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.
Christmas 2013
Another busy and exciting Christmas season has passed at CSC. There were many programs and activities to entertain the children and teach them about the meaning of Christmas. Click on the activity below to see some photos of the event.
Christmas at Church
Christmas Play at Children of Hope School
Christmas Outreach Party for Former Residents
Christmas Eve Party
Christmas Day
Update on Thomas
Thomas is back in Cebu! He returned after having successful surgery on his nasal passage on November 13 at the Philippine General Hospital, a huge government facility in Manila. Many people contributed to this success, including doctors, nurses, child care workers, a ministry in Manila, and lots of CSC prayer and financial supporters. So many people have expressed love and concern for our little guy! A Christian ministry in Manila, the Nehemiah Project, helped us greatly by bringing money to the hospital and pharmacy to pay bills, so our women didn't need to bring lots of cash with them. (The hospital does not accept checks or credit card payments.) Many thanks to Dan and Carla Chalmers and Darrah for this favor, and for underwriting many of Thomas' expenses at PGH.
CSC's care team in Manila was led by Warlita Manlon, our head nurse. Also along were two of our child care workers who alternated duty at the hospital every 12 hours. (In the Philippines, hospital patients are required to have "watchers" to provide some of the basic nursing type care, buy medicines and pay other bills. Our two workers jnow Thomas very well and he was comfortable with them. They all combined to provide him with excellent, loving care, and he made a great recovery. The doctor removed a significan nasal obstruction, and almost right away.
Shortly after his surgery he was examined by a neuro surgeon, as he needs additional surgery on his hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Marlys Healy was in Manila with Thomas during that consultation, and the doctor agreed to go to Cebu to do the surgery. What a blessing that will be as the logistics of caring for a child in Manila are very complicated.
They flew!!!
They flew! That was the great news that Marlys gave us early this morning. Thomas, our little four month-old boy and his caregivers were able to board a plane for Manila where he will be having two major surgeries in the coming days.
Getting permission to fly was not easy. Marlys and our head nurse, Warlita, had to bring him to the airport on Friday to see a doctor. Thomas has choanal atresia, which is causing a complete blockage of th eleft nostril. The right nostril has a very small opening, which is why he is alive. He also has craniosynostosis. His skyll bones fused together prematurely. Surgeons will need to remove bone from his skull to make space for his brain. Because these surgeries cannot be done in Cebu, and because the cranial problem is very critical as the brain is being constricted, alternate plans were needed. Cebu doctors were very helpful in referring him to some Manila surgeons, a hospital was found where they could do the surgery, and a host of other plans and preparations were initiated by Marlys and her medical team. It is a very daunting tasks to arrange for something this critical in a city other than where we live. We needed to find workers able and willing to go to Manila for an extended time, nurses we could hire during the long recovery period, a way to get money up there for deposits and payments to doctors, pharmacies and the hospital. So many things had to be considered, and there isn't time to waste.
To be sure, our taking on something like this required the cooperation, kindness and generosity of many people. Some dear folks volunteered to give money towards the surgery. Friends in Metro Manila offered to be the "bag men," helping us channel cash to those we will need to pay, so we don't have to bring large amounts of cash up to Manila. (The hospital does not accept checks or credit cards. Cash only.) Our doctors in Cebu were there to give us advise and to make the recommendation to the airline that he was okay to travel. CSC workers volunteered to go to provide loving care to Thomas before and after the operations. Child caring agencies in Manila offered lodging for our workers and for Thomas during his recovery period. CSC supporters have been praying.
We know that in the coming days lots more efforts, prayers, contributions and advise will be needed. We have been taking this whole thing on a day to day basis, handling the hurdles needed for that day. But nothing would matter if he wasn't able to get to Manila. But God helped us clear that hurdle. Two separate doctors' approvals were needed. On Friday, Marlys and Warlita had to bring Thomas out to the airport (about an hour's drive) to be seen by Dr.#1. When they walked into his office Warlita recognized him. It turns out that they come from the same town in northern Cebu. The were neighbors when Warlita was growing up. So that helped a lot in getting the first clearance. They were able to purchase tickets for an early morning flight today. But Dr. #2 stood between them and the airplane. He gave Thomas a brief examination and pronounced him okay for travel. So they were off this morning to meet with the doctors and schedule the needed surgeries. (Warlita reported that Thomas slept for most of the flight and did very well.) The first will be on Monday. And its possible they might do them at the same time. The caregivers who went to minister to Thomas are Delia and Rhea.
Then the next phase in this Christmas adventure will begin. Thanks for your caring heart which helps sustain our ministry and extend the best care possible to our children, especially Thomas.
Art from the HeART
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139: 14). This verse reminds me of how God created us perfectly and of Him being the master of all creation. As I was looking at my students doing artwork during E.P.P. class (Daily Life Skills and Home Economics), my heart began praising God for the gift of art and the love of kids. I personally am not very artistic, but thanks to technology, I can find creative ideas for projects. The kids love artwork and they do their best from the heart!
Proud of their finished artwork, E.P.P. students display their “Shepherd Toilet Paper Roll Craft”, “String of Leaves” , “Personalized Stars” and “Plants of the Bible Wreath”
Teaching the kids through crafts takes a little bit of effort and sacrifice, but it is worth it! Both the kids and I learn! The kids learn with teachable hearts through art and I learn to love art because of the love for my students. It really takes a BIG heART to love and learn ART.
-Glorivic Omac, Level B Teacher
Hands-on As We Grow
As students engage in putting projects together, creating crafts, and using familiar materials in new ways, they are constructing meaning. These are particular times of learning when students are stimulated to learn as much as possible. In our school, we support the many varied opportunities available to our children.
In one of my respective science classes, we were learning about ears and sounds. I decided to culminate the lesson with making drums out of recycled cans and wooden sticks. As the children worked, I took time to stand in a corner, totally captivated watching the kids paying careful attention to their craft. It was a wonderful sight. My little kids were like a different group of children in an instant. They were working happily with their busy hands and thinking out loud with their creative minds. It was amazing.
This is Group 2A Science Class applying their favorite paint and adding designs to their drums.
Here they were putting on the finishing touches before turning in the project.
Finally, after all the hard work, we had a parade around the backyard of our small school. Of course, we played our drums!
On a separate occasion with my SRA Reading class, we were reading the story Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran. It is a story about an imaginary town children created to play in. My students got excited and asked me if they could have their own Roxaboxen. Why! Yes, absolutely! Although I was not sure if it would be fun for the boys in class, it was actually adorable and exciting to watch them all work together. After all was said and done, my doubts disappeared. For one entire day, our classroom became a totally different, special place.
Here in our special place, the children were busy creating their rules and regulations – currency, industry, and a little bit with government. Two children helped manage a fine restaurant.
There were two stalls at the rear end of the town, a bookstore and their own version of Toy Kingdom with all the toys, games, and puzzles one could want.
Since it’s fun to have a lot of people in town, we invited some friends
to visit our place. We had so much fun!
Again in the corner where I stood, I thoughtfully watched my kids. I could see the children thinking differently and in creative ways. It was not only fun, but practical and would benefit them in the long run. I positively, absolutely believe my kids are heading toward bright futures.
Our school is a place where the hands, the heart, and the mind are collectively regarded as one. In days that turn into weeks and months that turn into years, in school our children are learning more than paper and pencil. They are learning hands-on as they grow.
Just a glimpse of one of our exciting days at school…
-Zel Templa, Level B Teacher