On 3 August, 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Ludian County in Zhaotong, resulting in over 380 death and 1,800 injured. It is the highest scale of earthquake hitting Yunnan in the past 18 years. Tens of hundreds of houses collapsed, included several schools.
CEDAR’s Yunnan office contacted Yunnan Christian Council (YNCC) and Zhaotong City Christian Council (ZTCCC) immediately after the quake to find out the updated situation. Staff from Zhaotong Church told us that the quake affected areas are still restricted from access. A heavy rain in the first night after the quake caused serious landslide. Relief materials such as shelters, quilts, dried food, drinking water and medicines are the most needed. In the coming week, CEDAR’s staff will head to the quake affected region to assess the situation and map out a concrete relief and rehabilitation response plan.
There are many ethnic minority groups, such as Huis (the Muslim) and Miao, living in Zhaotong, Yunnan. Most of them live by farming under desperate condition. In 2012, CEDAR worked with Yunnan Christian Council to deliver one-month food supply to 6,000 families in Yiliang County, Zhaotong, (a 5.7-magnitude quake hit this area on 7 September 2012).
Please earnestly pray for the situation in Zhaotong, Yunnan:
Pray that the trapped victims will be rescued very soon;
Pray that God will heal the injured and comfort those who lost their beloved one;
Pray for the safety of relief workers and for smooth operation of the first stage of rescue and relief work;
Pray for God’s guidance on the communication and cooperation between CEDAR, YNCC and ZTCCC. Also pray that those churches located near the affected areas will take part in the coming relief response.
Emergency and Relief Donation
Please make cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212 Hong Kong
The word ‘poverty’ seems to carry with it contrasts between rich and poor, strong and weak, high and low, and between give and take. However, when we are in the transformation context, we often realize the so-called ‘poor people’ can actually be the vessels through which God transforms life and community.
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29)
When you get to know the poor, you will realise that they have many “treasures” in them waiting to be discovered and appreciated, to be turned into opportunities of transformation. Close-up contact and genuine care are vital to such discoveries. For frontline workers ministering in an impoverished community, home visits are a crucial link in practising “care”.
Change through acceptance by the community
In Yunnan, South West China, CEDAR has been working with the local church to mobilise their leaders, seminary students and believers to walk in the midst of the community, visit and express loving care for neglected and impoverished families, amongst which are people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), drug addicts and ex-convicts, all of whom nobody normally would draw near to.
Changes in lives, families and even in the community are strong evidence that change IS possible, and these changes are brought about when impoverished families themselves discover and utilise their own “treasures” or innate abilities.
In a Yunnan village, there lives a father with his son. When the father remarried, the step-mother would not accept the son because he had been taking drugs for many years and was HIV positive. He had also committed numerous criminal offences and was in and out of labour camps. The father had to abandon him. In the eyes of many people, the son seemed beyond help.
Change in a broken life
Ms. Wu, Head of Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home in Dali
When the staff of Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home set up under the Dali Prefecture Christian Council (Social Service) heard this, they took an initiative to visit this helpless middle-aged man in the hospital with several church leaders and seminary students. The staff of Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home says, “His family members never visited him because they were afraid. We visited him again the following day, and every day thereafter, until he was discharged.” Through the loving care of believers, church leaders and seminary students, this family underwent transformation.
One day thereafter, the son came to Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home with some of Dali’s specialty cheeses. He was sent by his father who now has great trust with the church; The father called Ms. Wu (a co-worker in Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home) and said, “I now commit my son into your care.” He is very willing to let the church continuing this pastoral journey for his son.
What happens is, when a group of Christians were willing to care for this family, the relationship between the father and son slowly but steadily improved. With people’s acceptance and support, a life that was once ruined by drugs and sin underwent transformation. “The father wanted to love and care for the son but he did not know how. We did not tell the father how to show care, we just demonstrated it by action. The father exhibited change as well, and the two are now reconciled.” The son is now a security guard at Xianguan, the best local hotel, and lives a more stable life.
Change by repaying care
It was a great comfort to see that the son can now look after himself and is reconciled with his father. There was a further unexpected outcome. “The son referred three [drug-taking] of his friends to our church. Besides, after this practical caring experience, many pastors and seminary students have changed their view on social ministries, affirming the staff’s work,” say Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home staff thankfully.
The staff also realize that the church, individuals, families, neighbours and the community are closely linked in the change process. “The story began with pastors and staff caring a HIV infected person; the story ended with active caring being continued and more people receiving care. It is easier to provide material things, it may not seem difficult to tell others to change, but it is more important to inspire others to initiate change themselves. We are not doing a job or organizing event, and we are not even playing heroes to effect change on others, but progressively facilitating change to take place. Our home visits promote changes, and changes develop further – this is the fruit of our facilitation and we see the community’s corresponding response.”
Lorraine from CEDAR Fund visited a beneficiary’s family with a Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home member and a church member
Change of perception
Tenacity, wisdom and the most basic interpersonal loving care and concern do exist in even the impoverished families. Church leaders and believers in Yunnan had reflections and underwent a mindset change after going through training in the past few years on how to serve the community practically and to walk alongside the needy.
The leader of a church’s social ministry department says, “In the past I was not convinced of the impact of home visits, but after visiting people myself, I see the need for continuing the ministry. Reflection after each visit and analysis of the cases are very useful, convincing us that we are in the right direction, and I feel I now have a much lighter burden to carry.”
A brother in the same church also says, “Doing home visits can be difficult, but they are all worth it. I am very excited to see the outcome; we serve wholeheartedly and are extremely grateful for the encouragement and support received from other people.”
A person’s value is not measured by his status, and we should not label or look down on people. Yes, impoverished families might be the church’s targeted beneficiaries but it does not mean that they are totally weak, useless and helpless. Honest and genuine connection, caring, appreciation and support enable the poor families to utilise their potentials and resources, and God will transform neighbours and communities through them. What a discovery !
Related information
CEDAR encourages churches to use the S-A-L-T model in home visits to discover the strengths of those being visited and their community, thereby building their self-confidence and mobilising community transformation.
‘S’ stands for ‘stimulate’ and ‘support’
‘A’ stands for ‘appreciate’ and ‘affirm’
‘L’ stands for ‘listen and ‘learn’
‘T’ stands for ‘transfer’ and ‘team’
The biggest goal of S-A-L-T is to discover and appreciate a community’s efforts and participation in development and transformation. When we listen to people and affirm their strengths, we support them in continuing and expanding their actions. In the process we also learn from the community.
The AIDS-affected need love and acceptance but AIDS is a taboo in China, so sufferers face rejection and isolation, and are under indescribable pressure.
CEDAR supports Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home under the Dali Prefecture Christian Council (Social Service) who ministers to AIDS-affected families through:
Building a sharing network for PLWHA
Holding bible studies and worship, facilitating Christians to care for one another and to know God
Visiting PLWHA and their families regularly
Helping PLWHA to apply for social security and to handle community affairs
Raising community awareness of HIV/AIDS
After suffering HIV/AIDS for many years, a woman at Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home finally picked up the courage to tell her family and got support from her brother and mother. Her brother says, “If Fu-Kang (Rehabilitation) Home and outsiders accept you, why can’t we?” She is very touched.
Caring for the marginalised and to walk alongside with them is to follow Jesus’ example of having compassion on the forsaken. We hope that PWLHA will see hope in their lives and receive help and support from their community.
To safeguard privacy, CEDAR rarely publishes the photos and sharing related to AIDS-affected individuals, but service towards them has never ceased. The HIV/AIDS-affected in China really need acceptance and help, and we ask that you will encourage them by love and action, and support CEDAR’s community care in China.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Do you know that your calling today was already ordained and prepared by the Lord when you were small?
I have been involved in poverty relief for 17 years now. Looking back, I see God started the preparation while I was growing up!
When I was small, our family was poor and the six of us cramped in a space of 100sq.ft., and all my secondary school learning materials were sponsored by the school! Albeit poor, I had a happy childhood. Hardship taught me how to live with limited resources and I learned that a good living environment is not an entitlement; I also developed empathy for the poor.
I was an active and outgoing child, my school performance was not outstanding and I liked only sports and mathematics. But studying in a well known school, I had to keep a tight rein on my lack of academic enthusiasm in order to meet the school’s requirements, and staying with school was the only path I could take in those days. I often encountered difficulties and dejection, and failures were frequent. But these experiences produced a courage in me to deal with problems and difficulties. Later I discovered that such tenacity was exactly what a frontline worker needed. In the frontline, especially in new ministries, problems frequently crop up and many are often beyond one’s imagination. A worker must face them, and follow God’s leading so that challenges can be overcome and the ministry can grow gradually!
In my growing years my elder brother had much influence on me. He encouraged me to pursue my dreams, whether in choosing my study or my work. Therefore when I went to university I did not choose to study something that guaranteed a steady and sizable income, and instead I chose ‘China study’ which people at that time did not think much of. This subject helped me to acquire a good understanding of China, fairly unknown at the time, and I even got to meet the common people in Mainland China. A sense of identity was formed and I received God’s calling to dedicate myself to His ministry, making a lifetime commitment and offering.
Today, as you review your life and experiences, have you responded to the Lord’s calling upon your life?
Paulina joined CEDAR in 1999 to develop CEDAR’s first project site in China. She has served impoverished and disadvantaged communities in Hubei, China for over 14 years.
Yunxi County, situated in the North West rural areas of Hubei, China, an area constraint by limited resources and a place where many Huis (Muslims) dwell. From 2010 onwards, CEDAR carries out rural community development projects there: organising villagers to build water supplies system and infrastructures to solve years of water shortage problem; providing living assistance to the underprivileged and impoverished households, whose lives are disrupted by chronic illnesses. We help them increase family income through developing livestock raising. Thus far, we have reached more than 600 households.
‘I have bad health and our family is poor. I have to sell my cows to support my daughters’ education. Thanks to CEDAR that I can now raise cows and sheep again. The money we earn is enough for my family too,’ said Mother Ma who lives with her two daughters. In addition, Mother Ma and other villagers used the money they saved to fix the main road in their village, easing the daily travel of other people. The family of another villager, Mr. Ma, did not have much experience in raising sheep. In the past they only got 6 sheep. Through the animal husbandry training, the sheep in his family were being fed properly, resulting in the multiplication of present 34 sheep. The income they generated from selling sheep greatly relief their economic pressure.
In past 10 years, CEDAR work in partnership with Hubei Provincial Christian Council to serve the impoverished villagers, providing support in livelihoods development, education, livestock management. In all good and bad times, we have witnessed how God cared for the needs of the Hubei villagers and brought about changes in their lives and community.
Pray for the Hubei Community Development Projects:
Pray that God will prepare suitable fellow workers to build a team for this ministry;
Pray that CEDAR can work closely with local churches to help them expand their social services ministry and provide appropriate services for the community;
Pray that God will lead the local government to understand and recognise the value of church led social ministry to the community and will continue to support our work.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
[ePrayer – Pray for the ministry in Gengma, Yunnan]
Deputy Director of Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Health expressed his appreciation to the staff of Gengma County Christian Council (Social Service) after attending the training session, commenting it’s practical and “down-to-earth” HIV/AIDS prevention training.
A grandfather residing in the rural village of Gengma, Yunnan lost his wife last year, leaving him and his little granddaughter alone. All these years his life is troubled by problems causing by his drug-addicted son, and now, he has an additional worry if he can raise his little granddaughter till she is grown-up. ‘I can no longer cut down the sugar cane by myself. I obtain some income from renting out my farm to others and also from being a watchman in an orange grove. I also plant some maze and rear chicken for living.’
Since 2007, CEDAR has organized ‘Integral Mission’ training for the Yunnan churches, encouraging them to walk with the poor and respond to the need of the impoverished people. Many churches then started to set up their “social service team” and regularly paid visits to the poor, orphan and widows, and the elderly in the communities. A lot of these marginalised families suffer from drug addict and HIV/AIDS problem. The grandfather mentioned above is among those that the Gengma church visit regularly. They listen to him, share his burdens and provide emotional and spiritual support. The church even arranges him to join a training on rearing chicken and hope such techniques can help him to earn a better living.
Besides visiting the impoverished households, CEDAR’s partner “Christian Council (Social Service) of Gengma Dai & Va Nationality Autonomous County” also organise HIV/AIDS prevention training at different churches and provide support for the youth migrant workers.
Pray for the ministry in Gengma, Yunnan:
Thank God for the meaningful service by the Gengma churches, that through them many impoverished people and marginalised families receive care and support;
Pray for the work in supporting the HIV/AIDS affected families and youth migrant workers, and that a lot more impoverished families will be blessed though the services of the local churches.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
