Storms have again caused phone/computer problems for many places...including Marco Polo...so...sorry...I'm again behind in answering email

2008-007-02  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Zhaoqing just after our daily storm....and after the wettest month for 125 years. 
Building industry (including construction of our new classrooms at Marco Polo) has been brought to a standstill.
Also ...  the end of the school year this Friday for most primary schools (including our centers), while secondary schools still have another week.
May all students and staff have a safe and happy holiday.  Safe travelling for all going to Sydney WYD

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-06-27  Happy Birthday  Gloria & Ricci School,  on a rainy day in the wettest June on record

2008-06-28  Thank you HK Olivier & your Guangzhou factory  for another  donation of items to help China8's work for the poor  + Mr Ma from Sichuan

2008-06-29  Visit to poor areas and centers by Hong Kong Caritas group

2008-06-30 & 07-01  Visit to poor areas by  HK/USA Fr David omi and Fr Tom omi +  thank you HK Peter for guitar classes

Calendar 

Recent donation  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
July 1  Stephen Shek & friends, Texas USA - US$4,000

Because of Sichuan earthquake, he's launched this site earlier than planned

From yesterday....arriving by plane in Beijing...a new arrangement

Visa saga reflections (continued):  
-  surely foreigners who are permanent HK ID holders....many of whom have been in HK for decades and have 
travelled to the Mainland hundreds of times...should be treated a little better than someone who arrives on plane from
Australia for first ever visit to HK/Mainland
- maybe China can introduce a Volunteer Visa like many other countries  (..put "volunteer visa" into www.google.com )

Why is almost no one speaking out about this   - The Age an exception

God bless everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

Go Qld in tonight's State of Origin against NSW!

Anyone coming from Australia to HK?  I'd be grateful for small container of Mylanta  (not for stomach, but to put on skin....good for preventing heat rash etc). Can't be bought in HK/China

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

2008-06-26  Dear Friends

Good morning from rainy Zhaoqing.....rain is a welcome relief after nearly a week of 35+  temperatures & high humidity....the latter two guys causing many people's computers to see the doctor....which is one reason this diary is a day late (and email of past few days not yet answered, sorry)

In fact, rain is so heavy and local creeks so full that teachers here at Marco Polo have decided to cancel school this afternoon....traveling may not be so safe for small children returning for 2.30 class start after 11.30 -2.30 lunch break at home

Yesterday morning our dear friend of the past year, Lina, went home to Heaven.....at 3.35am at San Chu Hospital in San Mao.  I was with her and her mother from about 1.30am.  Many thanks to so many people here in China, in HK, Macau and overseas for praying for Lina and visiting her this past year. May her prayers in Heaven help us each day.  Last photos of Lina

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-06-19,20  Visit to Zhaoqing poor areas & centers by Fr Hugh s.c.c. (Ireland/HK/AITECE) & Fr Trevor s.c.c. (Australia/HK)

2008-06-21   Activities at Marco Polo Center & visit to Area C  & Lina   by medical team from Saint Teresa's Hospital in Hong Kong

2008-06-23  Thank  you  HK "Woh Jai"& group & Zhaoqing Rebecca  for visiting poor areas

2008-06-25  Regular Wednesday meal at Marco Polo for families with handicapped children,  with GDTV &  Zhaoqing University College visitors

2008-06-26  Thank you Macau Clara and A-Chung for running activities at Marco Polo Center & at Ricci School 

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
June 23  HK  Woh Jai group visitors: Catherine (HK$100), Magdalen (HK$100), Maria (H$100), Rita (HK$1,000), Teresa (HK$100) 

Recent reflection when walking back home one night:  there are now some 40 people living here at Marco Polo...staff and families...handicapped children and families....several families renting homes from landowner Mr Pang

Phone call a few days ago from Welfare Center in Deqing:  Ming Ming's application to go to school for the blind in Guangzhou in September not successful.  More than
80 applicants for only 24 places.  So...Ming Ming will continue to live here at Marco Polo, as she is very happily doing at the moment

Latest re idea of China8 getting registration for a study center in Marco Polo:  many complications....not the least being that we are doing something illegal by educating 2nd and 3rd and 4th children (..one child policy..).  Publicly, local officials cannot give us registration to break the law. In private, local officials are happy that someone is taking care of these children who, without education, could  become a menace to society.  Bottom line:  keep on going the way we have been going..."unofficially"...all the while maintaining good relationships with local authorities.  Problem:  no registration, no long term work visas for foreigners, just very short term tourist visas. To be continued...

Being with someone when they leave this world, as I was with Lina yesterday morning, is a sacred experience. Also makes one reflect on one's own mortality.
So....today a good day to put in the following piece that usually makes this diary every year or two:
DV I'll be in Zhaoqing for many years to come....an ideal retirement set-up here at Marco Polo...but in the event that the Good Lord has other plans...China8's work can be continued by our local co-ordinator Nicole Zhong  (86) 1316 9344 215 or c/- (86) (758) 6153141.  For many years Nicole has been  teacher-in-charge at Ricci School and accountant for all our finances. She has access to my local bank accounts and is totally loyal and trustworthy.  She can also arrange group visits etc.  In all of the above she would  be supported by our team of HK volunteers   and Marco Polo landlord Mr Pang

God bless everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

Anyone coming from Australia to HK?  I'd be grateful for small container of Mylanta  (not for stomach, but to put on skin....good for preventing heat rash etc). Can't be bought in HK/China

Wed 2008-06-25:  computer problems because of humidity and heat.....3 lots of visitors today.....Lina passed away this morning - so - unable to update diary today. Will try to update it tomorrow Thursday 26.    Please also excuse delay in answering email of past few days

2008-06-19  Dear Friends

Good morning from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing.....where, after some weeks of heavy rain, the river is up to top of its bank (..as is usually the case at this time of the year...), but no serious  flooding as in other parts of the province.  Senior Three (Year 12) students now on holidays....only a few weeks of this academic year remaining before Summer holidays begin for all other students in middle of next month

After no luck with visa on local scene, I went to Hong Kong Monday afternoon, and returned last night by train/bus with a two-entry visa dated June 17, to be used before September 17...allowing me two trips to China for a maximum of 30 days each trip....which means I'll be back applying for a new visa around August 17.
C'mon Dear China...I'm on your side...you can do better than this....present visa system is a joke.  To get a visa one has to produce a hotel booking voucher and return air/train/bus ticket. These last two items are arranged by travel agency for HK100.   They make the bookings, use receipts to get visa, then cancel bookings.  I have no idea what plane I was booked on....no idea what hotel in what place I was booked into. Just a game.....an expensive game....cost me HK$1,000 for two months.....$500  a month just to be here. As Charles Dickens once wrote: "The law is an (donkey)"
And maybe it's time for arrival card  to use the word "foreigner" instead of "alien"

Back on the local front:  as a result of kind visit last Friday and Saturday by Mr Ma Ho Fai (a HK Deputy to People's National Congress in Beijing), the wheels have been set in motion here for our Marco Polo landlord, Mr Pang (a former teacher) to apply for Marco Polo to become a registered study center (not school...too complicated)....as a result of which, hopefully, proper work visas can be obtained in the future for myself and other foreign volunteers - DV

To be fair to the govmint....we have no legal basis for being here, even though local authorities are most supportive of our work for the poor. But that's how things have been operating for many years for many  thousands of voluntary organizations in China .....they/we have just sprung up and done things for society.....because not so easy to get registered, even for locals....just too complicated 

But now the time has come "the walrus said" for China8 to apply for registration.  Danger: might get crushed by wheels of bureaucracy.  Benefit: solution to visa situation for China8 team.
To be continued....

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-06-11  Wednesday  meal at Marco Polo   for families with handicapped children      +    new therapy equipment

2008-06-13  Ming Ming with Deqing Welfare Center officers  + Senior Officer Chu & Marco Polo landlord Mr Pang  preparing for very special visitor tomorrow

2008-06-14 National People's Congress HK Deputy Mr Ma Ho Fai - at our centers, with HK China8 loyal friends Jennie, Michael & Ling.  A red letter day indeed

2008-06-15 Visit to home Shui Hang, about 30 minutes from Zhaoqing, home town of the Tse Family, birthplace of HK Fr Francis Tse s.d.b.

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
May 16  St John the Apostle Parish, HK - HK$5,165
May 25 Stephen Lam, HK - HK$1,000
June 3  "DB3" and friend, HK - HK$8,000
June 14 Peter Kok, HK - HK$1,500
June 16 St John the Apostle Parish, HK - HK$4,148

Very sad...China football team out of World Cup.  Solution:  buy (sic!) a team in English 2nd Division....for China's best players.....team would quickly go to 1st Division & play against world's best players each week....and thereby be properly ready for next World Cup.  China could also enter a junior team in Soccer Australia competition.  Both teams would attract enormous TV audiences here each week

Lost in the system - how much longer can this be allowed to go on?

This week's Losing the Plot Award goes to Vatican for issuing requirement that all seminarians be taught how to say Mass in old Latin rite with back to people

God bless everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) 

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

2008-06-18  Wednesday  8pm.....just back from HK after getting new visa DG

Will try to update diary tomorrow morning before lunch

(There's a possibility I might have to go to HK  Sun-Mon-Tue June 15-16-17 to apply for new visa....if meeting on Friday 13 is unable to help me get new visa here in Zhaoqing.  My visa expires June 17)

2008-06-11  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing after another beautiful Wednesday lunch get together for our  families with  handicapped children  (and see photos of new therapy equipment).  That's the Good News

Photo reports of the past week - which included holidays on the mainland and HK/Macau for Dragon Boat Festival....so ...many visiting groups:

2008-06-06 Many thanks to staff & students of  Saint Eugene College, Burpengary, near Brisbane,  for donating  AUD$600 from your  Crazy Socks Day to help poor families in  Zhaoqing

2008-06-06 Hong Kong Quarry Bay Canossian College Form 5 and Form 7 students  - at Marco Polo Center during  three days spent visiting the poor in Zhaoqing

2008-06-07,08  Visit to  poor areas &  to Yunfu leper center  by  staff and students from HK Tsuen Wan PIME  Paul VI College

2008-06-09  Dragon Boat Festival holiday -3 groups of visitors:  HK Caritas group, HK  PIME Paul VI College group,  Zhaoqing Number One Middle School group - thank you  for running most enjoyable activities at various centers today

2008-06-10 Visit to Mazenod Center, Ricci School, Marco Polo Center, hospital and Bahkita Center   by HK group from St Benedict's Parish in Shatin

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
Many items, especially baby milk powder & items for students from  groups who visited in the past week
June  9 HK PIME Tsuen Wan Paul VI College group - Y6,000
June 10 HK St Benedict's Parish group - Y5,200
June 11  Eleven members of HK "Woi Zhai Brings Hope" Group "和仔希望工程" - HK$1,100

Before Bush retires....last chance for USA and Israeli war machines to attack Iran.....but not much concern being expressed on world stage
....Israel/USA leaders - please read this before you attack Iran

Thank you for prayer for meeting here in Zhaoqing 3pm this Friday June 13 with local & HK government officials - re future of Marco Polo site ...and...visa situation 

God bless everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) 

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

...where's my camera?....steady rain  now falling...in glorious sunshine...symbolic of life here?!

Go Lions!  (and Qld against NSW tonight in State of Origin!)

2008-06-04  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing where some landscaping is in progress around new center and new homes for handicapped ....before start is made next week on
block of 8 rooms (above present primary one building) - to house 6 classes (P1-P6) + a staff room + one teacher's home....preparing for our Ricci School  to shift here to Marco Polo before start of new academic year on September 1 DV

Photo reports of the past week: 

2008-05-30 Happy Birthday Maria;  Ke Ji College students at Marco Polo; Zhaoqing University College students at Ricci School; Thomas Wong, Fr Yuen & Macau group

2008-06-01  International Children's Day -  80 Zhaoqing young workers & college students run  children's program at Marco Polo + Happy Birthday, Maria

2008-06-02   Baby Ho update.....liver much better but not fully ok.... Please put BH on your prayer list

2008-06-02,03  Seven year old Lo Liang after double cataract operation; Ming Ming & Jenny & Tin Tin;  another double cat act - reason and emerging reason

2008-05-03  Special visitors for Lina -  colleagues from Amway Company in Guangzhou

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
May 5  "DB3" & Friend, HK - HK$8,000
May 12  Tineke & Graham Edwards, Melbourne - AUD$300
May 27  Mr Ian, HK - HK$300
May 29  Zhaoqing Charity Society - another donation of items for children at Ricci School
May 30  Thomas Wong & group, Macau - donation to HK Rosa H and HK Rosa C to support their work for the poor
May 30  Luk Fook Jewellry Company, Macau - HK$50,000
May 31  Connie & Bassanio, HK - HK$500
June 1  Young workers from Zhaoqing Forward Semi-Conductor Company - Y430
June 2  Josephine Leung & Lai family, Macau - Y3,000
June 2  Mandy Wong, Macau - Y500

Nice gesture....last Friday two policeman called at Marco Polo as they went past....to see how things were going with little primary one girl hit by father nearly two months ago. The same two kind men who went to girl's home in April.....and had very influential discussion with the father (.."next time...prison").  Has been no next time DG

Cause of earthquakes:    moon link?    No....not  moon link!    On a serious note....last Thursday in one of my Primary One classes at the Canadian-American School....a new student....a little girl from Sichuan....now studying in a safe environment

What do June 4, today, and Iraq's WMD have in common?

More wealth, more meat.....food crisis

Tutu calls for end of Gaza blockade

John Howard's day in court

What one woman did....starting at the age of 70....a beautiful example of real Christianity

What a wise and helpful lead article

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson site

This week's "Losing the Plot" Award goes to learned Australian bishop who has advised his clergy that it is inappropriate for priest  to say "Good Morning" to the  people at the start of Mass.
Come to think of it...in 35 years I have never once said "Good Morning" at start of (afternoon/evening) Mass!

Thank you for prayer for meeting 3pm next Friday June 13 with local & HK government officials - re future of Marco Polo site ...and...visa situation (see last week's diary)

God bless  everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) 

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

Go Lions!

2008-05-28  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Zhaoqing where thunder is growing louder and lightning getting closer ......might soon need to  shut down computer for safety.  Summer is early here....most days we use umbrella in morning to shield from sun, then in afternoon use same umbrella to shield from rain.  Time of year, two,  for two or more shirts each day because of perspiration.
And not forgetting that end of May and end of October are times when many of our migrant worker families go back to their home towns to harvest the rice

Also growing louder and getting closer:  ever more complicated, confusing and expensive regulations re foreigners' visas/registration (..."Olympic nervousness"...).  Only visa now available to foreigners in Hong Kong is a one month, two-only-entries visa....requiring a copy of hotel reservation receipt from China + your air/train/bus ticket to China + HK$900 if you are Australian, much more if you are from UK/USA.....and no visa at all in HK if you are from certain countries (even if you have a HK ID card it would seem....you need to go back to your own country to apply).
This expensive and time-consuming mess has created a new olympic game:  get a free hotel reservation receipt on line  & buy return bus ticket to destination close to HK, then get their visa, then get 50% back on bus ticket and let on line hotel go (a special site has been set up for non-existent reservations).
Each time you enter China and are not staying at a hotel, you are supposed to go to local police station and re-register and re-register and re-register

Recently one foreign member of China8 team lost their passport....and were given a most humiliating  runaround by local Security Branch which, after needlessly delaying procedure for obtaining a new passport from person's embassy, then refused to give exit visa.....saying only "you need to go to HK and get new visa in your passport before we can give you an exit visa"...which is chicken and egg impossible because you can't exit mainland for HK without an exit visa.   Exit visa eventually obtained after help from local police station

A number of foreign teachers have left Zhaoqing after yet more goal posts were recently shifted:  local Security Branch law said some years ago that a business visa was sufficient for teaching at an  institution in  Zhaoqing....but suddenly the national law requiring a full work permit was decreed to now be the law in Zhaoqing.... and many people were left high and dry

For those of us who are genuine foreigners dedicated to helping China work towards a harmonious society by caring for migrant workers, the above situation is a nightmare....so....we are most grateful that in the next two weeks a special friend from HK who is a HK representative  of the National People's Congress, together with a local Zhaoqing official of high standing....are due to visit our centers and poor areas and after seeing our good work....DV...will negotiate with local Security Branch for some sort of special visas for our China8 team

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-05-23   Happy Birthday Ricci School teacher Nicole and Marco Polo "right hand" Jenny 

2008-05-26  Thank you, HK "Wo Jai" & group  for visiting Bahkita, Mazenod,  poor homes, Marco Polo, & Ricci School.  And welcome HK Maria!

2008-05-27  Visit to (in Cantonese) Sa Bo, Or Tung Chyun, Sa Jau and Wan Low   - thank you Gabriel and A-Fan

2008-05-28  Marco Polo Wednesday lunchbox meal for handicapped and homeless  + volunteers from Ke Ji College with activities for World Children's Day
(This report has photos of new multi-purpose center + homes for handicapped children's families)

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
May 23 HK Brenda Chim - HK$10,002
May 26  HK Woh Jai group - HK$3,200 and Y5,400

Good news from Joe in Guangzhou:  he now has a job in mobile phone company sales office.  His own mobile:  1342 2309 147.  His email: kw-kylin@163.com
Next targets DV:  a home....and a wife!

If only Europe would listen to Carter     If only Carter could come back 

Excellent Guardian report on Burma's leading general    see previous report "Burma's Bulldog"

Recent discovery for Palm Pilot users:  if you get message "COM 1 not available etc".....go to control panel & delete your modem (after noting its make etc)....then COM 1 will let you HotSync...then re-install modem ....after which no more "not available" messages

God bless everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) 

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

Go Lions!

2008-05-21  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Zhaoqing on Feast of Saint Eugene de Mazenod  who died on this day in 1861....after spending most of his life bringing Good News to poor people.  Eugene's link  with China?....my favorite is this one

Today is also third day of mourning for Sichuan earthquake victims.  Death toll now around 70,000. 
China8 has offered to sponsor a bereaved family group to come to Zhaoqing.  
Two more earthquake reports:
Wedding photos capture earthquake    and   Pupils saved after one school stands firm in quake  (final paragraph the most important...)

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-05-16,17  Thank you Macau Hope Group for running yet another clinic for poor people at Marco Polo Center ...seeing some 200 patients

2008-05-17  Visit to Mazenod, Bahkita and Marco Polo by  HK St Teresa's Hospital group  - with HK Lantau Island China8 friends Ayau and Anna

2008-05-19 Thank you May Dyer in Australia for lovely shawls given to handicapped children today ;     new water tank at Marco Polo

008-05-20,21  Marco Polo Center's newest student:  9 year old blind orphan Ming Ming. 
 On her first ever day of school she is happy, happy, happy....with MP children competing to look after her

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
May 16 Macau Hope Group - items for Marco Polo clinic
May 17  HK St Teresa's medical group - items for Marco Polo clinic
May 17 HK Ayau & friends - HK$4,000

Recent discovery: when Hotmail blocked/not working - use "Option 1" on this link   (Hotmail not working a few days ago....)

God bless  everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) 

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

Tonight in Sydney:  Go Queensland against New South Wales!

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

2008-05-14  Dear Friends

Hot afternoon hello from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing .....maybe a storm before night.  Great sadness in China following Sichuan earthquake....coming on top of Burma cyclone.  Many deaths in both places could have been prevented:  Burmese government was warned of cyclone by India Weather Bureau two days before cyclone hit....but didn't inform people; many new buildings in
Sichuan quake were of poor quality because of corruption....e.g. new school which collapsed near older buildings which did not collapse.
But what a contrast between the callous indifference of Burma's generals and the immediate response of Premier Wen Jiabo (who was on plane to Sichuan within one hour of quake happening)

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-05-10,11,12  Thank you "Zhaoqing Volunteers'  Society" and  HK Oblate China Educaton Group for visits and gifts

2008-05-13,14  Visit to Marco Polo, Mazenod, Ricci School & Bahkita Center by HK Luc omi.
Also at MP/Ricci:  Zhaoqing University College volunteer & Australian OMI lay volunteer Trudy

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
May 06 HK Boncy Heung & Friends, HK$18,230
May 06 Pauline Hannelly, Sydney - AUD$300
May 08 HK Canossian Sisters, HK$200
May 08  Mazenod College, Perth, Western Australia - HK$85,480
May 08  Oblate China Education Group - HK$21,091 - to support salaries of 3 teachers at Ricci School 
May 10  Zhaoqing "Volunteer Society" - donation of clothing for poor families
May 14  Zhaoqing College law students, Y935 - to buy watermelons for children these hot days!

Chinese artists perform for Pope - DG!   and see Billy Graham's wife was born in China

Top of this page - latest Aust govt  info re travel in China

Shame,  Israel,  shame, shame, shame   -  see    Jimmy Carter - human rights crime in Gaza

God bless  everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) 

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

If you were wondering what happened to www.jesustower.com a few days ago.....why its index page was replaced by that of China8....reason: at Hostgator.com, our server, for some reason
JT.com was shifted from being an "addon domain" to being something else whose name I can't remember.  Kind staff at www.hostgator.com were excellent in quickly fixing problem

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
Your message / my reply may not have got through. 
Please use a distinctive "subject" like "CAS" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

Tomorrow, Thursday,  I'm due to go to HK for afternoon celebration of Canossian Sisters' 200th Anniversary.  Due to return to Zhaoqing Friday morning
I'm due to be in Deqing every second Sunday:   05/11,  05/24   etc.        On other Sundays I'm due to be in Yunfu.           Most Saturdays I'm due to be in Xinxing

2008-05-07  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Marco Polo Center where the cicadas are our daily alarm clocks  (5.40am yesterday,   5.37am today.....they're sure punctual)....and where workers are adding finishing touches to our five homes for handicapped children and their families + multi-purpose center (..therapy for handicapped children + activities for students).  And later today....the China Philharmonic Orchestra is due to play for Benedict  - DG!

Recent photo reports:

2008-04-27,28   Many thanks  to medical team from Saint Teresa's Hospital in HK,   with "Wo Jai" as  guide, 
for running health clinics at Bahkita, Mazenod  and Marco Polo centers

2008-04-27 to 05-02  OMI annual retreat in HK

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!):  
03/27 Stephen Lam, HK - HK$1,000
04/02 "DB3" & Friend - HK$6,000
04/08 St John the Apostle Parish, HK - HK$7,389
04/15 "DB3" & Friend - HK$2,000
04/24 Stephen Lam, HK - HK$1,000
04/26 "Australian friend from Hong Kong" - HK$500
05-02  Chu Family, HK - Y500
05-02  Maria, HK - HK$500
05-02 Monica, HK - HK$500
05-02 Notre Dame friends, HK - HK$950
05-02  Rosemary Loo, HK - HK$5,000

I recently finished reading  "Creating a World Without Poverty" by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus.   Cannot recommend this book too highly.  And see   www.kiva.org  for a further idea:  on line micro credit!

During last week's retreat I bought and finished reading "90  Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper.   I couldn't put it down. 
Also bought and read "young person's version" of "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore  - excellent

Top summary of food shortage issue:  http://www.guardian.co.uk /environment/2008/apr/29/food .qna  and see  http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/11388/

New book on JFK:  "JFK and the unspeakable - why he died & why it matters"

New angel in Heaven - six year old blind boy from Deqing who died May 2 - "Philip"  

God bless  everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses
 - particularly: Lina (Marco Polo),   Mr Leung (Zhaoqing),  Yve (Aust) & Chris (Aust) and an 11 year old girl with Leukemia in Yunnan Province  

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

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Diary  2008