Staff Blog

It is always fun when kids reach out to help other kids who are in need. And it is especially gratifying when in involved kids who were adopted from CSC but want to help those who are left behind. There is power in their prayers and so much love in their giving!

Recently we heard from a family that adopted some of our kids last year. Their oldest son announced that he wants to raise funds to buy hearing aids for his best friend who still lives at CSC. He hasn't forgotten his buddy and his special needs! I don't know if those who are reading this blog can know just how good that makes us feel here in Cebu. This boy has not forgotten where he came from or the needs of his friends who are still waiting for adoption. It is a testament not only to his big heart, but to his parents who have kept kept the ministry in front of him and encouraged him to think beyond his own needs and desires. It warms my heart and brings a tear to my eye.

I have always appreciated the memorial gifts that come in to CSC. It is a real honor for us when families designate CSC as the recipient of memorials given at the funeral or memorial service. It is humbling to receive those gifts, and challenging to use them in a way that honors the life of the deceased, and his or her love for our ministry.

Recently I have seen this whole thing from another perspective - from the side of the family designating the memorials for CSC. My dad, Jer,  passed in June, and it was his desire that any memorial gifts go to CSC. I know some families have disagreements over such decisions. For us it was easy. Jer loved CSC. Up to his dying day he was proud of the ministry and talked it up with people he would meet or who would visit him. He visited Cebu several times, served on our Board and volunteered as our banquet emcee and narrator on many of our media presentations He and my mom have always been generous supporters of CSC.  In the early days of the ministry, when supporters were hard to come by, Jer's colleagues at Bethel College rallied around us out of respect for him. They knew how much he believed in the ministry of CSC. And Jer sacrificed a lot for my decision to leave home to serve on the other side of the world, not having me or my family around much for the past 37 years.

I can tell you that, as a family, we appreciated being able to honor Jer by designating his memorial gifts to a ministry that he and so many people loved. Many of those who gave memorials are regular CSC supporters. Some have visited Cebu. It was a natural thing to do for us. And I believe that the same can be said for lots of families. We can honor the deceased with the gift of life for the childen in Cebu.

Thanks to all who give memorial gifts for friends of CSC.

Reading is the complex cognitive process of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning.  Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve problems, and new ways to achieve things.  Who knows – you might find a new hobby.  Who knows – you might explore something you really like and it may end up becoming your career.  Exploration begins with reading and understanding.  Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible.  By reading, you can explore different ways to look at things and how different actions lead to different results. Books expand your imagination.  It’s like a huge spider web, where you link together things you know.  You also learn new things creating new solutions and answers.

Last week we had our Reading Challenge Kick-off, a six week reading contest, at Children of Hope School.  During this activity we encouraged the students to become broader readers and to appreciate how wonderful and amazing books are.

What struck me the most during the kick-off was the excitement on the faces of the students. Everybody wanted “in.”  No complaining here.  Instead the kids said, “Teacher, when can we check out books?”   “I will not play anymore, instead I’ll keep on reading to earn points.”  “I want to earn the highest points!”  “I want to read as many books as I can.”  These words amazed me because our children were really motivated to read.

Read, read, and read more to learn and explore the world around you.  Reading is fun!

It isn't often that we can assemble all our employees in one place at the same timel And we didnt accomplish that the other night at the school. But we did get half of them at a time for a spiritual emphasis program that featured visitors from Cambridge, MN, Erna Ahlmann, a former CSC resident who is volunteering at our school this summer, and former Head Nurse Warlita Manlon. The services, planned by Joel Reasoner and myself, started after school on Tuesday, July 26, and again at 6:00 pm, with a nice meal served in between. Dan and Andrea DeRushia from the First Baptist Church in Cambridge, MN, who are visiting CSC with Dennis and Sharon Eicher, led the singing, Rianne Nijzink of our staff sang "Children Need the Lord," and Erna Ahlmann gave a testimony of her life before, during and after CSC, which was a great encouragement to our workers. This was reinforced as Dan sang a special number and talked about how impressed he was with their work and dedication. Warlita talked about Moses, the first adopted child in biblical history and the way that god spared him and blessed those who cared for him. She finished with a short salvation message.

We are concerned with the spiritual health of our workers, and these services were inspiring and faith-building as they consider their important roles in the ministry of CSC.

We've taken in a few new kids in recent days. And we have had to say no to a few referrals, too. The fact is that we can't help every child who needs us. That is easy to say but tough to live with when the child is especially needy. But we only have so many beds, so much personpower and so much money. Sometimes its a matter of timing. Maybe we could have said "yes" to the tiny premature baby in the government hospital who needs an incubator and one-on- one care, probably for months, if the referral had come before we took in the malnourished baby from the other government hospital in town. He also needs one on one care. But we could say "yes" to two small sisters who were abandoned in downtown Cebu City and who were living in a drop-in center with other street kids. And we were able to take in a brother and sister who were living in the city dumpsite and whose parents were nowhere to be found. There is a lot of joy at CSC when we are able to take in new children. Not for the circumstance that led to our being needed for them, but for the opportunities to make crucial interventions in their lives and reverse some of the fear, abuse or malnutrition that they have endured. Thanks to the deal people who stand with us as we admit these kids to CSC, providing the material and prayer support that helps change their lives for the better.