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?”

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