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Update 38
Voices from the Field
Dear Friends,
Nei ho ma!
This week, we thought we would share with you a couple of recent feedback letters from groups who have recently received goods from Crossroads. These letters are always encouraging to read. They help to narrow the gap between a big, dark, basement warehouse in Hong Kong and the people who live in these desperate situations that we're trying to ease:
ISRAEL
The group we sent to in Israel works with new immigrants, as well as doing general poverty relief. With the region in such chaos, the economy in Israel is spiralling, leaving many people jobless and extremely poor. A worker with the group sent us a wonderfully descriptive letter about how the goods, packed by our volunteers in Hong Kong, have impacted the lives of people in Israel. Here's an extract:
"There were some unique items received, such as tables and chairs, that are sorely needed by disadvantaged or immigrant families in Israel. A recipient of one of the dining sets told me that the table and chairs he had been using were those left in his apartment by the owner, who had told him he could throw away what furniture was left, or he could keep it. Having no table or chairs, he chose not to throw them out, even though some of the chairs were broken, and his family has used it for five years. Now he is excited to provide his family with this table set of their own, and I am sure they will still not throw the old table and chairs out, but pass them along to other immigrants who have none.
Wheelchairs Distributed
Another much-needed item sent was brand new (still in the boxes) wheelchairs. 15 of them--as well as 15 second-hand. This is a monumental gift and these chairs will find an exciting home in an institution for the handicapped, where people have literally lived in their old wheelchairs for 10, 20 or more years. To update an old wheelchair is like updating their very life."
EAST TIMOR
We sent a container of goods to a group working in East Timor. Part of what they do involves simply supporting the needs of people in poverty. They also run a counselling program for children who have seen horrific things during the time of war in East Timor. Often they need help expressing and dealing with the feelings they harbour, in order to heal and grow into healthy adults. In fact, we are usually unable, or unwilling to send toys that depict war or violence as part of a shipment. But this group asked specifically if we could send war toys for their work in East Timor, to help them help children work through the scenes and memories that they carry with them.
> Words are not enough to describe the joy we had upon receiving the container
> you sent.We've been waiting for such materials for quite a long time, and
> now we are more than glad that the door has been opened. The children
> in our school are very eager and excited upon receiving the materials, they
> are specially overjoyed with the very nice playground. This playground is so
> important for the development of the kids, but when it arrived, it was not
> only the kids who enjoyed it, even the parents and adults are making fuss
> out of it. People from the Peace Keeping Force, upon hearing that the
> playground was here were so willing to help set it up so the kids can enjoy
> it the soonest possible time. We had a grand feast, but we we're sad that
> you missed this celebration that we had. They received everything like the
> clothes, shoes, and others with a big smile on their faces. We gave one
> refrigerator to a man up in the mountains - a place
> where they've never ever seen such a thing - You should have seen the
> amazement and wonder on their faces - they were so happy and grateful for
> that.
> On the 20th of this month, the very first Public Library here in the
> district of Aileu will be inaugurated, we gave one computer and a lot of the
> books you sent in this library.
> The whole community, when we were
> distributing the things they received them with such happiness in their
> faces!
GENERAL GOW NEWS
Well, there is yet another typhoon headed our way, named Krovanh (how do they come up with these names?), however it doesn't seem likely to cause too much damage. Several people have been heard to complain that there is no point in a typhoon if it happens on the weekend, depriving one of the chance of a day off work. We, however, make no such comments.
Matt has been working extremely hard on the next version of the Global Hand website. There aren't enough hours in the working day to fit in all the myriad tasks that come with being IT manager and part of the development for Global Hand. He's a busy guy! Adelaide is still very much enjoying the challenges and revelations of meeting with representatives from the groups that receive goods from us. Yet another new people group she didn't know much about but now knows a little bit more: the Nagas of India, near Burma. Each day brings new and exciting knowledge.
That's it for now, thanks for the emails, which are always very much appreciated.
Love,
Matt & Adelaide
Nei ho ma!
This week, we thought we would share with you a couple of recent feedback letters from groups who have recently received goods from Crossroads. These letters are always encouraging to read. They help to narrow the gap between a big, dark, basement warehouse in Hong Kong and the people who live in these desperate situations that we're trying to ease:
ISRAEL
The group we sent to in Israel works with new immigrants, as well as doing general poverty relief. With the region in such chaos, the economy in Israel is spiralling, leaving many people jobless and extremely poor. A worker with the group sent us a wonderfully descriptive letter about how the goods, packed by our volunteers in Hong Kong, have impacted the lives of people in Israel. Here's an extract:
"There were some unique items received, such as tables and chairs, that are sorely needed by disadvantaged or immigrant families in Israel. A recipient of one of the dining sets told me that the table and chairs he had been using were those left in his apartment by the owner, who had told him he could throw away what furniture was left, or he could keep it. Having no table or chairs, he chose not to throw them out, even though some of the chairs were broken, and his family has used it for five years. Now he is excited to provide his family with this table set of their own, and I am sure they will still not throw the old table and chairs out, but pass them along to other immigrants who have none.
Wheelchairs Distributed
Another much-needed item sent was brand new (still in the boxes) wheelchairs. 15 of them--as well as 15 second-hand. This is a monumental gift and these chairs will find an exciting home in an institution for the handicapped, where people have literally lived in their old wheelchairs for 10, 20 or more years. To update an old wheelchair is like updating their very life."
EAST TIMOR
We sent a container of goods to a group working in East Timor. Part of what they do involves simply supporting the needs of people in poverty. They also run a counselling program for children who have seen horrific things during the time of war in East Timor. Often they need help expressing and dealing with the feelings they harbour, in order to heal and grow into healthy adults. In fact, we are usually unable, or unwilling to send toys that depict war or violence as part of a shipment. But this group asked specifically if we could send war toys for their work in East Timor, to help them help children work through the scenes and memories that they carry with them.
> Words are not enough to describe the joy we had upon receiving the container
> you sent.We've been waiting for such materials for quite a long time, and
> now we are more than glad that the door has been opened. The children
> in our school are very eager and excited upon receiving the materials, they
> are specially overjoyed with the very nice playground. This playground is so
> important for the development of the kids, but when it arrived, it was not
> only the kids who enjoyed it, even the parents and adults are making fuss
> out of it. People from the Peace Keeping Force, upon hearing that the
> playground was here were so willing to help set it up so the kids can enjoy
> it the soonest possible time. We had a grand feast, but we we're sad that
> you missed this celebration that we had. They received everything like the
> clothes, shoes, and others with a big smile on their faces. We gave one
> refrigerator to a man up in the mountains - a place
> where they've never ever seen such a thing - You should have seen the
> amazement and wonder on their faces - they were so happy and grateful for
> that.
> On the 20th of this month, the very first Public Library here in the
> district of Aileu will be inaugurated, we gave one computer and a lot of the
> books you sent in this library.
> The whole community, when we were
> distributing the things they received them with such happiness in their
> faces!
GENERAL GOW NEWS
Well, there is yet another typhoon headed our way, named Krovanh (how do they come up with these names?), however it doesn't seem likely to cause too much damage. Several people have been heard to complain that there is no point in a typhoon if it happens on the weekend, depriving one of the chance of a day off work. We, however, make no such comments.
Matt has been working extremely hard on the next version of the Global Hand website. There aren't enough hours in the working day to fit in all the myriad tasks that come with being IT manager and part of the development for Global Hand. He's a busy guy! Adelaide is still very much enjoying the challenges and revelations of meeting with representatives from the groups that receive goods from us. Yet another new people group she didn't know much about but now knows a little bit more: the Nagas of India, near Burma. Each day brings new and exciting knowledge.
That's it for now, thanks for the emails, which are always very much appreciated.
Love,
Matt & Adelaide