2008-08-27  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing...another hot day ... 37 degrees here at 4.30pm.  Got to 42  last Thursday.

As I watched Olympic closing ceremony I kept thinking "what a shame the Creator doesn't get a mention in any of this beautiful show"...and then....up went
the Union Jack Cross on a flagpole ...and a famous hymn was sung (British National anthem). Which means same hymn will be first cab off the rank of songs in 2012 DV!
(Just hope UK doesn't again get more gold medals than Australia....will be a close one).  Well done lady from Zhaoqing district who won Gold in Athens in 2004 for weightlifting and repeated her success in Beijing. 
Summer Holidays now in their last week...new school year begins next Monday.  May everyone travelling these days....especially students and staff..."go safe".
And at start of academic year: CHS!

Photos reports of the past week

2008-08-21 Marco Polo:  HK Baptist University students; roof-insulation program; HK Rosa C; shoe rack

2008-08-24  Visit to Shaoguan (two hours north of Guangzhou) where Matteo Ricci lived for five years after he left Zhaoqing

2008-08-27  Thank you HK Fr Stefano & Yvonne - & Shenzhen A-Fei  - for delivery this afternoon of more baby milk powder for poor families here in Zhaoqing

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  -God bless all donors! :  (Please let me know of any mistakes/omissions etc)
Aug 21 HK Baptist University students - Y740
Aug 21 Monica, HK Baptist University - Y74
Aug 21 Anna Chan, HK Baptist Univesity - HK$500
Aug 27  HK St John's Parish per Yvonne - baby milk powder (see photo report above Aug 27)

On Aug 24-26 trip to Shaoguan I re-read much of Vincent Cronin's life of Matteo Ricci "The Wise Man from the West".  Ricci's problems 400 years ago make issues
of 2008 shrink into insignificance.  At Shaoguan in an internet cafe I did some research about Vincent Cronin....no surprise to find he is son of famous Scottish author
A.J. Cronin ("Keys of the Kingdom", "Northern Light" etc).  

Two excellent articles:    1 - re missiles being stationed in Poland     2 - re the church and torture 

Olympic visitors numbers + grain of salt?

Any HK or overseas Chinese friends able to help with some translation from English to Chinese please?  A number of jobs outstanding.  Thank you if you can help:
john@china8.org 

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 "Zhaoqing" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

2008-08-20  Dear Friends

Good evening from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing after another day that was close to 40 degrees. 
Olympic Games nearing final events...may Games continue to go safely and promote a bit more family togetherness on the planet.
Congratulations UK for getting more gold medals than Australia! (I owe UK Peter Barry a drink!)

2008-08-08 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony - spectacular  photos - thank you HK Eva!

Again  wishing safety to all students & staff & friends, especially those traveling, during these final two weeks of the Summer holidays

Photo reports from the past week:

2008-08-14  Many thanks HK St John's Parish & Yvonne for another donation of baby milk powder (delivered free by local railway!)

2008-08-15,16  Many thanks Macau Hope Group  for conducting  another clinic for poor people at Marco Polo Center

2008-08-16  English Camp at Yunfu  arranged by "Small9" & her  Lets Go Outdoor Club volunteers

2008-08-17  Andrew, Angus and Clement, all from Macau,  with their former teacher Hong Kong Rosa H

2008-08-18  Hong Kong South China Morning Post  - why I'm nominating Premier Wen Jaibo for the Nobel Peace Prize

2008-08-19  Thank you Norton, Ribbo  & staff of United Italian Corporation for roof insulation of buildings at Marco Polo Center

2008-08-20  Thomas & A-Lok from Macau;   David Clark from UK;   HK Baptist University students

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  -God bless all donors! :  (Please let me know of any mistakes/omissions etc)
July 24  Stephen Lam, HK - HK$1,000
July 27-28:  HK Frankie & Maria - Sports items for children's activities at Marco Polo Center
Aug 4  HK "DB3" - HK$8,000

Aug 19, Teresa Knight & group, Adelaide - HK$21,200.10
Aug 19  HK United Italian Corporation staff - HK$27,500 (see photo report above)
Aug 20  Fatima Au, Macau - Y4,000
Aug 20 Leung Lai Bing, Macau - Y3,000
Aug 20 Thomas Wong, Macau - Y4,000

A beautiful Olympic story

2008-08-14  Australian's help Chinese injured in Beijing bus crash   ("no one else willing to help".... c.f. Zhaoqing 2007-11-16)

NATO leaves a trail of catastrophe

Georgia - excellent article

Monbiot:  The Magic Pudding

During the past few days I've re-read another in the Joshua series by Joseph Girzone:  Joshua in the Holy Land.  Really inspiring

Sincere sympathy to loyal China8 HK Lantau Island supporter A-Yau in loss of her dear friend Chut-gu who passed away a few days ago. RIP  (Photo 2004-10-14)

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

Thank you for a prayer!  

John W omi

Queensland at Olympics - Jiai yao! Jia yao!

If you  do not receive a reply within 2 days,  please send email again to  john@china8.org  or jdwomi@gmail.com . 
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My mobile phone was stolen in town last Monday....through my own carelessness....got distracted watching Olympics!
...but phone company has kindly helped me keep my old number: 1303 0213 703     DG!

2008-08-13  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Zhaoqing.  June was wet, July was hot, August is mainly fine and not always hot.  Olympic Games in Beijing are nearing the half-way mark. Half my heart is supporting China, the other half Australia.  As this diary goes to press, China has 14 gold medals, Australia 4 (all 4 by women...where are the lads?)

I feel a bit foolish as I continue to ride my Olympic flagged bike .....in a city that would not exactly get a  medal for Olympic enthusiasm (...see last week's diary..). 
In fact I have mixed feelings about the Olympics: on the one hand, a keen interest in the sports themselves .... great to see outsiders getting among the medals (e.g. Rebecca Adlington);  on the other hand an uneasy feeling that things have gone too far:  too much pressure on athletes, too much professionalism, too much expense  - more than US$40,000,000,000....that's about Y300,000,000,000....which, to be fair, includes ecology & transports projects, but......what if Beijing has to start shutting down in the next ten years because of lack of water?

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-08-09,10  HK St Teresa's Hospital & HKUIC group at Marco Polo Center for children's holiday activities

2008-08-10  Marco Polo Center:  Olympic swimming pool + new classroom block

2008-08-12   Former CAS teacher Liam from UK  - welcome back to Zhaoqing for a holiday

2008-08-13 Thank you Mr Wu for another donation of furniture + new classrooms + Wed meal for handicapped children's families + Olympic Swimming (MP now has 2 pools!)

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  -God bless all donors! :  (Please let me know of any mistakes/omissions etc)
July 21 HK St John's Parish - HK$1,000
Aug 9   HK St Teresa's Hospital group - Y1,900 + many gifts for the poor
Aug 10 Mr Ho (HK St Teresa's Hospital group) - Y500
Aug 11 HK St John's Parish - HK$4,294
Aug 12 Zhaoqing Mr Wu - another donation of furniture (see photos, above, 2008-08-13)

For the past seven years I worked at the Canadian-American School (CAS) in Zhaoqing....20 mins walk from Marco Polo. The last year was part-time (just one day a week).
For my first six years in Zhaoqing I lived at CAS, this past year being spent at Marco Polo.
CAS has said it can no longer offer me part-time work (...partly because of new visa situation: only people with a full work visa may work at schools, and only full-time teachers can get a full work visa). 
So....goodbye (for the time being) CAS and thank you for all the memories (and help for the poor...many donations of clothing, shoes, books, food etc). 
I have handed back my CAS keys and no longer have use of a room at CAS.  I'm now checking possibility of other part-time work...."to buy the groceries".... a bit of tent-making, like St Paul....not good to live off donations.
Confident that when one door closes, the Good Lord is opening another door. 
And ...thank you, CAS, for opening so many doors in Zhaoqing.  How Providential that CAS was the school nearest to Zhaoqing's poor area

Speaking of positions vacant:  would one or more kind Chinese friends  be able to help do some translation for me please?  Several jobs pending. ....e.g. this one

And speaking of schools:  Five years ago the local media  announced the abolition of "penalty fees" for students from outside the local area. This directive from the Central
Government in Beijing was not taken seriously by local government schools....the penalty fees continued....and now, from the start of the new school year on Sep 1, 2008, in addition to the penalty fee (now about Y600 per semester for primary students & about Y900 per sem for secondary students)...students from outside areas will also have to pay an "initial fee" - Y1000 for primary, Y2000 for secondary....which is why.....we at China8 are expecting the number of school-less children in our care to increase from last year's 205

Kind-hearted robber avoids jail sentence

As a Summer Holiday project  I'm re-reading all the "Joshua" books by Joseph Girzone.  In the past week I finished "Joshua and the Children" and "Joshua and the Shepherd", both excellent and so relevant to present day society/church

Best article I've seen so far to explain what's happening in Georgia/Ossetia/Russia - by Mikhail Gorbachev, in Washington Post

Another Chinese Oblate priest: Congratulations Andrew Chen o.m.i. on ordination  in Melbourne this Friday Aug 15 on beautiful Feast of the Assumption

Beijing Olympics:  The Old Rivalry - UK and Australia!           Chinese website with up to date Olympic results

Again wishing all students and staff a safe Summer holiday....and safe traveling for people going to/from  Olympics and elsewhere

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

Thank you for a prayer!  Jia yao, Jia yao!  ("add oil/fuel" = "go!")

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 "Zhaoqing" to make your message stand out from junk mail.  Thank you  

2008-08-06  Dear Friends

Good afternoon on this historic day (..Hiroshima...see articles below..).  Wet 'n Wild here as we feel effects of a typhoon that is right now hitting Hong Kong (where No. 8 Signal is hoisted)

 Photo reports of the past week:

2008-07-31, 08-01, 08-02   Volunteer team from St Lawrence Parish in Macau  - activities at Marco Polo, Xinxing 
and Yunfu .....+.....new classroom block &  roof sprinkers

2008-08-04, 05  Macau St Lawrence team  at Marco Polo  - final 2 days  + roof raising + Olympic swimming &  Olympic cycling

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  -God bless all donors! :  (Please let me know of any mistakes/omissions etc)
July 31 to Aug 5 - Macau St Lawrence Parish group - many items for poor children
Aug 4  UK Henman Trust,  per David Clark - Y67,315 (GBP5,000)  
Aug 5  HK Alice - HK$500 & Y70

Thank you HK Peter for Poor Children Last Supper painting

Cherry Blair's sister doing something about world's largest prison

A most important and  informative Hiroshima article - "must read"   by John Pilger whose website also is most interesting - www.johnpilger.com
See also John Dear re Hiroshima history
From these articles I have learned, for the first time, that atomic bombs were dropped on Japan not to end the war - but to send a message to the Soviet Union re USA's strength. Japan in fact tried to end war earlier, but US wouldn't listen because it "needed" to drop the bombs to frighten the Soviet Union

On a recent overnight trip to Foshan,  I  re-read (for maybe the 7th time?) Joshua by Joseph Girzone, one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Each time I read it, I find I have a little bit more patience and kindness for other people, for at least the next few days.
Same city of Foshan (just next to Guangzhou) made me think that China's number one terrorist threat is not Pol Pot but Poll Ution. One can only shudder to think what harm these 24 hour  fumes are doing to the human body. 
Come to think of it, the world's number one terrorist will be attending Olympic opening ceremony .... as an invited guest....and two days later... after attending Sunday church... he's planning to give China  a sermon on human rights.  (Oxford Dictionary: "terrorism" = "use of violence and intimidation, especially  for political purposes")

Again wishing all students and staff a safe Summer holiday....and safe traveling for people going to Olympics and elsewhere

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  

2008-07-30  Dear Friends

Good morning from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing on another hot day.  Most days in past week have been 37- 39 degrees - except Saturday which scored 42 & Sunday 40.
Not good to use computer/TV during early afternoon.
The Creator sure was kind  to provide delicious watermelons at this time of year...they and frequent cold showers are basic helps to survival these days

May the Olympics go well, peacefully, in fine weather...and do a lot to promote friendship in the world

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-07-23,24,25  Thank you HK, Lam Tin -  Ivy, Jack & Rose - for visiting poor areas and  running holiday activities for child

07-25  Thank you (Guangzhou Aust Consulate Generale) Consul  Lyall and Carolyn  for making special trip from Guangzhou to Zhaoqing - just to visit our Marco Polo Center

2008-07-27  Visit to Marco Polo Center by Youth Group from HK Resurrection Parish

2008-07-27,28  Visit to poor areas by "Wo Jai Brings Hope Group" from St Margaret's Parish in Hong Kong
  + HK Margaret & HK Magdalene at Marco Polo

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  -God bless all donors! :  (Please let me know of any mistakes/omissions etc) 
July 25 - HK Ivy, Jack & Rosa Fan  - HK2,000
July 27 - HK Resurrection Parish Youth Group - Y1,700
July 28 - "Wo Jai Brings Hope Group":
- Children's candies from Carrie Ng
- Children's gifts from Mrs Katy Leung
- Baby milk powder & Y1,000 from Connie & Bassanio
- Tea party from the Group
- HKD500 from Mrs. D. Lai
- Poon Yee Ling HK$300
- RMB1000 from Josephine Lee
- AUD100 from Australia Amy, Louis and Anthony
- RMB500 from Danny Yu
 -Mana Kwong HK$1,500
- HKD2,268 from Group surplus fund
 -Anonymous: Y2,020 & HK$2,300

From yesterday - welcome Nurse Xi - thank you for running our Marco Polo Clinic while Nurse Zhou is on holidays. So many sick people and people coming for baby 
milk powder...made me realize how important Nurse Zhou's job is!

Also from yesterday:  water sprinkler system on roof of each of our buildings...free mountain water...what a  difference it makes. Thank you "Wo Jai Brings Hope Group" for sponsoring this project

Lest we forget:  Iran is the least of the world’s offenders against non-proliferation

In case you're wondering why I'm not going to Australia for holiday at this time as I usually do - several reasons:
1. Construction of new classroom block (hoping to have it ready for new school year, Sep 1). Not good to be away during construction time
2. Current visa situation:  best to stay here during this time. Not good to be away at this time
3. I'm on call for water-boy duty for Australian Olympic Basketball team (?).  Good to be here & experience Olympic China

Again wishing all students and staff a safe Summer holiday....and safe traveling for people going to Olympics and elsewhere

God bless everyone, especially dear friends local and abroad who are fighting big sicknesses.
Sincere sympathy to dear HK friend "Wo Jai" whose 90 year old mother passed away yesterday morning. May her prayers in Heaven help us all...and keep
a special eye on all the groups that Wo Jai's brings to Zhaoqing

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

Many thanks Fr Dave omi, Connie & Bassanio & Sr Louise - for supply of Mylanta to prevent heat rash. (Mylanta goes on skin, not in mouth!).  Enough for many people to use for a long time

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  

2008-07-23  Dear Friends

Good afternoon from a hot, hot Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing.  After my whinge last week about daily storms, there's been only one in the past seven days....and to be honest...most people don't mind the storms/rain as a relief from the heat.  This time last year saw two weeks of 40 degrees...and we are now getting close to that sort of heat

While on the water-front...for some time I've been  in business of training (semi-wild) baby kittens to be good animals, then to be good cats, finally to be rat catchers...and this morning's lesson ("Don't howl all day if you don't want another cup of water on your head") was getting close to water-boarding I suppose...but the noise has stopped

Again wishing all students and staff a safe Summer holiday....never forgetting painful memory of August 14 two years ago ...water again....when two of our students drowned in a local water hole which they had been told by their teachers to avoid

Latest on visa situation:  when it says on your passport "you may stay for 30 days after entry", the 30 days does not include the day of entry (..long story behind this piece of information...).  To avoid a lot of confusion and hurt (overstaying means Y500 per day + extra difficulties next time you apply), visa should clearly say "you may stay for 30 days,  beginning the day after you arrive"

Photo reports of the past week:

2008-07-17 to 22  New classrooms;  Kevin & Louis; July 18 activity; new baby for Mr & Mrs Ren; new power line; new cats

2008-07-23  HK volunteers Carol, Gertrude, Maria, and Teresa +  HK Margaret & former CAS teacher Louis omi

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  -God bless all donors! :  (Please let me know of any mistakes/omissions etc)
July 2 - HK Maryknoll Sisters - donation to cover cost of Liu Lang's double cataract operation
July 3 - HK "DB3" & friend - HK$8,000
July 14 - HK Stephen Lam - HK$1,000

"A time bomb waiting to go off" - recent description of property/housing market here....where most (nearly all?) new units for some years now have been bought by speculators ..who leave homes empty for 1-2-3-? years waiting for higher prices.  But people have stopped buying....e.g. HK people are even forfeiting their deposits on new units in the mainland ...and the bubble is about to b.

Congratulations Sydney on excellent hosting of WYD - another great job, just like the Olympics....so many stories of locals (especially transport staff) being so friendly and helpful to tourists.  Not to mention Australian government's free visas (!) for all overseas participants. If you had to pick one word  associated with people from various countries, maybe for some countries the word would be "industrious" or "careful" or "happy" or "polite" or "brave" .  But the word  associated with  Australians has to be...."friendly". Hope it never changes

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  

2008-07-16  Dear Friends

Hello from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing on a very hot morning (35+) with our daily storm due soon. Over the past six weeks, the number of days without at least one storm   could be numbered on the fingers of one hand (with a couple of fingers missing!).  Such weather is maybe why almost every second baby/child here these days has not just a cold/flu but fever. HK Rosa C says the problem is that babies and infants are unable to perspire....junk juice can't leave body, just stays and develops into sickness.

Summer holidays for most students are in their second week...may all students and staff have a safe holiday.
Not long to Olympics....I have feeling they are going to be hot, hot, hot (and hopefully not too wet, wet, wet). Maybe not so wise to have them so early in August?

Meanwhile down in the Southern Hemisphere, WYD in Sydney started well - yesterday - with Benedict still on the bench....not a bad player to have in reserve!
OMI WYD gatherings in Mebourne also went well. 

Photo reports from the past week:

2008-07-09  Day Four of HK PIME Paul VI College students & staff activities for poor children

2008-07-10, 11   First two days of mini Summer School at Marco Polo Center - for Anna, Gordon, Ming Ming & Monica +  Tina, Tommy & Wendy 

2008-07-15,15   Summer holiday life at Marco Polo Center

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 

July 15  HK St John the Apostle Parish - HK$23,259

Last week I went to local San Mao dentist for annual check up and clean.....for which I paid Y120....after which dentist gave me Y200 to help our poor children.....and said if children come to his clinic, he'll charge only 70% of normal fee for his services.  And his new nurse is a former colleague of our Marco Polo clinic Nurse Zhou.  So...in when school resumes in September, we hope to start a dental program for our 200+ children DV!

Red Cross report on US torture

Rowan Williams, in difficulties on all sides as CofE  faces disintegration.
Chris Judd, an inspiring example of how to stay focussed in middle of difficulties/attacks etc

Just finished reading (most of ) a book by Thomas Merton....which caused me to check TM in Google...where I found this most informative article

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  

2008-07-09  Dear Friends

Good morning from Marco Polo Center in Zhaoqing  where a wonderful group of students and teachers from Paul VI College in Hong Kong are running holiday activities for some 100 children...as they have the past two days....following  home visits to poor areas last  Sunday afternoon.
(2.20pm update: photos from this morning)
One month to Olympics...we have installed a  TV  for handicapped families to use.  
May everyone have a safe and happy Summer holiday....with special good wishes to groups from HK and Mainland travellng to Sydney for WYD

Other photo reports of the past week:

2008-07-04  Thank you once more Macau Hope Group for again running clinics for the poor at Marco Polo Center (+ roof sprinkler + staff lunch)

2008-07-05,06 Welcome HK Notre Dame friends Maria & Dominic + Thank you Mr Zhang & friends for TV system for handicapped families

2008-07-08 Happy First Birthday today Jason, son of Mazenod Center teacher Mandy

And from previous week:

2008-06-28 Thank you Ling & Peter and HK Ken for a new arm for Mr Tien...and for supporting Joe in his rahabilitation

Two more families with handicapped children  are now living at Marco Polo, totaling  seven families with eight handicapped children

Calendar 

Recent donations  to support China8's work for the poor in Zhaoqing  (God bless all donors!): 
July 4 Fulton J. Sheen Society, c/- Mr Daniel Tobin, Perth - AUD$500
July 5 Maria & Dominic, HK - Y3,500 & many gifts for poor people
July 5 Ted Ling Tak-lam, HK - Y1,000
July 5 Former CAS teacher Winnie Wong & Zhaoqing friends - clothing for poor people
July 6 HK PIME Paul VI College staff Esther & Rebecca - Y3,500
July 7  Mr Sze Chin-mong, HK - HK$10,000

The price of fishing - excellent

After recently reading another report on Guantanamo Bay, I found I couldn't sleep so well that night.  How can the torture there be allowed to happen on US territory in 2008? As I understand it, Congress passed a bill to stop the torture, but George Bush used his veto to kill the bill.  Unbelievable. Let's pray that this evil stop soon.  Link at top of this page
See also www.afterdowningstreet.org   

Still waiting for Australia's CathNews and other agencies to make correction to misleading story they ran re Bibles being banned at Olympics. Bibles in fact will be available free at Olympics!

I've just finished reading "The Coming Catholic Church" by David Gibson.  A bit repetitive but has lots of important information on lots of important topics

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  

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

2008-07-02  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

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  

Diary January, February, March, April   2008