Earthquake in Yushu, Water Purification, and 5 K Run

Earthquake in Yushu Agape Way Helps Earthquake Victims The earthquake is not in our area of China, but again school children are dying in their schools. I want to tell you of a good charity that I know that is working in China and will be trustworthy to send your funds for earthquake relief. I have followed them for three years and found their work to be good. I am pasting part of their newsletter below with the right information where you can give. It is so cold there in the far west of China near Tibet. Agape Way has been helping poor Chinese children in the southwest region since 1999 and has actively engaged in the Sichuan earthquake relief and reconstruction since 2008. Currently we have a team of 20 people building earthquake-proof light-steel frame houses in Sichuan and Gansu provinces. This team will switch to reconstruction in Yushu region after finishing the work in the areas.I contacted our partner in China yesterday morning. He is leaving for Yushu tomorrow, to visit earthquake victims and to set up a relief program there.  I plan to go to Yushu earthquake region around June 6 during my trip in China from May 31 to July 21.  Please pray for the victims and the relief efforts.     Wanbing Frank Li, Ph.D www.agapeway.org to contribute through Paypal, or write check payable to Agape Way, designated to "Yushu Earthquake Relief", and send to: Agape Way, P.O.Box 518, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.  4 New Native Health Assistants  We were so pleased when four new native health assistants were supported through our last newsletter.  Now we will have Yao helpers in 6 of the 9 villages of Longfu Township. We are writing a grant to train those 9 Yao health assistants in a 15 day workshop next July, 2011. The hospital administrator in Longfu was so excited to report that many more children are coming to be vaccinated now that the assistants are encouraging the parents to send their children for immunizations. We just lack 3 more health assistant's yearly support of $177. They will work for $15 a month which is above the $9 a month average income for the area. Mandy Ma recently visited this one room Yao lower primary school where electricity was recently installed. Water born diseases like Hepatitis B can be attacked by water purification. We are planning tofacilitate the installation of 10 water purification units in the hospital and area schools of Longfu Township. We are writing a grant. We will be glad to send it to your foundation if you are interested. These inexpensive units can serve the whole village and work from a car battery. You can see the device at this link. Water for the World. Tanks and batteries can be bought in China and the rest of the unit weighs 22 lbs and fits in a suitcase. It works by electrolysis and runs on table salt. This area is suffering from drought as you can tell from the picture of their water tank below. There are no wells in this rocky area. They catch rain water. The village is really suffering. One unit's set up can be done for around $2,000 with the basic unit costing around $1000. I would like to take the first unit this July when I visit Du'an. Would you like to make water safer for a whole village and save lives? Donate a Water Purifier.  Mr. Wei  Maosong of the Du'an County Office of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Projects has offered technical help andmatching funds to set up the first unit at the Longfu Hospital. He hopes that the units can spread to all 22 townships of Du'an and even into neighboring prefectures and provinces. This will be the first project in China for such a purification unit, although it is used in 58 other countries. It helps remote villages inpoverty areas. Mandy Ma recently walked and climbed the two hours it takes to get to Liushan Village. She has sent pictures of homes, a one room primary school, and the larger school for older primary children who must board.  The kids were all so shy. She had gifts for them, so they finally came out of hiding. We plan to take some clothes and books to them when we go in July. Mandy Ma was once a teacher, so she taught them songs. She said they had never had a singing lesson before. The native health assistant, Mr. Meng, watched the circle game she taught. He is the son of the local teacher. He has been a migrant worker for many years, but now he can stay home and work to improve the health of his people. Mr. Tang Xiwen is the head of Longfu Hospital. He hiked up to the village         with Mandy Ma. Liushan Village sends its older primary children to this central school where they board for the week. Many children do not have adequate food or medical care. We hope that will change as we begin to assist them. This school has 7 class rooms and ends at age 12.  You can see more pictures at this link. 5K Run for Families Expecting Good Weather April 24th Registration 8:30am. Run starts at 9:30am Auction at 11:00am, Awards soon after Kroger Center, Morehead, KY We are getting excited about our 5K Run on April 24th. I checked the 10 day weather forecast today, and it looks like a partly cloudy day. Last year we have to postpone the run because of lightening. It was a risk to move it to April with its showers. Things are falling into place well. The prizes will be great this year. We have lots of door prizes and even a live auction of about 37 items. People at Kroger Center, where the run will start this year have been really been supportive. The run goes down Bluestone Road, which will be lovely this time of year. CiCi's Pizza Buffet at Kroger Center is giving us a percentage of their lunch receipts so come on out for the auction and lunch even if you don't run. We will have 7 Chinese professional paintings in the auction. Artists in Yangshuo gave them to help us raise money for the Yangshuo kids. Give to the Yao  There are so many opportunities to help people in China right now. Not all of China is poor, but the rural areas really need assistance. Please give to make a difference in a child's life. You can choose from many donations on our website, or give at the Paypal link below. We would especially like to get the 3 other villages health assistants supported.   Support a Yao Health Assistant for $177 a Year   Give a water purification unit for $1000      Blessings and thanks, Betty Cutts for the Blessing Hands kids

Du'an Vaccination Project

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Our First Project in  2010    Click to Go to Articles Du'an Vaccination Project Climbing Mountains Medical Care is Valued Grant Proposal in Process Donate now You can support a native healer for  $177 a year.  Our Recent   5K Run for Families Sponsors Click here to learn more about us and our students. Du'an Vaccination Project We have just gotten pictures of our village project among the Yao minority in the Du'an Township of the Hechi Prefecture in the Guangxi Province of China. We are working with Mandy Ma, a resident of that area who has devised a way to help the children of Du'an avoid another disease outbreak like the measles epidemic that broke out there and spread to all of China three years ago. These kids have received their shots and are smiling for the camera.  There are 320 children (0 -14 years old) in the Gejia community area and 360 children (0 -14 years old) in the Datong community area. 680 kids are getting vaccinated for several childhood diseases. 13 babies are born every year per 1000 people in Longfu Township. Six people out of every thousand die each year. Most families have three children because the one child policy in China does not apply to minority groups. T here are 1,300 people in Gejia Village and  1,400 people in Datong Village. Climbing Mountains Health care workers have to travel on foot for more than two hours to meet the villagers. The area is suffering a drought. Water is precious.   They carry their supplies on their backs and work with native healers to protect the health of the villagers. It takes really dedicated health professionals to work in such areas.  Medical Care is Valued  It is so far to the nearest hospital that we are interested in preventive care to keep the Yao children healthy. They are gettingencephalitis shots in this picture.   They live in a Yaoautonomousminority area much like the American Indians.  They have their own customs, values, and language  that only a native healer would know and understand. Presently we are doing a pilot project with two village healers Du'an is one of the poorest townships of Guangxi and is listed by UNESCO as not fit for human habitation. The population is 630,000. The number of children 0 -14 in age is 119,143. There are many disabled children and those living with relatives and neighbors when their parents become migrant laborers. A child's right to an education is in their registered home area, so school age children are left behind while parents work in distant factories. The average income is 60 yuan a month, which is under $9 US. The $15 monthly salary we pay the village healers is above average.  Grant Proposal in Process We are now in the process of writing a grant that would give these native healers training in basic health care and water purification methods. We need several professional health teachers to help these native healers. We plan to use the book, Where There are no Doctors, which can be purchased in China. It is used all over the world and has been translated into many languages. We will ask for funds for a training class in water purification with simple equipment like car batteries. Amy Chen, who is the Vice Dean of Health for the Longfu Township Health Center, is now helping us with information to apply for the grant. She says that the medical workers are very excited about such a course for village healers. They want to send representatives from other townships to learn the methods and take them back to their areas. They have never had such a much needed course before. Mandy Ma, who was a translator for World Visionwhen I met her, is doing the neededtranslation between the Chinese health experts and our grant writers and planners. We will apply for the initial grant on July 1st, and if we are selected to follow through, we will submit the full proposal in September with money being given in December 2010 for a year's project. This vaccinationcertificate is given to the children.   We have a foundation in mind, but they will want to see matching funds. That is where you can help.If you have a foundation or personally want to give to help this health education project, please let usknow. You can give a small donation of $35 at thislink.  We have been invited to teach all the village healers in Du'an, but we are not sure if we can get enough funds to do that. We want to pay at least 16 more village healers $15 a month to assist  their schools and communities with vaccinations. That would cost $2,880 a year. Wouldn't it be great if  each child in the Longfu area had an egg a day to improve their nutrition. In this poverty area this would make a great difference in their ability to learn. Eggs are very expensive, however. It cost 88 cents for 6 to 7 eggs. If local eggs were used, it would give the people an income. The hospital also needs a medical van to carry 11 medical workers to the trail heads and transport patients who come down the trails to the hospital. Women often die in labor, because they don't have a way to get to the hospital quickly. The government is offering matching funds for a van that could double as an emergency ambulance. It would come to just $4,000 US for a part in the van. What a great opportunity for someone to buy an simple ambulance.  About Us Blessing Hands serves the poor in Guangxi Province by giving educational and medical aid to children. You have an opportunity to help them too. Please support them with this project.  Sincerely, Betty Cutts Blessing Hands If you are a medical professional?  You can help. Perhaps you would like to go along to teach in our course for native healers. Maybe you have medical items to donate that could travel in a suitcase to China.  They need things like blood pressure cuffs, first aid supplies, surgical scissors, thermometers or other supplies that the hospital or native healers would appreciate as gifts. This e-mail link will let you contact us.

5 K Run for Families

5 K Run for Families Benefits Habitat for Humanity and Blessing Hands Saturday, April 24, 2010  Registration begins at  8:30 am; Run Starts: 9:30 am Kroger Center at exit 137 from Interstate 64 in Morehead, Ky 40351 Register Online now and save the rush on the day of the race. Create a Team Page  (Download instructions for creating a team) 5 K Run for Families  Entry Fees $15 for adults (T-shirt $12.60 extra) $10 for students Children under 12 free  Printable Entry Form   Awards: Awards and categories will be divided by age and gender into classes for Runners + Grand Prize for the fastest overall time. Walkers and volunteers are eligible for lots of door prizes Runner Ages: 18 and under, 19 to 25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66 + Teams: Teams of any number are encouraged to collect pre-race donations.  The team that raises the most will receive special recognition.Greeks, school and youth groups, family, and business teams are welcomed.  Print out the individual  Fund Raising Form to fill out and mail. Print out the Team Fund Raising Form to bring the day of the race or mail.  Directions:  Map link    Kroger Center at exit 137 from interstate 64 in Morehead Plenty of Parking at Kroger Center Benefits:  Your generosity will help families have new homes in the Morehead Area and educate students in our Sister City of Yangshuo, China. Volunteers:  Contact Ezra Dike atdirector@Moreheadhabitat.org 606 784 8408 Contact Information: Ezra Dikes or Betty Cutts  director@moreheadhabitat.org  or blessinghands@gmail.com   Phone: 606 784 8408 or 606 784 4785 Sponsored by: Platinum Level Sponsors The Salon and Day Spa, Drugs, Whitaker Bank, St. Claire Medical Center, Good Shepherd Printing, Sustainable Morehead, Hamilton, Inc, Commercial Signs, Freedom Radio FM 91.7, Main Street Textbooks, Northcutt and Son Home for Funerals, All Seasons Flowers and Gifts, Emerson Power Transmission, Colorama, La Finca Restaurant, Cici's Pizza Buffet, Curves of Morehead, Health Mangement Resources (HMR Diet Program), Harold White Lumber Company, Morehead Cimemas, Gatti's Pizza, Spurlock Spine Center, Daddy's Daughter, Dr. Anthony Mayo, O.D., Huddle House, Dr. Ann Colbert.  Gold Level Sponsors WMKY, Reno's Roadhouse, Ann's Hair and Body Shop, U.S. Bank, China Cafe, Wholesale Auto Parts, Designs by Jacquelyn, Wendy's, Rowan County Veterinary Clinic, Richie's Auto Detailing, Chris's Guitar Shop, Appalachian Goldsmith Company, Every Ladies Health and Fitness, C. Roger Lewis Agency, Mr. and Mrs. Craig Burrows, Wal-Mart Vision Center, Every Bodies Fitness 24-7, Great Clips, Lowe's,  Everybody Ladies' Fitness, Morehead Dental Group. Ann's Hair and Body Shop, Gold Emporium, Domino's Pizza, Lowe's Home Improvement, Beverly J. Powell, Cave Run Bike and Outdoor Center, MSU Bookstore, Gold Emporium,  Silver Level Sponsors Hair Expressions, Sloan Market, Morehead Tire and Auto, Shoney's, Major Brands, Jeannette's Catering, Media One, Mustard Seed Christian Book Store, MSU Bookstore, McDonald's, Mary's Hair Fashions, Blessing Hands,  Stuckey's Beauty Shop, McDonald's, Cindy's New Image, Major Brands, Expressions Salon, Jeanette's Catering, Sunshine World Car Wash, Aaron's Best One, Auto Zone, Great Clips, Woody's Hair Shop, Kroger's                                     Door Prizes given by: e-campus.com, Kroger, Penn Station, Cici's Pizza, The Villa, Scrub Shack,  Frozili's, People's Outlet, Bo's Barber Shop, Creative Touch Florist, Fitpursuit.com, Big 4 Lumber Company, Melini Cucina, Wal-mart Subway, Smart Style Family Hair Salon, PostNet  Blessing Hands 106 Timber Lane Morehead, Kentucky 40351

Fuse the Muse

Fuse the Muse with Blessing Hands   Intern Selected to Go to China Quick Links Watch a Blessing Hands PowerPoint About Blessing Hands Donate Now New Webpage Tour Play online and Earn Tokens for Blessing Hands Go tohttp://helpingfun.com and earn tokens for Blessing Hands projects just by having fun. Award winning website shares, photos, blogs, social networking, files and videos. Join and play and give your web tokens to Blessing Hands projects. We already have four members and 123 tokens just today. Designed for schools and kids to raise money for school projects.  Maybe you don't have money to give, but you can give your time having fun.    - Show quoted text - Fuse the Muse Accepted Our Proposal Photography Workshop in Yangshuo Johnna Bockover and Betty Cutts will hold 4, four-hour photography workshops for 60 students this summer. Our Blessing Hands students in Yangshuo will be learning how to express themselves through photos. Our idea is to teach them the use, value, and creative release of photography while showcasing Yangshuo, China and their lives. Children who had never used a camera or had a picture of themselves would be instructed in technique, editing, and presentation of their own photographs, their schools environment, and hometown.  Emphasis would be on self expression, photography as an art, and techniques of presenting their photos through computer editing of digital photos and presentation online. Each child would get one print of their selected photo. All photos would be stored online for the viewing  of everyone. Johnna's blog is here.  Presentation of project: Photos produced by the students will be featured in a book, online, and also in an art show at the Rowan County Arts Center.  Mike Rayburn will assist with the framing and presentation of the art show in Rowan County. Betty Cutts and Johnna Bockover will produce the book and online presentation.  All partners will participate in the art show preparation and presentation. The overall project will be documented for presentation to interested individuals in a PowerPoint format.  If you would be interested in helping with this project,  contact us. This project will cost $2,928 including the $500 stipend given by the Fuse the Muse Project, which solicited the proposal.  If you want to give toward this project, we need used or newdigital cameras for the kids to use.           Laura White is Our Summer Intern Blessing Hands is blessed to have Laura White for our summer intern. She will be part of our Fuse the Muse Photography work shop this summer.      Our BH students will photograph their town, school, and families for a published book and photo show. Laura will make a PowerPoint of the photography project and Chinese trip. She will be showing the PowerPoint in public showings at MSU and in the community during the fall semester. She will be earning a fall grade for her work in the intern program and helping advocate for the students of Blessing Hands during the MSU fall semester. Laura is the daughter of Ray and Marisa White of Morehead. She will be a senior at MSU in the fall. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and serves as their community service chair. She is also a member of the Rowan County Executive Democratic Committee. She teaches swimming and water aerobics, and participates in Zumba/Fitness. She is a health promotion major and hopes to work in a career that promotes health and health education.  - Show quoted text - - Show quoted text - Check out the New Website. I can change it now to respond to present events and needs.    Sincerely,   Betty Cutts For Blessing Hands Send Checks to  Blessing Hands 106 Timber Lane Morehead, KY 40351