene from their region.

This year, 100 women from villages across Chile have been employed for several months hand-making cards for us. The nativity scene features Chilean mountains, fields, huts and llamas! In a country where 1 in every five people lives in poverty, the gift of employment is just about the best present they could receive. They call it ‘hand-made dignity’.

If you would like to play your part in serving the poor of Chile, why not make sure you are on our mailing list!

Felis Navidad (that’s Merry Christmas in Spanish!)

8. A FABBA-ulous loading and match
In a country where the life expectancy is 38 and half of the population is unemployed, Jacob was counted one of the lucky ones. He ‘had it all’ – a family, home, car and prestigious lecturing job and invitations to emigrate. As he considered life in another country, he first took a long hard look at his own. He didn’t need to look hard to see poverty and sickness. One in every five of his fellow citizens are HIV+, many of them children.

‘How can I continue to teach academic subjects when my people are dying’, he said. He turned down the offers, gave up his job, began a local gathering of people in a poor area and established a work amongst AIDS orphans and widows.

Jacob now provides a daily meal for the orphans, funds their schooling, clothing, shoes, blankets and the much needed anti-retro-viral drugs. He also provides skills training such as tailoring and knitting for the widows and training to run mini businesses. He also visits the local prisons to encourage and teach the inmates.

The shipment that we loaded this month for Jacob and his work included school and household furniture, kitchen equipment, blankets and clothing and a sewing machine. Amazingly, we received some large cones of wool for use on knitting machines. Just what was needed to resource the widows’ knitting business!

We are often referred to as a match-making organisation with the MD being the chief introducer. This shipment is certainly a great example of that principle in action. Some time back, one of our team had come across a man in Australia who is connected with Jacob and his work. Moved by their story, our team mate approached the shipping department to put forward a request for their work and their friend. The shipping manager looked at the other team member in amazement. ‘Look at my screen!’ she said. ‘I am just now typing a letter to someone who works in Zambia! Could it possibly be the same man?’ After some checking they confirmed that it certainly was. We were so encouraged to see the match-maker at work again!

This container was generously paid for by a group of stock-brokers in Hong Kong. Each year, they lay aside their phones, calculators and competitive spirit long enough to focus on raising dollar value not for clients but for those in need. For the past few years, we have been very blessed to be the recipients of the generosity of this group of bankers, brokers and those in the financial arena,

9. Your partnership with us
We are constantly encouraged by our many friends at home, here in Hong Kong and from other countries, who faithfully support us and also remember us to the MD and keep in touch through email and mail. As reported our general support has been down recently and catching up has been slow. Our support covers such things as food, accommodation, electricity etc. One of our friends expressed surprise to hear we need support, so we do need to keep communicating this fact. If you would like to help there are four ways you can provide financial support for us.

For details of how to support us please see the side bar

We do think of you and chat to our Father about you often.

PHIL & SUE

September Newsletter

In this newsletter: 1. Visitors from home 2. Beijing with Bob & Ben 3. Summer Celebrations. 4. Coming to the UK. 5 Nigeria carry-out. 6. A song for those in need. 7. Welcome back Bob 8. A Kosovo Story. 9. Your Partnership with us.

1. Visitors from home
It has been a very busy and exciting time for us at this, the tail end of the summer. Over the last few weeks we have had lots of visitors from our home club, making the number of people from Berowra on team quite significant. First came Alison & Claire, closely followed by Rob, our younger son, and Dev & AJ, Pete, Benson and Kenny. Rob and Kenny are still here for another week or two. It has been so lovely to have the opportunity to show all these friends what it is that we do and what Crossroads is all about and simply to catch up.

2. Beijing with Bob & Ben
We were able to visit Beijing with Benson and Rob for a few days last week and had a great time, walking on the Great Wall and exploring the Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square. The highlight for the boys was the chance to hone their bargaining skills in the markets, not to mention checking out the fast food, Beijing style, which included scorpion skewers and seahorse on a stick. As Rob will tell you, we really don’t recommend the seahorse!!

3. Summer Celebrations
As summer here draws to a close and the weather becomes infinitely more bearable (at least in Sue’s opinion), there have been a number of special events here. An event signalling the end of the summer each year is our annual student party. This is a time to say thank you to the students who, through the intern and student program, have made a huge contribution to the work in every department. This summer we have had a grand total of 95 interns, who committed to working full-time for 6 weeks through their holidays, plus many other students. It was fun getting to know them all and awesome to see the amount of work they were able to get through.

A Summer Clearance Celebration was also held over a 2 week period. We decided to extend an invitation to the local charities that we have worked with in the past to come and select from a range of goods we had prepared. There was a two-fold purpose in this. As well as offering them a range of items that they could use for their work, (and at the same time clearing stock to free up space in our badly overcrowded warehouse) we wanted to introduce them to the other new aspects of Crossroads. So we had information available about Global Hand and they were able to take part in a LifeXperience activity. They also had the chance to visit the Silk Road Café and Global Handicrafts. Many local groups came and collected goods and enjoyed coffee and Helen Mottee’s singing in the café. Friendships were renewed and new requests generated.

We also wanted to include the guys we call the African team who are part of our community. Many of them are asylum seekers. We wanted to make them feel special and give them an opportunity to select some goods for themselves, their family and friends. As well, we used a special day during the Clearance to show them what we are doing with our LifeXperience program to allow Hong Kong people to understand better what life is like for people like them.

4.SPECIAL NOTE
PHIL IS COMING TO THE UK IN OCTOBER FOR CROSSROADS AND IS LOOKING FOR SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES. PLEASE LET HIM KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP.

5. Nigeria carry-out
By day 16 year old Adiana sits by the roadside, waiting for her band of homeless kids to bring back to her whatever food they have scavenged for her to cook. Adiana would join them but she does not have the use of her legs and so must spend her days waiting.

By night the children gather around Adiana and haul her up the side of an empty petrol tanker. They drop her in then tumble in after. The kids used to live in a home scratched together from branches and plastic. That was, until one of them was kidnapped and sold for ritual murder rites. It’s a money making venture in these parts. The kids now take ‘refuge’ in the abandoned tanker, standing on each other’s shoulders to push Adiana back out the small opening each morning to start the day’s survival routine again.

Recently, a local organisation with few resources was given some clothing to hand out. The clothing had come all the way from Hong Kong. Adiana and her ‘gang’ received basic items such as shirts and trousers. Adiana bundled her new items into the small fabric wrap that contains all of her worldly belongs. It was a small gift but a significant one.

A larger gift is on its way to Adiana as, this week, we will be sending a small consignment of items to this area, including a wheelchair with Adiana’s name on it. She doesn’t know it yet but she is about to receive the gift of mobility!

A Nigerian lady who is ‘carrying out’ these items commented that “this will give Adiana a freedom she has never known in her 16 years. Until now the community has looked at her as a burden - thinking her life has no use to it. Now she will be able to get herself around, perhaps even go to school!” The ‘carry out’ will also contain books, medical equipment and toys, all bound for the poorest of the poor in Nigeria.

As well as the containers that we ship out every month, we also send out many goods in ‘carry outs’. Sometimes as small as just one bag, these gifts can still make a big impact on groups around the world.

6. A song for those in need
We’re delighted to have working at Crossroads singer/ song-writer Helen Mottee - along with her husband Jim and children Georgie and Isaac. Helen has worked as a professional musician throughout Australia and New Zealand and also in Zimbabwe. Her song writing has been greatly influenced by her time spent overseas, often in countries where people are in desperate need and face seemingly impossible situations. These travels have allowed her to hear first hand stories of suffering but also of hope and courage. Helen’s heart is to share these stories, being a voice for the voiceless and encouraging us to travel on the road billions walk everyday.

“…when our hearts can be broken for the suffering and the isolated and the unheard, then pain becomes the conduit through which we can begin the journey.”

You can start this journey right now by visiting Helen’s new website If you like the songs you hear, there is also the opportunity to vote for Helen in the 2007 Musicoz Awards. Her entry ‘Do You’ was written for and about refugees and was used recently by the UNHCR in Hong Kong for World Refugee Day in their National television campaign. To vote follow the link through from her website or Click here

7. Welcome back Bob
Much celebration at out Hong Kong Club this month as we welcomed back Bob Jones as Shepherd. He served as interim a few years back and we are delighted that he has agreed to return with officially with his wife Amy and daughter Mo.

8. Kosovo Nazmije's Story
"At 41, I thought life was already over for me," says Nazmije, a survivor of the Kosovan conflict. "My country turned into a place of horror. I witnessed it as I ran from village to village with my five children."

It was an era of terror. The Kosovan conflict of 1998 – 1999 left 10,000 dead, mostly men and boys. Half of the population fled across the borders. The survivors were mostly women and girls. Rape was wielded as a weapon of the ethnic cleansing campaign, with 20,000 women falling victim.

“War has left lot of pain in me. When I returned with my five children to my village, Cikatove, after the war ended, I came back to nothing. I was heartbroken," Nazmije recounts. "I was homeless, jobless and sick. We had to start life again. I took so many medicines to recover but found no relief from my pains. The best medicine for me was Women for Women International’s program. The classes woke me up. I could not believe that one day I will be able to earn money myself and I will be able to support my family.”

‘Women for Women International' mobilises women to change their lives by bringing a holistic approach to addressing the unique needs of women in conflict and post-conflict environments.

They begin by working with women who may have lost everything in conflict and often have nowhere else to turn. Participation in the organisation's one-year program launches women on a journey from victim to survivor to active citizen. The program starts by linking up a woman sponsor with a woman in a post-conflict situation. The women move through a program of recovery to rehabilitation. Women for Women believe that providing people with a sustainable form of income is crucial to the healing process of both these women and the communities that they are from. Nazmije's story is one of the many that have been touched by the work of ‘Women for Women’.

“The letters I received from my sponsor Shan, warmed my heart," she said. "I thought how a woman from far way who has never seen or met me has put her faith in me and made a commitment to change my life. If she was so committed to help me improve my life, why should I not do it for myself?”

"Now I have joined a group of women in my village to work on looms. The loom work has become part of my life. Because we don’t have another space, I put the loom in the same room where my husband, five children and I sleep. I work there when I finish cleaning and cooking. The loom sounds to me like music, and it makes me feel good and calm."

In the Global Handicrafts marketplace, you will find items from the looms of Kosovo available for sale. We also have products from other ‘Women for Women’ projects in Afghanistan. Your purchase of one of these items will keep women like Nazmije in the business of life!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT US SEE THE SIDE BAR

What will you eat? Beijing Post #3

We all enjoy a good feast and regular readers of this Blog will know that there are a few local foods I try to avoid. Durian in particular is to be avoided at all costs.
Mind you I am not too fond of Vegemite or baked beans.
But there are always challenges when you arrive in a new place and try to find something local you may enjoy. In Hong Kong we love Yum Cha. But with a twinkle in our eye we sometimes like to order some chickens feet so we can watch the face of a newly arrived guest (they are actually better than you may expect, but not particularly nice).
So heading to Beijing with a determination to eat locally there were challenges ahead.
As for eating locally we failed miserably on our first night going Italian for Pizza. Our local meal near the Great Wall for Monday lunch was not munch, especially when given a bill for 350 Yuan for three very ordinary dishes (always ask before you order is the tip) Needless to say they considered our European faces a potential Gold Mine, especially when the people at the next table ordered considerably more and handed over 100 Yuan and got change! So after an interesting discussion the bill was lowered to 200 yuan (still way too much).
That evening we considered a few restaurants and decided on one that looked OK. We used the point to anything in the menu and what came back was a large bowl (more like a wash basin) filled with all sorts of delicious things to eat and covered in giant chillies. Yes it was spicy, but it sure was nice (and 1/4 the price of lunch)
The next evening after visiting the Forbidden City and the sights of Beijing we headed for some markets and ate what I thought were delicious Chinese version of kebabs, although I was the only one who thought so. Rob disappointed not to find a restaurant serving Dog decided to make do with a SEA HORSE! All part of the Beijing experience

Mobile Phone Miracle?

A recent survey by Reader's Digest, set out to find out which are the honest and which are the dishonest countries when it comes to handing back lost mobile phones. You will have to look elsewhere for the results of that survey, but I note that China wasn't tested! At least as far as I can make out.
I have heard so many stories of frantic searching for lost phones in China that when I left mine in a taxi in Beijing on Monday night, I began to think about how I would now survive. You see its more than a phone it is a Treo! Purchased though the kind gift of a friend.
It is a Palm Pilot as well as a phone. It has my Diary, several translations of the Word as well as commentaries, for my daily Special Times. It also has a word processor and does service as an MP3 player. Now I know what your thinking .... he shouldn't be attached to Worldly Goods, and I guess your right, but I knew I would miss it.
But Wednesday morning I had it back. No one could believe it! Now ask any of my kids or my wife .... I am famous for losing things. My Wallet lost in a pub in Australia, My camera lost twice in quick succession in various crowded places. But the MD has been gracious and each time they have been returned.
But this time I knew I was pushing the limits.
We went out to visit the Silk Markets. A 15 Yuan trip from where we were staying. For the return I showed our driver a map showing where the Hostel was. And I guess the map wasn't to good, because when the meter hit 20 Yuan I realised we were headed for the Airport. I pulled out my phone and talked to the manager of the apartments. After a few phone calls and 50 Yuan later we were back 'home'. But I had my phone out and it must have slipped off my lap and it was morning before I realised.
Thankfully the manager had the drivers mobile number and talked to him. It was Tuesday, his day off and he lived 70km from Beijing. So after little negotiation, we arranged for him to drive us to the airport. He returned our phone and we paid him a little extra for his trouble.
A miracle I ask You?

4 days in Beijing # 1 The bargain hunter

With most of the mob back in Sydney, we took a few days off with Rob and Benson to see Beijing.

Rob got right into it as the video proves. Here he is bargaining for a hip flask with a Hammer and Sickle on it that took his fancy in a street market. Rob and Benson loved the markets. He got it down from 200 yuan to 30 Yuan (A$5)

The Mob in town

Over the past few weeks we have an influx of people from our Oz Club visiting, to Join Sue & I, Marnie and The Harrison family here in Hong Kong. First there was Alison and Claire, then shortly after they left our son Rob came for a month and with him came six others for various lengths of time, to help out at Crossroads.
So our weekends and after work activities have seen us taking people for all the tourist things around Hong Kong. The weather has been kinder than usual.
Please come and join us in Hong Kong some time.

August News

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. Its so hot 2.We don’t like to mention, 3. Berowra Influx 4. Food & a future for the poor & hungry 5. Zambia crazy for you, 6. Only in HK (cont.), 7. Your partnership with us. Appendix: positions vacant

1. It is so HOT
Every one knows it’s hot in summer in Hong Kong. But this year, our 5^th in Hong Kong is different. For well over one month now we have had a sustained period of Sunny rainless days. Normally at this time of year we experience day after day of rain and cloud. But not this year! And no typhoon has even come close! But as a result we have much hotter days than normal, 34 or 35 degrees. The humidity has dropped off a bit but still pretty sticky.

But next week, the weather bureau is promising thunderstorms and rain, so I guess the normal summer starts next week.

2. We don’t like to mention
Last month we mentioned that the first time in a number of years we are experiencing a down time in our support. In fact to get us back on track we really need a good influx of funds to see a return to normal levels. If you have been thinking of supporting us, now would be a great time.

3. Berowra people influx.
How wonderful to see a stream of people from home. At times I wonder how many people are left in our Berowra Club! It is already so great with the Harrisons and Marnie joining us this year. Already this month Alison and Claire have come (in fact are here right now!) while in a few weeks our son Rob arrives for nearly a month! With him for the first few weeks will be Benson, Amanda, Dev and Pete. At the same time our old friend Kenny arrives for a whole month!

4. Food and a future for the Poor & Hungry
A very special shipment was sent early this year. The mandate of this organisation is simply to "help the poor and feed the hungry". They regularly distribute food and clothing to the needy in their community on the outskirts of Kerala, as well as supplying school books, bags and school uniforms for children from poor families so that they can attend school. Through their work, Love is shared with these people in both word and deed.

Concerned by the number of children living on the streets in their neighbourhood, they have now opened a small orphanage, providing shelter, food, care and education for 30 girls. These children now have access to a "hope and a future" they did not previously know.

Within the next year, this organisation sees a need to increase the capacity of its orphanage and has requested building materials as well as furniture and furnishings for the current facilities.

Many women have also benefited from specialist training in tailoring, embroidery or computer skills provided by the centre. Often, these ladies have been able to find employment as a direct result of the training provided, making a real difference in their families' lives.

As well as the materials to furnish the new extension to the orphanage, we have sent sewing machines and computers for the vocational training courses, clothing, school books, kitchen equipment and crockery, stationery supplies, sports equipment and educational toys. Our desire is to see the Body in Kerala built up and strengthened.

5. Zambia: Crazy for You
Our recipients in Zambia take in the lost, abandoned, broken and the hurting. They take in drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals, and the misfits and rejects of society that have no place and that no one wants. They then love, care and provide for them, school them, and train them in the way they should go. With skills for life, they are then able to make a living, provide for others, and because of the blessing they have received, they too, can be a blessing to others.

Currently they have the capacity to accommodate 500+ people, but with the gift of 1000 hectares of new, fertile land, with a fresh water river near by, they will be able to accommodate for a vast increase in that number. “We want to build hundreds of houses, each with 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living area. Each house will have a mother figure, probably a widow herself, and will look after three orphans. The idea is to get away from the stigma of growing up in an orphanage. We will need to find a sponsor for each home, though. Each home will have a patch of land to work. This will allow them to provide for themselves, and make some money. “We have done this before and it worked well,” Flemings said confidently.

Crossroads was delighted to be able to supply much needed science equipment for the new science labs at the school, as well as school desks and chairs. Now, the year 12 students can have their own desk and chair when they sit exams. Also in Zambia, power cuts are common. For this reason, the generator we sent them has been a huge blessing. It has resulted in a large increase in the number of people registering for evening education programs, because they know there will be no power disturbances. We also sent other items, such as tools and equipment for building, gardening, and landscaping as well as music equipment, school bags, manual typewriters and computers, among other things, in the 40-foot container.

6. Only in Hong Kong . . .

….. funny but this last month has been most unlike Hong Kong. As the song says, “who took the rain?”

INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO HELP CAN BE FOUND IN THE SIDEBAR

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1. Going so they might come 2. Comings & Goings, 3. Finances 4. Hong Kong’s 10^th Anniversary, 5. Zambia success story, 6. Croatia, Forgotten, fostered fathered, 7. Only in HK (cont.),

1. Going so they may come

Well I (Phil) have been home a week after nearly a month of travel around New Zealand and Australia. We have a problem. The work here has expanded so much that we are finding ourselves in need of a large input of new staff (both in Hong Kong and Kazakhstan). And so Crossroads has released me from much of my day to day work to do what I can to try to tell people about our work to encourage them to come short or long term.
So I have been doing just that. Telling the story and letting the MD do what he chooses with people’s hearts.
We had some great meetings and met some great people. And hopefully I will see some of them back here at Crossroads. I am grateful for the generous help of so many (too many to mention by name for fear of forgetting someone) and it was also great to have catch up time with family (both ours and the CR family).
I really must get back to New Zealand for a proper holiday it is such a beautiful place, but I just saw snatches as we rushed by. And this time take Sue. My next trip will probably be to Singapore and Malaysia in August, then the UK in October and North America somewhere around the end of the year.
We then will be back in Australia and NZ for a combined holiday speaking tour somewhere around Feb (this time including Perth and Melbourne).

2. Comings and goings
Over the last few weeks we have had a large group of boys here from Trinity Grammar in Sydney (where Phil worked for 5 years). It has been wonderful to have them here and see them become excited and educated about World need. The Head Master Milton Cujes and I first talked about sending a group here 4 years ago when I told him of our plan to come to Crossroads and now it has come to fruition. I hope it is the first of many groups from the School. It was also great to have some catch up time with old Common Room buddies, Alan & Maureen Pride who led the team here.
This month sees the arrival of Alison and Claire from our Sydney Club, then in August we look forward to seeing our son Rob along with Amanda, Dev, Peter, Benson and Kenny all from our Sydney club.
It will be something.

3. Finances
The MD has been good in our time at Crossroads. However just these last few months we have seen an unexpected drop off in support. Nothing major but enough that we feel we need to bring this need to you for your chats. Details on how to support us are in the side bar.
4. Hong Kong 10^th Anniversary
Last Sunday July 1^st was the 10^th Anniversary of the hand over of Hong Kong to China after it had been ruled by Britain since 1841. We were privileged to witness the amazing firework display that were part of the celebrations from the comfort of the Pacific Club as guests of Gregg & Kay. It was quite something.
Hong Kong has changed a lot in the past 10 years, but in so many ways is the same Hong Kong I first visited in the mid 80s. The colour, the pace of life, the energetic capitalism that marks Hong Kong is still very much there. The changes are more related to working out its place in the world under the ‘one country two systems’ mantra that we hear so often.
One thing I do know that it is the perfect place for Crossroads to be. In the middle of the World’s largest manufacturing and shipping hub, how could it not be?

5. Zambia: Success Story
Uneducated, unemployed and miserable, Collins was at a dead-end. Caring for HIV and AIDS patients, a noble thing to do, did not help put food on the table, or pay for his siblings’ education. Collins knew the consequence of being uneducated and did not want his four sisters to suffer the same fate.
One day Collins saw a team of people on a student recruitment drive in the high-density compound where he and his family lived. Hesitating, he approached the team and began speaking with one of the team members who assured him that his level of education was fine for a course in tailoring.
“It was a dream come true and a turning point in my life when I finally enrolled for the course in tailoring,” recalls Collins. “I received full sponsorship and successfully completed the course. I felt my spirit uplifted and my parents were very happy about my new development which brightened the hopes of our family. I am very successful and have a monthly average income equivalent to US$75 dollars. I now support the education of my sisters and also help my father put food on the table with improved meals.”
The biggest challenge during the course was limited hand sewing machines for a class of 30. They only had three sewing machines, which made sharing difficult during the practical component of the course. Crossroads was delighted to be able to provide these sewing machines, along with many other items sent in the 40-foot container and we are very happy to hear how they are helping our recipient in empowering many households and the youths.

6. Forgotten; Fostered; Fathered.
“When you have a dog you love a dog; how not with your own children?” Anna and Dusan (not their real names) did not care for their children though, nor did they know how to, they simply left their children to starve. Their youngest child, 5 months old, died of starvation through neglect. Their other two children, Tomislav and Emin, are now in a mental institution because their brain did not develop properly due to lack of food when they were small. Only Nikola, the eldest, is living a ‘normal’ life.
Our recipients care for children such as these by placing them into foster families who open their homes and their lives to these children and treat them as their very own. Our recipient provides and equips these families with a house and van as well as pays them a salary so they can be full-time parents. This means that the parents are always available for the children. Currently they have three different families in three different homes. In total, the three families look after 16 children, including their own. This means the foster children can grow up in a normal family as normal children would. Our recipient said, “Children in orphanages do not live this way; they do not have a normal life. In an orphanage workers go home after their shift and can leave all the problems there. When you have a problem in your own family, though, their problem is your problem, and you solve the problem. This way, children learn how to be a mother and father. They learn what they see. With good parenting, children can know how to be good parents. When the children are given this security and this love, we trust that they will find their way, that they will forgive their parents and others that have brought about this bad situation.”
Our recipient used the goods sent in two 40’ foot containers to help furnish these homes and the main office. Also, pop corn was donated from a humanitarian aid organisation but they could not make it because they did not have a microwave. “The microwave may seem like a small thing but now the children can eat their pop corn and it makes them happy. The CD players also made the kids very happy because kids like music. To have their own things is important,” said our recipient. We are very grateful to our recipient for providing the resources for these families to focus fully on the parenting these children.

7. Only in Hong Kong . . .
. . . can 100,000 gather around a harbour to watch a fireworks display and have the crowds cleared within an hour after the event.
We do think of you and chat to our Father about you often.

Every blessing

PHIL & SUE

Fun with Mickey and Crew

We have just had a wonderful few days with our Friends Gregg and Kay and their Grand daughters, out at Disneyland.
Despite the heat we enjoyed the rides and I got to met my hero Buz!
We then enjoyed dinner AND breakfast with Micky, Pluto, Goofy and Minni. A lot of fun. I think we are all just kids at heart.

Hong Kong's Handover Day Fireworks

A Fireworks & Lightshow was a key feature of the many celebrations held Last Sunday July 1 to mark 10 years since Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty. We were privileged to watch them from the Pacific Club. Here is a short video to give you an idea

Looking for People to come to Crossroads in NZ & Oz

Well I just got back to Hong Kong after nearly a month in Australia and NZ speaking on behalf of Crossroads and trying to encourage people to be open to the idea of coming to Hong Kong to serve.
Right now we believe we can use about 40 people across the whole organisation i.e. Crossroads, Global Hand, Like eXperience, and Fair Trade.
We need people with a range of skills from teaching, to IT, Admin Fork lift and just plain Muscle and the opportunity to join this amazing community of committed people.
My trip took me to Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North and Christchurch in NZ and then Sydney, Newcastle, Wauchope, Port Macquarie, Lauriton, Gold Coast and Brisbane. I had over 30 meetings and met some amazing people. The results are not in my hands, but I am looking forward to seeing some of those people here in HK. Short term or long term!
Next up is Malaysia and Singapore with trips to UK and North America to follow. I am prepared to travel anywhere if it means meeting people with a heart to serve the Nations.
I also got to see some amazing scenery. NZ is a truly beautiful place and without wanting to sound Biased about my homeland Australia is also pretty nice to look at.
I also took a side trip in Newcastle to look at the Pasha Bulker. See video. The ship that was stranded on Nobby's beach during the big storm on Australia's East Coast a few weeks back. It really was just a short wade from the shore

Dear Friends

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1. The big picture 2. Comings and goings 3. Match stories 4. I can see clearly now! 5. Only in HK (cont.) 8. Your partnership with us.

1. The big picture

While we were home recently, Phil & I spoke to many people in many places about what Crossroads as an organisation does and what our jobs involve. It was hard to convey a clear picture of the size and scope of what Crossroads is actually doing. Because we have been so involved in the processing and shipping side of the work, the people we talk to know more about that aspect than anything else. We thought that in this newsletter we might try to give you a big picture view. To that end we’ve included a map of our site as a visual aid.

Crossroads has grown rapidly from very small beginnings 11 years ago. Our focus is still very much on using the unwanted resources, which would otherwise be trashed, to meet the huge needs in other parts of the world, both in our Hong Kong warehouse and through Global Hand virtual warehouse on the internet. The new aspects of our work, Life Xperience, Global Handicrafts and our Fair Trade Café, seek to raise awareness of the real world situation and offer a range of ways for people to help.

Our core business remains the processing and shipping of the wide array of quality goods donated to us, to organisations in desperately needy countries around the world. Many hands help with co-ordinating donations, collection of goods, handling and storing of the truckloads of stock that arrive each day.

Others work in our many processing departments, sorting, checking, testing, repairing, packing & labelling goods for local & international requests. Others co-ordinate the shipments & communicate with the recipients, handle freight & logistics, approach possible sponsors, load containers and prepare the documents necessary for customs clearance.

Others of our team work in departments that support this core business. Our administration staff handle correspondence & filing, thank donors & sponsors, feeding back to them about the difference their contribution has made. Others handle the money side. Yet others prepare food for the team and community volunteers every day or look after the needs of new team members and visitors.

Still others work in Communications supporting all the different parts of the work by envisioning people through stories, photos, our website and on site displays. The IT department provide technical support, maintaining and improving our computer network, inventory and phone system. Some of the team are involved in the renovation and maintenance of the large site we occupy or working in our Teaching & Learning centre so the children of team members are continuing to receive a good education while their family is at Crossroads.

Another relatively new support department at Crossroads is that of Training. With such a constant turnover of staff and volunteers it is imperative that we can train newcomers quickly and easily and hand over jobs without losing information that is vital to the work.

As you can see, there are a huge range of tasks to be covered. Small wonder, then, that we find our team struggling to cover it all. One of our greatest needs at the moment is for more full time people to cover all the gaps. When Phil & I first came to Crossroads 4 years ago there were about 45 full-timers. Today there are about 60 but we could easily use 100. We are very much aware that not everyone can serve in this way but we do know that your partnership enables us to be here and that similar support can enable others.

2. Comings and goings

At this moment as I write, Phil has just arrived in New Zealand, about to begin a speaking tour there and in Australia, where he will tell as many people as he can about Crossroads and talk to them about the possibilities of serving here. Over the next few weeks we would be grateful if you can be remembering him as he travels and be asking for much fruit to come out of this trip. He is being sent because of the great need we have for people to help our very overworked team. A list of current positions that need to be filled is included at the bottom of this Newsletter.

As you probably know, we recently returned from leave in Australia. It was as usual a very busy time of catching up with friends and family (at 3 weddings all over the country) and of speaking about the work. Thank you to all of you who made our time at home such a joy. It was disappointing not to be around for the arrival of Andrea Rose to the Wade household but we were delighted to meet her on Skype with the webcam when we were back in HK.

This year has been one with many visitors to Hong Kong already and we look forward to many people coming to see us later in the year. A special treat will be to have our son, Rob, here for a month in August/September.

3. Match stories

We talk about match stories a lot here at Crossroads. Sometimes it is a case of something needed urgently for a shipment that just arrives out of the blue. Sometimes it is a team member with just the right skills or experience who comes short term and is able to fill an essential role with perfect timing.

In the last couple of weeks, I have come across many matches. First it was bunk beds needed for Kazakhstan that came in, then the mattresses we needed to go with them. Then we had 2 rather unusual requests for skis and for wedding dresses also from Kazakhstan. Surprisingly we do have skis but up till now have had nowhere to send them. Wedding dresses? Would you believe 2 pallets arrived recently?!

Then there was the request for cooking equipment for the Philippines shipment we are loading on Saturday. The saucepans came in last week. And this week it was the megaphone they asked for, that appeared in the electrical department among stock we had earmarked for recycling.

I can’t talk about matches without mentioning the happy news that 2 of our team, David (DJ) Begbie and Liz Watson have decided on an October wedding on the site here. Crossroads is certainly a place where need and resource meet. And yes she will be resplendent in a gown from Crossroads.

4. I can see clearly now

Phil will be enjoying the cooler NZ & Aussie weather while he is away but the rest of us here in Hong Kong are dealing with extremely hot weather. It is pretty humid already but over the next couple of months the humidity will creep up even higher (95% is normal) and the rain and typhoons will begin. However we have been delighted over the last week or so to have beautiful clear days with minimal pollution. I’ve seen views I’ve never seen before in all my time in HK. There are definitely many great photo opportunities so keep an eye on our photo page.

5. Only in Hong Kong . . .

. . . can you come home sweaty and damp, have a shower, towel yourself off and still be as wet as you were to start with (though not as smelly, hopefully)

. . . can you catch a mini bus and spend 5 minutes of the journey in a petrol station, while the driver fills up his tank.

. . . can you find a laundry/dry cleaners called Piggywhites – isn’t that an oxymoron?

6. Your partnership with us

We are constantly encouraged by our many friends at home, here in Hong Kong and from other countries , who faithfully support us and also remember us to the MD and keep in touch through email and mail. The MD’s provision has been amazing, last year we found that he provided what was needed to the $, and this year we have gained some new supporters to cover those we have lost from last year. Our support covers such things as food, accommodation, electricity etc. One of our friends expressed surprise to hear we need support, so we do need to keep communicating this fact. If you would like to help there are four ways you can provide financial support for us.

You can send a cheque to us here in Hong Kong made out to Crossroads International. Our address is below.

1. You can send a cheque or pay by credit card through our Australian office of Crossroads. P.O. Box 152, Wahroonga, NSW 2076, Australia. Make sure you mark it for Phil & Sue Warner’s support.
2. To claim it as a tax deduction you can pay by cheque through ADRA in Australia. Just send a cheque made out to ADRA to the Wahroonga office again marked for Phil & Sue’s support. We can also arrange for any US support to be tax deductible
3. You can also deposit direct into our Australian Account (contact us for details)

We do think of you and chat to our Father about you often.

Every blessing

PHIL & SUE

STAFF NEEDS

Teachers: We urgently need two teachers to care for the educational needs of the students on team. Do you know any teachers who might like to serve in Hong Kong for a year, or more, to teach these precious kids? (Needed May 2007)

Shipping Manager: We are looking for someone to prepare the shipping documentation for the international shipments. They need to be accurate and organised with a heart to serve the nations.

IT people: We need further support for our IT needs as the complexity and size of operations makes this a huge job. Any hands to lighten the load would be of great help. GH, too, can use further help in its massive task this year (though, in the case of GH, this needs to be a longer term commitment.)

Goods Officers: Later this year, we will need people to coordinate these vital roles: overseeing the packing of goods and the associated computerised records which allow us to prepare pre-shipping documentation,

Packing Managers: We need people to supervise the "wrapping, packing and stacking" of goods that pour into our laps in so many wonderful ways. This is an ideal task for those with "people skills" and organisational skills.

Artistic Director: Our artistic director recently completed her time with us so we now are looking for a designer for the development of further theme park exhibits.

Front desk / Reception: We have two ladies who handle our two front desks. Both will be on leave for a period of 6 months, however, from June. Do you know anyone who is looking for a short term position and would like to serve in this way? (Needed June - December 2007)

Accounts Department: We rejoice in the fact that this department is now safely in the hands of an accountant. He needs an assistant, though, as the task is very large.

“Cast” Members: We need a variety of people for the theme park. We need people with a love for theatre – whether on the performance or acting side – and a heart for the nations.

Local NGOs: We are also so busy with the many local orders inside Hong Kong that we need an assistant there. Cantonese would be helpful, but not essential.

Administration: We need admin people, for a number of our departments, who love to be organised and are comfortable multi-tracking.

Communication Department: We need an administrator to serve as PA to our Communication Manager.

Kazakhstan: Our office in Kazakhstan is also in urgent need of more team members, at this moment. They are looking for long-term volunteers with admin, muscle, accounting, or communications skills (and much more!) who are up for the challenge of learning another language and living cross-culturally. (Please note: Those roles are not short-term commitments.)

Handymen: We are crying out for handymen or handywomen. Tasks remain in almost every building on the site and work on some has not even begun yet. Do you know any electricians, welders, or plumbers as well?

Electrician, Car Mechanic, Air-Conditioning Technician: We have equipment, but we need to keep it operating. We need help for the vehicles and electrical needs around the site, on an ongoing basis.

Gardeners: We need both regular "green thumbs" and landscape gardeners. The site is huge and we cannot afford to hire outside labour to manage it. We promise, if gardening is your interest, you won't be bored here!

Muscle: We always need people with muscle to collect and process furniture etc. Or, hey, if you lack the muscle, we can help develop it. It's more fun here than your local gym!

Drivers: fork lifts & trucks. We urgently need qualified people for both on our site as it is so huge.

General Help: If you have willing hands, we can put them to work. We need people who can wash, scrub, scrape walls, paint, sew, lay floors, tile, garden, do repairs, sweep, etc.

Not recognise yourself? If you are you interested in coming but cannot see a role above, write to us anyway!