Staff Blog
For most people, getting on a plane to Cebu City, Philippines is a glamorous occasion. It’s exciting to see a place on your itinerary that many people have never heard of…a place that’s exotic, tropical and far away.
Mitch and Ruth Ohlendorf are on their way to Cebu as I write, but I doubt glamorous is a word they’d use to describe their departure. Their year of home assignment in Minnesota, USA has come to an end. They packed up their lives (again), left two beloved sons behind at college and returned to a ministry that moves quickly and requires incredible flexibility, diligence and commitment.
Mitch and Ruth leaving Minnesota is another sacrifice in a long list of sacrifices they’ve made for the homeless children of Cebu. They’re not jet setting off to see a far-off world for a couple weeks. They’re returning to their call. They are the hands and feet of so many who care about orphans. Mitch is our Cebu Executive Director and Ruth is Outreach Director.
Here's a glimpse into their call to CSC via a short interview:
How did it first hit you, "I want to work for CSC?"
Mitch: When I was in Cebu the first summer on a short-term mission trip. I was in a group of seven that wasn’t working for the shelter, but we were based there with social time at the shelter. I knew that first summer, at least by the end, that God was calling me to this work. I didn’t have a moment where I fell to my knees or saw a blinding light. It was a progression that happened as a result of the whole experience.
Ruth: I grew up not wanting to work with “snotty kids!” But then I saw these big Americans working with and hugging the most malnourished in our community. Here are these handsome men and beautiful women coming to our country and doing this hard work. This changed my attitude towards the children, and I couldn’t help falling in love with them. You could see the physical difference in the children after they came to the shelter.
Looking back at this point, what are some highlights of your time at CSC?
Mitch: Certainly the development of our facilities. It’s a highlight to work hard with those who made it possible through giving. Of course, it’s thrilling when very large sibling groups or children with special needs are placed for adoption. Those children who had equal opportunity at CSC, but less of a chance at adoption due to various circumstances. Being part of that process. Any day spent doing things with the kids is a highlight for me.
Ruth: Looking back the first heartbreak I had was when a girl named Arlie left for adoption. When I started working full time at CSC she was one of the kids who would go around with me in the village. When she left I could hear her calling to me and that was really sad, and I really missed her. When Arlie returned to Cebu a few years ago that was so exciting. Since she left in 1983 I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again. When we said goodbye back then we never knew if we’d see a child again. Now, kids come back, but that wasn’t always a given. Being able to see them and knowing how they are now is a highlight.
When was a time it really struck you you’d changed a child's life?
Mitch: Any time that I do the matching work for a child. It’s a very burdensome, weighty time knowing I have the responsibility of choosing a family for a child--a family for the rest of their lives. It also hits us when we see children at home after they’re adopted. Seeing the ways they’ve been blessed and even challenges they’ve gone through, seeing them continue in the Christian values that they learned while at CSC, especially as they start their own families. It’s important to see the cycle of abuse, crisis and trauma being broken. Sometimes you see what the kids have come from and wonder how they can break out of that, but many have. A boy named Mark having a hole in his heart and seeing him rescued from that and having the life he has now. A girl like Anna. She would be dead if CSC hadn’t stepped in. She and her sister both had sepsis, she survived but her sister didn’t. Everything we do each day, whether major like placing children for adoption, or spending 5 minutes giving special attention is changing their lives.
Ruth: Roselyn and Julieto, two of our Teen Home residents. I encouraged Roselyn to think about going back to school after it became clear she had just settled on being a beautician. She want back to high school and now she’s in college and almost graduating. Julieto saw this and wanted to do the same thing. Roselyn became an example and now Julieto is graduating from high school. We have outreach kids (children who were returned to their birth family) who have graduated from college. With CSC’s help, they’re able to make this happen.
What does it mean to you to be called?
Mitch: To do what you would not otherwise want or feel equipped to do. I think if you didn’t feel called you wouldn’t be in the ministry as long as we have. There are many encouraging things, but there are also many discouraging and difficult things. Being called is about persevering.
Ruth: Hard to see kids make the same mistakes others have made. Instead of learning, they repeat them. But if you’re not there for them, they don’t have any other family. You are their family. I think that’s what calling is really about at CSC.
What would you tell a young person who is interested in a career in missions?
Mitch: It’s a chance, along with many challenges, to live a life filled with incredible blessing and reward and joy. You’ll have done something that’s changed a lot of lives.
Ruth: You’ve heard the phrase you receive more than you give. CSC is very much that place. You can never give more than you receive. There are times you don’t feel good, and going to the shelter makes your day. The kids are excited to see you. They just make you smile.
Well, Mitch and Ruth Ohlendorf make us smile. We are thankful they followed God to his work for them at CSC.
Teen Home
It's been awhile since we have talked about the Teen Home. I thought I would take this time to fill you in.
Edith and Undoy are our houseparents. Their oldest daughter is married and their youngest daughter lives at the Teen Home with them.
Julieto is 22 and is about to finish his third year of high school. After taking a couple of years off and working, he decided to go back to school. We are proud of him and how hard he is working in school. He has a great attitude and is liked by all.
Milbert is 17 and in his third year of high school. He is involved in church with praise and worship and continues to love music. He is activitely involved in the church youth group! Milbert and Julieto are both looking forward to prom this coming Friday night.
Maria is 35 already and continues to live at the Teen Home. She goes to school 2 afternoons a week to work on daily living skills. She works at the shelter and also at the local grocery store 2 days a week. Maria loves spending time with her friends and enjoys greeting people as they shop at the grocery store.
Arleen is 29 now. She continues to love music. She is hoping to volunteer at the Braille center this next school year. In her free time, she continues to practice piano and singing. She is hoping to take more music lessons in the near future. She would love to give private music lessons. She is an encouragement to each of us.
Roselyn is 25 and in her third year of college. She is majoring in Christian education. She enjoys school. She also enjoys teaching Sunday School on Sundays and working with kids. We are so proud of Roselyn. She maintains a positive attitude in all of her endeavors.
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Joemar
I wish you could all meet Joemar. Joemar will be 37 years old this year, and has lived at CSC since he was almost 9 years old. There has been a lot of life lived between those two numbers! Joemar interacts with the world at a cognitive age of 5-6 years old. He loves Superman, puzzles, flashlights, his cherished sea shells, his keys and Mr. Bean DVD's. Joemar is proud of his "balay" meaning his room in the Duterte home that he shares with his best buddy Jacob.
Joemar works at two local McDonalds restaurants. He clears tables, mops up spills, carries trays for customers, pours gravy (for the fried chicken that McDonalds is known for here) and overall cheers up McDonalds customers as well as staff. He loves going to work every day! Here at CSC Joemar keeps busy helping the cleaners up at school and visiting the Childcare and Nurses offices. He always bursts in our door with a smile, a loud greeting and usually some things to keep him busy for awhile (puzzles, books, paper...he always has a plan.) We can't help but smile when Joe comes to visit. Joemar simply loves life, and he lives life simply. Joemar's talks a lot, he can be hard to understand, but we have a few people here at CSC who are proficient in "Joemarese." What a joy to have a conversation with this guy.
Joemar has friends all over the world, and he never forgets a friend. But, he has no concept of time. Once he knows that someone is coming back to visit....be it this afternoon or two months from now...he reminds us numerous times a day that we should be going to the airport - NOW. He does not want to leave anyone standing at the airport I guess! So, we spend lots of time telling Joemar, "not today" and trying to explain that we will not forget to go and get his friend. The conversation will start all over again in a few hours though!
On Valentines day Joemar brought in supplies for an art project. He worked for over an hour drawing hearts, coloring them and writing his name at least 10 times on the paper. The whole time he was talking about "hats" -hearts and "baltins" - valentines. When he finally finished it he brought it to me. I asked him who it was for, he always is bringing me things that he makes for me to give to others. I was certain that this creation was for either his Housemother, Auntie Lourdes or the friend that he is thinking will be here any day (even though it is well over a month away) Auntie Lynn. But his answer to my question was a big smile, a finger pointing at me and a loud and clear "YOU!" He was so proud. I know that it came from his heart, and what an amazing heart that is.
I have known Joemar for almost 27 years and I literally could count on one hand how many days Joemar has not been happy. He finds joy in everything. We have all learned much from Joemar. The day God brought him to CSC is the day that CSC was brought just a little closer to understanding God's heart. We are blessed....I wish you could all meet Joemar.
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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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