On July 9, 4 years ago we got married in Sydney. Every year we are determined to celebrate and remind ourselves of the importance of marriage and committing to it. Time has flown. It has been a great 4 years!

In need of some help

Many years ago we both had a heart for Hong Kong and after many years waiting for the right time to come along we were finally released to leave Australia. Even whilst we were in Australia we were comforted by seeing amazing provision through some of the lean “uni years”, we never went hungry even though we got close. As we write we look at the account balance due to the organisation we work for and at our own bank account and find them both, well, empty. We feel that the we are supposed to be in Hong Kong long term, far beyond what our own personal resources could provide for. We made Hong Kong our home and left nothing in Australia, but with our dwindling finances we have had to think seriously about staying here.

As full time volunteers we are entirely without salary or sources of income. To be allowed to stay we must raise enough money for both our organisation costs and for our living expenses. Every month we receive a list of people who have supported over the previous month. We are incredibly grateful for these few and we give thanks every day for their contribution to help us remain here doing the work we are called to and love. Sadly our support base has been getting smaller and smaller as our time here has progressed.

Some have suggested we get paying jobs, save up money and then do what we do. Whilst there is merit in this idea, the need for our work is here and now, people simply are not going to work in the field. The people we serve simply cannot wait another ten years.

Wonderfully we continue to see amazing provision daily. Everything, it seems, to do with babies is expensive. We have been provided with so much of the things that every baby requires for little or no cost, we even have a lovely checkout lady at the local supermarket who will regularly hand us the sample packs of nappies (or diapers depending on where you come from)!

In the past we have been supported by various groups but as their giving priorities have changed we have gradually lost this source of funding. Additionally, most of our support has traditionally come from Australia, the falling exchange rate has wiped out over 30% of our support. We now need to raise $2400AUD/$1700USD per month, we currently have approximately $850AUD/$600USD in regular support. Most of the money we raise is directed towards our organisational support, for the past two months we have been living off $100AUD/$70USD per week and we are finding it increasingly difficult, especially with young Peter. So we write to you in the midst of this global financial crisis and know that it is a difficult time for many, many people but ask if there are any that would be willing to help us in our work through financial giving. For more information about our financial needs or how to support us please visit our support page. We’d be happy to talk to you further or answer any questions you may have.

Work Update

Tom is well, busy. He currently is the sole full time member of the IT department and looks after essentially everything with a plug on our 14 acre site. In the past couple of months he has been working on a number of large projects including taking one of the Life X-Periences, the Refugee Run, to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He also spends most of his days keeping the systems running that keep Crossroads running, the phones, computers and of course the ever precious internet connection!

Christy is now managing the ‘Silk Road Café’ which promotes fair trade through the sale of fair trade coffee, cookies and now best of all icecream! Whilst the current accounts manager is on leave she has taken over this role and is looking to continue to work part time in the department after his return. The great thing about where we live is that she can do a lot of work from home while looking after Peter.

If you would like to read more about what the organisation does, please click here.

Family Update

Peter continues to be a source of great joy. His personality lights up the room and his happy, smiley nature draws crowds when we go out to town. He is now 7 months old, has 2 teeth, loves sweet potatoes, hates peas and can roll over on his own! Our biggest struggle is getting him to sleep at night as he loves rolling over so much that he gets himself stuck and cries for help.

Peter has also started the first crawling moves, he’s been able to get the front end up, and then the back end up. He just needs to get the two co-ordinated and he will be up and about, which is in itself a scary prospect. We’ve been frantically making the house baby proof in preparation for that day!

We enjoy our time together as a family and our trips into town on the weekend and hanging out with friends. We are thankful for the other young families on site and the connections Christy has made, together with the others with other women living in the local community.

We thank you again for your friendship and thoughts of us.

Lots of love from HK,

Christy, Tom & Peter

We are a bit late in getting these up but thought you would like to see some Christmas photos with Peter.  He loved ripping paper off of things and trying to put it all in his mouth. We enjoyed having him around to celebrate with and know by next year he will really be enjoying the experience.

Here are a few photos of Christmas morning:

My first Christmas Present

Dressed up in our Santa suits: Peter & Finlay

This is the shopping centre across from where we live with all the pretty lights. The tree looks better at a distance as close up it is a "Pikachu" decorated tree.

The past few months have been rich in events. We have had so many friend’s birthdays to celebrate, a very good friend’s wedding, baby showers, baby’s arrivals and other events. It has been really special as these events have involved some of our closest friends here in HK. We have so enjoyed be able to celebrate these occasions with them.

The newest thing to celebrate is the arrival of the 3^rd baby on team. This one a little girl named Hannah. Last week, Peter’s new little friend Finlay arrived on Christy’s birthday as well. Peter is celebrating his 9^th week of life today and did so by sleeping through the night for the first time. He also had his first round of some vaccines yesterday and took them very well compared to the other kids in the clinic. As we sat waiting, several other mothers and relatives came up to us to stare at him. I think they were looking at his blue eyes. We also went to the hospital to see the new baby and several people stopped to come over and see Peter as we waited in the hallway.

We celebrated Christy’s 30^th with a trip to the local hotel for a buffet dinner and then a family night away. Tom also threw a big surprise party with a Mexican theme. We had a lot of wonderful Mexican food and even a cake made to look like a sombrero!

Peter has made 2 trips to Disneyland and has met Mickey & Minnie. His first ride was it’s a small small world which he had his eyes open through but not sure how impressed he was about it.

We have seen 5 typhoons/tropical storms come very close to Hong Kong since July and are watching another one that should arrive in a couple of days. It brings a lot of wind & rain as well as many broken tree branches all over the site.

Tom has been busy with a long list of things since his return to work a few weeks ago. He has been working on a lot of electrical design/planning for the “Blind Xperience” which is a simulation activity to help people relate to what it is like to be blind. This has been a massive project for him requiring a lot of time and many trips to an area of town called Sham Shui Po where you can buy any electrical/computer gadget known to man.

Christy has been busy looking after Peter and learning how to manage time to get things done as he is sleeping. The top 2 things people ask everyday are 1) how is he sleeping? and 2) how is he eating? And then the comment of “you look really good considering” has been heard many times. She has been taking Peter out of the house to visit our fair trade café onsite (which is what she was managing before he was born) and introducing him to the world of fair trade coffee and chocolates.

We have really loved having Peter in our lives. His addition has not turned our lives upside down or thrown it into chaos as some hinted it would. He has been such a calm, happy baby that has made life so much fun.

On a final note, thanks to all who have sent us emails, letters, gifts and encouragement. We are slowly getting around to sending out thank you letters and photos so please bear with us!

Yesterday Tom & I took Peter in to town with us. We have to take public transport around which is a bit daunting with a stroller/pram so at this point we are carrying him in a couple different slings.  All went well on the way in and Peter enjoyed his time at the Starbucks.

In the end  he did get a change and then was fed as we walked around the shops as there was no place to sit down. People stare at us all the time now and especially Tom carrying a big blue sling with one tiny foot poking out the edge.

We have become so aware how difficult it is for the elderly, disabled, pregnant & families with children to travel in the city. There are stairs everywhere with no option of a ramp, lift or alternate route.

The other night there was three generations of feeding, grandma feeding father, father feeding son:

This is one of our favourite pictures of Peter so far.

We have finally added some new photos of Peter. We have had some busy weeks with both sides of grandparents visiting.  We also celebrated Fathers Day on Sunday (its the Australian day to celebrate it) and had a good time with Tom.

Here are some photos:

This is in our cafe. Peter likes all the bright colours on the wall. We like the coffee! =)	Playtime in his new swing - a bit of sensory overload with all the colours & patterns.
Peter's new teddy bear from Tom	I'm smiling!
Being held by my grandmas...
Hanging out with daddy	Trying to take a photo of Peter in Tom's hat. He wasn't too impressed so this is the only photo we got.

We will add more photos and updates soon. Christy's computer is corroding on the inside (thank you HK humidity) and shuts off at random times making it a bit harder to use for very long.

Peter is doing well and continuing to grow. He is a very long baby and has moved into some 3-6 month clothing just for the length of the outfits. He is now weighing in at 4.6kg.

He has started to smile and look around at the world around him (he still can't see very far). He generally a happy, relaxed baby who sleeps well most days/nights.

We took Peter for a check up at the clinic and he weighed in at 4.36kg (about 9.4 pounds). He is gaining weight and showing his baby fat rolls on his legs and arms.  Photos to come soon.

Late yesterday afternoon Peter started to get very sniffly and started to develop a bit of a cough. We've been assured by veteran parents that he is ok but last night was long and rough for young Peter, he didn't seem to want to settle down which has continued through to today. Hong Kong, like the US, has some interesting medicines, there is currently an ad on TV which advertises to send your child off to a good nights sleep. We found something even better today, and were only sad that it took us a full day to find it.

After several hours of sitting with Peter we decided to dangle things in front of him to see if he would like to swat with his lengthening arms. We found the greatest sedative ever, we put a mirror next to him, and he has spent hours talking to his new friend, smiling, waving, yelling, brilliant!

Tom went to register Peter in the system and to get his birth certificate today.  We had to wait 2 weeks as the hospital must send the documents of his birth to the government office and then we have to go in and give them his name and our details.  Tom was there for a few hours as they checked Peter's name spelling several times (mostly because of his middle name). He now is officially named and exists as his own person.  We even got a giant congratulatory envelope to put the certificate in that is pink and covered in lots of gold foil lettering.

Young Peter has a range of facial expressions which is likes to cycle through in quick succession. Here's the sampler with appropriate interpretation:

"I'm Hungry"

"Still Hungry."

"Blue Steel"

"Words cannot express the horror of what awaits at the next nappy change."

Tonight we gave Peter his first bath, all we went well.

This afternoon both Christy and Peter were released from hospital which was great news all round. After an uneventful trip home everyone is setting in well.

Christy and Peter will be released at 3pm this afternoon. Excitement all round.

Yesterday Peter was discharged from the neo-natal ward of the hospital, this is not the tragedy, it is particularly great news. Peter was moved out of neo-natal and into the ward with Christy at lunch time yesterday. As Peter is now in the general wards it also means that friends can now visit Peter and Christy.

Some of you may remember the baby Uggs, which are shown above. They don't fit! As every full blooded Australian knows the Ugg is the pinnacle of footwear, poor Peter appears to have exceptionally large feet (taking after father). He shall have to wait to feel the pleasure of an inside out sheep against his feet.

You saw them here first, Peter's second day:

Last night at 11.08pm baby Peter Cordell Pike was born. He weighed in at 3.7kg and was delivered by cesarean section. The labour was long and Christy is recovering well. Peter was taken to the ICU for tests after the birth. All is well with Peter and Christy was able to see him this afternoon.

Baby is on the way, Christy went into the hospital tonight at about 3am. More news as it becomes available.