Diary  2006

2006-12-31 Dear Friends 

Hello from Zhaoqing for the last time this year.  I hope you had a Happy Christmas .... I wish everyone good health and safety for the new year.  Has been a very special Christmas week here with many happy gatherings....as Peter once said "It's been good to be here":

2006-12-21 Christmas restaurant meal for migrant worker families living near Assisi Center

2006-12-22 Balloons featuring in this year's Christmas decorations at Mazenod, Ricci and Assisi (same day: Zhaoqing University students had activities at Marco Polo - photos coming)

2006-12-22 Christmas party at Zhaoqing Middle School for keen Junior Two English students

2006-12-23 A happy Saturday: Macau Mr & Mrs Wong & Ms Wong at CAS; Christmas party/class/English Corner at Ricci Memorial Center

2006-12-24 Thank you Zhaoqing Car Club for books and other items for school-less children! (same day: Christmas party at Bahkita Center, HK Rosa H helped by HK friends Anna, Clare & Pinky)

2006-12-25 Christmas Day: church, Marco Polo, Mr Xue, evening English, new baby today  - what a happy day! (same day + Dec 26,27: HK
Tung Chung sisters Carmen, Chrisy and Eva visited poor areas)

2006-12-26 Visit to CAS, Marco Polo & Ricci School by HK St Aflred's group.  Also at Ricci: Clara's Macau group

2006-12-27 Visiting/helping the poor in Zhaoqing: Fr Victor, Clara & friends from Macau;  Fr Stefano, Candy and friends from Hong Kong.

2006-12-28 Fr Martin's SDB Macau group - visited all centers these past few days - gave up school holidays to spend time with the poor

2006-12-29 Four HK/Macau groups: Canossian group, A-Yau'group, Clara's group, Cecilia & Winnie  - thank you for helping poor children!

2006-12-30  HK Canossian group - Christmas party for Bahkita/Ricci/Marco Polo children   + HK Cecilia & Winnie + English Corner

Calendar (see last week's diary, below, for visitors' special schedule for visiting poor areas)

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
Miss Wong, Macau -Y1,000
Lei Wa Kik, Macau - Y300
Wong Kok Hang, Macau - Y3,000
Thomas Wong Kok Ching, Macau - Y2,300
Parishioners of St Alfred's, Hong Kong - Y4,220
Parishioners of St John the Apostle, Hong Kong - Y5,025
Clara/Fr Martin's group, Macau - Y4,000
Loretta, Macau - Y2,000
Ali, HK - Y2,000
A-Yau & friends, HK - Y3,500
Mr Lee, HK - Y500
Elizabeth, HK - Y,1000
Winnie, HK - Y150
Cecilia, HK - Y1,000

China Bible Quiz Number 10  closed 2pm HK time December 25 (results up soon!)

+ Great new site: www.bjenglish.com.cn - (except it's still mainly in Chinese) - will have  translations of many English dishes/sayings etc

+ Christmas in China?

+ Must read - Monbiot - The darkest corner of the mind

+ Dec 23, 2006: Abp Rowan Williams - spot on

+ I agree with many observers who say that the trial of Saddam Hussein was a travesty in justice.  He was a monster,  but his execution  will increase, not decrease, terrorism.   Government/courts in Iraq are puppets of US.  Bush is responsible for more deaths in Iraq than Saddam.

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the  dear friends fighting cancer

God bless everyone right through 2007!

John W omi

most frustrating thing about internet disruption the past few days: no news:  no cricket news!  (just a few tantalising slips from Google when you put in "ashes-hayden-symonds"etc)  ....until I discovered this!

2006-12-21 Dear Friends 

Good morning from Zhaoqing on this 4th day before Christmas. 
I wish everyone: family-OMI confreres-Zhaoqing/Hong Kong/Mainland/overseas friends - - - a Happy Christmas! 
No matter what life is like at the moment, may everyone have a special experience of Christmas peace this coming week

The past week:

2006-12-16,17  HK Columban group -  Joan, Lucia and Maureen - with Conor at Sat English Corner + Sun visit to all other centers

2006-12-17 Number Four Hospital in San Mau, near CAS:  good news re Mr Xue

2006-12-18 San Mau No. 4 Hospital's Dr Mai and Nurse Luo with CAS's Garth - visiting Mr Xue, Li Jan Jan, Mr An and Wendy

2006-12-20  Christmas canteen meal for migrant worker families living near former Xavier Center

2006-12-11  Pearl River Delta newspaper front page story on Matteo Ricci  (thank you, Francesco, for this link)

Christmas DVD in all classes this week: "The Red Boots of Christmas"  (..obtained from Amazon in less than a week!) ...and this version works in "all regions"

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
Doris K - Brisbane - AUD$20
Conor & Clare - Zhaoqing - Y1,000
Johan - Guangzhou - Y1,000

+ Dec 16  Blair and arms  - "must read"

+ What would I like for Christmas?   A few more kind people to take part in Number 10!
A CAS  senior student , Nicholas, has already selected the "lucky" numbers for
China Bible Quiz Number 10  closing 2pm HK time December 25.  
I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+ Would also love to see a few more hits on First Minute...please

+ Sunday 11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church started using Sambuhay last week.  Excellent.  Downloaded from internet (but not easy to order!)

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the  dear friends fighting cancer. 
I am confident that if a few kind people would please say a little prayer each day for a certain little finger, then a certain little boy will have a lovely Christmas present

May this Christmas be a time of peace and courage and healing

Merry Christmas!

John W omi

p.s. What Santa gives to naughty boys!

2006-12-14 Dear Friends 

Good morning from Zhaoqing on this 11th day before Christmas.  All English classes these days are about Christmas.  I've done the song "You'd better watch out....Santa Claus is coming to town" with seventeen classes these past two weeks (CAS, Ricci am & pm, Cross Road). 
I look forward to the day when Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas)  is reclaimed .....I'd like to see the first Sunday of Advent become Santa Sunday, to promote a spirit of giving/sharing rather than receiving at Christmas

Also coming to town the past week:

December 10:  Many important visitors attended Matteo Ricci Seminar in Zhaoqing Dec 8-11 ...one special visitor from the University of Naples in Italy being Professor Francesco Maglioccola  (who is passionately piecing together the history of Ricci.....accessing documents - from places like the University of Lisbon - that haven't been opened for some 200 years!......on a private shoe-string budget. His email:
francesco.maglioccola@uniparthenope.it )

Dec 12: Welcome to former Hong Kong Notre Dame teacher Frankie (now living in Australia) and his cousin A-Wah. They joined Professor
Francesco for first part of tour of poor areas and centers.  This link also has photos of evening English class at Ricci School

Dec 13: CAS secondary students' concert

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- Nov 29 - Sydney Pauline Hannelly - AUD$200
- Dec 6 - International Ladies Club of Macau - Y6,900
- Dec 8 - HK Peter & Ling - Y2,000 (for 200+ poor  children's Christmas Dinner and party Dec 25 + other Christmas activities)

+ Jimmy Carter's new book - "must read"

+ China Travel Advice (recommended by Australian Consulate General in Guangzhou) -this link is at right side of China8 main page

+ Asian Games in Doha, Qatar

+ Chopsticks vs Trees info

+  First Minute.  Idea of giving first computer minute to J  has a good effect for rest of computer time

+ A CAS  senior student , Nicholas, has already selected the "lucky" numbers for China Bible Quiz Number 10  closing 2pm HK time December 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+ Not many teachers at CAS have a home fixed phone....most have mobiles.  I have a home fixed phone which makes quite a noise when ringing.  If I'm not home I take it off hook....especially to save waking local teachers during their midday siesta  (...some of them work 16 hours a day and the midday rest is not a luxury). But if I'm out, my mobile will always be turned on. 
Which reminds me: if I miss a call while in class etc, my mobile will show the missed number and I can ring back....except if call is from outside mainland: mobile doesn't show complete number....so I don't know who I missed....so if you ring from outside mainland and I miss you, please call again after a while

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the  dear friends fighting cancer 
I am confident that if a few kind people would please say a little prayer each day for a certain little finger, then a certain little boy will have a lovely Christmas present

God bless!

John W omi

ok....for the sake of the series....I hope England win Test starting in Perth today...

Some ideas for  more meaningful Advent/Lent liturgies   

2006-12-07 Dear Friends 

Good morning from Zhaoqing on this 18th day before Christmas.  Carols now being played on local radio....decorations in shops...cards being sent....most of the world's Christmas presents are made in ..... China!

The past week:

Dec 1:  Another happy Friday afternoon at Marco Polo Center, with visitors Hamish & Matt  + students from local San Mao School

Dec 2: Afternoon and evening English classes at Ricci Memorial Center in town, with Conor, Hamish and Matt

Dec 3: After first English Mass;  Guangzhou uni students;  San Mau Hospital;  English class with Garth, Hamish & Matt + C, D, I, J
Many thanks, Hamish & Matt, for all your help this past week.  Well done on spending a GAP year in China.  Wishing you safe traveling to Northern China before you return to Australia in January. God bless!
And....the man in hospital...Mr Xue....a pauper who collects rubbish for a living....no relatives....but a most inspiring group of fellow poor friends who are helping look after him in hospital....the sort of people you'd do anything for 

Dec 5: Evening English class for Primary 4,5,6 at Ricci School (for non-Ricci students)

Dec 6: Hong Kong PIME visitors....happy to see so many places with Italian names  (..Ricci...Marco Polo...)

Dec 6:  CAS Primary 6 English teacher Candy and daughter Xiao Mei

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- Dec 3: Guangzhou university students - Y885  (to help HK Rosa C paying for medical treatments for the poor)
- Dec 6: HK PIME -Y500
 
+ Total donations for November 2006 = Y32,550;  Total help  for the poor in November 2006 = Y36,670 (teachers' salaries; medical bills etc)

+ Dec 5 - More buses!  (Monbiot) - excellent as usual

+ Darfur update

+ Asian Games now on in Doha, Qatar

+ Rupert:  China Promotion (Southern TV)      Monstrous Power

+ Bishops' file has (not very charitable) update

+ My first computer job each day is now First Minute.  Idea of giving first computer minute to J  has a good effect for rest of computer time.
Have stopped working on Good News ....just can't find any good news....which means most, nearly all of the "news" we follow is not that happy, which means we're digesting unhappy ideas most of the time....which is not good for our mental health???

+ Best Good News in past week (unless, most regrettably, you are English) ....Guardian's reports from Adelaide Oval!

+ A CAS  senior student , Nicholas, has already selected the "lucky" numbers for China Bible Quiz Number 10  closing 2pm HK time December 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the  dear friends fighting cancer (..recently added to group: Dorothy in Tasmania).
I am confident that if a few kind people would please say a little prayer each day for a certain little finger, then a certain little boy will have a lovely Christmas present.
As HK Rosa C continues to help people by natural remedies and prayer, I've been (re-)reading  the best Healing books I know - by MacNutt and Sanford.  Recently discovered Francis & Judith MacNutt's website

God bless!

John W omi

Some ideas for  more meaningful Advent/Lent liturgies   

Tomorrow, Dec 8, Feast of Immaculate Conception (Mary's conception in her mother's womb) -often confused with the Virgin Birth (Jesus' birth from the Virgin Mary) .... c.f. some reviewers of new movie "The Nativity Story"....the reviewers get mixed up and speak about Jesus' birth as the Immaculate Conception

2006-11-30 Dear Friends 

Hello from Zhaoqing on this Saint Andrew's Day.....which means Advent & Winter are just around the corner.  Winter officially begins on...well...I used to think December 1, but I just checked and found out that the correct date is December 21   (which is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and in the Lunar/Chinese Calendar is the Winter Festival).  

The past week:

November 25: a truly happy day at Marco Polo, with visitors from Xiangshu (Zhaoqing) and Kissbus (Guangzhou)

Nov 26: Clare, Conor, Johan and John at CAS & centers + Christy, David and Irene

Nov 27: Question & Answer time at Keji College, near CAS

Nov 28: Happy birthday Marco Polo teacher Leanne + a special little finger + uniforms from HK

Nov 29: Hamish and Matt back in Zhaoqing for a week helping out at Ricci School & Marco Polo - photos next week

Ricci Exhibition in Zhaoqing now has some changes

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- 11/25  Xiangshu group (Zhaoqing) - Y300
- 11/25 Kissbus group (Guangzhou) -Y13,250

+ CAS is looking for more overseas teachers, for new semester starting Feb 27, 2007 and for semester starting Sep 1, 2007.  Please email me for details -  john@china8.org 

Nov 25  O yes - Australians (& everyone else) urged to do more to understand China & India

Nov 29  Monbiot: Defence Against What?  (excellent)

From this Sunday December 3:  11am English Mass every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1) at Zhaoqing C. church

+ My first computer job each day is now First Minute.  Idea of giving first computer minute to J  has a good effect for rest of computer time

+ A CAS  senior student , Nicholas, has already selected the "lucky" numbers for China Bible Quiz Number 10  closing 2pm HK time December 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+  If anyone is coming to Zhaoqing from HK in the next two weeks, I'd be grateful if you could bring some mail for me from Notre Dame (phone 27157263)

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 14 dear friends fighting cancer.
I am confident that if a few kind people would please say a little prayer each day for a certain little finger, then a certain little boy will have a lovely Christmas present.
As HK Rosa C continues to help people by natural remedies and prayer, I've been (re-)reading  the best Healing books I know - by MacNutt and Sanford.  Recently discovered Francis & Judith MacNutt's website

God bless!

John W omi

Some ideas for  more meaningful Advent/Lent liturgies   

2006-11-23 Dear Friends 

Hello from Zhaoqing where there has been some lovely rain the past few days....and where people are wearing cardigans and jackets for the cooler weather.  Happy Thanksgiving Day today!

The past week:

Nov 16-17  Visit to poor areas by Mr Wong from Macau

Nov 19  HK visitors Diana, Edmond, Hannah, John, Kenny & Slawek - with Zhaoqing English students Christy, Dave, Irene & Jimmy

Nov 20 Welcome Peding and Vin for meeting with HK OMIs

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- Oct 4 - "DB3" - $4,000
- Nov 2 - "DB3" - $4,000
- Nov 3 - DB Anon - $1,000
- Nov 19 Zhaoqing Jimmy - Y1,000
- Nov 21  HK Julie -  $500

+ CAS is looking for more overseas teachers, for new semester starting Feb 27, 2007 and for semester starting Sep 1, 2007.  Please email me for details -  john@china8.org 

Global Warming:
Nov 16 Severe drought in South and East China

+ Nov 22 - General Secretary of World Council of Churches in China  - a story ignored by Western religious media, just like this one, maybe because these stories don't fit stereo-type of "no religious freedom in China" ....
..which reminds me...from Sunday December 3, 2007...   I'm due to lead 11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

+ Nov 23 - China and India sit down and talk peace/development ....while Mr Blair stands on Afghan soil and  and talks terrorism

+ I'm grateful to see some people have been going to   First Minute  and  Good News.  Idea of giving first computer minute to J  has a good effect for rest of time....

+ A CAS  senior student , Nicholas, has already selected the "lucky" numbers for China Bible Quiz Number 10  closing 2pm HK time December 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 14 dear friends fighting cancer.
This week's little (?) miracle story:  three year old son of Ricci teacher Cherry diagnosed with serious heart problem....problem visible in MRI scan from Zhaoqing No. 1 Hospital.....enter HK Rosa C with reflexology/herbs/prayers.....boy is taken to Guangzhou specialist hospital to prepare for surgery, and top doctor finds there's nothing wrong.  DG on this Thanksgiving Day!

God bless!

John W omi
(following Guardian live scores from First Test in Brisbane....keep going Matt Hayden!) Could get live scores from Australia's ABC, but more enjoyable to read live reports from a suffering Englishman

I'm due to go to Hong Kong Sunday afternoon Nov 19 for meetings, due to return to Zhaoqing Tuesday night Nov 21.  
HK mobile:  (852) 67095674       Mobile between Zhaoqing and HK: (86)- 13426973832

2006-11-16 Dear Friends 

Good morning from Zhaoqing where weather continues to get just a little cooler.....and where's there been no rain this month. China, like the  rest of world, now becoming concerned about water shortage:   Nov 14     Nov 6  .   Serious climate predictions now include the drying up of the Mekong, Ganges and Yangtze rivers within 40 years ....which is why little people like us are now careful about using electricity (lights/computers/air cons etc) when they don't need to be on.....if a few million people save a tiny bit of power each day....that means so much less heat needs to be generated and affect the climate

Recent happenings:

Nov 7 Rice boxes for people living near former Xavier Center

Nov 10  A happy Friday afternoon at Marco Polo, with students from Jin Yung College

Nov 12  Sunday afternoon visit to CAS by Zhaoqing friends Jimmy, David, Christy and Irene - with Garth & JW

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- friend of Ms Chan in Shenzhen - Y500
- Ms Wng Yuk Ling - Macau - Y1,000

+ CAS is looking for more overseas teachers, for new semester starting Feb 27, 2007 and for semester starting Sep 1, 2007.  Please email me for details -  john@china8.org 

+ 1987-05-19  Receipt of my first ever visit to Zhaoqing, staying in luxury (?)

+ Nov 10: Guangzhou parents encouraged to have more than one child

+ Nov 14: Why should international agencies help a rich China?

+ Nov 15: Religion should help boost social harmony

+ Homosexual file has been updated with article containing much scientific date

+ Above article is from new site with lots of interesting articles, run by Opus Dei members

+ I'm grateful to see some people have been going to   First Minute  and  Good News.  Idea of giving first computer minute to J  has a good effect for rest of time....

+ A CAS  senior student has already selected the "lucky" numbers for China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz  010  closing 2pm HK time November 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+ From Sunday December 3, 2007:   11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 15 dear friends fighting cancer....

God bless!

John W omi

2006-11-09 Dear Friends 

Hello from Zhaoqing where the Melbourne Cup was followed with great interest on Tuesday. Well done, Japan!  

Racing the past week:

November 4: visit to Assisi, Ricci School, Area C and Marco Polo by students from Guangzhou University of Business Studies, with Apple from New York with gift from The Council of Overseas Chinese Services

Nov 6: After school study/tuition at Bahkita Center with HK Betty, HK Magdalene and Macau volunteer Goretti

Have you checked    First Minute  and  Good News   ?

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- The Council of Overseas Chinese Services - New York - Y1,000
- Loretta - Macau - Y3,000 to support Assisi Center for 3 months
- Goretti & Stella - Macau - Y1,000
- Mr Au - Macau - Macau$2,000

+ Total October donations = Y30,500
+ Total October help to the poor = Y35,200 (includ salaries of local staff; rents; medical bills, repairs etc - full details available on request)

+ Nov 3: Africa summit in Beijing - must read!

+ November 3: A dangerous Bush

+ November 3: Global warming is affecting China

+ Nov 3:  Shame Israel, shame

+ Nov 5:  This statement is missing a name - John Howard: 
Given that the invasion of Iraq was illegal and given that hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died as a result of this invasion, it must be the case that Blair and Bush are also guilty of crimes against humanity. Presumably we can look forward to a speedy trial for the pair of them? Saddam is certainly guilty but the death penalty should never have been an option. Posted by piesman on November 5, 2006 10:40 AM. (Guardian Blog)

+ Nov 6: Bush & Blair and Saddam's hanging

+ CAS is looking for more overseas teachers, for new semester starting Feb 27, 2007 and for semester starting Sep 1, 2007.  Please email me for details -  john@china8.org 

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz  010  closing 2pm HK time November 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+ From Sunday December 3, 2007:   11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 15 dear friends fighting cancer....which reminds me: little Wendy (10 year old paralytic opp Mazenod Center has recently showed remarkable signs of improvement... HK Rosa is calling it a miracle...DG!

God bless!

John W omi

2006-11-02 Dear Friends 

All Souls Day hello from Zhaoqing.  ASD same  idea as Chung Yeung Festival (Oct 30) which is why so many people in China are visiting graves these few weeks.  After checking with CAS students on internet, I now know that today is a public holiday in some 6 countries and...yesterday, All Saints' Day, was a public holiday in some 40 countries (... Philippines also should be on the list!)

The past week:

October 26,27:  (1) visit by Clara & Victor from Macau  (2) visit by Guangzhou university students (3) welcome back Paul from Australia

Oct 28: English classes at Ricci Memorial Center in town, to raise money for school-less children

November 01: Jia Jia back home in Zhaoqing after throat operation at hospital in Guangzhou. Thank you, HK Philip1

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor - God bless all donors!
- 10/27/: Y1,000 from Clara & Victor, Macau
- 10/31/: HK$15,294 from HK China Education Fund to help support 3 teachers' salaries for next 6 months

+ 10/30: birth of twins Good News (born in morning) and First Minute (born in afternoon). Visitors to maternity ward welcome. Just click!

+ c.1,400 people each  day are signing up to use excellent free website counter from StatCounter  (no banners/advs/pop-ups..)

+ October 31:  Climate change - excellent Monbiot commentary on Stern Report 

+ Some old folders from China8 & JT have now merged to form China Library

+ Co-incidence? Providence?   New Protestant church in Zhaoqing was recently opened on ....September 10......which is the day, in 1583, that one MatteoRicci arrived in Zhaoqing!  .....and therefore the day set for opening of Ricci Exhibition

+ CAS is looking for more overseas teachers, for new semester starting Feb 27, 2007 and for semester starting Sep 1, 2007.  Please email me for details -  john@china8.org 

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz  010  closing 2pm HK time November 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+ From Sunday December 3, 2007:   11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 15 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

First Tuesday of November - the Melbourne Cup - my tip: Siamun  (...that's close to Chinese for "West gate" which is what we say to taxi company when we phone for a cab: "Ga Mei (CAS) Si mun")

p.s. C'mon ROAR

2006-10-26 Dear Friends 

End of October hello from Zhaoqing.  Lovely Autumn weather these days.  Lots of  links below calendar....hope you can check them

The past week:

October 19: updated photo of this semester's overseas staff at CAS  (+ photos of all overseas staff at CAS since Sep 2001 - some 50 people)

Oct 20: a happy day - visit by Ricci School children to Ricci Exhibition in town + Ricci Memorial Center + ... KFC!

Oct 23: Mr On - paralyzed for two years but not giving up  + three way pup tussle

* Some old HK/Australia photos from 1987, 1988

Calendar:

+ October 19:  Monbiot - How to stop the planet burning (book review - must read)  +   Putting state on trial  + The Cult of the Heroic Animal

+ Oct 20: "English teachers wanted: who is teaching China's youth?" - must read for anyone thinking of working in China

+ Oct 23: Archbishop of Canterbury concludes two week tour of China - note the spot-on observation that in China "co-operation comes before dialogue"

+ Oct 24: Microcredit for China - a most important article

+ Oct 24: Ozspirit - excellent articles re fair trade etc

+ Oct 25: Foreign teachers expelled from China !!!

+ Oct 25: Collapse of ecosystem coming soon? 

+ Oct 25: Well done, Jonathan Steele (Guardian) on getting interview with president of Sudan - situation is more complicated than at first seems...

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz  010  closing 2pm HK time November 25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part.   Results of Bible Quiz 009

+ From Sunday December 3, 2007:   11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 15 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

First Tuesday of November - the Melbourne Cup - my tip: Siamun  (...that's close to Chinese for "West gate" which is what we say to taxi company when we phone for a cab: "Ga Mei (CAS) Si mun")

p.s. C'mon ROAR

for the record...did not go to Guangzhou Oct 22-24

There's a possibility I might be in Guangzhou (visiting  hospital patients) sometime   October 22, 23, 24 (not sure which day).
If no answer from my Zhaoqing mobile,  please use my "other parts of China" mobile number (above)

2006-10-19 Dear Friends 

Hello from Zhaoqing, where a can of beer costs Y3.50 but where a bottle of beer (containing three cans) costs Y3.00. Cannot understand

What brewed over the past week:

* October 12: pollution in Zhaoqing really bad the past few weeks....getting worse each year.  On the other hand, news from Beijing (Louis- Garth) is that Beijing in September enjoyed many days of blue skies (...a good omen for the Olympics....)

* Oct 15: Caritas Hong Kong volunteers running programs at Marco Polo & Bahkita centers  + new baby for Ren family

* Oct 15: Beijing - HK OMIs Dave, Irek & Louis at tomb of Matteo Ricci

* Oct 16-17: Hong Kong Shatin St Benedict friends in Zhaoqing, HK Notre Dame friends, Joe in Guangzhou, bus/station/metro

Calendar:

+ Recent donations:         God bless all donors!
- AUD$20 - Doris K, Brisbane
- Y5,800 - HK Shatin St Benedict group
- HK$6,000  HK Peter & Ling

+ Darfur update from yesterday's Guardian

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time October  25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part

+ From Sunday December 3, 2007:   11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 15 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

p.s. crazy but true story from last Thursday evening when I was having meal in local canteen:
1. Sometime during the meal I swallowed the temporary crown from no. 2 back Molar (...permanent crown fitted yesterday Oct 17  in HK)
2. Early in the meal, a kitten kept trying to scratch my trousers at left knee. I chased kitten away, several times
3. Not long afterwards I felt and saw a lump moving inside trousers leg, at left knee.....a few seconds before a mouse dropped to ground from my trousers
4.  During the day at CAS, in all 5 English secondary classes, students and I had used about 10 minutes of movie "Mouse Hunt"
???!!!???

Oct 16    I'm due to be in HK overnight  for morning (Oct 17) visit to dentist + afternoon visit to Joe in Guangzhou. 
Also.... I now have a new mobile number for when I'm in China but outside of Zhaoqing (see above).   Zhaoqing mobile works only in Zhaoqing district

2006-10-12 Dear Friends 

October good morning from Zhaoqing.  Has been an interesting past two weeks:

* September 29: study group at Mazenod Center + rice box meal at Assisi Center

* Sep 30 & October 1  in Guangzhou: hospital, cathedral, McDonald's, metro 
 (China flags everywhere on Oct 1, including cathedral & McDonald's)

* Oct 1-6 in Hong Kong:  football, re-unions, meetings  (some not  recorded here.....forgot camera...)

* Oct 9:  Primary 6 students at CAS.   Also on CAS front: farewell to Patrick (now at Zhaoqing Nursing College) and welcome back to Garth (working in primary and secondary....his fifth stint at CAS!)

* Also Oct 9: HK Rosa C visiting poor people in Area C, where one man's toes need surgery

Calendar:

+ Recent donations - God bless all donors
- Y1,200 from Notre Dame Parish friends
- Y1,000 from anon HK donor (27/9)
- Y1,000 from anon HK donor (29/8) .... only when I was in HK Oct 1-7 could I use HK bank book to see changes the past 5 weeks
- Y7,000 from HK Philip to pay for throat operation of Jia Jia
- Y4,627 from HK China Medical Fund to pay for caesarian operation of Mrs Li

+ Maybe this most important article from Guardian explains this item in today's news from Beijing

+ I.Q. question: how many people have died in Iraq since the invasion?
A:   6,000
B:  60,000
C: 600,000
Answer

+ From Sunday December 3, 2007:   11am English Mass at Zhaoqing church every Sunday (+ 25/12 & 1/1)  - DG!

+ Oops File - Sign language  O1,  02

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time October  25.  I'd be most, most grateful if a few more kind people would please take part

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 15 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

p.s. Congratulations Eagles & Broncos!

Next diary:    October 12 .              I'm due to be in Hong Kong October 1-7.                HK mobile: (852) 67095674

2006-09-28 Dear Friends 

Good morning from Zhaoqing where, like all other places in China, everyone is looking forward to the National Day week of holidays (Oct 1-7). This diary will also take a holiday....next diary October 12 DV.    I wish everyone, especially people traveling, a safe holiday. Also wish everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival (Oct 6)

Last Sunday/Monday I was in Guangzhou (...any other place on earth with so many overpasses/bridges/highways being constructed at the moment?!).   Helped Jia Jai's parents admit him to throat hospital,      enjoyed seeing Hamish & Matt (whose school is urgently looking for foreign teachers),   and bought 16 Chinese-English copies of The Book

Also out of the Mainland recently for check-up at Hong Kong's Adventist Hospital was Ricci student Matty and another little boy from Marco Polo following in Matty's heartsteps. Thank you HK sponsors, Adventist Hospital,  +  Rosa C and Rosa H for all arrangements

Yesterday (Wednesday): Ricci/Marco Polo/Mazenod/Assisi children had check-ups at local hospital - thank you kind HK sponsors! 

Calendar:

+ Photos from August 4 visit by Macau group to poor areas. Sorry this took so long to transfer from your CD to www

+ Recent donations to help the poor in Zhaoqing:  HK$4,000 from "DB3";   Y500 from a Shenzhen lady who saw report of our work in local media;  AUD$500 from students at Manly State School in Brisbane  (August 24....statement just received).     God bless you all!

+ Needed: some kind people to translate Chinese to English of all items at Matteo Ricci Exhibition.   Translation project has already began, so to avoid double work, before you start please let me know  you can help.  Not an easy/quick job....

+ Sep 25  Jeffrey Sachs: Fighting the wrong war

+ Having seen Hotel Rwanda and Shooting Dogs (I have original copies of both movies in new library at Ricci Memorial Center) and having almost finished reading   An Ordinary Man,   I am sad at the little practical interest shown by most of the world in the  madness that is 
 D A R F U R .  Seems that we ordinary people can do three things: say (talk about it with friends, get people interested), pay (support people who are actually doing something....see Darfur link...) & pray (especially for more interest/courage by international leaders,  whose silence is deafening, just as it was during the Rwanda genocide)

+ Each overseas teacher can say: "I am one of 340,000 foreigners working in China"!

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time October  25

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 13 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

C'mon Broncos.........and.... Eagles!

Please note: I'm due to be in Guangzhou Sunday Sep 24 & Monday 25.  No phone those days...

Sorry...server was down yesterday....so this diary also went to    http://china8.fortunecity.com/  (see update Sep 22 below)

2006-09-21 Dear Friends     

Good morning from Zhaoqing.....mildest September since I've been here....Summer has not yet staged one of its traditional comebacks.... pollution is really high - many people with nose/throat/chest problems

Server also having problems....China8 and other sites down at moment....hope they make a fast comeback

The past week or so:

2006-09-18 Hong Kong OMI's   Slawek and Thomas at Marco Polo, Bahkita and Mazenod centers

2006-09-17 Macau group - Fatima, Goretti, Teresa & Thomas - at Ricci Exhibiton, Ricci Memorial Center & Ricci plaque

2006-09-16 Saturday: English class at Ricci Memorial Center, CAS overseas staff at Dynasty dinner, Mrs Lee at San Mau Hospital

2006-09-15 Visit by HK "Baby Milk Powder" Group - Sakie, Julie, Candy, Bun (+ Mr Yu) to CAS and five centers

2006-09-12 Baby girl born 3 hours ago at San Mau Hospital to Marco Polo teacher Janet & husband Mr Zhou

2006-09-10 Visit by Yaya and Corrado to Ricci Exhibition, Ricci Plaque and all seven centers

2006-09-08 Opening of Ricci Exhibition at Hung Lau building + new Ricci plaque next to tower (this file now complete....has all items in exhibition)

Calendar:

+ Recent donations to help our work for the poor:  thank you and God bless you!
9/15: Milk Powder Group Y1,680
9/17: Macau Group Y2,500
+ Xavier Center has now closed    because poor people in that area had to relocate .....their former home
Name "Xavier Center" DV will also move to another location. Many thanks to 
kind HK friends who sponsored Xavier Center this past year

+ I have sent small donation to help people who are trying to get help for Darfur

+ I've almost finished reading "Not Happy, John!" by Margo Kingston.  Thank you PD for this book. "Must read" for responsible Australians.  Margo's Webdiary

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time September 25

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 13 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

C'mon Broncos.........and.... Fremantle!

update Friday Sep 22, 8.50am:
Please wait for a HostGator operator to respond.
Welcome to HostGator Live Chat! You are now chatting with 'Jason'
Jason: Welcome to HostGator Live Chat, how may I assist you?
John : Hello Jason
Jason: Hello John
John : Hello Jason ...my sites have been down for 24 hours ...just the index pages...if I put www.china8.org/index.htm it will open.....help! thank u
Jason: Let me check into this for you...
John : thank u
Jason: welcome :)
Jason: I show no index page loaded here i
Jason: You will need to reupload this to your public_html folder
John : did this before contacting you...and again just now...is showing in my ftp...index is there
Jason: Can you provide me with your ftp login details so that I may look at this?
John : name: ftp.china8.org
John : user name: .........
Jason: One moment please
Jason: Please try this link now
Jason: http://china8.org/index.html
John : no problem with this, as I said above, but www.china8.org for the past 24 hours doesn't open org/index.html
Jason: I am checking into this, one second...
Jason: Ok, your .htaccess file has been fixed
Jason: I made a backup just in case too .htaccess2
John : Jason...thank you, thank you, thank you and God bless you!
Jason: You're welcome :)

2006-09-14 Dear Friends

Good Morning from overcast Zhaoqing where rain the past week has seen temperatures fall to the point where a cover of some sort as well as a sheet is needed for sleeping at night. A pleasant change

The past week:

* Last Friday, September 8: Opening of magnificent new Matteo Ricci exhibition at historic Hung Lau building in Zhaoqing  + unveiling of new Ricci plaque next to river tower  
 (Previous Hung Lau photos    &   old plaque photos)

* Monday, Sep 11: Delivery of 515 tins of baby milk powder!

* Tuesday, Sep 12: Eviction notice for squatting migrant worker families near Xavier Center

* Same day -  3.05pm at local San Mau Hospital: a beautiful baby girl born to Marco Polo teacher Janet (Paddy's sister).  Congrats to Janet & husband Mr Zhou and whole familiy. Photos coming

Calendar:

+ AITECE has 54 teachers in China for this semester....many vacancies still!

+ Dafur:  DV more leaders will support Kofi

+ Sign of old age? = reading death notices before other news, which is what I now do each morning, checking the OMI anniversaries for the day

+ I've just finished reading Eugene Peterson's Under the Unpredictable Plant. "Must read" for all pastors

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time September 25

Thank you for a prayer  for all near and dear who are sick - especially the 13 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

C'mon Broncos.....you can still do it ......and Western Bulldogs!

2006-09-07 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing where Summer is still hot but showing signs of cooling. Come to think of it, this is Autumn...which is why Mid-Autumn Festival (Oct 6) cakes are now on sale everywhere

The past week:

09-04 Hong Visitors Anna, Margaret & Margaret at CAS before visiting poor areas

09-05 First week of new academic year at various centers in the poor areas

09-06 Junior One (Grade 7) Oral English Classes at CAS

Calendar:

+ Last Sunday I watched Shooting Dogs....really powerful....very similar to Hotel Rawanda. Interesting to compare the two...a good exercise for older students. Films can be supplemented by An Ordinary Man (thanks to PD at Iona in Brisbane, I have a copy).  And....let's keep praying that someone/somewhere/somehow will continue to stop the madness that is D A R F U R 

+ Another powerful book, almost finished: Hudson Tayor and Maria....Taylor was founder of the China Inland Mission Society....Taylor's missionary spirit encouraged some 850 volunteers to go to China at a most difficult time in Chinese and world history

+ Sep 5: Monbiot on the IMF

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time September 25

+ Last week's  list of donations (see below)....hope I didn't give wrong impression....this is not a wealthy operation....thanks to so many donations in July & August we have enough cash in kitty to operate for September and October....but after that we are back in the hands of Providence (per monthly/seasonal donors)

Thank you for a prayer, especially for all near and dear who are sick - particularly the 13 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

C'mon Broncos and Western Bulldogs!

2006-09-01 Dear Friends

Hello from Zhaoqing at start of new academic year in the Northern Hemisphere.  CHS and bless all schools, students, staff - especially here at CAS, Ricci and other local centers

School situation of migrant children in Beijing

Farewell from CAS:  Toni & Marg (returned to Australia....Toni's Mum & Marg's son-in-law in hospital for major operations) & Louis (now in Beijing with Irek, starting Mandarin course) - thank you for all your work at CAS

Welcome to CAS: Cyprian (Cameroon), Nelson (USA) & Patrick (from Ireland, lived in Australia for 20+ years).  Cyprian will take Go Abroad group, Nelson will be in Primary, Sean (England) will continue in kindergarten, Patrick & I will be in secondary.....a real U.N. peacekeeping force

Last Tuesday night (Sep 29) Ricci teachers Nicole and Cherry and I had meal with Mr & Mrs O whose two sons (aged 9 & 7) drowned in local fish pond on August 14  (see previous diary entries).  Many thanks to Nicole for care for the parents  these past two weeks, and for attending funeral on August 21. Devastated couple are still in shock....planning to move from Wai Keng area to Muk Gong. Long term possibility has been raised of couple adopting one or two abandoned children

Photos from Australia/Hong Kong:
* August 3, St John's Anglican Church, Camberwell
* August 13, Aston's baptism, Gold Coast
* August 15: List of names of foundation students at Iona College, Brisbane
* August 20, HK Tung Chung, youth group from St Patrick's Parish
* August 20, Zhaoqing Ricci School student Matty after heart operation at HK Adventist Hospital
* August 23, HK Notre Dame, fund-raising group from St Edward's Parish

Calendar:

+ 10.30am Sunday September 10: opening of Zhaoqing Museum Ricci Exhibition, on anniversary of Matteo Ricci's arrival in Zhaoqing Sep 10, 1583.  More information from Museum Director, Professor Xiao:
(86) 13902363794.    Exhibition will be held at historic Hung Lau building in Zhaoqing

Also re Matteo Ricci:
* newly discovered book A Vision Betrayed   -  Full text here!
* From this book, an excellent map of where Ricci went in China

+ Have you heard the one about 2 Irishmen?

+ Monbiot re Lebanon  &  Israel  & sale of weapons

+ Book published in Beijing re Religion & Philosophy

+ An articheat body cooling vest now being worn in Zhaoqing, to stop the heat causing  rash  (same vest as worn for sport)

+ China Bible Quiz: Next Quiz closing 2pm HK time September 25

+ Each month here in Zhaoqing we use about Y16,000 to keep our centers going:

Donations received the past two months (as recorded in my Palm....some records can only be obtained when I go to HK and update Heng Seng bankbook....so this list may not yet be complete).   Special Masses have been said for all benefactors and their families.  God bless all donors!:

7/1/2006 Y880.00 Zhaoqing Uni of Finance students
7/11/2006 Peter Barry HK$6,000; Tess Cabalar HK$1,000;  DB  doctor US$100 
7/11/2006 Y1,500.00 Julia-China Education Fund 
7/15/2006 HK$1,000 Anon
7/16/2006 Y1,300.00 Priscilla/China Education Fund 
7/18/2006 Y 3,000.00 NDP friends
7/21/2006 HK$21,000.0 JR's Aust Adelaide friends 
7/21/2006 HK$2,000.00 Dominic Sum DB 
7/23/2006  Mui Wo friends HK$2,700; Peng Chau Tony Y HK$500 
7/24/2006 HK$500.00 Susaanna DB 
8/8/2006  Aud$250.00 Melbourne Prayer Group 
8/8/2006  Y2,000 Carlos, Macau
8/13/2006  Aud$50.00 Ashmore church, Gold Coast
8/13/2006 Aud$500.00 Innes Fam, Brisbane
8/16/2006 Y3,000 Macau International Ladies Club
8/16/2006  Aud$50.00 Doris Kempnich, Brisbane
8/16/2006 Aud$50.00 Gayle Randall, Brisbane
8/18/2006  Aud$250.00 Gerry Conlan, Brisbane
8/19/2006  HK$250.00 ND /TC ßENS 
8/19/2006 HK$350 ND Bens
8/23/2006 HK$7,016 St Edward's Parish, HK
8/24/2006 Aud$5,000 Aust OMI;  HK$10,000 Jenny DB

Any mistakes, anyone forgotten?.....sorry...please let me know and I'll put correction in next week's diary

Thank you for a prayer, especially for all near and dear who are sick - particularly the 13 dear friends fighting cancer

God bless!

John W omi

Diary for 2006  May, June, July, August