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.
Typhoon Hagiput (Ruby) Update
Typhoon Hagiput (Ruby) is heading out of the Philippines. It closely followed the path Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) took last year, passing north of Cebu City. Children’s Shelter of Cebu braced for the worst over the weekend. Fortunately, Typhoon Hagupit continued to weaken as it traveled across the Philippines. The wind and rain were minimal in Cebu City.
Thank you for all your prayers of safety for CSC and Cebu City. Continue to pray for all the people affected by the storm.
Recital 2014
People enjoy music because it can
be a way of expressing themselves, showing what they feel. Last week the CCHS
kids expressed their God- given talents at a recital praise night. It was a
very exciting and surprising night for everyone. The kids couldn’t wait to
perform and were so excited for the program, even the smaller ones. As one
student, Jhaycob, approached me he said, “Dugay pako teacher”? (How long will I
wait?)
CSC staff, teachers, and other
invited guests were also excited and wanted to hear what the kids had been
learning in music class and lessons. Many of the children are relatively new to
the shelter, so it was their first time playing an instrument. I can truly say
that it was really something out of nothing. Earlier in the school year, the kids
had no idea what music is all about or how to play an instrument. The kids were
amazing as they performed their pieces in front of an audience. It was also an
opportunity to really appreciate the effort of the music teacher teaching the
students in order for them to play the different instruments. With proper
guidance and training, the kids were able to show what they have learned with
style. Everyone was entertained and excited, especially with the drummers.
What happened at the recital was
not just entertainment. There is something that we need to ponder out of that
event. It's really a good thing seeing our kids glorifying God with their talents.
An example of this was Pretchy who composed a song about our Saviour, Jesus
Christ and sang it for us. We're also glad to see them standing in front of
many people with courage.
It is important for each person at
the school and shelter to help build the kids’ courage because it is a positive
attitude for them to have. The kids learned so much from the entire experience
and we can learn from them as well. Music
is pleasant to one's ear and it influences many people. We can be music also by
touching others’ lives for God. As
we inspire them, we're building up their courage. We can make a change in others’
lives if there is proper guidance. At the beginning, one takes a risk on how to
teach the kids, but they will really excel if there’s guidance. And it was proven
with our praise night.
God is working in our midst. He
heals the broken hearted and blesses each one of us. Let us be music that
touches others’ hearts.
-Abigail Oblianda, Instructional Assistant
Trade-offs
Life is full of trade-offs.We enjoy some things at the expense of others. That is really true for our CSC staff. And Marlys and I are feeling it in a big way. This is a great time of year, and we are enjoying spending lots of time with our family. But Christmas is an especially fun time of year at CSC in Cebu. We have lots of fun activities for the children and it is so great to spend Christmas with the CSC family. We will miss that greatly this year. Its a trade-off. Another is the weather. We miss the tropical warmth of Cebu but like the changes of seasons and the snow that Minnesota offers. We like being involved in the promotion of the ministry and fund raising efforts that support the ministry, but miss the daily work on the Cebu side.
Although the past 35 years of ministry have had a good share of difficulties, and we have missed out on a lot with our families, we wouldn't trade them for anything. We have had exciting lives directing CSC, and we have been blessed greatly seeing God's hand in the ministry. We have met so many terrific people, and had a chance to invest in the lives of hundreds of kids. We thank him regularly for giving us the opportunity to serve Him in Cebu!
Men's Fellowship
CSC is full of great people caring for the children. Child care workers, house parents, counselors, teachers, social workers, office workers, therapists, management, nurses, and guards come together each day for the children. I am one of these workers, and, as a man, I realize that the men are outnumbered. For every man working at the shelter, there are five women.
Over the years, the men have started a Bible study just for the men. It usually takes some creativity to find a good time to meet since each person’s schedule varies. At times it has been a weekly meeting. Holidays that land on a weekday are also good days to do something a little different than a Bible study. When we are lucky to get this, the men usually join together for basketball and food. These mornings are a lot of fun. It is always good to spend time with co-workers outside of work hours.
When Matt Buley was in Cebu a while ago, the men were able to organize a morning of playing basketball. It was fun to see a part-time guard on the same basketball team as the president. No one in this group is a PBA (Philippines Basketball Association) star. We just enjoyed ourselves. Good plays were acknowledged by both teams. Mistakes were laughed off by both sides.
After several hours of grown men with mediocre basketball skills playing all out, it was time for food. The morning feast was spread out on banana leaves. This is a called a boodle fight. No utensils or plates. Hands were all you needed to get the food from the banana leaf to your mouth. It was a fitting way for a group of men to culminate a morning of fellowship.
Read. Eat. Play, Sleep.
When I was a kid, my family did not have the luxury of buying me books. I only received a book for my birthday or as a Christmas present—and even that was not every year.
The kids at the shelter are very blessed to have books within reach. From toddlers to teenagers, these kids are exposed to the beauty of what books have to offer. It is amazing to see how engrossed they are when they start looking at and reading books.
One of the kids I work with in therapy enjoys books. A lot. It is easy to tell how much he enjoys books just by looking at his facial expressions. Some of the physical therapy stuff I introduce when working with him is not received well. He thinks it is hard, uncomfortable or boring. But when we get to floor time and I incorporate books into the therapy, he does not care what he is asked to do. He will go on all fours, kneel, or sit cross-legged as long as he gets to touch, look at the books, and flip the pages.
Yes, this toddler’s day looks like this—Read. Eat. Play. Sleep.