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