YAO JIN, China – On May 12, 2008, the village of Yao Jin was completely destroyed by the 7.9-magnitude Sichuan earthquake that struck central China. Buildings crumbled, tens of thousands were killed and millions left homeless. Six Yao Jin villagers died and the survivors endured a living nightmare, losing their homes, their possessions and their main source of income – their farm animals.  For the shocked villagers of Yao Jin, the future seemed bleak. (more…)

Beijing, China – Yesterday we unveiled a dramatic photo exhibit – near Beijing’s Tiananmen Square – depicting the recovery of Yao Jin village following the Great Sichuan Quake. The event is part of the 1-year anniversary celebration recognizing the incredible courage of Yao Jin’s villagers and their journey of recovery over the last 12 months. It was a huge success among government dignitaries, a U.S. embassy delegate and around corporate sponsors of OB China including Nokia, UPS and the International School of Beijing. (more…)

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the village the people were stirring, building their houses.

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YAO JIN, China – This morning while driving to the village, I spotted the yellow crane towering above the trees from about a mile away. In such a peaceful rural setting, the crane looked out of place in the same way that a summer carnival’s ferris wheel looks odd in the middle of a farmer’s field. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – Having spent most of my life in the contracting and construction business, I am all too aware of the countless factors that can upset the “best laid plans of mice and men.” There are many moving parts in a construction project, and any one of them can delay progress of an entire job. Thursday started out looking like “one of those days.” (more…)

It was like old home week when I arrived in Yao Jin on Wednesday afternoon. The mayor and dust-covered Yao Jin villagers stopped working and crowded around shaking my hand, laughing, and greeting me. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – I have just returned home after a month in China where we were able to accomplish a lot in that time. We secured the final building approvals from the ministry of foreign affairs and the local government and finalized the house designs which now, thanks to a government subsidy, will be two-story buildings. (more…)