End of the World

Still Some Places

I visited a location in Southern China last week which defies description. Might be able to put some pictures on soon to help describe it for you.

We rode to the end of the road then hiked straight up the side of a mountain on rocks until we encountered a group of people singing.

We eventually descended. I sat at the bottom with my interpreter who lives in Shanghai. The other group a young group of courageous men and women from Corona California made the second hike to deliver the "literature" promised.

While waiting for two hours we engaged them in conversation. They let me know they had never had a white visitor. I apologized for my strange pale complexion. They kindly extended an invitation to "stop by again next time I was in the area."

I then explained that was unlikely. They asked how far away I lived. I told them "it takes 30 hours to travel from Los Angeles to Shanghai to the airport nearest their location." They said "Oh, did you come by train?"

Obviously they had no idea of the other side of the globe.

They asked "how much did it cost to come?" My interpreter informed me they measured distances by how many RMB it costs to travel.

I shared "Probably about 20,000 rmb."

The man who led the village marveled. He matter of factly stated "that would last us for a life time."

I marveled equally at the remote nature of their location. I asked him "how long have your relatives lived in this valley?"

He said with a smile. "Since God created the earth!"

A few days later we were taken to another location to see our first micro-financing sight. This is in the Northern Section of China. We parked the van then hiked once again along the ridge of a mountain. The people lived in caves. I stood on a crest looking down at their "sub-division" and thought I have never seen a sight which could have been exactly like the living conditions of the 1st Century.

There we found 53 acres of licorice planted. Good news. Those sponsored by the project are Christians. While planting the crops about 50 people had professed faith in Christ. A church and school has been started.

Readers. Forgive me for taking so long to write. I hereby commit myself to write more often. Please check back in.

Love to have you share my life and experiences. Not all will be so unique. Most of my life back home is as mundane as yours. But welcome you to this blog.

First Hand Olympic observations

I have observed the progress of China for the past 10 years. I remember seeing the digital count down announcing "Only 325 days till the Olympics."

I have seen first hand the amazing - probably unprecedented in the history of the world - transformation of a city here in Beijing.

I have watched as 1.3 billion people set their minds to making a statement to the world.

Now that the Olympics have ended, we all are aware of how one country has marched from a single Gold Medal in Los Angeles in 1984 to 63 Gold Medals in 2008.

China should be justifiably proud.

Last week I happened to be staying at the Grand Stanford Hotel in Hong Kong. Our servers casually mentioned that the eating area would be off limits to guests for 30 minutes as they briefly provided welcome refreshments to some special guests. Those guests included all 63 Gold Medal winners from China and the Olympic committee. I had the opportunity to stand in a receiving line in the lobby at 12:30 that afternoon and cheer and clap as these modern day heroes entered. I was thrilled for China.

I wish I had some interesting story to tell you like how Gua Jing Jing stopped and shared with me personally the thrill of her 3 golds. Or the entire men's gymnastics team stopped to take a photo op. But such would be lying. The security was heavy from the night before. Someone on the internet threated a bomb. If I was not staying there I would not have been within 100 yards. Their itinerary was full and they were quickly ushered to behind closed doors. Why not? This group represents a national treasure. And probably as much collective worth now as the USA national debt.

It is good to see progress celebrated. Now, many young children can watch their television screens and have hope. China is now, too, a "land of opportunity"...for some.

Lest you think I'm being a little syrupy and naive, you should know the work of G4Asia focuses almost exclusively on the rural countryside of China.

Many villages we visit - perhaps half - state we are the first foreigners they remember visiting their home. I have seen poverty. More than I wish I had. I understand vividly the great divide which still exists between the wealthy citizenry and the vast majority of the Chinese.

But that does not alter the reality that China is changing rapidly and for the good.

Today, we visited the Birds Nest. An amazing athletic and event center which will be the sight of many more world events for decades to come. The para Olympics begin in two days. At lunch, in the Crown Plaza within walking distance, we saw many competitors in the public areas.

Signs of accommodations for the physically challenged are everywhere. This, too, is good. China does wish to take a step toward all their citizens.

I see how traffic has been at least temporarily controlled and air quality is visibly superior to even one year ago. This, too, is good. The massive modern buildings constructed in Beijing during the past decades are mind blowing.

I want to think that soon this vision and change will sweep out to the 800 million who still live below the international poverty line.

Years ago, Dr. Han Wenzao challenged me with the words, "If you want to know what is going on in China, come and see." I am coming and I am seeing.

All good people should be celebrating the positive changes in China. The progress of this country is worthy of our support.

Do we have to agree with or like all the policies in China? Of course not. But negativity and uneducated and uniformed criticism does nothing but build walls. Walls curtail communications. Without communications, none of us can help.

Final footnote: We were able to coordinate the efforts of 10 medical professionals in Henan Province this past week. It is amazing to see the good that can be accomplished when we work with our friends here in China-openly, legally, honestly.

Much good going on. What can you do?

Doing More

I just finished speaking at a conference in a serene mountain setting not far from San Jose, California. It was hosted by a Filipino group.

We discussed money, family life, dreams, spirituality and frustrations. We ate together. We laughed a lot. If you know the Pinoy community, you understand that is guaranteed.

Because of our focus with Grace for Asia, of course, we talked much about home; Philippines. We now have a condo in Manila. Many of the attendees have been gone from the country for 10,20, or more years. But no matter how long they have been absent, it is still home.

As we visited during breaks we discovered common experiences, common friends and most of all, common needs and hurts.

In time, our conversation turned to exactly what can be done to "fix the Philippines!"

Answer seems obvious, but tragic. Nothing can be done until the government there stems the epidemic tide of corruption.

Why start a business if double-taxation will drain it dry?

Why send medical equipment and supplies in to assist those who cannot pay for medical treatment as long as custom officials extract 20, 30 or 40% for their own pockets?

Why educate young people if jobs are not given to the most deserving, but to the most connected?

Why send more OFW overseas who must send all their money home when those at home refuse to work and simply waste the funds on a lazy lifestyle?

Why vote if the votes won't be counted?

After 10 years of hearing the same statements and frustration I admit it is tempting to give up. But I return to a couple basic premises which should drive all efforts. Not just in the Philippines, but around the world.

1) Because we cannot help everyone does not mean we should help no one.

2) Teaching people to fish is superior to giving them a fish.

Grace for Asia will continue to do all we are able. Just sitting here in another airport (will be in 23 during the next 16 days) and feeling a bit wistful. Wish I knew how to do more. Feeling so strongly I would like to do more. Sharing the angst of those I have just been with.

We can do more. If we all work together. Let's not give up.

President Bush's comments on Religion in China

Like millions of viewers, I watched President Bush's interview with Bob Costos two days ago.

The president was pushed repeatedly on whether he continues to confront Hu Jintao on matters
of human rights and religious freedom. President Bush said, "Yes." He even offered that he made a point the previous Sunday to attend a church service in Beijing.

International politics are far beyond my pay scale. But I simply must make one comment regarding a specific comment. President Bush said he has encouraged Ju Jintao to: "Allow the house churches to register."

This is one matter we know a little bit about. We just came out of China last Saturday and spent some time with friends of the CCC (Protestant registered church) and RAB (Religious Affairs Buruean) in several provinces.

There is nothing preventing house churches from registering. In fact, according to notable leaders within the CCC, there is a campaign being initiated from the top down to encourage all house church leaders to register. Many of them are. Many more house churches are working closely alongside of the approximately 55,000 registered Protestant churches.

I am not here arguing these house churches should register. That is a complicated matter. Rules
and policies vary from Province to Province. Some may be able to register, operate legally and find virtually no change in their operations and ability to govern themselves with great autonomy.

Other house churches may find the restrictions brought upon them would be intolerable.

Those are internal and personal issues which the church in China must resolve.

For the record, however, our president, though surely well intentioned, mis-spoke himself. It is not that the Chinese authorities will not allow the house churches to register. The house churches, or at least many of them, have decided they would prefer not to.

China prior to the Olympics:

We are having a wonderful time here in China. The country has never been cleaner, safer, or better prepared to receive guests.

However, there are a few balancing observations.

First, as we travel from city to city, there is an obvious absence of the number of ex pats (foreign workers) one normally sees here in the major cities and hotels. I am not sure what number of VISA were granted for this summer but suspect the number is lower than last year during the summer vacationing season. As a regular visitor here in China, when I walk through public plaza areas and sit in the lobbies of hotels I am struck by the absence of white faces.

Friends who operate travel agencies in Beijing bemoan the lack of foreign guests and the hotels are not booking anywhere near the number of guests they had hoped for.

Second, the opportunities and open doors we usually enjoy have been decisively and suddenly shut. Each of our Chinese friends says sadly, "Be patient. After the Olympics we can enjoy the relationships we had previously."

Third, one must appreciate the control the central government exercises here in China. There seem to be few corners which have not been touched by central policy. For the first time in 10 years a host mentioned as we were escorted to our hotel room, "The PSB may come to you door this evening and ask you what you are doing here and where you are headed." They did not. The fact we needed to be prepared is significant. The public security is marvelously efficient and certainly is monitoring all activity not only in the large cities but throughout the countryside.

Fourth, our hosts on one occasion encouraged us to leave the city sooner than planned because of phone calls they have received. Another location gently suggested it would be in everyones best interest for us not to show up. We are happy to oblige but it is sad to see them feeling a loss of face in needing to ask this of old friends. We love our friends and wish them all the best.

Finally - all should be in prayer now for a successful, peaceful and harmonious Olympic Games.

For a short period politics and routine activity can be put on hold. It does not serve the people of China nor the world well to have the event disrupted. It certainly is the authorities right to govern as they deem best.

The overwhelming number of citizens here simply want to be good hosts and have the world come to appreciate the amazing progress their country has made in the last decade. We wish them well.

All for now--5 days before the Olympics.

Leadership in a Recession

Yep. The recession is real. As most leaders of non profit organizations I have been sitting quietly and hoping/praying the recession would fly over us and not touch down. Sort of like home owners when tornadoes blow into their neighborhood.

We expected gas prices to go up, but not from $1.85 to $4.20 overnight. Wow! I was on an overnight bike cruise with some other "Wild Hogs" last week. We rode 850 miles in a day and a half. Along the coast near Big Sur, we filled up at $5.40 per gallon. What a sense of savings we enjoyed at the next station when it was back down to $4.40.

We expected inflated housing prices would correct. But not by 20% in a year. The building boom and all industries related to it seem to have hit the skids.

Add in the presidential elections, a protracted war in Iraq, increasing college tuition, a couple of unprecedented natural disasters overseas, to say nothing of the price of Cold Stone ice cream and we have ourselves a good old recession.

As mentioned, I work in the non- profit world (and we prove it every day). What should religous, humanitarian, and social service providers do?

I'll share some commitments I want to make:

1) We will not become stingy. There are too many hurts and needs which must be met. If required, the dollar amount may go down, but the percentages will not. Note: I'm quite concerned the fuel prices are going to challenge our ability to do as much good overseas. Might drive some creative alternatives.

2) We will seriously evaluate where we get the most bang for the buck. This means, of course, as we prioritize, we will also de-prioritize some things we might otherwise wish to do.

3) We will look for and give high commitment to other organizations who share our values and vision and come to the table of service as sharing partners. I'm learning most organizations can be divided into two categories. Those who are taking and those who are giving. In lean times, we must find those who can offer parity. Synergy between two giving entities is powerful.

4) We will live within our means. Simply we will not spend what we do not have.

5) We will accept that survivorship is a worthy goal during difficult times. Recessions are not pleasant. Like you, I wish they did not come. But they do. They will force us to evaluate what is necessary to achieve our goals or calling and what is dispensable. When the recession ends, and it will, we will be prepared and structured for even more effective service and growth.

Would enjoy hearing from some of you if you have a list of your own for such times. What would you add? Found any articles on this topic?