Sandra King went to university in China in September 1992. She was so excited. She had sold her home, furniture, car, and everything else. She had even given her wedding rings to her children. She asked them if they would consent to her going to China.

They told Sandra that she had looked after them for many years, so the cry went up: "You go, Mum! You should do something for yourself!"

When Sandra climbed into the taxi that would take her to the Auckland airport, the driver asked, "Where are you going?"

She said, "I am going to strike the heart of China."

"Do you know what the heart of China is?" the driver asked.

Sandra did not know. Not yet, anyway.

"The heart of China is its children," he said.

And so, a 30-year adventure began.