YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – It’s the weekend but there has been no rest for the weary. Our machines have been ploughing through rubble, 10 hours per day. On Friday our excavator dug a huge trench around the backside of the village. The trench will divert water away from homes (the old trench was destroyed by the quake). (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – We had a successful meeting with the local party leader this morning. We told him OBI wanted to help other villages in his region and asked him for suggestions of places that might need some simple projects done such as latrines. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – Debris removal from Yao Jin is now in full swing. Yesterday and today we had three trucks working on rotation to haul away rubble and we are definitely making a dent in the sea of destruction. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – The name of the game today was “tank repair.” Most villages in the quake zone have huge concrete water tanks for storage and most of these were cracked during the quake. The cracks range from hairline fissures to gaping 4-inch splits. Either way, cracks and water don’t mix. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – We had another action packed day. In Yao Jin, we diverted the water flow from the village water tank so that we could carry out some vital repairs. (more…)

SICHUAN PROVINCE, China – I was still responding to the death and destruction that had devastated Myanmar when I read the news: “Massive Earthquake Strikes Central China.” A few weeks later, I’m surrounded by death and destruction yet again. But despite the horrific 7.9-magnitude quake that rocked Sichuan Province, I am also surrounded by remarkable hope and resilience.
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YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – Today’s site visit was excellent. The villagers were warm and exceptionally motivated. By tomorrow they will have finished the construction of the ‘bath house.’ (more…)

YAO JIN, China – Yesterday I met with the village leaders in Yao Jin and planned “phase one” of the village resurrection project. The mayor wanted to talk about the size of new houses and urged me to focus on rebuilding the first few houses. I explained that building could not occur until clean water, sanitation and debris removal was accomplished. (more…)

CHINA – We had a 9 a.m. appointment with Mr. Wang, the Executive Director of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA). CFPA is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in China; they have a government mandate to improve the lives of the poor and respond to disasters. CFPA is one of OB China’s primary partners and we are privileged to work with them. (more…)