July News

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

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

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

“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

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

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

In this newsletter: 1. What a month (or so) 2. The marriage of DJ and Liz (Whiz) 3. UK Visited. 4. A big month for Sue. 5 Suddenly cooler Christmas 6. Cards are coming. 7.Hand made dignity 8. A FABBA-ulous match story. 9. Your Partnership with us.

What a month (or so)
It seems so long since we wrote (as our extraordinary month left us with little time). October started with an extraordinary and wonderful wedding between two much loved team members (Liz & DJ). Then on that very evening (after the wedding) Phil left for the UK for the whole month to speak at over 20 meetings. While Sue was kept busy back in HK with new staff to train and several shipments to get out

2. The wedding of the year
The marriage of DJ & Liz was much longed and hoped for. It was a delightful day, a great celebration, which very much reflected this precious couple’s heart for the poor and downtrodden.

It was conducted in the slum built here at Crossroads and each facet reflected different parts of the world, as did the food at the wedding feast. The MD’s compassion was very much in evidence to all who witnessed this great event. Both the hundreds gathered here on site and the many who watched on-line all over the world.

3. UK visited
With the wedding over Phil headed for the airport to catch an Oasis flight to the UK. The flight was provided at no cost to Crossroads (apart from tax) by the airline. In fact some wonderful, support through the provision of hire car, accommodation and even the covering of expenses, has meant this amazing trip was conducted at almost no cost.

But the outcomes were far better than we could have hoped for. The team have told me that over 100 names have been added to our hotline list and a good many of those have expressed interest in coming to work as volunteers at Crossroads. Please do continue to Chat for the many who are now considering whether the MD would have them come to Crossroads

I was told by friends in that it was a mild autumn but it felt cold to me, coming from the Hong Kong version. The thermometer even reading -.5 degrees on at least one occasion! The autumn colours were amazing with reds, browns and gold. And the warmth of the people I met more than made up for the single digit temperature. I really did enjoy seeing England again.

4. A big month for Sue at home
While Phil travelled to the UK and talked himself hoarse, work continued as busy as ever back in Hong Kong. The highlight of this time for me (Sue) was definitely the period when our colleagues from Kazakhstan AKA the Crossroads Central Asia Team were here. During this time they were keen to learn all they could about how we process, inventory and recruit and work with volunteers. They were joined here by a team from a Sydney club, who have supported them for some time and all were able to help pack goods and load a container for Kazakhstan. The goods for this container had a focus to help groups setting up businesses and training people to earn a living. The unemployment rate in the “stans” runs as high as 80% in some areas and hence this work is addressing huge needs in places where there is no safety net of social security. The container was filled with many precious gifts: hairdryers & stylers and mirrors & massage tables for a beauty salon project: fabric, wool and sewing machines for tailoring and crafts; exercise equipment for a gym; cooking equipment for a catering business; car maintenance tools; draughting tables; and (my favourite) wedding dresses and evening wear for a wedding hire shop. What an awesome range of goods came together in this shipment. It brings us such joy to know that so many lives will be changed for the better by what we are able to send.

Another focus during this time has been on training and settling in a number of new team members. Our 2 wonderful Goods Officers, Sheila and Tari are both moving on: Sheila to a new role as proud mum of little Jeania and Tari to married life and more study. To replace them we have 2 equally awesome young ladies, Anna from Cameroon and Monette from Australia. As you can imagine, there is a lot for them to absorb about their new job as well as getting settled into a new country and a very different way of life. Another complication during this changeover has been a key person in processing being on leave for a month and many of the Kazakh and Aussie team needing training in Processing as well. Despite these extra demands on our time we have managed to continue the preparation of goods needed for the shipments and for the local groups that we help. During this time we have also managed to document more of our procedures, which will make for smoother future changeovers.

5. Suddenly cooler
With Phil’s return to Hong Kong has come some cooler weather (Phil is taking credit for having brought it back from the UK). We always look forward to the change of seasons here in Hong Kong, when the Monsoonal shift sees the weather come down from the North. This time of the year is very pleasant. A lull between air con and heater. The only downside is the pollution. The air takes on a grey haze as the Mainland sends a little by-product of industrial growth to us.

6. Want a Christmas card (with special bonus gift) …………. Email your address today
Right now we are starting to write and send Christmas cards and we would love to include you. This year’s cards are wonderful (see story below). But if you want to receive a card, we need you to send us your address by return email. Even if you are certain we have your address, a few minutes sending us an email will ensure that you do not miss out.

7. HAND-MADE DIGNITY
Have you ever employed anyone before, just by receiving a Christmas card?

Each year for the past few years, we have employed groups of various people in need around the world to produce our Christmas cards. We have given people work in Bethlehem, China and Rwanda, each making a nativity scene from their region.

This year, 100 women from villages across Chile have been employed for several months hand-making cards for us. The nativity scene features Chilean mountains, fields, huts and llamas! In a country where 1 in every five people lives in poverty, the gift of employment is just about the best present they could receive. They call it ‘hand-made dignity’.

If you would like to play your part in serving the poor of Chile, why not make sure you are on our mailing list!

Felis Navidad (that’s Merry Christmas in Spanish!)

8. A FABBA-ulous loading and match
In a country where the life expectancy is 38 and half of the population is unemployed, Jacob was counted one of the lucky ones. He ‘had it all’ – a family, home, car and prestigious lecturing job and invitations to emigrate. As he considered life in another country, he first took a long hard look at his own. He didn’t need to look hard to see poverty and sickness. One in every five of his fellow citizens are HIV+, many of them children.

‘How can I continue to teach academic subjects when my people are dying’, he said. He turned down the offers, gave up his job, began a local gathering of people in a poor area and established a work amongst AIDS orphans and widows.

Jacob now provides a daily meal for the orphans, funds their schooling, clothing, shoes, blankets and the much needed anti-retro-viral drugs. He also provides skills training such as tailoring and knitting for the widows and training to run mini businesses. He also visits the local prisons to encourage and teach the inmates.

The shipment that we loaded this month for Jacob and his work included school and household furniture, kitchen equipment, blankets and clothing and a sewing machine. Amazingly, we received some large cones of wool for use on knitting machines. Just what was needed to resource the widows’ knitting business!

We are often referred to as a match-making organisation with the MD being the chief introducer. This shipment is certainly a great example of that principle in action. Some time back, one of our team had come across a man in Australia who is connected with Jacob and his work. Moved by their story, our team mate approached the shipping department to put forward a request for their work and their friend. The shipping manager looked at the other team member in amazement. ‘Look at my screen!’ she said. ‘I am just now typing a letter to someone who works in Zambia! Could it possibly be the same man?’ After some checking they confirmed that it certainly was. We were so encouraged to see the match-maker at work again!

This container was generously paid for by a group of stock-brokers in Hong Kong. Each year, they lay aside their phones, calculators and competitive spirit long enough to focus on raising dollar value not for clients but for those in need. For the past few years, we have been very blessed to be the recipients of the generosity of this group of bankers, brokers and those in the financial arena,

9. Your partnership with us
We are constantly encouraged by our many friends at home, here in Hong Kong and from other countries, who faithfully support us and also remember us to the MD and keep in touch through email and mail. As reported our general support has been down recently and catching up has been slow. Our support covers such things as food, accommodation, electricity etc. One of our friends expressed surprise to hear we need support, so we do need to keep communicating this fact. If you would like to help there are four ways you can provide financial support for us.

For details of how to support us please see the side bar

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

PHIL & SUE