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Anne_Renaker_with_KidsGod does truly have a sense of humor. I have done some travel to Africa in my role as an Emergency Department nurse educator, but never did I picture myself as a dental assistant working at the Children’s Shelter of Cebu. What an awesome experience!

I was approached by my local dentist, Dr. Matt Struve, earlier in the year about traveling to Cebu. He was planning a trip to the shelter to provide routine dental services.  All he said I needed to do was “pray about it.” My initial instinct was to decline his invitation to go, but the invitation to pray was a tough one to ignore. So I prayed. After much thought and prayer it was evident that I was being called to go. It was clear once I arrived that it was no mistake that I was there. It was an awesome feeling from the time we arrived.

The work was not easy. As a pediatric nurse I felt equipped to manage the physical work . . . but the details of the dentistry piece was another story. Our team consisted of Dr. Struve, Brenda Birk (another non-dental person), myself, and Evan (11 year old son of Dr. Struve). God had a plan. He put together everything that we needed (except for our autoclave). The kids and staff were awesome. Each child was so brave and trusted “Uncle Matt” to take the best care when working on their teeth. Marlys Healy was also integral to our success. She spent many a day with us, holding the kids’ hands, and providing the necessary words of encouragement in Cebuano. Throughout our week some awesome things happened. A 10-year old boy demonstrated compassion far beyond his years, a 6-year old championed his procedures and gave a thumbs up to let us know; and although he didn’t complete all we needed to do one boy truly was strong when he needed to be. I can only say yet again, these kids are amazing!

The week was long and left me with a few muscle aches, but it was an extraordinary trip. We worked hard, but we also played hard. It was so fun to play alongside the kids. They got to know us better and we got to share in their laughter and their contagious energy. I really feel strongly that playtime was truly the bridge to the success of our trip. It provided the kids with the time to get to know us on their “turf.” I managed to get in one ping-pong game but was beat hands down. There was time on the swings, basketball games, and even time to just sit and chat.

What was the highlight? It is so hard to answer that question. My thought is this. I was given an opportunity to witness God’s amazing love through the work of so many. His love is exemplified by the laughter and joy found in the children cared for at CSC.

- Anne Renaker

 

Bikes abound in Cebu

Aug. 10, 2013By: Marlys Healy

Getting people from place to place is only one of the many uses of bicycles here in Cebu. They are used for hauling hardware, ice, bringing pigs to market and delivering products to stores and food outlets. Bikes with sidecars are the only form of public transportation in some parts of the Philippines. And adapted bikes are often used as food stands on street corners and sidewalks around the city, where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, snacks, cooked meat and ice cream.

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Of course, the bike pedalers who are the most important to us are the CSC kids, who love to ride around the CSC grounds. They come in all sizes, but they love to bike! Thanks to our generous supporters, they have quality bikes to ride, helmets for their heads, and a safe place to learn and practice.

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Eicher's Pancit Recipe

Aug. 8, 2013By: Lindsay Ostrom

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When we were still in the Philippines, I always loved watching Auntie Febe in the Eicher kitchen making all kinds of foods. But this particular meal and this particular batch of pancit canton was extra special because it happened to be for the sweetest little lady's birthday party.

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She watched as the aunties washed and cut the vegetables, cooked the meat, simmered the sauce....

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and then went about the task of getting all those pancit noodles into that one pot. There are a LOT of noodles required to feed this big family.

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Pancit canton is and will always be one of my favorite dishes from the Philippines. The noodles soak up all the flavor of the broth where the veggies and meat are first simmered. It's just plain old nooddle-y comfort food. Squeeze a little calamansi on top and you're good to go.

Delicious pancit, coming right up!

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Eicher’s Pancit (also known as Bam-i) 


2 lbs. uncooked noodles – Auntie Febe used a combination of pancit and vermicelli
4 cups sliced mixed veggies: cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and green onions
1 lb. lean pork, cut into very small pieces
½ cup oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 pork bouillon cube
6 cups water

1. Soak the vermicelli in water for about 5 minutes or until soft. Slice and chop the veggies.
2. Brown the pork in the oil with the soy sauce, garlic, and onion.
3. Add the water and bouillon cube to the pork and bring to a low simmer. Add the vegetables and cook for 5-10 minutes.
4. Add the uncooked pancit noodles and soaked vermicelli. Simmer over low heat until the noodles soak up all the broth.

 

You can buy pancit noodles at many Asian grocery stores.

ILLEGAL!!

Aug. 8, 2013By: Lindsay Hoeft

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The picture above looks seemingly harmless, doesn't it?

Well, beware!  If you are found at CSC with such an item in your possession it will be confiscated forthwith and you will have to submit to an inquiry.

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The "elastico game" was the trend of the moment.  Games tend to move in cycles here, you will learn why below.  The rules, as best as I understand them, is that you put a rubber band on the ground.  Then you put your hands together, your right thumb over your left thumb with your pointer and middle fingertips touching and you slap your hands on the ground just behind the rubber band.  The rubber band then jumps!  Of course, you want the rubber band to go far and if your rubber band goes the farthest, you win all of the rubber bands!

Can you imagine why this game is now outlawed?

Yep.  You guessed it.  For some reason, there were arguments over who actually won and whose rubber bands were whose.  Some kids had many, many, many and some had few.  It reached a point where the game seemed to involve more fighting than fun.

So, intervention was necessary.  The picture above is only a fraction of the stash collected! 

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It won't be long until there is a new game trending.  The creativity amongst our children is astounding!  Already I have seen a small group of kids throwing blades of grass over a roped off area of the yard, trying to be the one who threw the farthest.

They are getting wiser...it's got to be impossible to outlaw grass... 

Leaving on a plane

Aug. 1, 2013By: Paul Healy

It sure seems like we've said a lot of goodbyes lately. People come and go: adoptive parents, CSC kids, visitors, staff. And, of course, for each "goodbye" there is a corresponding "hello." But goodbyes can be hard when they involve people we love: family, friends, co-workers, children. Sometimes we can find comfort in knowing that we'll see them again, maybe even soon. But with some of those leaving, particularly children going for adoption, we do not have that assurance. But that is part of life at CSC. People leave. We can take heart in the words of the song we always sing when people are saying goodbye:

God will take care of you,

Through every day, o'er all the way.

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

God's rich blessings on all those who have taken a seat at the picnic table to hear the song and to receive the hugs from children, workers and staff as they prepare to leave CSC. We know its not an easy place to leave.

 

 

My moment for the week

Jul. 30, 2013By: Lindsay Hoeft

This week has barely begun, but already I have had a moment.  What I mean by moment is an experience that hits me wherein I understand why I have been called to serve at CSC and I feel immeasurably blessed to be serving at CSC.

In reality, these moments can be found wherever you look at CSC.  I don't say this to downgrade the significance or value of these moments, rather I say that because I feel like this place is special for that very reason.  Sometimes I think that CSC is in the palm of His hand.

The boy in the picture below is a special little guy.  He and his siblings have been at CSC for a bit over 2 years now.  They were admitted to CSC by police escort because their parents had so severely abused them.  The police were protecting them until other intervention was found.

This little guy is the youngest of the group and as he ages we get to know him a little bit more.  He is delayed in many ways.  He was over 1 year old when he came to CSC but he was not yet walking and didn't for quite some time after.  Socially he is also not on the same level as his peers.  He was not able to self-soothe when he arrived; whenever he was upset he would grab his own hair and pull it so hard.  Similarly, his response to others comforting him has been atypical.

However, recently, this little guy has changed so much.  He is AFFECTIONATE now!  I shout that because he greets me every morning I arrive to the shelter.  He runs over, puts his arms up and lets me hold him.  He really and truly wants it!  I did not believe I would see the day that he sought such attention.  And in the picture below you can see him reaching up to hold my hand. 

That is a BIG moment....

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I paused when that happened and I pause again as I look at this picture and I am reminded once again of the good that is done here.

This little boy has so many people fighting for him to succeed---to overcome the pain and suffering he should never have had to experience.  And he is succeeding! 

And there are so many people that love him.  And he knows love now too!