Staff Blog
Change is inevitable in life. Some changes are good---they are pleasant and easy to go along with. Others are hard to come to terms with--they are a challenge and they sometimes bring pain. I want to tell you about some recent changes in my life...
Many of you already know that Teacher Tammy's 8 year run at CSC and Children of Hope School has ended. She has been gone for 2 weeks--and kids and adults alike are mourning the loss.
Tammy is missed for many reasons:
Tammy was a good co-worker. She was helpful, reliable, and thorough. She was quick to jump in if something technological was going haywire---an asset on days of school programs. :) Tammy was true to her word. She promised the kids that she would take each of them out for something special before she left and SHE DID! If she had a job or a task assigned to her, you never had to worry about it getting done in an organized and timely fashion! She was hard-working and did whatever was in front of her---and did so with a smile.
But Tammy is also a good friend. She is someone I OFTEN laughed with, went on adventures with, confided in, celebrated holidays with...and the list goes on. She is a good listener and a Godly woman. She has become family to me and you can't help but miss family when they are gone!
Tammy, myself and Amy were quite the terrific trio, however, at this time, Amy and I are down to just a dynamic duo....
The upside of change:
We recently admitted a new child. She was afraid of the change, of me, of our counselor and our social worker. She was hesitant, quiet and reserved. And who wouldn't be? She knew something big was happening in her life but she had no idea what it meant.
But oh to see her now! How happy and animated and secure and playful she is! She is grateful for the life-changing experience she has had and WE are so happy to have her with us where she is safe and provided for.
God is the god of everything in our life and everything happens for His purpose and good. And that includes changes. I am happy for Tammy and all that God has in store for her back in MN. I miss her, but am grateful for her continued friendship---thank goodness for Skype! :) I am also happy about our new arrival and for her safety and health and the fact that she FINALLY gets to be a kid.
Please join with me in praying for Tammy as she transitions back to living in the US and for our newest one and all of those that will come through our doors in the future. because no matter your age or the type of change you are facing, its always easier with God.
Valentine's Day
Thursday was Valentine's Day! The kids had been telling me all week that they were going to give me a "valentine's day" (cards). As soon as the kids walked into the school gate in the morning, they passed out letters to the teachers! So fun! Later in the day, we had a little party in our classroom and made some valentine cards to pass out to the kids' friends, aunties, uncles, and teachers.
The Level C girls decided to make necklaces for the teachers. Here is a picture of the Level C teachers sporting their valentine's!
Thanks to some visitors, we had some of the conversation heart candy! I passed out a few of them as Valentine's Day messages to the kids. I gave one of our 11-year-old girls one that said, "You Shine". Later that afternoon, she came back to my classroom and handed me a flower. She said, "This is for you Teacher Tam! You are so very shiny!" So cute! I love our kids!
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The Best Gift Ever
I had the great privilege of celebrating my 27th birthday with the kids and staff here at CSC. When I came up to the shelter a group of kids rushed towards me to give me cards they had made.
It was the highlight of my day month.
One card in particular stood out. It was from a 9 year old boy named Marko.
The note was precious and sincere, but what really stood out was inside the card.
A brand new notepad and pencil. A prized personal possession that he willingly parted with in order to be able to give me a gift for my birthday.
As is often the case, I've found that the kids here at CSC have taught me more than I've taught them. What a blessing it is to walk alongside these kind, generous, and beautiful children.
Thanks, Marko, for giving me the best birthday gift ever.
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What a gift!
A recent hand delivered gift brought smiles and moist eyes here in 
Cebu. Lloyd, a former CSC resident who was adopted by the Fagerlie family of Norway back in 2003, recently visited Cebu with his family. He is now 10 years old. For his last birthday he told his family and friends that he didn't want any gifts, but asked them to instead give a gift to CSC. While visiting at the Shelter he presented an envelope to the kids with 30,000 pesos (US$750) inside! He had a great time playing soccer with the kids and teaching them a great lesson in generosity and "giving back." Thanks Lloyd, and all the Fagelies for your visit and this amazing gift.
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Learning About Pottery
We have been so excited to have some special visitors this week - my in-laws! Larry and Vicki have known about CSC for many years and it's so great to have them here to share their gifts with the kids. Since Larry has a passion for pottery, we arranged for him to do a lesson with the kids! He demonstrated "throwing a pot" on the pottery wheel and then gave them the opportunity to make their own clay fish with the help of CSC's art teacher, Teacher Jun Jun. It was a really unique experience for the kids and a fun afternoon for everyone.
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Tartanillas---riding in style!
This week, one of our house fathers celebrated his birthday and he decided to bless everyone by renting a tartanilla for all the kids (and adults) to enjoy! What is a tartanilla you ask? It is a horse-drawn carriage. Back in the day in the Philippines---the Spanish colonial days that is----tartanillas were the common mode of transportation. They have since been replaced by Jeepneys, but you can still see some here and there----like on the congested streets of the marketplace or in the provinces! Check out the pictures to see all the fun that was had by the kids, the birthday boy and ME! :)
Happy riders---Aunties and kids alike!
The birthday boy had fun being the driver!
The view from my seat---pretty cool!
SMILES GALORE!!!
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