+ I now have a mobile phone, but it's turned off during day and night classes and when I'm home: (86) 13030213703. Mobile works only in Zhaoqing area, so can't be used on most Sundays (when I'm away from Zhaoqing on promotions)

+ Many thanks to kind friends who sent used Christmas cards from Christmas 2003.  I'd be grateful for any Christmas 2004 cards that you could send .....for playing the Christmas Card Game in December 2005 DV

Santa Claus....how Saint Nicholas became Santa Claus.  A suggestion for liturgy: first Sunday of Advent should be the Feast of St Nicholas...Santa Sunday....he was a bishop (that's why Santa wears red and white)....he cared for the poor.....about time we reclaimed Santa and held up his example re help for the poor.
At moment Feast of St N is Dec 6, but not celebrated

Christmas Songs and pictures

Appeal for Ng Chuen tiles 

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Tuesday,  December 7, 2004: Dear Friends

Good morning from fine and sunny Zhaoqing, after cool night. Some lovely weather lately. Christmas is in the air.....many English classes and other activities now incorporating Christmas Carols/Cards/Santa Claus 

* Last Tuesday-Thursday: visit by Julian and Priscilla from the China Education Fund. Hope you can come again

* Also Tuesday-Thursday: john@china8.org email address not woking. Hong Server had reindeer problems.
If this happens again, please use my other email: jdwomi@hotmail.com

* Last Sunday: CAS promotion (the first this semester!) to Yunfu - including a happy lunch with 92 year old Fr Ma.  Also on Sunday, Garth took part in a local CAS promotion in Zhaoqing 

* Yesterday morning: two CAS Senior Three students took old books to Ricci Centre and spent time there with each of the three classes. Thank you Catherine and friend whose name I'm not sure of

* Also yesterday: two other CAS Senior Three students (this is an excellent class!) Crystal and Maria spent the morning in Xinqiao and afternoon in Ng Chuen for English classes at the local primary schools. Crystal's grandfather used to live in Xinqiao, so after lunch we visited the house (now not used)....it's right opposite a lovely little Evangelical church which has some 40 people attending service each Sunday + other activities (helping poor students etc). It's leaders were most welcoming. A very happy discovery

* Not forgetting appeal for Ng Chuen tiles

* And fast-approaching Christmas Party at Xinqiao for local English teachers:

+ Name story 01: CAS primary one student to Francis last week: "Francis, what's your name?"

+ Name story 02: Santa Claus....how Saint Nicholas became Santa Claus

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Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Tuesday,  November 30, 2004: Dear Friends

Happy St Andrew's Day from Zhaoqing.  Special greetings to anyone with Scottish blood/surname. Another bonny week:

* Last Tuesday Andrew omi and Paul from Australia attended evening English class at Ricci. Andrew left Zhaoqing next day for visit to his hometown near Fuzhou

* Last Wednesday: Same Paul enjoyed meeting Senior Three students + Happy Birthday Hong Kong Rosa C!
After lunch Luc omi went back to Hong Kong....hoping to return in February

* Last Thursday morning: HK Rosa H, Paul and I visited Ng Chuen village school and Xinqiao Primary School. Paul returned to HK in the afternoon......CAS is hoping he can come back in February

* Last Thursday evening: photo of Cecilia, a sister for Wendy, born at home in poor area F on Monday night, November 22, Feast of St Cecilia!

* Last Saturday night: a break-in at Ricci (...positive thought from Francis: thief will tell others there's nothing there to steal!). Scotland Yard not called in 

* Last Sunday: a five (6?)  year project finished today when English Quiz for the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, was put on www.  New Testament finished three (?) years ago. Click here for finished New Testament Chinese-English-Interactive Quiz and for under-construction Old Testament Quiz. Thank you HK Rosa C for Chinese and HK Kevin for interactive 

+ Prayers please for group of young omi's staying in Kiev square for past week with Ukraine freedom protestors. More info at this site ....although server is down at moment (Tues a.m.)

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"You take the High Road and I'll take the Low Road"....

Thank you for a prayer

Tuesday,  November 23, 2004: Dear Friends

Hello from Zhaoqing, a place of fine sunny days and cool nights....lovely time of the year. CAS back at school today after long weekend

The past week:

* Last Thursday: Garth, Liam and Trevor went with senior students to Panyu Zoo (near Guangzhou)....one of the best zoos in the world (2001 photos) 

* Last Saturday & Sunday morning: visit to Zhaoqing by Hong Kong medical team - consultation for poor people with serious illnesses. Thank you Catherine, Eva, Minie and Vincent + HK Rosa who co-ordinated meeting with the poor

* Last Sunday afternoon: visit by John o.m.i., his sister Carol and Ms Wang

* Yesterday afternoon, Monday: walk around poor areas, including visit to Ricci Centre - Luc omi, Andrew omi, CAS staff and Senior Three students

+ Thank you to HK friend who has paid for tiles in one room at Ng Chuen Primary School. Ten rooms to go!

+  From December 1,  youngest class at Ricci Centre will be split into two groups, one coming in the morning, one in the afternoon. Reason? Two many students!    And....a new pocket of poverty has been discovered - ten minutes drive (one hour's walk) from Ricci - a place called  Wong Mau Gong Chuen.  Some school-less children from there attend Ricci each day. HK Rosa H now visiting homes of Ricci students, especially new students

+ It happened again....Bush's extra votes in Florida (& see last week's diary, below, for other stories about 2004 extra/missing votes)

+ Good to know about: Pat Robertson - US media 700 Club

+ Saturday Dec 18, Sunday Dec 19: English speaking HK friends (all ages, adults, teenagers, children) needed for an overnight stay in  Zhaoqing. Get boat from HK Saturday morning 8.15, arrive Zhaoqing 12.30, transfer to Dynasty Hotel, lunch at Dynasty, then 2pm leave for Xinqiao Secondary School for Christmas Party  3pm - 6pm  and simple evening meal 6.30pm with Xinqiao District local English teachers, then rest of evening free in Zhaoqing. Sunday morning also free time. Then 2pm boat to HK (arrive c. 6pm).  Cost of boat + Dynasty accommodation = c.Y750 per couple for shared room. Please let me know if you can come

+ "How do you pronounce these words?" update: to "angry", "hungry", "onion" please add "donkey". Do you say "don-key" or "dong-key"??  I'm a dongkey, but I suppose as an English teacher I should be a donkey....

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"You take the High Road and I'll take the Low Road"...

Thank you for a prayer

Tuesday,  November 16, 2004: Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing where the ground is wet after some light overnight rain, the first for  a month. Everyone hoping there will be heavier falls in next few days.  Rain has been accompanied by drastic cooling in weather....and was preceded by most unusual warm weather, make that hot weather...which had even the mosquitoes fooled into making a comeback

Day and night classes at Ricci Centre still growing.  Hong Kong Rosa's list of sick people always full

* Thank you Jenny for lovely dinner last Sunday night - and for helping poor people find jobs 

* Ng Chuen Primary School needs money to finish renovations. Anyone kind HK or overseas friend able to help?

+ Saturday Dec 18, Sunday Dec 19: English speaking HK friends (all ages, adults, teenagers, children) needed for an overnight stay in  Zhaoqing. Get boat from HK Saturday morning 8.15, arrive Zhaoqing 12.30, transfer to Dynasty Hotel, lunch at Dynasty, then 2pm leave for Xinqiao Secondary School for Christmas Party  3pm - 6pm  and simple evening meal 6.30pm with Xinqiao District local English teachers, then rest of evening free in Zhaoqing. Sunday morning also free time. Then 2pm boat to HK (arrive c. 6pm).  Cost of boat + Dynasty accommodation = c.Y750 per couple for shared room. Please let me know if you can come

+ Discovery: to speed up deleting of HotMail attachments, hold down ctrl key when you press "delete"

+ This Australian, like most compatriots, maybe not a good English teacher for words like "angry", "hungry", "onion" .....should be pronounced "an-gry", not "ang-gry"; "on-ion", not "ong-ion"!?

+ A few days ago I finished one of the best books I've ever read: "Gandhi" by Louis Fischer. Sir Richard Attenborough (who based his film on this book) is quoted on cover: "The best biography of Gandhi...I was enthralled from the first page...it changed my life".  A powerful book about perhaps the greatest man after JC who ever walked this planet

+ New book I'm reading is Jean Vanier's "Be Not Afraid"...also very inspiring, with servings like this (p.17, slightly changed): " If I get near the poor, listen to them, get to know their past, get to know their names, get to know their children's names, identify with them....then ....I can't go on eating as I used to....I can't accept the luxury and waste..."

+ Abortion Debate - Bp Pat Power: We need to demonstrate that we value all life (Canberra Times Nov 9)

+ USA election:
* pre-election warning by former US president Jimmy Carter: Florida will not play fair (Guardian, Sep 28)
* And it didn't, nor did Ohio. Kerry won Ohio. Hard to believe?  Sour grapes or fair gripe? The more I read the more I feel  Bush should be deleted (= fired/sacked) rather than re-installed in January: 
Kerry Won. Greg Palast, Tompaine.com
<http://www.tompaine.com/articles/kerry_won_.php>

Did Kerry Concede Too Soon? Bob Fitrakis, The Free Press
<http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2004/981>

Was the Ohio Election Honest and Fair? Institute for Public Accuracy
<http://www.accuracy.org/press_releases/PR110304.htm>

Worse Than 2000: Tuesday's Electoral Disaster, William Rivers Pitt,
Truthout
<http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/110804A.shtml>

None Dare Call it Voter Suppression and Fraud, Bob Fitrakis, Free Press
<http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2004/983>

* And if you want to read something really profound about the US election, try George Monbiot's Religion of the Rich (..."need to understand 1630's in order to understand the Bush Project")

* And another most important Monbiot article not yet mentioned: his speech of October 5 to the enviromedia conference in South Africa.  Something every adult should read

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Server (in HK) was down for a day or two last week: no China8, JT, OneMinute English

Tuesday,  November 9, 2004: Dear Friends

Good afternoon from a cloudy Zhaoqing - maybe soon we'll have the first rain for nearly a month. Driest year for four decades. "We'll all be rooned, said Hanrahan, if rain don't come this week"

Maybe dry but never dull:

* Last Wednesday night, November 3: Garth returned to CAS on the first available plane after starting his holidays from the University of Sydney where he is majoring in Chinese. Welcome back for stay No. 3 Garth!

* Last Thursday, Nov 4: Paul left CAS for family reasons, heading to Australia via London. All the best, Paul!

* Last Saturday, Nov 6: Gary left CAS for employment elsewhere after a long-running battle over work conditions. Things are getting better here but there are times when...???   All the best, Gary!

* Last Sunday, Nov 7: Scheduled hike not able to be held because of ban on hiking to the hills (..risk of fire in dry conditions...).....but a small group went ahead with a most interesting tour of the poor areas at foot of hills

* Day and night classes at Ricci Centre continue to grow in number. Harry now a full time day student, but on weekends with his mother back to the street begging, until Dad can find a job. Anyone in Zhaoqing able to help?

* Hong Kong Rosa continuing to see many sick people each day. Yesterday, at request of HK friends, she went across the river to Ching Wan to see a family nearly all of whose members have serious illnesses

* Also across river yesterday: English classes at Xinqiao and Ng Chuen primary schools

* Ng Chuen Primary School needs money to finish renovations. Anyone kind HK or overseas friend able to help?

+ Saturday Dec 18, Sunday Dec 19: English speaking HK friends (all ages, adults, teenagers, children) needed for an overnight stay in  Zhaoqing. Get boat from HK Saturday morning 8.15, arrive Zhaoqing 12.30, transfer to Dynasty Hotel, lunch at Dynasty, then 2pm leave for Xinqiao Secondary School for Christmas Party  3pm - 6pm  and simple evening meal 6.30pm with Xinqiao District local English teachers, then rest of evening free in Zhaoqing. Sunday morning also free time. Then 2pm boat to HK (arrive c. 6pm).  Cost of boat + Dynasty accommodation = c.Y750 per couple for shared room. Please let me know if you can come

+ From the grapevine: direct train between HK and Zhaoqing may be scrapped soon, because not enough passengers. HK people will have to change trains in Guangzhou?

+ Poverty File has excellent update by Bruce Duncan: Hunger = A War by the Powerful against the Weak?

+ USA elections - many interesting articles in Guardian and elsewhere on how family/moral values were (unexpectedly)  numbers one for US voters, with economy no. 2, terrorism no. 3 and Iraq no. 4

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Hello from Zhaoqing on a very important day:
1: Melbourne Cup just run (...so many things happening here I never got to watch it....didn't know name of even one horse....my late Father would have grounds to disown me)
2: USA presidential election: one horse and one donkey, make that mule. Don't know all that much about the horse, but sure hope the mule is not re-elected

* Last Wednesday night: second class at home for a special group of children. Numbers at other evening classes continuing to increase

* Sunday night and yesterday: visit by AITECE  China and Australia co-ordinators Hugh and Margaret who went to our B1 centre, then to the Ricci Centre (where they saw Harry), then to Area C, then to CAS.  On boat to Hong Kong with Hugh and Margaret were Jo's parents after a pleasant  stay in Zhaoqing

+ Middle East File update has Guardian article: 100,000 Iraq civilians dead since the invasion

+ Map of San Mau, with location of Ricci Centre

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Good morning from a fine but very polluted Zhaoqing. Pollution the past few weeks is almost as bad as that in Guangzhou.  Hope we get some rain soon to clear/clean things up

The past week:

* Last Wednesday evening had a very enjoyable first class with a group of 11 primary children at a teacher/parent's home in downtown Zhaoqing. A second parent also  present....just like old days at Notre Dame on a Saturday afternoon. Made me (not for the first time) think that this is the way for education in the future: a couple of parents helping a teacher, mainly by their presence (..photos next week DV...)

* Last Friday-Saturday-Sunday: HK friends Daphne (second visit) and Mandy (first visit) in Zhaoqing. Went to Ricci for Friday afternoon classes and Friday evening English Corner, ran programs for poor children in Areas C and B on Saturday, visited poor homes on Sunday.  God bless you both! 
Thank you also Francis, Jo and Phil for attending English Corner

* Last Sunday - The Story of Harry Parts 1 & 2 (..please read...)

*  Yesterday: Happy morning at Xinqiao Primary School, happy afternoon at Ng Chuen Primary School
While at Xinqiao, heard that local Gaoyao TV broadcast a report of HK teachers' program for Xinqiao District English teachers (Oct 5,6,7) - sent in to TV station by local Education Department

* And at our  local village ED - evening classes at Ricci continuing to grow - photos in a few weeks DV

+ Belated news (heard at last Friday's English Corner): one of China's gold medals at Athens, its first ever for women's wrestling, was one by a Zhaoqing District lady - Xian Dong Mei (from Sihui). Well done!

+ Mental wrestling still going on re Oliver's sacking. Hope to ask local ED to issue guidelines to stop a repetition of this travesty of justice

+  Another Australian election reflection:

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Melbourne Cup next Tuesday - live on HK TV which we get here.  Anything with a Chinese or Irish name?

Same day - USA election - people get the leader they deserve - hope they don't deserve George again.
Michael Moore continuing his last minute trek across the country

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Tuesday,  October 19, 2004: Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing.  Winter and Summer having their annual tussle here, before Summer finally gives up by mid-November.  

The past week:

* Evening classes at Ricci had a promising start, despite the location being not as convenient as the old cafe.
5 children + 7 parents for primary 1 & 2 class last Monday night
7 children + 1 parent for primary 3 & 4 last Tuesday night
11 children + 1 parent for primary 5 & 6 last Thursday night
15 students for English Corner last Friday night
These numbers are about usual for the first week....with increases expected each week from now on

* Last Tuesday, Oct 12: Congratulations CAS Primary English teacher Candy and husband on birth of a baby girl!

* Last Wednesday October 12: visit to CAS, Area B  and Ricci Centre by Hong Kong Lantau Island friends Ah-Yau and Chut-Gu

* Last Friday Oct 15: Welcome back HK Rosa C! (...immediately in demand by sick & needy people...a full schedule the next day). Francis and I have a 100% HK Rosa congregation at daily Mass (Rosa C & Rosa H)

* Also Friday Oct 15 + Saturday Oct 16: visit to Zhaoqing by HK Notre Dame group. Thank you for so many goodies Alfonso, Daisy, Fanny, Fatima, Kate, Maria, Michael and Rosa

* About last Thursday: Linda, Senior 3 teacher, Oliver's wife,  left after giving only 4 days' notice, and went to a school in Shenzhen. Not a very nice thing to do when in such an important position. On the other hand, like other senior teachers, she had almost no Summer holiday, rarely had a weekend off etc.  Yesterday afternoon at 2.30, school not very nicely fired Oliver, giving him only 2 hours to leave the property, because his wife had left...and "because he also was planning to leave" (which Oliver denies....but about which the information is not 100% black and white).
Everyone very sad.... about his dismissal and the manner in which he was required to leave (no chance to say goodbye to Go Abroad students). Oliver was so good and caring towards the students....a good man who wouldn't hurt a flea.  I nearly went on strike today, but eventually showed up for my first class just now. If this had happened in Hong Kong or Australia, the whole staff would be out on strike. Go Abroads  and some overseas staff planning to visit Oliver this coming Sunday at his home in Ding Hu

+ Ricci Centre is named after Matteo Ricci who lived in Zhaoqing 1583-1589.  I've now learnt (from local sacerdos Gabriel) that Ricci stayed the whole 6 years in the building next to tower near HK pier - and didn't shift to building in Cross Street.  Building in Cross Street was put up  about 1860, to commemorate Ricci.
Building in Cross Street is now up for rent, after being used as a clinic these past few years. If anyHK or overseas friends are interested in restoring it as a Ricci memorial + multi-purpose use, please email me: 
john@china8.org  This is a very important historical site and it would be a shame if it finishes up as a factory or restaurant or office or dance centre

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And from today's Crikey email:

+ November 2 getting closer in USA: Michael Moore continuing his last minute trek across the country...

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Hello from a cooler Zhaoqing.  Need a blanket at night now. Lovely time of the year. Has been a full week:

* Last Tuesday: English Corner Day One 9.00 - 11.30 am at Xinqiao (30 minutes from CAS across river) for local English teachers.  Afternoon: HK friends Joanna & Louise had happy gathering with children in Area C
where the day before a beautiful baby girl was born at home (October  4 - Franca!). To finish the day - a meal celebrating Francis' 36th Anniversary

* Last Wednesday: English Corner Day Two 9.00-11am at Xinqiao. Then visiting HK teachers + former CAS teacher David and his sister Donna + Xinqiao friends paid visit to Zhaoqing's Seven Star Crags.  That evening Paul returned from his mother's funeral in Australia

* Last Thursday: English Corner Day Three 9.00-11am at Xinqiao - some 60 local English teachers from the Xinqiao district. Many thanks again Education District C.O. Mr Mak for organizing the teachers to have time off for the course, and many thanks to HK friends Choi, Franca, Joanna, Louise, Paul + Francis for taking the groups.  I hope there can be a Christmas Party reunion for the same 60 teachers on Saturday December 18 DV.  Hong Kong English teachers and English speaking friends most welcome, the more the merrier....an overnight trip to Zhaoqing....travel by boat on Saturday  morning, Party in afternoon and early evening....return by boat/bus on Sunday afternoon
And....DV....I also hope some of the same 60 teachers can also make an expedition to Hong Kong to visit schools and practise English for the week January 29 to February 5 (just before Lunar New Year, when HK people/schools are still at work but people in the mainland are already starting Lunar holiday....just like 2002 when a group of some 20 CAS teachers/friends spent a week in HK:

* Last Friday, October 8: Back to school at CAS after a week's break for National Day....a bit of a shock to the system....as was working on Sat Oct 8 and Sunday Oct 9 (a common practice in China before and after long holidays...to make up time). In fact this working week has 9 days straight (Oct 8-16)!

* Also last Sunday: David and Donna paid visit to CAS (check the middle photo!) and in late afternoon toured the local poor areas + had farewell meal in village with a large group of friends.  Please come back again D & D....in fact I can hear some of the local single teachers saying to David:  "keep coming back until one of us catches you!"

* Evening classes for village children started last night at Ricci Centre (not at cafe any more): Monday - Primary 1 &2; Tuesday - P3,4; Thursday - P5,6; Friday - English Corner for secondary students and adults

+ Last week's diary gave wrong number for Joe in Guanzhou....was corrected a few days later....mobile numbers of course don't need an area code....so Joe's number is 86(China)-13533089274

+ Australian elections held last Saturday. Glad to see presence of Family First is already having a good influence on the government: Oct 11 - The Australian - Anderson to step up pro-family reform.  Mr Howard's victory was widely reported in USA (...Murdoch/war lobby press...). Understandable but sad to think that unlawful invasion of Iraq with subsequent 20,000 deaths + lies + lack of concern for domestic poor/refugees  etc didn't matter to most voters in re-electing Mr Howard (& didn't matter to most community/church leaders who were oh so quiet on these issues); most important was the economy ....influenced  by a one-sided media that supported the government (.. most newspapers...) and/or had little international/serious material (...most tv news services...). Standby now for Mr H to repay Mr Murdoch by loosening media laws to allow Mr M to extend his empire even further.  + See Kris Hanna (Greens)

+ November 2 getting closer in USA: Michael Moore continuing his last minute trek across the country...

+ Also Nov 2 - Melbourne Cup!

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Every good wish to Iona Old Boys for re-union this Saturday night, Oct 16.

Thank you for a prayer. 

God bless!

John W omi

Teacher's (private/silent) prayer before class - has great calming influence (when one remembers to use it!):
Saviour of the human race
You who said "teach all nations"
By your Holy Spirit's grace
Bless this classes' cogitations

Happy St Francis' Day.  This diary a day early because tomorrow from an early hour is due to be spent at Xinqiao for first of a three day course for some 30 local English teachers....course arranged and run by Hong Kong teachers Franca, Louise, Joanna, Choi and Paul who arrived in Zhaoqing at midday today. Welcome to the five of you and thank you for coming to Zhaoqing for this pioneer activity

Yesterday (Sunday) HK Rosa C, Florence, Francis and I went to Guangzhou. Had enjoyable time with Joe who now has two arms and two legs (after losing one and a half legs and half an arm when hit by train at crossing near CAS nearly two years ago). Many thanks again to kind HK friends who have sponsored Joe's program.
Joe loves to receive a phone call, from Zhaoqing, from HK, from overseas:
His mobile number:  86(China)-13533089274
After leaving Joe, we went to Guangzhou cathedral for 3.30pm English Mass (in temporary building next to cathedral which is undergoing Government arranged two year renovation). Full house like last time

The past few days at CAS have been very quiet, with students and staff having one week's holiday to celebrate National Day (Oct 1).  May everyone travelling have a safe journey, especially the six local teachers who have been fired

Last Tuesday, September 28, the Mid-Autumn Festival, CAS secondary & primary both  had evening outdoor concerts/activities....under a lovely full moon.  Before those 7.30pm functions there was a lovely meal for some 30 people at our new B1 centre at 6.30pm

Last Thursday morning the Number One man in Zhaoqing's Education Department, Mr Leung, together with three of his senior colleagues, paid a visit to our Ricci Centre for school-less children. Mr Leung was most appreciative of our efforts to help the poor people of the city

2004-10-01 Guardian: Paradise Cleansed (hard to believe this sort of thing is still happening today)

This Saturday October 9 - Federal elections in Australia - some recommended reading:
* How the Sunday papers want you to vote - from Crikey 
* Big enticements - Catholic Leader (...not the first time CL bravely/honestly/fairly covers items that other Catholic media agencies refuse to mention....e.g. CathNews has a ban on mentioning Family First.)
* Media Releases of Family First Party  Party has copped a lot of unfair comments, but basically it's a group of good people taking a bold stand for family values. Hope they receive a bit of electoral support...which will then encourage the major parties to do more for families

May the Good Lord bless the Land of the Southern Cross on Oct 9!

Because of Iraq invasion (at least 15,000 civilians killed) I hope that  all three are soon out of office: Bush, Blair & Howard.      
Michael Moore continuing his last minute trek across USA...

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Thank you for a prayer. 

God bless!

John W omi

Mid-Autumn good morning from Zhaoqing. Chinese families everywhere have special meal tonight, public holiday in Hong Kong tomorrow for Mid-Autumn Festival.  Moon Cakes on sale everywhere.....hope weather is fine tonight for families, especially the children, to look at the lovely full moon (which has been really beautiful the past few nights)

Last Wednesday: went to cemetery across river with some  visitors - and was pleased to see that Anna Bakhitas's ossuary has new tombstone (final photo in link)

Last Thursday night: Francis and Gary went with primary students to KFC for meal/promotion, Jo-Tevor-Liam went to Mandarin class arranged by CAS for overseas staff (Mon & Thurs nights) and I went to annual Senior One army camp concert (2002 photos - same location)

Last Friday-Sat: HK visitors came to check out HK Rosa's new home - staying at Dynasty Hotel (special deal available except during peak times: return boat ticket + one night at hotel, for less than usual return fare!). Visitors also toured poor areas and spent quite a bit of time at Ricci Centre for school-less children. HK Rosa H, with her long educational experience in HK & Macau, has quickly improved the Ricci base: new toilets, many more books/games and toys for children...and ....the promise of some exams and tests in not-too-distant future! And....when I saw her humbly cleaning the Ricci toilets one day (after a boy had used urinal for major deposit) I thought to myself: she has to be a nun! (Reminded me of priests at Iona in the early days...no cleaners...priests used to clean the boys' toilets)

Saturday: Phoned Peter Barry (in HK hospital for hip operation). Peter and wife Ling were pioneer teachers here at CAS.  Peter due to have other hip done in a few months. (A co-incidence: this morning my OT reading was Gn  32.33 -  about hips!). Peter, hope you are soon jumping about without Jacob/Israel's limp!

Also limping last Saturday: the Brisbane Lions, defeated in Grand Final by Port Adelaide. Congrats Port fans. Was very disappointed by unsportsmanlike behaviour of Lynch & Brown

During the past week much time has gone into getting our new B1 centre ready for use as a community centre, starting yesterday  morning....with official opening tonight (Mid-Autumn).  Manager/guard/teacher/cleaner is Mr Lung (from Area H centre).  New centre has tv/dvd, old computer, "library" (newspapers, magazines only at this early stage), barber's chair and mirror, and (tomorrow) a Singer sewing machine  - to encourage people to learn computer/hairdressing/sewing + learn many things from tv/dvd.   Initial plan is for centre to be open each day 9am-11am (playgroup) and 4pm-11pm (tv. and other activities). Many thanks to kind HK friends who paid for building of centre (cost Y8,000 with furnishings)

Maybe I've been spending too much time this past week looking at moon and stars....but....it struck me in class the other day as I looked at the Chinese flag, if you slightly re-arrange its five stars....put the big one in the middle and the four others around it (top, bottom, two sides) you make a Southern Cross as on flag of Australia, New Zealand and several other countries

I'm now up to p.223 of "The Life of Mahatma Gandhi" by Louis Fischer (on which Sir Richard Attenborough's film is based). Learnt on p. 200 that our number system comes not from Arabia (as commonly thought) but from India.  Book has a chapter on the history of British Rule in India ..... similar to the history of foreign presences in China - very complicated, very unjust and very unknown.  Even famous historical event names like "The Indian Mutiny" become a nonsense when you read the full story of what really happened

For Australian friends: please check Family First, especially "Media Releases" link. 
Re elections in Aust and USA: notice how polls are doubtful - trying to inflate Bush and Howard support (especially Murdoch press and RM's compatriots who own Time/Newsweek. 
Because of Iraq invasion (at least 15,000 civilians killed) I hope that by Nov 3 all three are out of office: Bush, Blair & Howard.       Michael Moore continuing his last minute trek across USA...

Thank you for a prayer. Happy Mid-Autumn!

God bless!

John W omi

Good morning from Zhaoqing. Just to different this time, let's start with a smile:
Abbott & Costello - update of Whose on First Base! (thank you, Agnelo)

All bases at CAS are loaded after three weeks of batting. Sometimes the teachers feel like pitchers, sometimes like batsmen. Liam and I have found our length in Junior School: he now looks after the "Chat Room" (for all the girls + a few interested boys) and I have the "Movie Room" (for most of the boys). Liam is also now helping in kindergarten and Jo is joining the Go Abroad Team several times a week  

Last Tuesday Hong Kong Rosa H arrived in Zhaoqing for work with the poor, especially the children at Ricci Centre. Welcome Rosa and thank you for coming!

Welcome also four HK Shatin friends last Thursday, supporters of our work for the poor. Photo with HK Rosa and Francis

Last Friday - at 2.30am - I happened to turn over during sleep, and felt my bed move. Sure enough a small earthquake, 4.9 on scale, centre at Yangchun about two hours from here. First time I've ever felt a quake.
DG no one injured and almost no damage in Yangchun

Last Saturday night: Brisbane Lions & North Queensland Cowboys both had important victories.  Hope Lions can win their fourth straight premiership this Saturday afternoon, and Cowboys their first over next two weeks. JC a Lion (Rev 5.5)?!

Couple of times last week: a bread run in the morning.  CAS English co-ordinator Oliver Li knows we help poor people, so he's kindly arranged for older students to leave uneaten rolls (from students' 10.15pm supper) at my door....and my morning walk is a delivery service to families in Area B (where a new community centre is just about finished....for people to have somewhere to gather/watch t.v./mother and babies to have Play Group etc....thanks to kind HK friend)

At bottom of FAQ above: seven photos of CAS overseas staff the past seven semesters

OMI General Chapter in Rome now in final week. Fr Steckling from Germany has been re-elected as Superior General. He has been most encouraging in supporting OMI work for the poor in China. Hope he can visit here some day soon DV

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