Share Global Charity

Ken and I arrived in Yiwu on the 19th March and the weather was quite cold, at around 5 degrees. This was much colder than we expected, however we coped with the little warm clothing we had.

We quickly renewed old friendships and soon found ourselves involved in ministry. But of course, this is never our main focus, because “service to the poor of China” is really our focus, though at times we often consider the broader vision – “the poor in spirit” as part of our calling. So hence our involvement in various ministries when we feel led.

The main challenge I had is to co-ordinate all our travel while in China. This at times can very difficult, as availability of our staff, Chinese-holidays, train-ticketing, timing of visits and hotel-bookings all have to be taken into consideration. This visit to China was much more challenging than usual, but I knew that we would spend much more time travelling before we left NZ. However, with careful planning we achieved all that we needed to on this 2 month China visit.

The new “Guoyang love house”-it’s just the right-hand side part – that’s Ken outside.

The new “Guoyang love house”-it’s just the right-hand side part – that’s Ken outside.[/caption]

We first visited our Guoyang Orphanage “Love house”. I was particularly interested to see progress on our “brand-new” orphanage and it is amazing that so much has been accomplished in just 8 months. Our lease will run out on the old facility in late August, but we are so thankful that we will be in the new building before then.

There is still much work to do, as there no internal-doors, flooring, stairs, plumbing and painting. However, we were able to supply the funding to complete this project. Also to those of you who give financial support, to “Share- Global and our on-going work – a big thank you!

Share Global team with children at the
” Guoyang Love House”

I will now mention quickly, the other visits we made in China

Visit to Urumqi and Turpan We are planning to start a work in the Western Province of Xinjiang.

Huaibei Psychiatric Hospital We met Sandra King at Hefei Airport and took her on to visit the Hospital, then on to our Orphanage in Guoyang. (Sandra writes about this later in the newsletter)

Gaoshan Home for the Elderly My wife Beryl arrived in China for the last part of our stay, and she was keen to visit this facility. Beryl hadn’t been to China for 5 years, so she was delighted to see the progress in this Home. The Home now has 29 residents and new showers and toilets. These were all items requested by Beryl when we built the facility 7 years ago. So she was thrilled to see the progress.

We made several other trips, but there’s no need to mention these. Please find below articles by Sandra King, Ken McKay and Beryl.

Blessings,
Brett

Report from Sandra King

I was invited to go to An Hui with Brett and the team, under the covering of Share Global. Previously I had been in China for twenty years and in that time I have opened three orphanages – in Guangzhou and Beijing and Yang Chun. So I jumped at the opportunity to go with Brett and the team this time as I was free to do so. I had never been to An Hui before, so I knew it was time for me to go and see what they were doing there.

The first place we went to was the “Huaibei Social Welfare Centre” in An Hui. The Hospital gathered a few senior staff together with the director to sit down with us to take notes. I knew they were unsure of our intentions. Humber, (one of the Share Global workers) explained to the director what we could do to offer them. Then they saw the newspaper cuttings indicating the previous work I had done in China. I would say that in the beginning the staff seemed a little cool, but as we explained how we managed staff in relationship to dealing with babies and disabled children they changed and were most enthusiastic to have a relationship with us. I have since e-mailed them without response, so I feel in my heart this is going to happen – but not just yet. We need a lot more special thinking in this area.

The trip to see brother Ying and sister Esther in Guoyang was a real worthwhile experience. I was honoured to meet them. Seeing the children and the bond that they have with each other was all it took for me to know how special they were. I really enjoyed the concert they put on for us and we had a good time. Well, it all came to an end very fast. I was only there for a day and a half and it was not long enough.

Ken’s Impressions

If someone had told me five years ago that I would be involved in building some relationships with special people in China, I would have looked sideways at them thinking, how could that be possible?

Only ‘one’ knew what was around the corner, how my life would take a sudden turn and how I was going to turn to ‘Him’ for some answers. His answers were more like questions, like; Do you love me? Are you ready to surrender? Are you available? What are you willing to sacrifice?

I never thought I had much to offer, not a lot of confidence, often bumbling my way through, not sure how to accept encouragement from those around me. I guess I didn’t know how things can work out so I just had to start experiencing it for myself, as only He could really reveal His way to me.

So how did I come to be in China for the third time in about three years? One word – availability. It was time for me to be shown the way. Less than three years ago I had the opportunity to go on a short trip to South China to experience a taste of life a world apart amongst the lost yet found in the ‘House of Grace’ orphanage run by Sandra King. There is something special about being ‘found’ and also finding someone ‘special’. Orphans are so special. I think it is because they are a reminder to us all that we were all once lost and in need of being found, and also what a gift to someone of a small life in need of a home in someone’s heart. Remember that in giving, we receive and the love of an orphan is more than most of us would know. Once the barriers or anxieties are dispelled, these children are a joy and experience to be around.

In reflection, spending time in China amongst the orphans and others involved in enlarging the Kingdom, has and hopefully will continue to be one of the best experiences for me and my relationship with my children. I can only wait and hope in anticipation for what is on the horizon. His circle is growing as more followers are willing to ‘Go’ and serve Him. As I have been learning, it is not my ability that matters but my availability to be used by Him.

The opportunity to serve in China is tremendous and challenging, but rewarding, with people who are all special and all unique in what they bring. I have a sense that there are special times ahead for those who believe to venture out further and experience His hand at work in China, or anywhere we are willing to be led.

It has been great to see the initiatives of those before us come to fruition and be realised and built upon in China by other believers and even some authorities who gladly participate. Of course, care and consideration, respect and responsibility need to be demonstrated at all times but most of the time there is a willingness to allow cooperation or help to occur.

Love is the key that opens the door to relationship. I thank those whom I have met in the work of Share Global and those who have been a great influence so far. May you all be blessed. This also includes those who are encouragers, supporters or intercessors. You are all part of His plan.

Beryl’s Visit to Gao Shan.

As I had not been to China for 5 years, one highlight of this trip was to return to Gao Shan, a village in Anhui Province where the Elderly Home was set up in 2007 jointly with the Wuwei Charitable Trust and Share Global. Robert kindly took us and there we met up with a few Government Officials from Wuwei, looking keen to show us around.

It was a pleasant surprise to see all the buildings in good condition and the whole area around them fully fenced with a security gate at the front entrance.

The old Government building on the left hand side had a second floor added, accessed by an external stairway. It contained several small rooms and a large reading room. The reading room was complete with tables /chairs, T.V. and a newspaper rack; a quiet place for the residents to enjoy activities together. It is also apparently used by local village people when they have community meetings.

Downstairs a few more bedrooms had been built on the existing building. All of them appeared to be furnished the same as before with a new stand alone wardrobe added.

On the right hand side newer building, one end had a new dining room and kitchen. More bedrooms had been added with a whole new block on the south end.

The kitchen comes with a cook. She prepares all the meals for the 27 residents. When the food is ready she rings a bell and the residents come and get their meal and then have the choice of eating together in the dining room or taking it back to their room. A new upgraded toilet block and shower room had recently been added on also. Land at the rear of the buildings is all completely planted with vegetables showing a self sufficient life style.

Sadly, the first resident, Mr. One Tooth, had passed away 3 years ago, as had some of the first group to enter the home.

It was a good visit and pleasing to see the Wuwei Charitable Trust had fulfilled most of the plans discussed with Brett over 6 years ago. They are providing better quality and cleaner living conditions for their people to spend the remaining years of their lives.

We were able to leave them a small gift of basic medical supplies: an easy to operate digital blood pressure machine, a thermometer, reading glasses and walking sticks.

In the past newsletters, we’ve brought you many stories of the amazing happenings that take place in China and this letter is not going to be any different.

John, Humber, Ken and Brett with Brother Y in bed with a broken back

Brother Y is a man we’ve often talked about from previous newsletters. Well, 4 months ago, he travelled to Yunan Province to distribute rice to a minority-group living in the mountains. These people are extremely poor and their houses in dis-repair, because most of the men have left the area to find work. However, when the men find work, nothing of their wages is returned to the wives and families. Hence the families are starving. While Bother Y was visiting one of these houses, the top step collapsed, throwing Brother Y towards the stone floor. When he landed he broke his back. However the amazing thing is he didn’t lose his life. Brother Y was holding his Precious Book when he fell. His Precious Book landed on the stone-floor and, within a split-second, his head hit the Precious Book – saving his life. Brother Y has an amazing work throughout China, sharing and teaching, and he also oversees one of our orphanages. This true “man of belief” has a fantastic story and is a real inspiration to many in China.

TRAVELS

Typical dress worn by Urgur woman, which can also be very colourful

During our recent 2 month visit to China, we were led to think about starting a work in the “west” of China. So, much of the time in China was spent travelling. Ken McKay came with me on this visit and he was able to get a real insight into our work in China, especially on one of our trips to the west of China. Because we only had limited time, I needed to plan the trip carefully. Places we visited were: Urumqi, Kashgar, Taxkorgan and Hotan. It probably doesn’t sound much travel, but if you were to find these places on a map, then you would understand the great distances across deserts and mountains between these places. To visit a brother in Taxkorgan, we were at 14,500ft, with a lack of oxygen quite noticeable.

Fort at Taxkorgan – on the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan

Taxkorgan has one of China’s ethnic people groups, “the Tarjik’s” with another 55 tribal groups in China. To get to this place is not easy because this is a very politically sensitive area. However, with visas and determination, it can be done. I had no idea what to expect, but the scenery is spectacular and this is real camel and yak country. When I learned how harsh the minus 50 degree winters are, I had a greater respect of how tough life is here. Many of the peaks around Taxkorgan are over 26,000ft, so the harvest season is very short for these people. We now have a net-work of family in this area that we can work along-side with.

I was privileged some time ago to have received a series of photos taken by European missionaries who came to Taxkorgan and Kashgar in 1933. However, they travelled by foot, horse and camel over the same route we took to Taxkorgan, but they were coming from Pakistan through the mountains. They even brought children with them over the high mountain passes. Some of these passes would be about 18,000 to 20,000ft, so the commitment of these early missionaries is astounding when you consider the hardships they must have endured.

Taxkorgan and Kashgar from Pakistan in 1933. (Baby daughter Marianne, sucking her thumb – in side-saddle box)

I’ve had these photos for some time now, but I’m amazed that we were led to the same places they travelled. It wasn’t until I returned to NZ, that I discovered I had taken the same route and, to be honest, I had no idea that Andrew, one of our workers, was going to take us there in the first place. All I knew was that we were going to visit a “friend” in Taxkorgan.

Crossing the high mountain pass

Please continue to think of us in our work,
Blessings,
Brett

Our Field Worker, Brett, has once again departed for another visit to China to oversee the progress

in various projects that Share Global is partnering with the local friends.

His focus will be on the orphanage that has been established in the northern area from his base as
well as paying a visit to the Home for the Elderly in another province. Keeping in contact with others
workers and national people he associates with is always an important feature of Brett’s visits.

He is being accompanied for the first stage of this visit by Ken who had a very inspiring time in China
last year and is enthusiastic about this return trip.

Alistair also went with Brett last year and if circumstances permit he may be able to make the
journey to China as well.

Brett is intending to be in China until the beginning of May so please keep all in your thoughts over
this time and especially think of Beryl as she holds the fort back home.

SHARE GLOBAL NEWSLETTER #9

An account of Alistair McKenzie’s recent adventures out West with Share Global China

I blacked out on the plane, collapsing in a heap in the aisle. The hostess put me in the back row on oxygen for a time and that did the trick. What a dramatic way to start my adventure flying from Auckland to Shanghai!

After landing safely in Shanghai it was downstairs to the Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) train travelling around half the speed of the Jumbo jet. After a short period of confusion around the ticket machine it was onto another train for about seven stops to catch a cab to some hotel where Brett was going to join me in a day or so. I gave the cab a miss as these three lovely girls offered to take me to some “cultural” event that happened to be starting nearby in about 10 minutes. I had the whole day to fill in and so being the adventurous type; it was up a couple of side streets, through an alleyway into a decorated room with some guy serving up all manner of Chinese teas. It was going relatively well until we were interrupted by what turned out to be a police officer who removed one of the girls and put the other two a little on edge. I have travelled a bit and have always been taken by the friendly open manner of the Asians, but apparently I miss-read this situation and was soon on my way on foot to the hotel.

I found the hotel just where the girls said it would be and Brett showed up a day later. We headed to the Hongqiao Airport to be joined by team members, A & R. A slight delay in booking meant we were on separate flights and, as it turned out, leaving from separate airports, so I’m back on a train to somewhere, swapping lines at a certain point, jumping on another which took me to Pudong Airport, the correct one this time. But I arrived on time, through the gate and off to Urumqi.

Urumqi is a fairly large city toward the North Western corner of China near Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

From here we boarded the overnight to train to Yili with what appeared to be about a thousand other travellers. A very pleasant, gentle and repeating motion through the night was conducive to some far away thoughts and distant memories. Getting up early the next morning it was clear we were getting well out to the Western reaches.

Brett’s approach is direct, and that goes for his dealings with the Chinese government as well. So we set up a meeting with the Regional leaders and after a few cups of Chinese tea we all agreed to have another meeting. We were picked up by the official Government vehicle, transported to our new digs at the five-star Government Hotel and then a little later off to a banquet where there was toasting and complimenting and more toasting. We agreed on another meeting and back to the hotel for a good sleep. In the morning, tours of orphanages, dairy farms, hospitals, orphanages and then another banquet with toasting and lots of compliments. They are very relational and seem to like to get to know you a little this way.

There were some sights, one of which was me sitting between two government officials belting along a rough dirt road on a small motorbike. Brett came alongside the three of us in the Official car, snapped a shot before retreating just in time to let the oncoming truck through, who incidentally had no intention of making any effort to avoid the inevitable. These officials were very friendly and went right out of their way to make us welcome. They seemed genuine to me and I got to liking these Communist officials.

While we were in the Yilli area, we stayed at R’s Mum and Dad’s home. I have never seen quite so much colour assembled in one place than here in the markets of this little hidden gem. The character is printed deeply into the older men’s faces and the rich blend carried here long ago by the silk traders has created so much diversity and made for some very beautiful women. It was an absolute treat to pass this way and I can’t but hope that the future may again lead me back to these very colourful Urgur people.

We were introduced to what may well have been the wealthiest businessman in this region. We were immediately transferred to the penthouse suite of his hotel which appeared to be the top hotel in the city. His driver then delivered us to the first of several banquets, and I mean banquets. Mr Chen turned it on for us and had his driver cover over a thousand miles with us on board.

In this region there is a small city called Tekesi. This is where we stayed for seven days. It has a population of 150,000 people which includes approximately 1100 orphans and it did appear to us that there was a good opportunity for Share Global’s involvement; the officials certainly appeared to welcome any help they could get. In fact the woman leader said her greatest concern here was for woman and young children and she seemed genuinely concerned.

We then headed east to Yiwu where we stayed in Brett’s apartment and had several wonderful days with a real shower and a real toilet. We went to a few weddings including an all-out black African one where the dancing was something else.

It was then on the train and off to Guoyang to meet perhaps the most amazing person of the entire trip. Brett and this friend have a wonderful relationship and have since re-gathered a number of these children into a newly formed orphanage.

We spent several days here so with our friend and his family we spent a lot of our time with their little orphan kids, playing ping pong, badminton, soccer, basketball, painting, puzzles, lots of laughing and a few tears also. Brett was able to help them get a freezer, a shower, a hot water cylinder and numerous other goodies to help lighten the load of these overburdened, unpaid caring folk and bring just a little encouragement that seemed so appreciated.

I had to leave Guoyang and catch the overnight train back to Shanghai for my flight home, so with that gentle repetitive motion and my thoughts off into the night, it could have gone on for days as far as I was concerned. But a lovely young lass popped into my cabin to practice her English; that turned out to be another story! We met up in the morning and she took me on several different trains across Shanghai until she was satisfied I was safely on the right path to the right airport. I bought her a coffee and insisted she get the biggest chunk of cake she could find; she did pretty well there and after devouring that she said she had now fulfilled her duty and needed to go because it was Buddha’s birthday. I was impressed with the Chinese from start to finish and am looking forward to the next leg of this adventure.

Alistair McKenzie

This Newsletter is sent out by Share Global. Visit our website for more information and details on how you can be involved.

www.shareglobal.org

Brett Rothwell, Field-worker for Share Global, has left for China today for an extended stay to continue the work helping the needy poor in that vast country.

He will be taking the opportunity to visit orphanages and the Home for the Elderly to see how the work is progressing as well as seeking possibilities for new ventures. He is hoping to connect with the local friends in the areas and also establish more relationships with Provincial Government officials as the work continues to expand.

Please remember Brett as he travels and relates to people on his journey.

Read More →

Amy J Stephens, an International singer/song-writer, author and inspirational-speaker. During Oct-Nov 2010, Amy toured the North Island of New Zealand singing and speaking. What a blessing Amy’s ministry was to many folk and all the proceeds from the tour, have gone to supporting Share Global’s work in China. Read More →

Share Global’s work has expanded dramatically over the 6 months and we are now actively caring for 4 Orphanages. Three are in the north of Anhui Province and one is the south. It is great that we now have 4 full-time workers: Sanjay from India, (Rukkia from Xinjiang, and Andrew from Yiwu, married) and Brett. Also we have a large team of supporters, who travel to the Orphanages showing “compassion” – Humber, Yunili, Solomon, John, Tracy, Donia, Alex, Colin and many more. It is a privilege for me, to serve with such a dedicated team. Read More →