Jan News

“Kung Hei Fat Choi” (traditional greeting for Chinese New Year)

Yes it is now Chinese New Year again. Last year we had so much fun, and with Dave arriving just in time to enjoy it with us roll on the Year of the Rat (or Year of the Mouse at Disneyland).

Have we really been here 5 years?

Time has flown and so much has been done. Thank you for walking with us through these years.

In a recent report we read “You could not imagine our joy when we saw all the wonderful gifts come out of the container” Multiply that joy by 200 and think of the Joy that the 200 containers of amazing goods would bring. Well that is how many have been sent since we arrived!. Our adventure has been truly an adventure as we have walked with the MD and seen Him do some amazing things.

2007 again has been pretty full on so here is our best attempt to summarise it. So much has happened that summarising is a challenge, but here is our best attempt.

January really started in December as we returned from a trip up Northorities we were on hand on Christmas day to receive a container of vita-meal facilitated by Crossroads.
We will never forget the experience of seeing how great the need was. I will never forget as long as I live the look on the face of a man who had just had his leg amputated without anaesthetic! We came home determined to do everything we could to serve these people who live with nothing

Next we left for North America (thanks to the generosity of some friends). There w visiting some hospitals and orphanages that Crossroads has been shipping to. At the invitation of local authe were able to visit some partner organisations and spend some time working through partnership opportunities as well as catching up with friends. The only down side of the trip was the loss of my lap top’s hard disk (Phil). It has been replaced but that was the the harbinger of some more problems with other troubles showing themselves on a regular basis. The USB ports were the last to go and the disk drive is also playing up. It is a vital part of my work and travels with me as I talk about Crossroads, showing power points etc so please chat that it keeps going for a while yet as we do not have the funds to replace it.

At the beginning of the year we also welcomed the Harrisons from our Australian Club. We have had a wonderful year with them and will miss them as they head home this month.

In March we retured to Australia for 3 weddings (brother Jon & Janine, Friends Sarah & Matt & Chantelle & Rocky)

We had visits from Alison & Claire, Rob (our son) Kenny, Pete, Ben, Steve & A.J. all came from our home club

Phil made long trips to Australia, New Zealand and UK to do recruitment. They were tiring but rewarding speaking at about 50 meetings

We enjoyed the ‘slum wedding of DJ & Liz.

During 2007 Shipments were sent to Israel (5), Kazakhstan (4), DPRK (4), Mongolia (2), India (2), China (2), Cameroon, Uganda, Zambia (3) Zimbabwe, Trinidad & Tobago, and Macedonia

So what does 2008 bring?

We head down to Australia and NZ in late March, for a longer break than usual. Well it’s not really a break, as Phil will have a fairly full speaking programme. But it will give us a chance to reassess where are going and to listen to the MD about his future plans for us. What ever happens there will be a lot of travelling for Phil in 2008, with the plans in place for travel to North America, UK and South Korea

Next week our son Dave arrives on route to the UK where he will be teaching for 2 years, so we are looking forward to that.

D.R. CONGO (our ref. S2125) –

Ngalia felt ill, she had a temperature, headache, cramps. The little clinic diagnosed her with meningitis and recommended that she head to another clinic 12 hours away on foot. Her brother made a stretcher and rallied 17 villagers to carry her. 4 hours in, Ngalia died. This story reported on the BBC is not uncommon in Congo, a country devastated by a five year war that is now over but which continues to kill.

A recent IRC (International Rescue Committee) survey has placed the death toll from the war at 5.4million. 45,000 people continue to die every day from the knock on effects. The majority of deaths – estimated to be nearly 60% greater than the average in sub-Saharan Africa – are due to preventable and treatable diseases, such as malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

We will soon be preparing a container for a group in Kinshasa, the nation’s capital. In a video of their work, the footage trails for minutes around streets of squalor. Mud and open sewers play host to street kids, the unemployed and the poor. This group chose to place their building for gatherings in the midst of the slum, opening their doors to offer hope in word and deed. The group ha heard and responded to the mandate to be the hands and feet of the love that they have found. Hands and feet they have in plentiful supply with 200 workers and volunteers giving their time to serve the desperate needs around them. What they don’t have are the tools with which to serve.

The charity is working alongside the government to rebuild the country’s infrastructure. They are targeting everything from medical work to housing for orphans, agricultural work and rebuilding the roads - which could have kept Ngalia and many others like her alive. We are reminded of the promise of those who will be called repairers of broken walls and restorers of streets with dwellings and feel honoured to be supplying them with the tools to do so!

S2087 Philippines

The Island of Mindanao in the Philippines should be known for its tropical climate and picturesque coastline. Instead, it is best known for the bombings and shootings that have been holding its population in fear in recent years.

Last June we sent a container to a charity that has a training facility in the region. The place has become a haven for those studying there. They take in tribal students from the rural regions to equip them with truth and light to take back to their remote communities.

One of the students, upon receiving some of the items from our container shared in a morning gathering:

“One of the most stressful jobs I have experienced is to guard the campus at night. During the rainy season, I had to endure chilling lonely nights for the safety of the campus. Difficult yet rewarding especially when I realised that along the way, somebody out there who has a big heart cares and remembers students in the school.

“Thanks so much to you through whom help and concern comes. I received summer shoes, a blanket and rainwear to wear and a flashlight to use at night.

“Some nights may be very cold and lonely and the challenges seem to get tougher yet my heart is always warmed by the love that you sent my way.

“My heart is grateful that someone cares. I will always be thankful that you shared your goods with us in Mindanao.”

The group serves big students and small, and also works with a kindergarten in a remote region. We recently received a heart warming video of these tribal kids pulling out brand new outfits from Hong Kong, beaming like little princes and princesses! They gathered together and in one chorus cried “Salamat Crossroads”! We pass that greeting of peace on to you also.

“Thank you for the opportunity that you gave to us to reach many people through the gifts from Crossroads.”

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