Phil & Sue's HK Adventure

October News

2008-10-11T22:08:00.000+08:00

THIS MONTH: 1 Urgent financial need,: 2. The remainder of 2008 3. Next year … 4. and what of Crossroads? 5 Reaching out to Kazakhstan 6. The final move from Kai Tak. 7. A cool Scoop 8. We still nee your support

Looking back over the last 5½ years we want to say thank you for the amazing support we have received from all of you. Whether that is chatting, encouragement or financial. It has been knowing that you are standing with us that has been vital in keeping our eyes fixed on the task.

Last month when we told you our plans for next year two things happened one that surprised us, but I guess should have been expected.

The first was the overwhelming support and encouragement for our plans to spend a year in College. The second was an almost immediate drop off in financial support.

The fact is that we still need support at Crossroads right up until when we leave in December. What we would really love to do is to leave with a completely clean slate as far as support goes. So firstly we would like to encourage you to keep supporting us (we are certainly busier than we have ever been) and perhaps even consider giving a one time larger gift to Crossroads specifically for our support to enable us to fully cover till December. Details of how to do that are in the side bar.

We have also been asked whether we will need support on our new venture. That one is a little more difficult. The answer is it would be very helpful. But we are also expecting to dip into our resources somewhat, and while that means acquiring debt we know whom we can trust for our needs. We will give more details on how to support us next year when it is appropriate.

2. WHAT ARE WE UP TO FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2008.
Sue has her hands full making sure she has as many shipments as possible planned and underway as she can. She is also trying to keep the processing departments, working at full steam while also ensuring that a number of training documents are in place.

Phil heads off to the UK for a month on another recruitment drive on October 15th and has a very busy speaking schedule in place. We really need people at Crossroads in a big way. Please chat that the MD will continue to work in the hearts and lives of the people who hear the message.

We are also running around trying to pack and preparing to ship all our stuff back to Australia. Sue’s expertise in preparing shipments is a big plus. While the load isn’t large (400kg) by most standards when people move, finding an inexpensive way to do it is not easy. There is a chance that we may get some assistance from a senior person in an airline for special rates, but how much assistance and the details what that entails we will not know for a week or so.

When we came the MD provided an unexpected way to help with the move. The SARS crises, meant no-one was travelling to Hong Kong and we got everything on the plane. But our load for the homeward journey has more than doubled after nearly six years in Hong Kong. Please chat for us during this hectic time.

3. AND NEXT YEAR……

We are full of anticipation, excitement and scared silly all at once. At our age a year of study is a bit of a daunting prospect. But at the same time, it will be a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves, take in and reflect.

We await news from the College. Our applications and references are there so it’s in their hands. We had a lovely opportunity on the weekend, to sit and chat with a young couple currently studying there and home on holidays. It was a very confirming time.

4. AND WHAT OF CROSSROADS?

We will always be life long advocates of this amazing place. If we get the opportunity we will gladly speak and encourage others to take up the challenge. But the MD has made it clear to us this season is over and it is time to move on to the next one.

Crossroads is poised this week to become an even more powerful means of reaching out to those in need through some amazing opportunities at the United Nations. In so many ways this is the MD’s work, please continue to chat for and support this organisation in any way you can.

5. REACHING OUT TO KAZAKHSTAN

Seeing an aging man on the street, crippled by the grip of alcoholism, can be heartbreaking enough, but imagine seeing the same characteristics in a twelve year old boy. Faced with the hopelessness inspired by severe poverty, the number of children under 14 turning to alcoholism in Kazakhstan has increased ten-fold in ten years. As the country struggles to recover and rebuild after a challenging transition into independence, many children have been forced on to the streets, turning to alcohol and crime to cope with the bitterness of life. Other neighbouring countries suffer similar hardships, with the number of street children swelling each year.
In light of this growing crisis, our Crossroads Central Asia (CCA) office, located in Kazakhstan, formed in 2004 to serve as a distribution point for goods in Central Asia. CCA receives regular containers from Hong Kong, and other parts of the world, each loaded with aid for specific organisations in need.
One recipient of these goods, in Tajikistan, works with children in crisis, specifically street children from alcoholic or abusive families. This NGO also runs an education programme targeted at teaching literacy to children and job training for teenagers. Beds, stationery, and computers will be among the items used to support this NGO in its efforts to provide social and psychological support to the children on the streets of Khojand, Tajikistan.
An NGO in Kyrgyzstan will also receive goods from this container. This organisation runs a crisis centre for street children in Bishkek, providing counselling, support, and training to families at risk with the goal of bringing the kids off the streets and keeping them off the streets in the future. Furniture, toys, clothing, computers and household items will be used by this NGO as they continue their services in their struggling country.
Another recipient of goods is an NGO in Kazakhstan committed to providing rehabilitation to people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. Crossroads will provide this organisation with household goods, electrical items, and furniture to enable them to expand their programmes and help more people in need.
This container will also include clothing to be distributed to individuals in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. As winter approaches and many struggle to make ends meet with the added expenses of heating, winter clothes are often too great a luxury to afford. People in the local community, including people with disabilities, needy families, and homeless people, will receive beautiful clothing and shoes to help them through the brutal winter months.

6. THE FINAL MOVE FROM KAI TAK

At the end of 2007, Crossroads faced the mammoth task of moving around 30 storage containers from their long-time home in Kai Tak. The government wanted to develop the old Kai Tak airport and needed our storage spot to be vacated. Several of our team members tackled the challenge of hunting out another suitable location and began the long search for a new site. Finding sizable, unused plots of land can be quite difficult in Hong Kong, and as leads were followed to possible storage sites, each fell through due to costs, location, or other factors rendering them unsuitable for our needs.
Finally, in late January 2008 Crossroads found a potential destination in Sunny Bay. Though overgrown with weeds and ignored for years, the land would be available to us for at least two years and its size and accessibility made it a prime choice. We applied for this seafront property on nearby Lantau Island and soon found ourselves jumping hurdles to prove our need for the site to those in charge of dispersing it. By May, the efforts were rewarded and we began the process of securing the land for our purposes.
In mid-July, the land was handed over to Crossroads, and the development for the site soon began. With a deadline near the end of September, our contractors worked feverishly to cut the weeds, rid the land of dozens of leftover concrete elements, level the site, condense the ground to make it usable for trucks, and construct a gate and fencing. The task almost seemed insurmountable, but as the work got underway and little by little the improvements showed through the weeds, we began to see just what an amazing find this place was for our precious containers.
On Monday, 22 September, seven Crossroads team members and four contractors spent a gruelling day in the heat moving the containers from Kai Tak to Sunny Bay. With the use of cranes, trucks, and our own form of traffic management, the task that was estimated to take up to three days was done in just one! This proved to be perfect timing as the following days brought typhoon weather and would have hindered further progress.
We are grateful for the perfect timing throughout this process, and are excited to have received such a prime location at Sunny Bay.

7. A COOL SCOOP
On 23 September, Crossroads teamed up with Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream for a fundraiser of a different flavour. For the whole working day, Ben and Jerry’s treated customers to free scoops of ice cream – the flavour of their choice – for a minimum donation of $10HK that went directly to Crossroads. We spread our volunteers, between each of the six Hong Kong locations. We all sported Ben and Jerry's t-shirts, with some even donning cow suits to attract customers! Donation boxes overflowed as customers gave to Crossroads, and a few locations saw a surge in their queues as school children were drawn to the promise of delicious ice cream for a good cause. We had to run between locations to empty overflowing boxes and snap photos. It was an exhausting day, but satisfying as patrons came to taste their favourite flavours and left with information on Crossroads, and even many with an interest in volunteering with us! At the end of the day, the donation boxes tallied over $29,000HK! We are so grateful for the opportunity to spread awareness about Crossroads as well as receive donations in such a unique and 'cool' way.

September 2008

2008-09-11T15:58:00.001+08:00

In this issue: 1. Phil & Sue, what happens next? 2. Phil’s trip to UK 3, surviving in the UK 4. Typhoon 9 and I missed it! 5. Uganda the real story 6. Domestic Workers in Hong Kong . 7. Its raining ……babies and Weddings 8. We still need your support and help.

Dear friends,

We do not know what the future will be ……….. we just know who holds the future.

We again contemplate major change in our lives. For the 2nd time in six years we find ourselves stepping out into the unknown.

Firstly, Crossroads. We have decided that we will finish up our work here at the end of November and head home to Australia around mid December.

We will spend the remainder of December and most of January catching up with everyone, R & R, then probably travel to Auckland to be ready to start work on a diploma at a B College in New Zealand. I say probably as we have to still to complete the application process. This is a one year course and is similar course to the one my brother Tim is currently doing at the same College.

You may recall that earlier this year we travelled back to Australia and New Zealand for a longer period than usual, part of which was to give us some time to reflect and to wait on the MD to try to get some clarity as to what would be the next step for our lives.

However a heavy speaking programme and general business meant that this did not really happen. We returned to Hong Kong, deciding to continue with what we were doing until it became clear it was time to do otherwise.

I headed to the UK for 3 weeks while Sue remained in Hong Kong. During that time we both came to realise (quite separately) that our time at Crossroads was coming to an end.

What was amazing is that we both came to realise it, 12,000 Klm apart, and what the next step should be quite separately and yet when spoken out showed we had complete unity and clarity. It was a ‘Wow” moment.

We have been at Crossroads for nearly 6 amazing and wonderful years. But the MD has made it clear to us that we need to move on to the next phase of our lives.

Both of us have felt for some time that we are being called to work within the context of a Club environment. What the roles are and what that looks like we cannot say at the moment, but it would most likely be in the area of outreach.

We are ruling nothing out about where that will be. We would love it to be Australia but who knows? It may even be back in Hong Kong!

We have chosen Auckland because we like the College (I spoke there earlier this year) , the way the course is set out and how it is relevant for us and it has been good for Tim. Also because we think that in Australia and especially Sydney there would be too many distractions than would be good for us.

We would appreciate your support and chats as we work through these last months. I have one more trip to the UK to do and Sue will need to train others to take over her job. We are aware that we leave some pretty big holes here in an organisation that is already badly stretched. So do chat that some good people can be found to step into our roles.

We are at peace with the decision and believe it is the right thing, but we also will greatly miss our Hong Kong ‘family’ both here and at our club. Again your chats not only for us but also for the team here would be valuable.

I think that covers most of it. Please ask if you have any questions.
We will continue to need both financial and chat support for these remaining months. We will also welcome support next year as we head into our new venture. More details about that later,

2. Attention to our U.K. Supporters!

Phil will be visiting the U.K. from mid-October to mid-November this year and would love to speak at your clubs or other MD groups! This is a great chance to learn more about Crossroads and see if you or your friends might be a good fit for the work here in Hong Kong. We would appreciate your help as we undertake to find more people to work with us. It is one of the most challenging times we have met in our team, but it is also one of the most exciting times, with incredible doors opening before us! We need quite a few more full-time team members (100, actually!) and would love to get the word out as much as possible. Sundays are preferable and I would especially like to target IT, youth, and student groups, though any helping hands will be welcome.

If you are interested, you can just let me know or e-mail.

3 Surviving in the UK

Phil recently returned from just over 3 weeks in the UK at the Soul Survivor conference. This was a recruiting exercise. We had nearly 200 people sign up for more information about coming to Crossroads. Please chat that the MD continues to prompt these people and that the ones He has chosen will come.

The conference itself was at the Bath & West Showgrounds, near the town of Shepton Mallet. About 20 miles West of Bath. It is a picturesque part of England. There were 10,000 people for the first 2 conferences and 4,000 for the 3rd. The conferences were back to back so Phil ended up working about 20 days straight to 11.30pm (then a 25 minute drive to accommodation) so needless to say arrived back in Hong Kong quite exhausted. In fact for the first time ever was actually badly affected by Jetlag!

It also rained a lot and Phil discovered some interesting gum boot (wellington boot) fashions (see Pics).

Phil had a few mornings off and so took some time to visit the Wesley Chapel in Bristol. The beautiful towns of Wells and Glastonbury. And the town of Cheddar and purchased some genuine cheddar cheese. Cheddar also has some caves not unlike Jenolean caves just smaller. All these places were just a short drive from Shepton Mallet

On the way in and out Phil also got to spend a few days with our son Dave, currently living and working in London. And catch up with friends Tim & Laura and their new son Reuben.

4. Typhoon 9 and I missed it.

For those who know Phil, you will know he is a bit of a weather buff and in particular has enjoyed watching typhoons and their patterns. But where was he when the biggest typhoon to hit Hong Kong in 5 years? In the UK that’s where!
On Friday, 22 August as Typhoon Nuri brought hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, shutting down most of the city as flights were delayed, schools and most offices closed, and bus and ferry services were suspended. Residents were warned not to venture outdoors while the observatory recorded hurricane-force winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour and gusts of 150 kilometres per hour, and warned of very rough seas.
At Crossroads, high winds led to the uprooting of two trees on our site. Numerous tree branches littered the roads and sidewalks and many of our banners for various advertisements were ripped from their fastenings as winds whipped through Crossroads. As is customary with storm signals eight and higher, we did not have community volunteers working that day. By mid-afternoon, as the winds increased and safety concerns grew, our full-time team was told to leave work and head home, keeping away from windows in case of any breakages.
By the next day, Nuri weakened into a severe tropical storm after moving away from Hong Kong towards the Chinese mainland, with the signal being lowered to eight as storm-force winds continued. We returned to business as usual, with extra caution given to loosely hanging branches as well as the upturned trees. Currently we are directing our attention to cleaning up and re-creating and securing banners and other signage, but mostly we are grateful for our safekeeping.

5. Did you know ...

... 44 percent of the population in Uganda lives below the poverty line?
... 48 percent do not have access to an improved water supply?
... 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas, with two thirds working as farmers?
... 31 percent of people over the age of 15 are illiterate?
... 20 percent of the country’s children, roughly two million in total, have lost at least one parent to HIV/AIDS?

These statistics are more than just numbers for those living in Uganda. On the heels of civil strife within the country, many still struggle to recover economically from the many years of war endured. Farmers in rural areas particularly suffer as they often have little access to basic services such as roads to transport produce and technologies that could help them increase their production and reduce pest disease. Inadequate healthcare services merely hold the epidemic spread of HIV/AIDS at bay, with thousands victimized by the disease each day. Children lose their parents and in turn become the heads of their families at young ages, sacrificing education to support their siblings. Without education, their opportunities for stable employment dwindle and they instead turn to the street for their livelihood, increasing their chances of contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS.
Our consignee formed in an effort to promote educated and healthy, AIDS-free children in Uganda. Their major goal is to provide sustainable healthcare, education and social welfare facilities to orphans, street children, widows, refugees and marginalised families in the country. The organisation teaches basic skills such as reading and writing and also counsels people with HIV/AIDS and instructs the community on public health regarding water sanitation and other environmental protections.
Crossroads loaded a container for this consignee in August 2008. Contents included medical supplies and equipment, office furniture and computer desks, 30 computers, clothing, household supplies, stationery and books. Each of these items will be used specifically towards the goal of improving the quality of life for Uganda’s people by providing them with education opportunities as well as healthcare initiatives to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

6. REACHING DOMESTIC HELPERS IN HONG KONG

Dayani has spent her 22 years of life in her native country of Sri Lanka, struggling to make ends meet as a housekeeper to support her mother and sisters. When a recruiting agency arrives and describes the comforts of working in Hong Kong and making more than enough money to support herself as well as send money back to her family, Dayani can hardly believe her luck and immediately agrees to take a job as a nanny. With just a few essential possessions, she heads to Hong Kong, confident her fortune is changing and she has found certain relief from her difficult life.

Yet when she arrives in Hong Kong, her passport is promptly confiscated and her new employer tells her this is a customary practice so she complies, unaware of her rights. Next she learns she will only have one day off for the month instead of the many more she had been promised, meanwhile her agency demands she give them the whole of her meagre income, honouring an agreement she signed but never understood as she was blinded by false hope and promises. Dayani slowly begins to realize this dream has become a nightmare, her hopes of a comfortable income and life quickly vanishing. Broken, hopeless, and full of remorse, she resigns herself to this new life.

As exploitation such as Dayani’s surged, an organisation formed to meet the need for legal assistance and emergency shelter for women in these circumstances. 15 years later, the organisation still strives to assist these workers, offering free legal services, training skills such as cooking, computer work, and language learning, and provides two shelters to accommodate women as they await pending legal cases. This organisation manages to settle over 80% of their cases, and with the settlement women are able to return to their home countries or continue working in Hong Kong, armed with the confidence of knowing their rights and what to expect from employers.

In Crossroads’ early days, this organisation approached us requesting goods for their fledgling office and shelters. Since then, they have continually sought assistance from Crossroads, and when their shelters were relocated and refurbished in 2002, Crossroads was able to provide more than 80% of the goods requested and used in these shelters. Items donated include beds, linens, desks, chairs, blankets and shelves. Utensils and cookware were also supplied and consequently used by the women in their skills training classes.

The assistance from Crossroads has consistently been met with outpourings of gratitude. As the manager of the organisation recently told us, “Without Crossroads’ donation, it would have been hard to realise the shelters. Crossroads has contributed to a safe place and peace of mind for these women while they seek reparations.”

7. Its raining weddings and babies

The wedding and baby season has started in earnest here at Crossroads.
It started with the birth of Peter to Christie & Tom in July. Then last Monday we witnessed the joyful wedding of our dear friends Craig and Debbie. It was a wonderful wedding (not to mention the various meals and other activities that went with it).

In the next few weeks babies are due for neighbours, Mike & Helen and also Matt & Adelaide (a brother or sister for Alex).

Then next month Steve and Katey get married, followed by Lin & Ben in November and finally Pablo & Riba in December. It must be something in the water.

8. We still need your help

We do appreciate your continued support. It will continue to be important in these last few months.

For more information see the side bar

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

PHIL & SUE

August News

2008-08-02T16:36:00.000+08:00

IN THIS ISSUE: 1. I am a refugee. 2. It aint half half hot mum. 3. We need people 4. Thirsting for a better life 6. Trouble for Katya 6. How You can Support us

1. I AM A REFUGEE

I sat listening to a person who works with refugees. She told me something that sticks with me. She said “none of us are far away from experiencing the life of a refugee. We never know when we will have control of our lives taken away from us. By circumstances, such being in the wrong place at the wrong time, disaster, or war.”

To be a refugee is to be powerless. To have no control over where you will be next. No say. Imagine having your choices taken away. Imagine the desperation. Then reach out with compassion for those for whom such a thing has become a reality, through no fault of their own.

2. IT AINT HALF HOT MUM!

Last month we told you about the endless rain we experienced throughout the month of June. Well July has been the opposite. Beautiful cloudless days, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees (try that with humidity over 95%).

Perspiration takes on a whole new meaning. I think we used up all that water we got last month in extra showers.

None the less it has been a busy month with a number of teams visiting and containers being prepared and loaded for Kazakhstan, Cambodia (x2), China and Israel.

Sue is doing well, but faces some challenges with key processing staff leaving shortly (we are already very short staffed).

Phil has been busy with lots of talks and preparation for up coming trips. Next week he packs his bags for England for 3 weeks at a conference seeking to recruit more people. Please chat for many to have their hearts prompted to come.

3. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO COULD COME?

We would like to ask your help with a special drive we are undertaking to find people to work with us. It is one of the most challenging times we have met in our team. It is also one of the most exciting, with incredible doors opening before us! We need 100 people:

…with WAREHOUSING SKILLS; warehouse managers, packers, forklift drivers, inventory managers, truck drivers.
…with HUMAN RESOURCES SKILLS; training and member care skills: teachers, care-givers, cooks/caterers, counsellors.
…with CONSTRUCTION SKILLS: landscapers, 'handyman' enthusiasts, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, engineers, architects, gardeners.
…with CAFÉ & MARKETPLACE skills: buyers, sellers, servers, baristas.
…with THEATRE skills: actors, producers, dancers.
…with DESIGN skills: people for set construction, theatre production.
…with COMMUNICATION skills: public speakers, grant writers, translators, layout specialists.
…with ADMINISTRATION skills: managers, systems analysts, book-keepers, PAs.
…with IT & COMPUTER SKILLS: web designers, IT developers, hardware / software gurus.

Are you interested or know of someone that might be? Email me and I will let you know the next step!

4. THIRSTING FOR A BETTER LIFE

Imagine walking across dirt roads, through ditches, and across fields, the sun scorching your skin as you seek clean drinking water. Sometimes your efforts are rewarded with the discovery of clean water, but too often you return home empty-handed.

This is a situation all too real for those in rural Kenya. The water crisis here disrupts social and economic activities throughout the country, and since the search for drinkable water often takes a lengthy amount of time, women are unable to pursue jobs or attend school. There is an unfair allocation of clean water, and those under the poverty line often suffer the worst from the continuous shortages brought on by waves of drought and pollution of water supplies.

From a container being loaded in August, our consignee in Kenya will receive goods from Crossroads to construct and furnish dormitories for orphans and other disadvantaged children where they will receive clean water and have a safe home in which to live. Medical equipment received will allow the local physicians to treat the community for dehydration as well as HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases prevalent in the area. Other items, such as computers and office equipment, will provide the means for a small office to function, facilitating programmes allowing families to start their own small businesses in an effort to end their poverty.

5. TROUBLE FOR KATYA

Katya thought she had left her troubles behind when she fled Russia four years ago.

Abandoning a life plagued by unemployment and struggles to feed and clothe her two children, she sought employment in Israel. Yet what she found was not that different from the hard life she knew at home. Instead of landing a steady job in Tel Aviv as she had boldly hoped, she remained unemployed, her language and weak skills training leaving her few options for work. Barely able to make ends meet, she sold most of her possessions just to be able to pay the rent on the tiny apartment she and her children share.

Katya’s situation is all too familiar for the many Russians and Ethiopians that migrate to Israel each year in hopes of finding a better life. Unfortunately, many leave poor situations in their home countries only to find themselves in worse circumstances once they reach Israel. Often with only a few personal items, and barely able to keep a roof over their heads, furniture and other basic items become luxuries they cannot afford.

Crossroads sends regular shipments to our consignee in Israel as it works to improve the quality of life of migrant workers in the country who find themselves struggling to make ends meet. We recently packed a shipment to meet these most basic needs for furniture and other fundamental items. Families will receive furniture as well as clothing, toys, and household items that they can use to make their homes more comfortable and colourful places to be amidst their difficult lives.

6. HOW YOU CAN HELP US

We do appreiciate you continued support. Details of how to do that are in the side bar.

PHIL & SUE

July News

2008-07-08T11:48:00.001+08:00

IN THIS ISSUE: 1. The rain in Hong Kong. 2. Blind Pig Farmer’s great success. 3. World Refugee Day 4. New Helen Mottee Album

THE RAIN IN HONG KONG FALLS MAINLY ALL THE TIME

Well I thought Sydney could rain! 5 years in Hong Kong and I have never seen anything like it. I know this is the wet season but this is ridiculous!

It was not the Welcome return to Hong Kong we expected..
As it turned out, June 2008 was the wettest month in Hong Kong since 1889! We had over 1,300 mm falling in the region, breaking the previous record of 1,241 mm set more than 130 years ago. The rainfall in the second half of the month was mainly related to Typhoon . After making landfall, the slow movement of Fengshen over south China brought almost continuous heavy rain to Hong Kong at the end of June. Stores were flooded, mud slides poured onto highways, and policemen had to use ropes to help locals cross the street.

At Crossroads, some of us suffered flooding in our apartments. Water drowned our sidewalks and yards and we endured long periods of thunder during the days and nights. Due to high winds, two trees fell over onto two of our buildings, but fortunately no one was hurt and the trees did not damage the apartments.

But as they saying goes, after rain comes the sunshine ….. And we have had some of the bluest skies I have ever seen in Hong Kong. Everything looked fresh and new..

2. BLIND PIG FARMER MOST SUCCESSFUL IN TOWN!

Samnang has not always enjoyed the respect of his neighbours. For a long time, he was merely the village beggar, blind and sitting on the side of the road peddling loose change from passersby. Relegated to the lowest end of society because of his disability, he had settled into his poverty and believed he would never be able to overcome his circumstances.

A group we are currently shipping to specialises in the needs of blind people and visits remote villages in the mountainous Siem Reap province in order to find people that may be impoverished because of blindness. On one of their visits, they met Samnang and trained him in how to raise pigs. He has learned to use his other senses when preparing food for his pigs, determining their health, and choosing the best piglets to buy at the market. He took to the skill so quickly, and with such proficiency that he is now the leading pig farmer in his village and highly regarded. He has been able to build himself a new house and has a renewed sense of dignity in being able to provide so well for his wife and three children.
In addition to improving the lives of the blind in Cambodia, our consignee also runs an orphanage and school, provides vocational training to the community, and offers public health services. People like Samnang are able to learn skills such as mushroom growing, planting, rice farming and animal raising, and earn income through their newfound trade. Over 200 children receive an education and housing through the orphanage and school, and more than 60 families have benefited from the health services and training our consignee provides.

Crossroads packed a container for this consignee in June 2008. Items requested include clothing, school books and supplies, desks, furniture, and household goods. These things will be used to continue the much needed work our consignee does in Siem Reap, and will also be among our first containers shipped to Cambodia.

3. OUTSTANDING CROSSROADS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES

World Refugee Day

With refugee numbers surging from the recent disasters in Sichuan and Myanmar, Crossroads and the UNHCR (The United Nations Refugee Agency) joined forces on 20-21st June to mark World Refugee Day with a music concert, speakers, and a Refugee Film Festival.

Over 300 people attended the concert on Friday, 20 June. Guests were ushered into a simulated refugee camp by soldiers ‘checking IDs’ at the gate and registrars within the camp forcing each guest to sign in. Once in the camp, many members of our multi-cultural team dressed in traditional outfits and served ethnic food while tradespeople set in UNHCR tents sold handicrafts made by refugees and disadvantaged people throughout the world.
During the evening, guests were treated to performances by the award-winning Australian children’s choir, the Green Valley Youth Choir, and Helen Mottee with songs from her new album. A short refugee film entitled “Mapendo” was shown and the head of UNHCR for China and Malaysia as well as Sally Begbie, one of Crossroads’ directors, spoke on the refugee situation in the world. The evening ended with a powerful joint performance by Helen and the choir, singing a poignant song about refugee life.

Saturday consisted of a Refugee Film Festival where members of the public, VIPs, and many of our volunteers and our own team watched soberly as we saw stories of war and child soldiers portrayed powerfully on the screen throughout the hot day. Discussions followed each film in which moviegoers asked questions, voiced opinions, and learned more about the refugee struggles and challenges throughout the world and what they can do to help.

Perhaps the most precious voices that were heard, however, were those of some refugees from an African nation, who came on stage to share what the recognition of this day had meant to them. “Hearing the songs and seeing the movies was just like seeing my struggle spoken out,” said one. “It was the cry of my heart being sung.”

We hope to continue doing whatever we can to serve refugees in our own city and around the world.

4 LETTERS FROM THE 5TH ESTATE – a New Album by Helen Mottee

British politician Edmund Burke made the historic observation in the 1700s that there existed Three Estates in Parliament. The First Estate consisted of three hundred clergy; the Second Estate was three hundred nobles; and the Third estate was comprised of six hundred commoners. Later, he added to this observation when he commented on the watchful press by saying, ‘In the Reporter’s Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.’

For Helen Mottee, the Fifth Estate is the voice of the Arts and their powerful and unique capacity not just to inform and entertain, but to advocate and even frame political, social and humanitarian issues. Her new album, “Letters from the Fifth Estate,” serves as a collection of musical letters expressing the needs of many globally who cannot speak for themselves. She hopes that “those who listen to the songs will in some way not only be moved by the message, but inspired, even spurred on, to act in some way themselves.”

Helen herself has spent much time with refugees, child soldiers, HIV/AIDS sufferers and those who have experienced the horrors of ethnic and religious cleansing. She knows that “these are no more statistics on a page or stories in a book. I have met and shared time with people who are, or have been, these things, and it is from such experiences and relationships that the new songs have been born.”

Helen officially launched her new album on 20 June, in conjunction with World Refugee Day, a day commemorating the plight of refugees which is an issue very close to Helen’s heart.

June News

2008-06-13T11:18:00.002+08:00

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.

MARCH NEWSLETTER

2008-03-08T12:35:00.000+08:00

In this Issue: Just over a week till we fly, Dave in HK, Handicrafts In Yunnan, Aids for Aids, A Zambian Elephant, Laying down tracks for Poverty, How you can help us.

Just over a week till we fly…..

Yep that’s right we will be back in Australia and we are filled with anticipation as we look forward to seeing loved ones and friends again.

This year we are combining our Annual holiday with some speaking commitments which has lengthened the trip home somewhat. This time also marks five years here at Crossroads, so we are taking the opportunity to take some time out for reflection as we seek the MD on the future. The picture seems to be becoming clearer and it is looking like Hong Kong will continue to be our home for a while yet, but we want to be sure of the MD’s direction.

So here is the plan for the next 2 months … We fly home on the 17th to enjoy Easter with family. Then on the 27th we head to Auckland where we have a number of speaking engagements for Crossroads as well having a chance to catch
up with brother Tim, sister-in-law Lia and nephew Liam.

We continue on to Palmerst
on North, Christchurch and Melbourne for more speaking before arriving back in Sydney on April 22. It’s a month in around our home base then we head back to HK via a few days in Perth for more speaking.

We have a number of dates free if you are interested in having a speaker at your Sunday club, home group or want to organise a special Crossroads function. We will be having an Open Day in May (details to follow). We would love to catch up with as many of you as possible.

Things are quite hectic here as you can imagine with Sue trying to get as many shipments ready as she can before she leaves. Some exciting shipments coming up to Cambodia, Uganda, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Kazakhstan and Israel.

Phil is tying up all the loose ends for his trip as well as organising speaking trips for later in the year.

We had a wonderful time earlier this month when our son Dave came through Hong Kong for three weeks, including the Chinese New Year Holiday on his way to the UK where he will be teaching PE for the next 2 years. We managed to squeeze in all the New Year highlights including the parade and fireworks, as well seeing most of Hong Kong’s tourist attractions. Dave has become a bit of a museum hound and spent a bit time visiting some Hong Kong’s finest.

Wang Pin Fen

Wang Pin Fen is in her mid-forties. She is married and has three children. She and her husband work very hard to pay for their children’s education. Besides working in the fields they have a little shop where villagers can buy soap and other small items for daily use. The shop was started as a result of the Threads of Yunnan handicraft project. This project is designed to raise the standard of living of countryside women in Yunnan Province, China, while raising their self-esteem and helping to preserve their traditional handicrafts. One of the training sessions is about how people in the village could earn money doing different things, and how they could use the money they earned from selling their embroideries to fund money–making projects.

Wang Pin Fen has become the leader in the handicraft project in her village and also organizes the pick up of handicrafts from the other villages. Besides her own work she puts a lot of time into helping the project and the women in her village.

One of Wang Pin Fen’s biggest desires was to get a sofa so she could have something nice to sit on when she got back from the fields in the evenings. She has saved money from her handicraft sales and now has her sofa.

Threads of Yunnan also run an adult literacy training program. When Wang Pin Fen joined this program she did not know how to read, write or do arithmetic. When she wrote her name the first time she had tears in her eyes. Now she is able to read all the names of the women in the project.

When asked to describe a typical day Wang Pin Fen said, “I am very busy everyday. I cook and work in the field every day. Every morning I work on my handicraft things. After dinner I go to night school. I like to write and to sing very much.”

In our Global Handicrafts marketplace, we have several unique embroidered handicrafts from Threads of Yunnan. The purchases of these items will keep women like Wang Pin Fen in the business of life, and what a busy life that is! To have a closer look at these handicrafts and find out more about their project, you can visit their website www.threadsofyunnan.com.

AID FOR AIDS

An AIDS orphan speaks:
"I grew up with AIDS. Both my parents died of AIDS. It's my turn to die of AIDS. Until then at least I want to eat every day, to play if I can. My legs ache and my stomach feels upside down. So I cannot play. But even if I want to play they think I am too weak, or too sick, and no one plays with me. Sometimes I think I should die because there is no one to care for me. Then I get scared... so scared". (Orphan in Lusaka, Zambia)

Zambia is a land full of natural riches and potential, and a country at peace. However, HIV/AIDS, malaria and poverty have had a devastating effect on communities. 30% of the population has HIV, among the highest percentages in the world. This has led to a growing number of impoverished households with families' main breadwinners often unable to work due to illness or the need to care for other relatives. Sadly, many children become orphans and rely on other families to take them into their homes. Otherwise, they grow up living on the streets.

It seems we speak of HIV/AIDS frequently in these newsletters. That is because we frequently hear from groups undertaking AIDS-related work. That, in turn, is because of the sheer magnitude of the crisis that Africa currently faces. Its utter enormity of scale leaves one asking what can possibly be done in response? How can we serve these people in any meaningful way? How can we share the message of love with them? Thankfully, there are ways. Although we are beyond their reach, geographically speaking, we can support others who are able to embrace those we long to help.

A like-hearted organisation based in Lusaka, Zambia, is working in a holistic way, with very limited resources, to support orphans and widows in nearby townships. They run a small community school for children who would otherwise have no access to mainstream education, and they are in the process of constructing a new school building that will allow for further expansion to meet the growing need. They aim to ensure each child's physical security, mental development and overall health by providing a safe place to learn and play, as well as a nutritious lunch for each student. We loaded a container for this group last year, filling it with much needed desks, clothing and toys. They were so pleased with the sheer size of the content that they wrote back to us about the ‘elephant’ we had sent them. Read on!

The Zambian Elephant
Have you ever unpacked an elephant?

Our Zambian consignees have done just that! At least, that’s the way they have been referring to the 40’ container of goods that was recently sent from Hong Kong. In many ways, for our grassroots consignee organisations, a shipment must indeed seem like a giant, lumbering beast, particularly if it is the first time they have received an international container. Communicating using shaky technology, dealing with difficult customs officials, arranging local transport through sometimes harrowing landscapes, raising sponsorship, are all struggles that our consignees face regularly.

Not all shipments are so difficult, of course, but for those that are, there is one shining reason why our consignees persevere: a deep and genuine compassion for those they are serving. As a Zambian aid worker (formerly a university lecturer) said to us, ‘How can I continue to teach academic subjects when my people are dying?’

Joyfully, this particular Zambian container arrived at its destination in January this year. However, the elephant-wrangling is not over, as our consignees are still waiting on some official papers that will release the container before they must start paying expensive storage fees for the held goods. Undeterred, though, the staff went to look at the stuff even though they weren’t able to yet claim it. They wrote to us in great excitement after viewing the contents of their container:

“My WORDS!!!” began the ecstatic email, “we all could not believe our eyes as we watched the unpacking of the Elephant yesterday. It took the whole day from 11 am. We were getting home around 5 pm rejoicing!!

“Two things strike us hard: One - how you managed to pack 700 plus parcels in the belly of one elephant. Two - the quality of the goods. Oh my WORDS…how can you send all the good things to Africa and what are you going to remain with? Oh my WORDS! We all stood amazed mesmerized by what we were seeing.”

What joyful words they are! And what a contrast to the words of the precious orphan we quoted at the earlier. We are chatting to the MD for a quick release of the container so that many, like this little one, can be ministered to.

LAYING DOWN TRACKS INTO POVERTY
As many of you know, we are most privileged to have on our team the very talented Helen Mottee. Helen is an award winning singer/song-writer who loves nothing more than to sing, play and show images of people in need in our dysfunctional world. Helen has been busy this past year giving voice and melody to the otherwise silent cries of those in need around the world.

During this time, Helen has felt the ‘Musical Director’ inspiring her with songs enough to fill an album. In recent weeks, then, we have started to make plans for laying down tracks into poverty in both the physical and musical sense!

But we will let Helen, herself, tell you more about her inspiration…

Victor Hugo said, ‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’ This aptly summarises why we are preparing for the recording of a new album. In the year my family and I have been full-time volunteers here in Hong Kong, we have had the privilege not only of meeting many extraordinary people from around the world, but also slowly of gaining a deeper understanding of what the ‘real’ world is for the majority of the globe’s population. Refugees, child soldiers, AIDS sufferers, those who have experienced the horrors of ethnic and religious cleansing - these are no longer statistics on a page or stories in a book. I have been privileged to meet, talk and share a meal with people who are, or have been, these things. It is from such experiences and relationships that the new songs have been born. The vision for this album is to be a collection of musical 'letters' or 'photographs', and that those who listen to the songs will not only be moved by the message, but inspired, even spurred on, to act in some way themselves. We hope to record most, if not all, of the album in Hong Kong, as many of the songs were inspired and written here. Our dream is to involve musicians and singers who, like the community of Crossroads, come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. We have already made the initial steps in inviting asylum seekers here in Hong Kong, especially from Africa, to be involved in the recording of several of the songs. A very special team of musicians is on standby in Sydney, ready to come to Hong Kong and record if the way is made possible. We are also amazed at the enthusiasm and willingness of a wonderful man here in Hong Kong who will be involved with the arranging of the music for the album. A studio, too, has been made available at reduced price. We are so very excited to see this album coming together and wanted to share it with you! We also welcome your partnership with us. Do you have ideas or funding suggestions? Let us know!
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT 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. Despite this have been steadily falling behind in our support in the 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 three ways you can provide financial support for us.

Details in the sidebar

Jan News

2008-02-02T21:36:00.000+08:00

“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.

Christmas in HK

2007-12-31T13:16:00.000+08:00

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

2007-12-18T12:30:00.000+08:00

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

2007-11-07T12:26:00.000+08:00

In this newsletter: 1. What a month (or so) 2. The marriage of DJ and Liz (Whiz) 3.

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

2007-09-07T16:50:00.000+08:00

In this newsletter: 1. Visitors from home 2. Beijing with Bob & Ben 3. Summer Celebrations. 4. Coming to the

. 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

2007-08-31T11:56:00.000+08:00

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?

2007-08-31T10:41:00.000+08:00

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

2007-08-30T17:08:00.000+08:00

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

2007-08-30T16:50:00.000+08:00

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

2007-08-04T12:47:00.000+08:00

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

2007-07-06T16:57:00.000+08:00

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

2007-07-04T14:14:00.000+08:00

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

2007-07-03T16:39:00.000+08:00

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

2007-06-30T14:18:00.000+08:00

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

2007-06-05T14:31:00.000+08:00

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.

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.
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
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!

May Newsletter

2007-05-04T15:20:00.000+08:00

In this News Letter: 1. Australian Holiday?? 2. A new challenge. 3.

Mongolia

Shipment. 4. Poverty in

Mongolia

. 5.

Mongolia

Match. 6. Glory Express. 7. Volunteering at Crossroads 8. How you can Help. 9. New Teacher needed

Dear Friends

We stood at a lookout overlooking the rolling waves breaking up on rocky outcrops and quiet sandy beach ………

It was our last full day in Australia and we were at a wedding at 8am in the morning in Port Macquarie.

We saw so much of our beautiful home land, travelling to weddings in the Hunter Valley and Brisbane. In all we drove around 4,000 km! The coastal regions in which we were travelling looked amazingly green considering the severe drought gripping most of the eastern half of Australia. Brisbane, sadly, looked very dry, with very severe water restrictions. But for the rest recent coastal rain had things greening up, while just a short way inland many dams are quickly drying up through lack of rain.

All in all it was a great if somewhat busy holiday at home. Catching up with friends was wonderful. We also spoke to a number of groups. We spoke at 14 meetings in total. So it was great to share about Crossroads and how people can help.

And we are grateful for the extra provision we needed to do all the things we did. Thank you MD.

2. A NEW CHALLENGE

We arrived back at Crossroads and hit the ground running with a full year of shipments to plan. In addition Crossroads have asked me (Phil) to take on a new role. This will require me to speak both in Hong Kong and Internationally in order to try to recruit desperately needed staff.

At present I am in the middle of planning an itinerary that will take in North America, UK (possibly Europe) Australia and NZ. Please chat for provision for the travel expenses in doing this and that people will hear of the need and respond.

If you live in one of those places and would like to assist by arranging speaking opportunities or perhaps inviting people to your home to hear about Crossroads please let me know.

3. MONGOLIA SHIPMENT

Saturday this week is an exciting day as we load a shipment for Mongolia. As you will see from the stories below it is a much needed shipment. In addition the organisation that is receiving this shipment is linked strongly to a Club in Mongolia from which our friend and colleague ‘Chief’ hails. Chief is back in Mongolia at the present but will return to us later in the year.

Finally this shipment is being sponsored by our Hong Kong Club, as part of the Annual Christmas Appeal. Each year a large group from the club head up to Mongolia to work with street children and many of that group will be here to assist with the loading of the container.

4. POVERTY IN MONGOLIA

It is late afternoon in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia’s capital, and Altan’s legs are aching. She has spent several hours walking the streets, trying to sell small candies that barely bring in enough money to make the effort worthwhile. Strapped to her is a precious passenger: Altan’s tiny 2 month old daughter, who joins her daily journey from their traditional ger outside the city. The baby is not Altan’s only child. She has two old enough to be in school and two younger ones, just two and four years of age, whom she must leave unattended each day. Altan’s husband, Batsaikhan, cannot stay with them either as he collects scrap iron from the streets by day, in order to buy firewood and a little food for the night. Even so, they struggle. Their home is bare, without beds or furniture, and the four older children share just two pairs of shoes.

Life is literally a hand to mouth existence for Altan and Batsaikhan. Their struggle has not come through laziness, or any addictions siphoning off family funds. They are simply part of the 1/3 of Mongolia’s population who are living in poverty, without enough money to meet their most basic needs for food, clothing and education.

The reasons for the breadth of poverty in Mongolia are complex, but the reality of those who are poor is, to some extent, simple. If Altan stays home to care for her preschool children, the children are more likely to face life with empty bellies and fall prey to illnesses they can’t afford to cure. If Batsaikhan stops his degrading, backbreaking work, the older children may not be able to attend school at all.

Even as we hear stories of such basic need going unmet, we ourselves intercede with a simple cry: ‘MD, see their pain’. We ask this on a daily basis for the people that are being served by the organisations who receive our shipments. The joy is that he does see, hear and feel their pain, and he acts.

The container of goods we are sending will help provide for families like Altan and Batsaikhan’s. They give basic necessities, such as blankets and clothes, and support so that the little ones may attend kindergarten. The change in the hearts of some of these people has been rapid, and they were soon giving thanks to the MD for the generosity he has shown them, knowing a more secure future because of him!

5. MONGOLIA MATCH

It was the scene for one of the MD’s well known match stories: a shipping meeting where staff were deciding which goods were needed for what. The problem of the day? Our Mongolia consignee, for all the reasons given, was asking for desperately needed winter clothes. We did not, it seemed, have them.

Almost as soon as the problem had been raised, the very next day, in fact a call came from the clothing department. Our trusty volunteer there had discovered an entire pallet load of winter clothes, and another of warm winter slippers! Ah, the timing! From those pallets, around 30 boxes of winter clothes could be prepared and made ready for shipment! “It’s amazing how he works,” said one of our shipping staff. He hears our requests. We’ve always said we have the best Managing Director of all. His stock management is particularly impressive. We love to be reminded of it daily and, no matter how often it happens, never get so used to it that we take it for granted.

6. GLORY EXPRESS

One of our local recipients here in Hong Kong has helped murderers, gang members, thieves and drug addicts beat their past and start a new life by offering them employment and job training. Most of society had written these people off as criminals, losers and drop-outs, but the result of this program has begged the question: If they can turn their lives around and be a success, then what about other disadvantaged groups in society too?

For this reason, the organisation is opening up opportunities to other disadvantaged groups in Hong Kong, such as mentally and physically disabled people, widows, the elderly, orphans, the unskilled and the many long term unemployed people in Hong Kong.

You may remember a previous story from our website or Hotline about a canteen on a building site run by ex-criminals? After the building work was completed, there was no more business. However, with wisdom and creativity they transformed their business and launched a catering company. Now you can get a hot, freshly cooked, inexpensive lunch, delivered to any address in Hong Kong, served with impressive efficiency and dedication. "We cook and deliver about 800 lunches a week, and we have the capacity to do double that, easily”, the director told us.

For the scheme to work, of course, the company must be successful. Given the minimal budget of its charitable organisers, every effort has been made to minimise the financial capital needed for start up. Crossroads was able to help with comfortable chairs, furniture, lockers and white goods.

7. WHY DO YOU LIKE VOLUNTEERING AT CROSSROADS?

Recently some of our community volunteers were asked why they volunteered at Crossroads. Here are some of their responses:

“It’s good to know that I am doing something worthwhile - helping the needy. There are so many people doing all sorts of jobs and making things happen. That gives me a lot of pleasure!”

“Volunteering at Crossroads is wonderful because of the community. Each time I come, I feel fulfilled that I have accomplished something. I look forward to the days I come!”

“There are so many people from so many different nations coming together here for the same cause. It makes it very interesting.”

“You can only go to lunch with the girls and go shopping so many times before it gets a bit old. Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and I love shopping, but there is more to life...”

“It is the feeling of family that I love most about Crossroads, especially because my family all live overseas and I miss them. It has also given meaning to my life as an ex-pat wife. All the friends I have made here are very special to me.”

“When I met one of our recipients from Uganda face to face, I realised the impact of giving my time. That was pay day! I wept as he told me stories of how blessed they had been by the quality and appropriateness of the clothes and the obvious love and care taken in the way we folded and packed them.”

8. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US

For information about how you can support us please see the sidebar.

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

Every blessing

PHIL & SUE

PS. We have an urgent need that we have mentioned before but still exists.

We are richly blessed to have several families, with children, on our full time team. In total, we have 10 beautiful kids, aged 6 to 14 years. They do their studies through a home school correspondence course at our "Teaching & Learning Centre", under the care of two teachers/tutors. (Two are needed because each child is a different age and has their own school programme.)

We have two temporary teachers who have replaced our long term teacher, however, they are finishing their periods of service with us in mid May. We are asking the MD to send us his chosen people to replace them...and to send them soon! The kids, too, are on their knees about this need each day.

What are the requirements? We are looking for people with training in education who feel called to serve here for one year.

If you know of any teachers who might be interested in hearing more, could you let us know? We'd love to get in touch with them.

Oz Holday report #7 - Australia the Beautiful

2007-04-30T13:04:00.000+08:00

While traveling great distances at home we were reminded about the remarkable beauty of the land we called home. Sue in particular took time (with her new camera) to record some of the things we saw. So we share some of them with you here.

Oz Holiday Report #6 - The Spider & the Bee

2007-04-30T12:04:00.000+08:00

During our Holiday we got a bit of time to do some nature photography. I just happened on this little tragedy. Reminded me of Frodo, except he escaped.

Oz Holiday Report 5# - Rocky Chantale"s Wedding

2007-04-30T11:03:00.000+08:00

The third wedding of our trip home was Rocky & Chantale's. In all respects if was a lovely wedding. Held at 8am on Sunday morning to give working people time to drive on Saturday from either Sydney (400k South) or Brisbane (6ook North). We also meant time for socializing on Saturday night.

It was held on a bushy headland overlooking a beach and the ocean, you could not think of a nicer setting. The Bride (and bridesmaids) look wonderful. Rocky looked great as well and very happy. It was a marriage of 2 people very much in love and committed to serving the MD.

The reception was held at Surf Club overlooking lighthouse beach. For us a good chance to catch up with some old Crossroads Friends. We travelled up and back with our sons Dave & Rob, so that was a bonus. Rob even managed to catch the Garter so look out girls!

Oz Holiday Report #4 - Sarah & Matt's Wedding

2007-04-28T16:48:00.000+08:00

Following a most enjoyable drive north we settled in for a weekend of festivities in Brisbane. Starting with a get together on Friday night with the family and some friends, we got some catch up time with the lovely Sarah. She was the first teacher at the Crossroads teaching and learning Center for its first year of existence. This enabled families to come and work at Crossroads without the children missing out on their Schooling.
The the wedding on Saturday. Both Sarah and Matt looked great and very much in Love. It was a really nice wedding followed by reception at a city golf club. I had the fun of looking after a Web cam of the wedding back to some of the staff at Crossroads who would have loved to have been with us.
It all finished with a nice breakfast with Sarah's family on Sunday morning before heading back down the coast. I have included photos of the dress which I am told the girls like to see.

Oz Holiday report #3 -A Few more Photos of Friends

2007-04-27T16:06:00.000+08:00

Talking of catching up with Friends. Here are a few more photos.

The Good News is that Matt & Wendy's Baby is here at last ...... Andrea Rose Kemmis Wade

Oz report #2 - Adam & Mr Blue Man

2007-04-27T12:20:00.000+08:00

Part of the joy of travel home is catching up with old friends. On this trip we got spend a week with our old Crossroads compatriot Adam (Dwaino) as he came with us in the car on our way up to Brisbane for Sarah's wedding.
Our trip was a great adventure and it was great to see the NSW Coast line looking green, despite the dams being empty. We stopped over at Hawkes Nest (where Matt and Wendy joined us), then Ballina on the way. Then we spent a day on the Gold Coast, before heading up to stay with Sue's Brother Tim and Nephew Zacy in Brisbane.
Mr Blue decided to join us on the adventure and really seemed to enjoy himself.

Oz Holidays report #1 - Jon & Janine's wedding

2007-04-26T20:45:00.000+08:00

Finally back in Hong Kong after a month in Australia attending 3 weddings and doing a heap of speaking on behalf of Crossroads.
We did so much that I have decided that rather than do it all in one report I will do a number until I run out of stuff to tell you, so it could take a while to get it all up.
We were so busy that I actually failed to Blog even once ........ Pretty poor really.
Jon & Janine's wedding was great fun. Held in the middle of the Hunter Valley vineyards, north of Sydney it was just a great occasion. The whole family stayed in one place (2 houses) so for us it was wonderful chance to catch up, having not seen most of the family since June or longer.

Here are a few photos of both the wedding and the family. If you want to see all the 500 or so snaps of our Holiday in one go you can click on Flickr and wade your way through them.

Live like they do for a day

2007-03-10T15:47:00.000+08:00

Last night some of Hong Kong's leading Executives and their families, came to Crossroads to experience for themselves, life in a slum.
During a 24hr period they will build their own hovel, eat slum food and experience something of what millions experience everyday, without escape.
Last night they started with a refugee run. I came in well into the game to play the part of 'dignitary' visiting. By then you could see on their faces that suddenly being thrown into a refugee situation, with soldiers, guns etc was seeming very real.
This morning after building their homes and sleeping in them, they did another simulation, one I have talked about on this Blog before, where they have to make paper bags in order to eat and pay rent. I got to reprise my role as slum lord, Mr Deepadebt, a loan shark who takes over the lives of those who can't pay their rent. For those participating these times can be life changing.
I am glad to see their hearts and hope that with this experience they will become advocates for change.

Slum Survivor is underway

2007-03-10T15:42:00.000+08:00

Story in this mornings South China Morning Post, if you double click on the story it will come up to size thats easier to read

Teacher needed at Crossroads

2007-03-02T19:41:00.001+08:00

We have an urgent need we'd love to lay before you.
We are richly blessed to have several families, with children, on our full time team. In total, we have 10 beautiful kids, aged 6 to 14 years. They do their studies through a home school correspondence course at our "Teaching & Learning Centre", under the care of two teachers/tutors. (Two are needed because each child is a different age and has their own school programme.)
Both of our current teachers, however, are finishing their periods of service with us in mid March. We are asking the MD to send us his chosen people to replace them...and to send them soon!
What are the requirements? We are looking for people with training in education who feel called to serve here for one year.
If you know of any teachers who might be interested in hearing more, could you let us know? We'd love to get in touch with them.

MARCH NEWSLETTER

2007-03-02T19:15:00.000+08:00

In this News Letter 1. Happy New Year 2. Thankyou for your support 3 The Harrisons are here 4. A quick picture of the last few months 5. Chinese New Year 6. A Shipping milestone 7. Peace in Uganda? 8 Slum Life 9. Slum Survivor

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

It has been so long since we sent a Newsletter, some of you may have been wondering if we still exist. But as I said in my short note last week, our reliance on technology has a price to pay, especially when you don’t back up.

2. THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT
Just this morning we were reviewing the amazing support that we have received from so many over the time we have been at Crossroads. You continue to support us faithfully with regular contributions. Others with encouraging notes and emails. Others by lifting us up to the MD who keeps us sustained.

We could not be here without you. Your partnership in our work is vital. But it is the fact that you remember us so faithfully that is the most encouraging aspect of your friendship.

3. THE HARRISONS ARE HERE
Since we last wrote the Neville and Vivian Harrison, friends from our Australian Club arrived to work here for a year, with their three kids, Edward, Samuel and Felicity. They have fitted into the team seamlessly and have adapted to Crossroads and Hong Kong lifestyle extremely well. Viv is working closely with Sue helping to deal with the many applications that come to us for support, while Neville has become a vital cog in the GH team. Please keep upholding them as they settle in and face the many challenges of looking after a family while living on support.

4. A QUICK PICTURE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS
Christmas started with the visit of Mem (Phil’s mum and Ricky (nephew) to Crossroads. It was in the middle of an extremely busy time, but we still managed to get plenty of quality time with them. Ricky seemed to love his time here. I hope we can persuade him to return some time. We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Xian for a few days. Christmas week saw us travel North to visit some of the organisations that Crossroads has supported to see first hand the goods we have sent in Situ, actually spending Christmas day with them. Then we took a few days break in Beijing, which we passed through on the way.

We then had a day back in Hong Kong to wash, pack the bags and head to North America to visit some of the organisations we partner with there and to see what we could bring back to assist our work at Crossroads. On the way we managed to squeeze in some time in with friends who had been either part of Crossroads or our HK Club.

5. CHINESE NEW YEAR
The biggest event in Hong Kong, indeed in the Chinese calendar is Chinese New Year, so this year we thought it would be a great opportunity to experience it all. In previous years we have laid low or limited ourselves to the fireworks, but this year we got involved, On New Year’s Eve, we were invited to a traditional Chinese meal with a friend from club. I have to tell you the meal was delicious!. Which was followed by a visit to the Flower Markets. With all the crush of the Easter Show and the flowers often ignored for inflatable plastic toys! Followed by Molten Chocolate Cake at Dan Ryan’s! Not very Chinese I admit but delicious.

The next night we went to the colourful street parade and that was amazing. Our friends gave us grandstand tickets so we had a wonderful view. Chinese New Year finished last week and this week everyone is back at work (we mostly worked through). Now the overcrowded airports, stations and border crossings can get back to normal.

6 A SHIPPING MILESTONE HAS BEEN REACHED
For a while now we have been telling you about some important changes to the way we accept applications for shipment and choose those to whom we will ship. We began the new Application process in earnest in the 2nd half of last year and last week we loaded the first container to be shipped to an organisation who applied under our new process (see India story below). Please continue to uphold this process as we work toward further streamlining the process of shipping and processing.

7. PEACE IN UGANDA
On February 28th a ceasefire in the 20-year civil war between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army expired, with no new agreement in sight. One of our friends and recipients there told us the people have been enjoying relative peace for the first time in 20 years.

In the midst of one of the most savage and deadly civil wars, Childcare International (now called Childcare Kitgum Servants) has expanded their realm of influence and care providing schooling, vocational training, medical care, mentorship and discipling, as well as food, clothing and blankets for 7000 children.

“Honestly, it is very difficult to say something about the containers you have sent us”, said John Paul. “Not because there is nothing to say, but because the value of goods cannot be explained, because every corner of the centre - from the hospice, to radio station, to the classrooms to the offices, vocational schools, church…. It’s full of the goods you have sent. They are everywhere, helping everybody. The materials, if we were to value it would be a huge amount of money, but the benefit to the community is what I say is difficult to describe. The best thing that has happened to the primary school children is the playground equipment you sent. We have been thinking about connecting a generator to the swings because they swings non stop….it could generate enough power for our community”, joked John Paul.

8. INDIA, JOY IN SIMPLE THINGS
Clean drinking water, having a job, deciding what to wear, going to the shops when you run out of milk or have no food in the fridge: we can so easily take these for granted. Yet these simple things would be pure joy to millions of poor people around the world who do not know such wealth and convenience but are mere spectators as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Our consignee in India is working towards bridging this gap through education and community development programmes including housing, health care, day care, old age homes, orphanages and job creation. They are attuned to the Fathers heart and are not only looking out for the physical needs of those in their communities, but also their deepest, and often, unmet needs.

We will be loading a container for this group in mid February and we are very excited to be able to contribute to what the Father is doing there. Some of the things we will be sending include building materials, clothes, computers, refrigerators, fans, washing machines, food, office and home furnishings, sports equipment, toys, fabric, books and stationery.

8. SLUM LIFE
You can smell Africa’s largest slum before you see it. It’s the dizzying stench of 800,000 people living on top of each other, with no toilets, no running water, and no rubbish removal service.

Milton, aged 28, is one of those 800,000. He arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, dreaming of an easier life in the city. He left behind a small plot of farmland, a young family, and crippling debt. Local policies, unfair trading, and increased globalisation, meant that Milton’s land no longer earned enough to sustain his wife and three children. Like millions of other rural Africans, he was drawn to the city, desperately hoping to find a job. He soon discovered that the best way to save money is to live in the cheapest accommodation possible: the slum.

One by one, the dreams Milton brought with him to the big city were torn away. He quickly realised the difficulty of finding a respectable job when your address is a well-known slum, so he turned to one of the many informal industries within the community – selling coal by the roadside. It now brings him just enough money to pay his rent and to buy one meal a day, but no more than that. He recently fell deeper into debt when a bad burn forced him to borrow from one of the unscrupulous money lenders that swarm the slums.

Milton thinks daily of his family who trust that he will visit soon with the money he has been able to save. He dreads having somehow to send the news that there is no money, and indeed that he is now in greater debt than ever.

Milton knows the reality of what we call the poverty cycle. Slum life is cruel, dangerous, and extremely difficult to escape, and it’s the life known by 1 billion of the world’s population today.

9. SLUM SURVIVOR
Meanwhile, in the shadow of comfortable high-rise apartments of Hong Kong, lies our own small makeshift slum: four houses made of scrap metal and thin boards with leaky roofs, in which, week by week, members of the Hong Kong community are led through a deep, rich journey of experiences that helps them enter the lives of people living in poverty.

A traditional Chinese proverb says, ‘what I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand.’ We might take it a step further and say, ‘what I experience, I take to heart’. Since the beginning of our Life X-perience program in 2005, we have seen profound change in the lives of 5000 participants from the Hong Kong community as they stepped, through simulation activities, into the shoes of an Indian child labourer, an Afghan refugee, or an impoverished Kenyan – like, indeed, Milton - who sleeps on a dirt floor.

These immersive experiences bring about the kind of compassion that motivates, the kind you can’t manufacture simply by reading statistics or news reports. It’s a compassion that moves people to change their daily behaviour, the way they spend their money, and even, in some cases we’ve seen, their career paths.

In early March we will welcome 25 people from Hong Kong’s press and corporate world to spend a night in our own shanty town. They will sleep there and then spend the next 24 hours living under intense slum and refugee conditions. This will be our annual fund raiser. Would you please join us in asking that the MD will participate in a tangible way? It will be a tough 24 hours, and one certainly not for the faint of heart. Our longing is that the hearts of those willing to participate will be broken for the hurting of this world, and directed to action on behalf of those who are suffering.

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

Every blessing

PHIL & SUE

Slum Survivor is coming

2007-03-02T12:56:00.000+08:00

I want to see Happy Feet

2007-02-28T14:52:00.000+08:00

I cannot believe this movie passed me by. I didn't even know about it until it won an Academy Award. And now its gone from the Cinemas
But the good news is that, Singapore Airlines are showing it as an In Flight movie in March and I am flying back to Australia on Singapore Airlines .....yea!

Here is the Making of:

Chinese New Year 3 - The Parade

2007-02-20T14:33:00.000+08:00

This year we got to go to the CNY Parade and sit in a Grandstand, courtesy of our friends Gregg & Kay. It was something to see. Musicians, dancers and others from all over the World. It was certainly a highlight for us.
Intermingled with the International groups, were Hong Kong School Children, who did not suffer at all by comparison.
And it was all so well organised. The police had the crowd well under control and getting home was far easier than expected, once we negotiated our way to the bus stop. Well done Hong Kong!

I must say though I never really understood the light bulb kids or the Swiss marching band in dresses!

Chinese New Year 2 - The Flower Markets

2007-02-20T12:09:00.000+08:00

After 4 years in Hong Kong we finally got around to checking out the Flower Markets. This is a very traditional thing to do in Hong Kong.
So when our friend, Bill Cheung invited us to enjoy a traditional CNY dinner at his home with some other friends followed by a short walk to the Flower Markets, we could not resist
SO after an amazingly wonderful meal we set off for the short walk, to find a big crowd of people, who seemed mainly interested in selling blow up toys. Steve immediately bought a hammer for Bill, so we could follow him through the crowd without getting lost.
We then ruined all the good done by the walk by heading off to Dan Ryan's for Molten chocolate. Now that was good!! A bit like my mother's chocolate sponge pudding but even better! (sorry mum).

Chinese New Year 1 - Why you can't buy your own Fireworks in Australia!

2007-02-20T11:37:00.000+08:00

This Photo was taken last week after an illegal fireworks market in Shandong Province, China caught fire. It appears one of the customers could not wait until he got home and lit his newly purchased firecracker. Sadly 14 people died and many were injured.
Fireworks play a big part in Chinese New Year Celebrations in China and Hong Kong. In fact I can hear crackers going off as I write
The Photo below of Hong Kong CNY is how Fireworks are supposed to look.

Great day on Lantau

2007-02-13T14:52:00.000+08:00

We are really enjoying having the Harrison family from our Australian Club here in Hong Kong with us for the year.

Yesterday we took them to Lantau Island where we used to live. It was a really fun day and alsways great to go back to Lantau. here are a few photos

Newsletter late But we will be in Oz next Month

2007-02-10T15:16:00.000+08:00

So here go a lot of sorry excuses, but we haven't got to send out our Feb News yet. With the computer crash I am still trying to get the mail list sorted and we have been unwell. Somehow we will get it written next week.

In the meantime we will be back In Australia From March 22 - April 22. The timing allows to attend 3 weddings (brother Jon & Jannine, Sarah & Matt and Rocky & Chantale) so it should be exciting.

We want to try to set up as many speaking appointments as we can fit in. Sundays are mostly free at the moment although location may be a problem, so we can do Schools, Churches, Clubs or other groups. We particularly want to speak to groups who may be thinking about short term work overseas. So email us if you are interested.

PS: that's me with the Buzz Lightyear gun I got for my Birthday ... infinity and beyond!!

2 weeks in North America

2007-01-22T14:31:00.000+08:00

Just got home from our North America trip. We wanted to blog earlier, but sadly my computer crashed. So I now have a new hard drive and we are back in business.
We had a wonderful time in Vancouver with Bob Amy, Mo & Miriam at the beginning and end of the trip. Vancouver put on snow for us the 2nd time there. Denver also had plenty of snow.
San Diego and LA were nice. It was great to catch up with old friends Nick and Courtney in San Diego. Courtney took us down to an amazing Orphanage in Tijuana run by an amazing couple caring for the children of street women.
Then we had a great time in LA with Curtis, Christy Rose, Chris and Athania. Becky also came for a visit, it was almost like being back in Hong Kong. Although our visit to Disneyland proved the Hong Kong version has some catching up to do. Somewhere in there we did get in plenty of meetings.

Beijing

2007-01-01T06:48:00.000+08:00

Sue & I took advantage of the Christmas break to take a visit to Beijing, but such is our schedule that I am actually blogging this from Vancouver (more on that in a later Blog). I have not been in Beijing since 1987 so you can imagine the changes since then. They seem to be doing a good job getting it ready for the Olympics. They just need to do something about cars and bikes having target practice with Pedestrians on crossings. It seems that traffic lights are purely advisory.
Just like the first time I saw it, the Great Wall simply blows you away. It is an amazing achievement, admittedly at the cost of many many lives. We also did the usual.....Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square etc. We had some good meals, but all in all I think Hong Kong offers more in terms of Chinese cuisine (my opinion)

We wish you a Merry Christmas

2006-12-18T16:47:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone,

We want to take this opportunity to wish you all the true light of Christmas.

Sue & I are very appreciative of all the love and support we continue to get from all our friends and supporters, around the world.

The next few weeks take us first to Northern China and then to North America for some meetings. We will blog as we can to keep you up-to-date.

Please take the opportunity to look at our Christmas message. You can do so by clicking on the link in the side bar or here http://www.craigrayner.com/Christmas2006.pps for the Power Point Presentation Version wish is a down load or http://www.craigrayner.com/Christmas2006.swf for the flash version, which can view in your Browser. Our friend Craig put it on the web for us. WARNING the Power point file is 32mg so if you do not have broadband it will take quite some time to download. We suggest you try the Flash version particularly if you have a dial up. If you prefer I will send it to you on a disk, but you will not get to see it until we return in the New Year.

PHIL

Xian Adventure

2006-12-13T17:00:00.000+08:00

With Mem and Ricky (Mum & Nephew) visiting for a couple of weeks we decided to fly to Xian for a few days, after organising some cheap flights.
A lot colder there I can tell you. But we had a wonderful time. Pollution is terrible. And our cheap hotel was cheap. But warm and comfortable enough.
We hired a car for the day for 240 Yuan and went to see the Warriors, the Emperors Mausoleum, and the Hot Springs.
On the other days we went to the South Gate and walked on the Wall, then took a golf cart to the West gate. We visited the Muslim Quarter where we bought some great wall hangings, and of course the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower. The down side was that my Camera got stolen and I had to use Ricky's Pics for the Blog and Flickr (his pics are good I just would like to have my own)

From London to Hong Kong on a Bike

2006-12-04T22:02:00.000+08:00

Tim Smith set out 4 months ago from London to cycle to Hong Kong to raise money for Crossroads In the process he raised over 7,000 pounds. it was an amazing effort.
He arrived in Hong Kong this morning and a number of us meet him near the border and escorted him back to Crossroads. You can read all about his travels by using the link in the sidebar. Here are a few photos. You can see more by clicking on the Flickr link.

Thanks Giving

2006-11-23T22:17:00.000+08:00

Last night we celebrated Thanksgiving at Crossroads. This wonderful American Festival (I say wonderful, because giving thanks needs to be an on going part of our lives) falls around the same time as we celebrate our move to our site here in Tuen Mun.
On the 20th of November 2004 to be exact.
We are thankful that in the past year we have been able to ship to so many countries and we continue to do so every year. Around 40 containers of much needed goods. And about the same distributed here in Hong Kong.
We are thankful that we have been able successfully launch our fair trade store (Global Market Place). Around 4,000 people have gained greater understanding of poverty through our simulation games. And Global Hand has provided an amazing way for resouce and need to intersect on the web. Yes indeed much to be thankful for! (I am also grateful for turkey and cranberry sauce)

Sue & Kate's Birthday Bash

2006-11-20T11:10:00.000+08:00

Last night we headed over the beach dressed up a little and celebrated Sue and Kate's birthdays in style, before heading back to our place for coffee and cake. A great night was had by all. Great food and some nice refreshment. Sue also had a long chat to the boys at home.

Happy Belated Diwali

2006-11-14T10:42:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was the annual team trip to Rajni & Sushma's to celebrate Diwali. It was a month late due to so many other things happening in our busy life here at Crossroads. Rajni & Sushma graciously delayed so we could all participate.
What a wonderful day it was. This is our 4th time at this celebration and the team always look forward to this special day. Fun, games, incredible Indian food and great fellowship are the order of the day. Some of the team even indulged in a little 'Bollywood' dancing!
And of course a variation the Marshmellow game played each year where the idea is to stuff as many marshmellows into you mouth as you can and still be able to say "Happy Diwali"

Macau Weekend

2006-11-06T20:50:00.000+08:00

Hi Guys,

As promised here is our report on a weekend of R & R in Macau.

It turned out to be everything we hoped. The little hotel we stayed in was wonderful. "Pousada de Coloane" on Cheoc-Van Beach ,on Coloane Island. It is a small hotel with just 30 rooms. Everyone of them with view of the beach and looking across the bay to Heng Qing Island, China. We had plenty of time to enjoy a swim and relax by the pool. Eat unbelievable food and soak in the spa bath installed in our room.

This part of Macau is very quiet compared with the hustle and bustle of the rest of Macau. Perfect place really for our much needed rest time. Did you know that Macau now has more casinos the Las Vegas?

We chose to have dinner sitting on our Balcony. The cool weather (Around 21 degrees) made it very pleasant.

In the morning if day 2 we did some walking. First from our hotel to Vila de Colcoane a small village with fishing huts built out in the water much like Tai O village on Lantau Island. The we caught a bus to Halc Sd beach with its black sand. Famous for Fernando's Restaurant. The walked via an amazing path built from granite, chipped from the sea wall to Jadins Village.

On the final afternoon, we walked around the City for a while, before heading home.

November News

2006-11-04T15:32:00.000+08:00

In this month’s letter: 1.November in Hong Kong, 2. Global Sources, 3

Madagascar

Dream, 4. “Even If We Shout……..” 5. Christmas Mail, 6. Some things that need Uplifting, 7. How you can Help

NOVEMBER IN HONG KONG
I love November in Hong Kong. I woke up this morning and was cold! Yey. The days are quite pleasant right now, mid 20s, just nice. If we could just get rid of the terrible smog……well at least you can see what your’re breathing.

As you read this letter our family in Australia is preparing to celebrate Mem’s (Phil’s Mum) 80^th Birthday. I guess it is poignant reminder of the fact that we have been called away from our loved ones and times like this we long to be home, but never the less we know where we are supposed to be . The good news is that we get to celebrate it with her in one months time when she comes to visit for a few weeks with nephew Ricky.

It almost goes without saying that the last month has been very busy and tiring. We are both looking forward to a weekend away in Macao to relax and revive. Check our blog next week for a report.

Some lovely shipments went out last month, including two containers to Croatia and Kazakhstan and this month we will be sending to Lesotho, Madagascar, Israel and North Asia

A number of key staff have been away and that has brought extra pressure especially for Sue.

2. GLOBAL SOURCES THANK YOU
We have also had some wonderful opportunities with the Global Sources Fairs run here at the enormous, Asia Expo Centre. Not only did we exhibit there but we were also involved in a ‘Care & Share’ programme with the organisers which saw around 6 truck loads of product that had been used as samples donated to Crossroads. This included about 15 usable keyboards, which are a high demand item, wonderful lights, cooking implements, silverware, kitchen utensils, the list goes on.

3. MADAGASCAR DREAM
What comes to mind when you think of Madagascar....Lots of wild animals, luscious tropical forests, the jungle, Tarzan swinging from tree to tree, and if you’re like me, maybe even the cartoon comes to mind.…

The truth is, though, Madagascar is among the poorest countries in the world and its original beauty has been, for the most part, destroyed by slash and burn farming. 70% of the population live beneath the poverty line and 93 out of 1,000 Malagasy children die before reaching their first birthday, and much higher in rural areas.

Though the reality of life in Madagascar may be far from what we imagined, there is still a light shining through the likes of our consignee. They currently run an orphanage in the capital and are in the process of opening another one. In conjunction with the orphanage they run a school, with another hundred or so children coming in from the surrounding areas for schooling each day.

Along with the orphanages and schools, they are also involved with prison work, specifically with women prisoners who have children. In Madagascar if a female prisoner has a child under 3 years old, the child lives in the prison with her. They also provide aid to the extremely poor, as well as run a very small medical clinic.

We are packing this container next week and are very excited about sowing good seed into this part of the world. Though the land is parched and the people are thirsty, we know their hearts are fertile and ready to receive. We will keep you posted with news of this shipment once it has arrived.

4. “EVEN IF WE SHOUT, THERE IS NO ONE TO HEAR”
Death seemed such an obvious alternative. The complications of taking her life seemed nothing compared to those she would face if Julia kept living. There weren’t too many weeks left before her pregnancy would “show” and people would start asking questions. In fact, they would do a lot more than that. She had seen it happen to other girls before. As soon as they fell pregnant, outside of marriage, they were branded as outcasts. It was more than her 13 year old mind could bear.

For a 13 year old girl to go through such trauma may seem extraordinary to a Western reader. In Nagaland, India, however, it is not unusual for girls to be sexually active from the age of 10. Although active, they are not aware. There is no contraception. There is very limited medical care for pregnant women of any age or status.

The gateway city to Nagaland is Dimapur and has a population of 200,000. A study was carried out there and after monitoring only 6 of the 114 nursing homes, or hospital-like facilities, in Dimapur, there were 556 abortions in one month, and the doctors said that this was the quietest time of year for abortions.

Abortion is illegal but it is rampant. Doctors will perform a quick, unhygienic operation – behind a curtain - for a small ‘gift’. If even that is too expensive, the common alternative is a self administered solution with a stick. The loss of life is often not just that of the unborn child.

The dire state of antenatal care led one health care worker to lament, “Even if we shout, there is no one to hear”. Yet someone has heard the cry, and now there is a centre providing hope for these young women in crisis. It gives young unwed mothers like Julia a chance to have their child in a sheltered environment. The girls can stay in the centre for the duration of their pregnancy if they wish to avoid the ostracism of the street. Faced with this decision, Julia chose life for both herself and her little child.

Most of the young mothers have no way to look after their child and choose to put them up for adoption. These babies are usually adopted very fast, mainly because so many women have abortions, and when they want kids, they cannot have them, so they adopt.

In the centres short existence, 160 children have been placed into families, mostly in the surrounding area. That means 160 little lives have been rescued from the death which threatened to steal them, to say nothing of the lives of the mothers who, like Julia, might otherwise have taken their own lives.

Upon the arrival of the container there, our consignee said, “The staff, and people from all over the village were so amazed that these goods were a gift. Everyone could tell it was packed with such care. The content was amazing, we couldn't have asked for anything better. The children looked so smart in their new clothes, and the staff really loved dressing them up. One of our boys, Zared, got a new hat and wouldn’t take it off for 3 days, he even slept with it on. Our older babies are enjoying sleeping in the new cradles and the wheel chairs have been a huge blessing to many. Thank you very much for everything!"

5. GETTING OUR CHRISTMAS MAIL LIST TOGETHER
Our Christmas Cards are beautiful this year. Hand made in Rwanda (check out last month’s story. But our Christmas mail list has many out of date addresses. So if you have moved in the last year, please make sure you let us know of your new address.

6. SOME THINGS THAT WE WOULD LOVE UPLIFTING;
* Sue is still making regular visits to the dentist, which is hard on her and very hard on our finances. Please up hold her

* We are finalising shipments for the first part of the new year. Wisdom as we finalise all this

* Upholding for Sal one of Directors who has been travelling almost constantly meeting with stakeholders as Global Hand is in important development stages. It is hard and sometimes lonely work.

* Planning for end of year trip, to look at organisations doing similar work and to try to strengthen some ongoing partnership opportunities.

* For Nev & Viv Harrison and family from our Australian Club as they prepare to come for a year at Crossroads/Global Hand

7. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US

For information about how to support us please see the side bar

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

Every blessing

PHIL & SUE

Now that's what I call REALLY BIG

2006-10-24T11:49:00.000+08:00

Last week we were at the Gifts and Household products sourcing fair. Again exhibitors were given the chance to donate their samples after the show.
Three truck loads were given and it is all wonderful stuff. We are really grateful for the bounty provided by the MD that we can give to needy people all over the world.
With other team members I spent a fair bit of time over the last 4 days manning our booth and also visiting many of the exhibitors to encourage them to participate. I also really enjoyed getting to know some of my fellow exhibitors in the booths nearby. Thank you also to Amber from Global Sources who did such a great job making it all happen

Things for your uplifting

2006-10-20T10:20:00.000+08:00

It has been a very busy time of late, with shipments continuing to go out despite a number of team away. Also the Global Sources Fair happening. Phil also has had some late night meetings with the club. We are both tired so please chat for strength.
We are finalizing shipments for the first three months of next year. Wisdom for choosing the right shipments that will have the most impact and light.
Final planning stages for our trip early in the new year. We will be looking at similar organisations in North America. Wisdom so that we maximise the value of our time.
Sue continues to visit the dentist for treatment. Finding it a challenge to personal finances.

Now that's what I call big 2

2006-10-16T17:37:00.000+08:00

You have heard us talk about our simulations games. Some of you have even participated. But last Saturday was our biggest ever. 430 people from one company (Jones Lang la Salle) came to Crossroads to partcipate in a company day. They were divided into 2 groups and half painted flats for teams that will be arriving soon at Crossroads, while the other half played the Basti life Bag game. A simulation life based on a real-life situation. People are placed in families and have to make bags paper bags and sell them in order to get food, and pay rent. If they do not make enough bags, they end up haing to take loans with loan sharks (Phil plays that role) and are forced into a situation from which they can't escape and may starve.

It was a very rewarding day. Thank you to the people from JLL who also raised a large amount of funds for the day.

Now that's what I call big 1.

2006-10-16T17:19:00.000+08:00

Just spent a week at the massive Global Sources Fair where Crossroads had a stand. It was big to say the least. 750 stalls at the electronics fair and another massive Halls full at the Fashion Accessories fair. Exhibitors were given the chance to leave their product for Crossroads rather than ship it home. Amoung product received ..... One amazing gift of electronic keyboards will shortly see keyboards, head to Mozambique, Zambia, Mongolia and Many other places.

The problems with the News

2006-10-12T23:36:00.000+08:00

Again I write in the shadow of a world gripped by the fear of what 'might' happen. Again the world stands still and watches as news of terrorism grips our TV screens. While there seems little we can do to stop the threat it poses, there is something we can do about terrorism’s causes.

The other items of news; the current campaign to make poverty history and recent moves to forgive the debts of poor nations are focusing on the real issue that is the most pressing cause of terrorism. The desperation that poverty causes breeds desperate people.

Daily the Western World trashes things that could change the lives of people in need. That is what brought Crossroads and Global Hand into existence, so that unwanted resources could be used where they are most needed.

It is not the whole answer, but it can make a difference, especially when it comes with the light of the MD. Most people recognise that our resources need to be shared they are just not sure how to do it.

Points October 12

2006-10-12T11:51:00.000+08:00

Some things that we would love you to uplift this week
*Thank to the MD for His continued love and care in all situations
*Shipment to Central Asia going this week and being packed today
*Sue continuing with Dentist. Strength and provision for the expenses.
*Preparations for upcoming North America trip
*A lot of staff on leave at present. Lot of extra work. Strength for the task.

October News

2006-10-06T17:00:00.000+08:00

6th October 2006

THIS MONTH: 1 Taking time to talk. 2. Club Centenary 3. We have become Bloggers 4. Philippines School computer project. 5. Mid Autumn Festival. 6 An early Christmas Present for Rwanda. 7. Getting our Christmas Mailing together. 8. Towels become Tools in Lesotho 9. Things for Uplifiting 10. How you can support us.

Dear Friends,

1. TAKING TIME TO TALK WITH FRIENDS
Last month we talked about our need to say thank you. This month we wanted to say how much we value our communication with you, especially in the hectic times we are experiencing at the moment. News from home and our friends is very important to us. We love to get those emails. Also to have the occasional chat on Skype, Google talk or Messenger. We are networked at home so that is easy to do at night these days.

We also want to know how we can be chatting for you. Please stay in touch. Over the last month we enjoyed visits from Gary Hill at Crusaders and Alan & Maureen Pride from Trinity, It was wonderful to spend some time with old friends and to catch up with what is happening at couple of places that mean so much to us. And for them to experience Crossroads first hand.

2. AUSTRALIAN CLUB CENTENARY
Talking of places that mean a lot to us, our Australian Club celebrates its Centenary this month. How we would love to be there celebrating with them. It has been home to us for 25 years now and we send our love to all our friends there.

3. WE HAVE BECOME BLOGGERS
Each month you can if you prefer read a version of this Newsletter on our Blog. This version INCLUDES PHOTOs and you can go to it now at: http://hkwarners.blogspot.com/

Every week (mostly on Fridays) we will put uplift points on it. Little items of news or things that we have found, will also be added. For instance a few days ago we put a link to a video of Bill Cosby talking about visits to the dentist. Quite relevant considering Sue’s regular visits at the moment.

It also includes links to our web photo album, home page, Crossroads and Global Hand.

Don’t forget to bookmark the page.

4. PHILIPPINES SCHOOL COMPUTER PROJECT
Last week we attended a dinner held by the Ayala Foundation, a group who have set out to place computers into every public high school in the Philippines. For people caught in the poverty cycle, computer training provides a real way out. The Philippines is setting itself up to participate in the cyber age, with call centres and computer based service centres. These computers are providing access to computers that in the past has only been a dream. They have already almost reached their initial targets and are now aiming much higher.

Crossroads has sent two shipments of computers in partnership with a Hong Kong School, with more planned for the future.

5. MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Tonight is Mid Autumn Festival. It is always a colourful night. Usually we head over to the beach to join this festival of lights, with everyone carrying, lanterns, candles and glow sticks.

It reminds us of the Light which brings hope to the World.

6. MASSAGING AWAY OUR ACHES
A few weeks back a friend from our HK club, kept a promise and took us across the border to Shenzhen so we could experience the relaxing experience of a massage, Chinese style.

For very little money we spent 3 hours having our feet, backs and head massaged by expert masseuse. It was a wonderful break from what has been quite a hectic time.

7. AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR RWANDA
Rachel was just 4 when her dad died and a ripe-old 11 by the time AIDS claimed her mum. Rachel now became ‘mum’ to her 8 and 5 year-old siblings. School was no longer an option for her as she scraped together what she could to feed and clothe her ‘kids’. There was nothing left in the house, as her mother had gradually sold everything to buy food for them, leaving nothing but the mud walls by the time she died.
Now Rachel has a job, a good job. It enables her to pay the yearly local health care fee, which allows her and her brother and sister to see a doctor and get medicine if they ever get ill. She is sending them to school. She has bought furniture and mattresses for her home, and they've started eating better food. They've been able to replace the old tattered clothes with some new ones and she's experiencing the joy and dignity of truly being able to provide for the needs of her brother and sister.
Rachel’s job? She is handcrafting beautiful gift-cards for sale around the world. Rachel could well be making your Christmas card this year! She and 42 other people in similar situations have been employed over the past few months to hand-make each of Crossroads’ Christmas cards this year. The group that employs her were so excited to hear that we were ordering from them that they told us this was just about the best Christmas present that Hong Kong could be giving to Rwanda.
Usually in our newsletter, we tell you about how the shipments that we are sending out around the world are bringing good news to the nations. This month, I wanted to tell you about how a small community in Rwanda is being touched by the simple order of our Christmas cards this year. Look out in your mail-box for Rachel’s handiwork in the coming Christmas season!

8. GETTING OUR CHRISTMAS MAIL LIST TOGETHER
So if you want to make sure you get a Christmas Card from us this year. Please make sure we have your correct mailing address (snail mail) on our data base. Particularly if you moved in the past year.

9. TOWELS BECOME TOOLS IN LESOTHO
In the coming weeks, we will be shipping again to the little country of Lesotho, in Africa. Though small in size, this nation has very great needs.

Many of the young and able-bodied men from Lesotho travel across the border into South African mines, where they can get work. Husbands leave and many bring back sexually transmitted diseases on their return. Damaged hearts and bodies result and, as anger flares, violence has become rife.

Our previous container for Lesotho included many items of medical equipment…and some boxes of towels and soaps. Our consignee gave these towels and soaps to members of the local fellowship. Out they went to each of the homes in the area, giving the towels and soaps as a gift, and telling of the cleansing and healing that comes from the true source of the gift.

Our consignee shared this story with excitement, encouraging us not to give up in what we are doing, and reminding us that even the simplest of items can be turned into tools for change.

Our upcoming shipment to the same group in Lesotho will include items for a home for young ladies who have been victims of violence and rape. They are currently sheltering in a school building. The furniture contained in our shipment will turn a new but empty building into a home of love and comfort for these young women.

10. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT 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 three ways you can provide financial support for us.

1. You can send a cheque to us here in Hong Kong made out to Crossroads International. Our address is below.
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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

Some points for chatting

2006-10-03T14:23:00.000+08:00

Some things that we would love some uplifting for;

* Sue has still got a few more visits to the dentist. She is doing ok, but just for strength and also for the finances to cover

* It is a busy time for us. We have staff away and a lot of shipments coming up, which need to be juggled. For wisdom in knowing which things to concentrate on.

* Phil has taken on some extra responsibilities at our Club. Strength and wisdom needed.

* Planning for end of year trip, to look at organisations doing similar work and to try to strengthen some ongoing partnership opportunities.

Dentists

2006-10-03T14:11:00.001+08:00

With Sue's regular trips to the dentist lately, thought it might be nice to remember the lighter side. Brother Tim sent this to me a few days ago.