June News

IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Our time in Aus. 2. So what now . . . . 3. China earthquake relief containers 4. Fancy mushrooms for tea?
1. Hong Kong to Sydney, Auckland, Rotarua, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Melbourne, Sydney again as well as up & down the coast, Perth and back to Hong Kong.
As you can see by the itinerary (and photos) we have done much travelling (and much talking) over the last couple of months. Our annual leave was combined with many meetings where Phil spoke about our Father’s heart for the poor and about Crossroads’ response to the need. His message had a particular emphasis on challenging people to think about where they fit in the world picture and to encourage them to think about coming to help at Crossroads. Many people were keen to hear more and to consider the possibilities so we look forward to what may come of this. Please chat that the M.D. will continue to work in their lives as they consider whether to come.

Incorporated into this time was also plenty of catching up with family & friends, not to mention lots of good Aussie food, visits to the Sydney Royal Agricultural Show, Auckland & Sydney Zoos, Rotarua thermal park & Fox Glacier, Perth’s beautiful King’s Park and the chance to celebrate our twins’ birthday with them for the first time in 5 years. We are so grateful for the hospitality of so many on our travels.

2. You may remember that in our last newsletter we wrote about how we had been working here for 5 years now and that this trip would also be an opportunity to reassess whether we should continue at Crossroads . . . . Well the answer is, that we will continue here at Crossroads for the time being. We have come to realise that that M.D. has not finished with us yet in Hong Kong. We have certainly enjoyed coming ‘home’. Even the weather has been kind much cooler than usual for this time of year.

3. China earthquake relief containers
The depth of pain sears deep in the lives of the five million survivors of the Sichuan earthquake. They are terrified that aftershocks and floods will bring more damage and more lives lost, causing survivors to seek shelter in open areas. Now homeless, these people must endure exposure to the hostile elements, the threat of disease, and daily battles with the relentless rain.

“In the immediate aftermath of the quake,” said our Crossroads worker in the field, “people settled in the open spaces. The problem has now become that there is little option for shelter in these areas. Groups of 20 people have been huddling in shelters made for seven.”

Tent cities have sprouted up in the area, with families crowding together in their makeshift homes. Despite their hardships, they appreciate the shelter of the tents and tarps as well as the relief of food and medicine they receive from aid workers in the area. Yet talks of the future, and plans to start over, cause more sorrow as a number of towns cannot be rebuilt, the cattle have died, and fields are gone.

“The people are relieved for a moment when you bring them the goods,” said our Crossroads worker distributing aid. “But as I ask them about the future, many of their eyes well in despair. Whole towns have gone. Fields for crops and livelihoods wiped out. We must be committed to helping these people in the long term.”

Within days of the massive earthquake on 12 May, Crossroads sent two 20 foot containers of pre-packed blankets and clothing into the disaster area, a shipment charitably funded by a large financial corporation in Hong Kong seeking to help however they could. Crossroads has also partnered with both the Red Cross and the China Foundation for Poverty Alliance to send and distribute aid in Sichuan.

DHL, the international shipping corporation, even generously donated the use of one of their planes. Crossroads packed 15 tonnes of plastic sheeting, blankets, and medical supplies which was flown this week into the quake zone. Red Cross and Crossroads volunteers met the emergency flight in Chengdu and escorted the relief items on a 12 hour journey along partially collapsed roads. The final destination was a village in Qingchuan county, in an area that had been cordoned off due to the spread of disease.

“As we delivered the aid,” our Crossroads worker commented, “words of thanks kept coming from everyone, from the gas station attendants who were filling the tanks, to the ladies serving the food, the officials, and finally the people most deeply affected. On every side they were saying, 'Thank you for what you are doing to help our people and China.'”

Crossroads will continue to help with the relief efforts. We have stock of more tarps, tents and other items to load a 40’ container next week and the offers keep flooding in. Another 40’ container of similar goods is likely to be loaded soon after and there is the possibility of Crossroads being able to facilitate the shipping of up to 8 containers of food from the UK.

4. Fancy mushrooms for tea?
As you can see from the pictures, our work is fruitful in many ways. Given the many warm rainy days we have had recently, the garden area adjacent to our administration block has produced an extensive mushroom harvest. I don’t think mushrooms were in the garden plan but it makes a nice display.