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.
Christmas Wish List
Like every kid, the kids at CSC have their Christmas wish lists. Each year, the kids receive their gifts on Christmas Eve. Imagine a room full of kids with huge smiles, giggles, laughter, anticipation, and eagerness waiting for their gifts.
So, how do we, the appointed present shoppers, have the kids share their requests without making it too obvious we are the ones buying and wrapping their gifts?
For the little ones, the conversation might go something like:
“Hey, I talked to Santa last night and he asked me what you want for Christmas.”
OR
For those who want shoes: “Can you trace your feet for me so we can see if they are the same size?”
OR
“What do you want for Christmas? I could tell Santa for you.”
For the ones who know THE TRUTH, the question is pretty straight forward:
“So, what do you want for Christmas?”
Like kids everywhere, our kids have no trouble telling us what they want. Even though we can’t always accommodate their requests, it’s fun for them to dream and imagine. They have lists in their heads. One little girl specifically told me that she does not want perfume because she already smells good. Others get influenced by what other kids want. And some want things a bit more difficult to fulfill like a horse!
The day after some of the kids had told what they want for Christmas, they asked me if I had already given their lists to Santa. My response was, “I will email it to him tonight.” One kid then said in surprise, “Email?! Really?!” I did email their lists, just not to Santa, but to the specific person who is in charge of getting their gifts.
Thank you for helping CSC in every way. You make it all possible for us to give the best care for the kids even at Christmas!
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Books are the Source of Knowledge
Books are the source of knowledge and one of the fundamental tools in imparting knowledge to learners. This is how I define books and I experienced a memorable and significant lifetime event that I will treasure forever.
Level B Group 2 students were preparing to share their learning during the morning meeting, so they decided to present a poem titled, “If You’re Not From the Prairie”. Everyone was able to memorize the poem and they presented it in the front of everybody. This poem left a strong impression of all of the students, especially the Level B1 Group 1 students.
Later on in the afternoon, I opened the door to the classroom for my last class. This is the toughest class each day. When I walked in, I was surprised and puzzled. Everyone was holding their reading books, but this was science class! All at once, the students started reading in a loud voice, “Teacher Lyrah, if you’re not from the prairie, you don’t know the sun! If you’re not from the prairie, you don’t know me!”
This group of kids have just started using this particular reading text and are on the first unit in the book. The prairie poem is in the last unit of the book, so is challenging for the kids to read and understand. But somehow they had been inspired by the poem when it was presented during the morning meeting. They wanted to share their excitement.
I smiled and praised them for reading the poem. One student said,” Teacher Lyrah, we have your book! Remember? If you’re not from the prairie, you don’t know the sun.”
I encouraged them to continue to read and learn from their reading. There are a lot of moral stories that they can learn from the book.
I learned something that day. Kids have many talents and thoughts. We, as teachers and adults, should look for and encourage the children to grow, knowing they have innate and hidden talents. And the children are just starting to bloom.
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Hapit na Christmas
Hapit na Christmas
This is the phrase going around CSC right now. The word is out that Christmas will soon be here. The kids are busy writing their Foster Friend letters, practicing for the school, and church Christmas play and program. They are all talking among each other about what they hope Santa will bring them this year.
The workers at CSC are getting in their last few days of vacation for the year to make sure they have time to spend with their families this holiday season. The teachers are busy in school with classes and Christmas program practice.
Many of the staff and CSC employees are busy starting to think about and prepare for the upcoming Christmas activities. I thought I would share with you what we all participate in here at CSC. The workers party is on December 5. This is a fun evening for all of our CSC workers with each department sharing a song or dance, a meal together, prizes and an encouraging message.
The following Saturday we will be having the CSC Outreach Party. This is a day for former CSC kids to come back to CSC and enjoy a meal together, games, a message from God’s word and a Christmas gift. We look forward each year to seeing some of our former kids who have gone back to live with their birth families.
The kids will be performing the Little Drummer Boy for their school Christmas program this year. They are already busy working on the music and their lines.
The Progressive Dinner is an evening when the kids get to eat at each of the Missionary Staff houses. A different course is had at each house along with part of the Christmas story being shared. At the end of the evening we all meet back up at the shelter for cinnamon rolls shaped into a Christmas tree.
On Christmas Eve Santa always seems to find his way to CSC and deliver a gift for each of the kids. The kids look forward to this evening for weeks and weeks. After they open their gifts they get to stay up late and watch fireworks and have a special snack at midnight.
Christmas Day we have a formal meal of ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and sugar cookies outside with all of the kids. After the meal, the adults share the Christmas story with the children including a live manger scene. It is always a joy to share the story of Christ’s birth with each of the kids at CSC.
We have a lot of fun at CSC during Christmas time. It is our prayer that amidst all the fun and busy times the kids would experience in a deeper way what Christ's birth means for each of them. Pray that each of us would be able to explain that clearly through our words and actions this Christmas season!
It is easy to get caught up in all of the Christmas excitement. Let us all remember to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us as we celebrate Thanksgiving next week. Giving thanks for God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. Remembering to thank Him for sending His Son. The reason we celebrate Christmas!
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Prayers
Houseparents get a night off each week to relax and take a breather from the past week. Most missionary staff fill in for a shift on a rotating basis to help out and hang out with the kids when the houseparents are gone. At the end of the night, after reading a book or two to the kids, we spend time in prayer. Often there is at least one or two kids who want to pray. Prayer is the way each home closes their night, whether or not the houseparents are home. Some kids are well versed in the tradition, others are still skeptical, but all children are present and know that this is what we do.
This past week I was on duty in Eicher home as Dondon and Ivy had a night off. Just before the smaller boys were going to bed, I was praying with them and when I ended and was sending them to their rooms, one boy spoke up...
"Auntie Megan, he wants to pray," he says pointing at a three-year old.
"Oh, ok. Sure!" I respond. I encourage this boy to go ahead and this is what we hear....
"Dear Lord....Thank you, Lord...Lord, Lord...Thank you, God. Amen."
Hugs are given and boys are climbing in bed. As I leave for the night, I can't help but think of the faith of a child and the way God is changing lives at CSC. He has aunties, uncles, and friends guiding him and leading him to God. He knows how to close his eyes, fold his hands, and call on the name of the Lord. I'm grateful, that even at a young age, the children at CSC are learning from their caregivers and peers what it means to follow God with their hearts and lives, and that they're learning the importance of prayer!
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A Nice Evening for Ginda
Last weekend we celebrated Ginda's 29th birthday in the Duterte home. Ginda was thrilled to have so many wonderful friends at her party to celebrate with her. Some friends of CSC from Cebu also came and provided a lechon baboy for the evening.
Ginda made a grand entrance in a beautiful blue dress and purple bag. The house was decorated with blue and purple tablecloths and balloons to match. It was definitely Ginda's night! She knew it and could not stop smiling! Everyone could sense Ginda's excitement!
Birthday parties are a lot of fun at CSC. A big thank you to all of our friends and supporters who helped make Ginda's party and so many other birthday parties at CSC so special for the CSC kids!
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