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.
Typhoon Hagiput (Ruby) Update
Typhoon Hagiput (Ruby) is heading out of the Philippines. It closely followed the path Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) took last year, passing north of Cebu City. Children’s Shelter of Cebu braced for the worst over the weekend. Fortunately, Typhoon Hagupit continued to weaken as it traveled across the Philippines. The wind and rain were minimal in Cebu City.
Thank you for all your prayers of safety for CSC and Cebu City. Continue to pray for all the people affected by the storm.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | General News |
Recital 2014
People enjoy music because it can
be a way of expressing themselves, showing what they feel. Last week the CCHS
kids expressed their God- given talents at a recital praise night. It was a
very exciting and surprising night for everyone. The kids couldn’t wait to
perform and were so excited for the program, even the smaller ones. As one
student, Jhaycob, approached me he said, “Dugay pako teacher”? (How long will I
wait?)
CSC staff, teachers, and other
invited guests were also excited and wanted to hear what the kids had been
learning in music class and lessons. Many of the children are relatively new to
the shelter, so it was their first time playing an instrument. I can truly say
that it was really something out of nothing. Earlier in the school year, the kids
had no idea what music is all about or how to play an instrument. The kids were
amazing as they performed their pieces in front of an audience. It was also an
opportunity to really appreciate the effort of the music teacher teaching the
students in order for them to play the different instruments. With proper
guidance and training, the kids were able to show what they have learned with
style. Everyone was entertained and excited, especially with the drummers.
What happened at the recital was
not just entertainment. There is something that we need to ponder out of that
event. It's really a good thing seeing our kids glorifying God with their talents.
An example of this was Pretchy who composed a song about our Saviour, Jesus
Christ and sang it for us. We're also glad to see them standing in front of
many people with courage.
It is important for each person at
the school and shelter to help build the kids’ courage because it is a positive
attitude for them to have. The kids learned so much from the entire experience
and we can learn from them as well. Music
is pleasant to one's ear and it influences many people. We can be music also by
touching others’ lives for God. As
we inspire them, we're building up their courage. We can make a change in others’
lives if there is proper guidance. At the beginning, one takes a risk on how to
teach the kids, but they will really excel if there’s guidance. And it was proven
with our praise night.
God is working in our midst. He
heals the broken hearted and blesses each one of us. Let us be music that
touches others’ hearts.
-Abigail Oblianda, Instructional Assistant
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | School News |
Trade-offs
Life is full of trade-offs.We enjoy some things at the expense of others. That is really true for our CSC staff. And Marlys and I are feeling it in a big way. This is a great time of year, and we are enjoying spending lots of time with our family. But Christmas is an especially fun time of year at CSC in Cebu. We have lots of fun activities for the children and it is so great to spend Christmas with the CSC family. We will miss that greatly this year. Its a trade-off. Another is the weather. We miss the tropical warmth of Cebu but like the changes of seasons and the snow that Minnesota offers. We like being involved in the promotion of the ministry and fund raising efforts that support the ministry, but miss the daily work on the Cebu side.
Although the past 35 years of ministry have had a good share of difficulties, and we have missed out on a lot with our families, we wouldn't trade them for anything. We have had exciting lives directing CSC, and we have been blessed greatly seeing God's hand in the ministry. We have met so many terrific people, and had a chance to invest in the lives of hundreds of kids. We thank him regularly for giving us the opportunity to serve Him in Cebu!
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Staff Reflections |
Men's Fellowship
CSC is full of great people caring for the children. Child care workers, house parents, counselors, teachers, social workers, office workers, therapists, management, nurses, and guards come together each day for the children. I am one of these workers, and, as a man, I realize that the men are outnumbered. For every man working at the shelter, there are five women.
Over the years, the men have started a Bible study just for the men. It usually takes some creativity to find a good time to meet since each person’s schedule varies. At times it has been a weekly meeting. Holidays that land on a weekday are also good days to do something a little different than a Bible study. When we are lucky to get this, the men usually join together for basketball and food. These mornings are a lot of fun. It is always good to spend time with co-workers outside of work hours.
When Matt Buley was in Cebu a while ago, the men were able to organize a morning of playing basketball. It was fun to see a part-time guard on the same basketball team as the president. No one in this group is a PBA (Philippines Basketball Association) star. We just enjoyed ourselves. Good plays were acknowledged by both teams. Mistakes were laughed off by both sides.
After several hours of grown men with mediocre basketball skills playing all out, it was time for food. The morning feast was spread out on banana leaves. This is a called a boodle fight. No utensils or plates. Hands were all you needed to get the food from the banana leaf to your mouth. It was a fitting way for a group of men to culminate a morning of fellowship.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
Read. Eat. Play, Sleep.
When I was a kid, my family did not have the luxury of buying me books. I only received a book for my birthday or as a Christmas present—and even that was not every year.
The kids at the shelter are very blessed to have books within reach. From toddlers to teenagers, these kids are exposed to the beauty of what books have to offer. It is amazing to see how engrossed they are when they start looking at and reading books.
One of the kids I work with in therapy enjoys books. A lot. It is easy to tell how much he enjoys books just by looking at his facial expressions. Some of the physical therapy stuff I introduce when working with him is not received well. He thinks it is hard, uncomfortable or boring. But when we get to floor time and I incorporate books into the therapy, he does not care what he is asked to do. He will go on all fours, kneel, or sit cross-legged as long as he gets to touch, look at the books, and flip the pages.
Yes, this toddler’s day looks like this—Read. Eat. Play. Sleep.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
