SHIC

1. Township Doctor Training

2. Land Proposal (English Language)

3. Hospital

4. Foster Care

5. Staff

6. Dental X-Ray Machine

7. Pediatric Heart Surgeries

8. Character First Training

9. CAF

10. 4-A Friend Sports Program

Right before the National Holiday began, we still had only 17 doctors prepared for training, well short of the desired 50. On September 30-31, the SYHB (Shenyang Health Bureau) and CMU (China Medical University--where we are holding the training) tried to contact Benxi, Tieling, and Liaoyang Health Bureaus. These officials became very interested in this program and decided to make candidates available to us for training. We were told to expect 16-17 from the Benxi area, 17-18 from the Liaoyang area, and 10 from the Tieling area. Because of our desire to begin this program on October 10, we had to interview during the holiday--October 7-8, since these doctors were already off of work because of the holiday. From the the Benxi area we chose 12 doctors; from the Tieling area we chose five doctors. We were somewhat disappointed and frustrated when the Liaoyang Health Bureau changed their mind about sending doctors for this training.

Still determined, we asked SYHB and CMU to try to recruit additional doctors. They contacted Chaoyang City Health Bureau and they agreed to send us 24-25 doctors. But since we lacked only 14 doctors, they agreed to send us 20 for interviews. During the interviews we discovered the doctors had received incorrect information concerning the benefits of this training so only four of them chose to participate. This brought our total number of doctors up to 38, much better than the 17 but still short of the desired 50. At any rate we have finally arrived at the number 41 doctors. Most of the problem of finding doctors came about because we agreed to allow the Shenyang Health Bureau enlist the doctors for us. Later we found out that they only have two people in their particular office and it seems that they just simply bit off more than they could chew. How could we have guessed? Anyway all is working out just fine.

This past week the doctors had classes on General Medicine. The professors are of the highest level from the university. It is really impressive to read their bios. And they have such a great attitude and desire to teach these doctors. The doctors are blessed and so eager. They arrive early for the classes and they work diligently. Because of this, attendance taking is not even necessary.

On October 15 (Saturday), we held our first activity by visiting Shenyang Botanical Garden. We were blessed with beautiful weather! We played badminton, Chinese Jian Qiu and enjoyed the entertainment at the Garden. After lunch we sang songs, with some of the doctors choosing to stay close to listen. These Saturday outings are for fellowship and relaxation for doctors and staff and volunteers. We also learn more about these doctors and their other giftings and have the opportunity to bond with them. We chose one doctor as a monitor and three to be group leaders.

We are working on this again as the Chinese is completely finished and turned into the Chinese Government. Agree with us, please, that the Government will decide to offer us permanent use of this land, for the purposes outlined in the proposal, for free. Since we will be busy moving our hospital this week, we will have to meet with the authorities next week.

By the way Becky Johnson is going to be getting married. She will probably leave SHIC next summer. He is a very fine young man from Malaysia, a Harvard law graduate who feels called to the field. Wow! He is perfect for Becky. How wonderful. But oh how we will miss her. She has been such a blessing, a real right arm for Paula especially in making out the property proposal.

Last Thursday the Rehabilitation Hospital asked us to come over to see the area they are willing for us to lease. When we got there they said that they wanted us to see the area where they wanted us to set up our unit. They felt that if we agreed we could proceed. If we didn't agree then no need to negotiate a contract. The vice-president, a lady who is over all the Rehabilitation Projects in the province, took us to see 'our floor'. What we saw was so amazing. They were giving us the best area of their hospital. It has already been renovated. It is beautiful, bright and cheerful. At one end of our floor is the lab. No more traveling just to get a blood test. Again we felt like crying and we nearly could not control ourselves. After about an hour we met with the top president and the Party Secretary and the Vice-President together. They said that they were very touched by our work and would love to partner because we had the same goals. And they wanted us to have the best space in their hospital. It is a 300 bed hospital.

Oh brother.... I could barely hold back the tears. It has been such a long struggle with that hospital that we have been in for the last six years. It has been a dream deferred and although we have been able to save many babies there and we are very grateful for this, still in so many ways it has made us heart-sick.

Now here were people with the power to help, telling us that they believed in our work and wanted to partner... And give us the best space in their 300 bed hospital.

Yes it is going to cost us twice as much as we have been responsible for. It increases our directly monthly expenses by about $450. (It would be nice if a donor would step forward and pay that for the year) And we are getting three times as much space. And it is the best floor in the hospital. They wanted to give us the best that they had available. They are treating us with such favor that we have not experienced before in our work here. This work area is so bright and cheerful. It's a real blessing! We will begin moving tomorrow. It will probably take two or three days. The weather is cold.

The children are well and studying hard. Their attitudes are enthusiastic. We would always appreciate your thoughts for them. Thank you.

We do need a new foster home for Da Bao. We have finally come to terms with the fact that the present foster mom just really does not want her. She does not treat her well. Not that she is abusive but it is just obvious that she does not really love Da Bao. We hope for a Mom who appreciates this precious girl and is willing to open her heart to her.

Cynthia Huff is having challenges with her health. She has had a bad cough, chronic sinus infectionand a bronchial infection for sometime now. She took off for about ten days to try to get well. There has been great improvement but the sinus infection hangs on. Cynthia had an IV injection twice a day for the entire time that she was off work. Having to stay in her apartment was harder for her than the daily 'stickings'. We hope that she will soon experience her complete restoration, plus healing of asthma.

Roland's health continues to show improvement. His last two urine tests have shown no infection in his body and no internal bleeding caused by the troublesome stone. He and Connie will be leave for the states from December.

New staff--Fan Shaofeng (Samuel) joined the SHIC staff last week. He will be working with the NK team, 4-A Friend Sports and CAF. Samuel is from a southern province and is here with his wife who works at the local orphanage. Samuel has spent the last 2 1/2 years studying Korean. We are thrilled to have him on board.

Please press with us for replacements for Becky Johnson and for Valerie. Becky will leave to get married in the summer of '06 and Valerie will leave February 28, '06 to begin working inside NK. We did not get specific word to do the greenhouse project so then we did not have any way to use Valerie's expertise in agriculture. We sure hate to see Val go. But at least she will be working with one of our friends in NK and we will probably see her from time to time and probably even cooperate with her on various projects. We are happy we can continue to see her and work with her.

We hope for the replacements to take up these ladies posts. They have been strong team players.

When we were at the Linzhou Central Hospital in August for the clinic we observed a need in the hospital for a dental x-ray machine. After making some contacts stateside, we were blessed by long time partners, a precious couple in Eugene Oregon who wanted to donate one. They connected with a couple who were going to the same place as Paula was going for her CAF meeting during the Chinese National Holiday. So Paula was able to receive the machine while in Hawaii. Paula was able to make it through customs on the way home with no problem. Now we can show our appreciation and say that we care to the hospital for their great cooperation with us. When our two staff go to Anyang for the pediatric heart surgeries they will also go to Linzhou to deliver the dental x-ray machine.

In keeping close contact with the Anyang Red Cross we have decided to help pay for heart surgeries needed by two children whom we saw during our clinic in Linzhou, Henan Province, in August. We have a detailed budget and photos of the children. Both children have already done initial check-ups at the Anyang District Hospital and are ready for admittance as soon as the funds come through. We applied for funds from a long time partner in Hong Kong. They notified us a few days ago that they would send the funds. We plan to send two staff to deliver the funds and to be there for part of the time during the surgeries. We will deliver the dental x-ray machine at the same time.

Last week we did have our Character First! Training. We had more that 40 attendees. It was so excellent! Two gentlemen came up from their Shanghai office. Our attendees included: our Shenyang staff, our Guiyang SHIC staff, a couple of the medical university's staff, four staff from other humanitarian organizations and ten of our township doctors (we are very glad that they can take this wonderful training with them). All of the attendees became more excited about the training the further we went into it. Every one expressed their very warm gratitude as they were leaving. All felt the character training was what they needed in their personal lives, their families, their companies.

We, SHIC, are going to do everything in our power to incorporate this kind of focus into our daily work. We want to become known as a Character First! Company. Wouldn't that be glorious.

Paula and Becky will need to meet with the possible production companies this week. We need to make those appointments for Thursday and Friday. We need to investigate their quality of work and professionalism as well as their prices.

The website is up and running. We still need the promo materials from several of the artists. We need to know how to proceed with the next approach to the Chinese government in order to submit the application for official permission to hold this great event. It is very important “who” we approach first. “Whoever” that is, will probably be the one who goes with us to all of the other bureaus. So our “whoever” is really important. He or she will be the great influence on all of the others.

Before the end of the year, we will begin communicating with the relevant parties in order to organize another such project.

MPH