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This has not been a normal week.  I am not at all sure what a "normal" week is,  but I know this is not one.

On Tuesday morning we experienced an earthquake.  I have always wondered what an earthquake would feel like, and now I know.   We have had hundreds of aftershocks in the four days since the initial earthquake.   Praise God the buildings the kids are in stood up well to the shaking.  A few of us staff members  have some rather scary cracks in the walls of our personal homes though. 

The kids were shaken up of course (literally and figuratively), but they did amazingly well.   They are now old pros at meeting in the middle of the playground after each major aftershock...just to make sure all is well before they run back to whatever they were doing.   The first night all the kids slept downstairs with their mattresses on the floor.  They felt safer being on the ground floor and enjoyed being all together.  But everyone has moved back upstairs now.  We know that we will be talking about this for a long time,  as it was a very scary experience for the kids and for all of us.  We praise God for the protection we were given. We do not take that for granted.   There are many that suffered devastation and death because of this earthquake.

But we are not here to worry about cracks in our walls and aftershocks.  We are here to take care of kids that need us.  So that is what we are doing.  Today we admitted a new baby!  This little guy has just  joined the Duterte Home. He has some medical concerns, but we feel like we are back to business as usual. So here is our newest family member!  

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Hands that Serve

Sep. 14, 2015By: Jinkee Reasoner

We have about 76 child care workers who do day-to-day stuff at the shelter. Most of you who have been to CSC might be aware of this. But for everyone else’s information, we have laundry washers, cooks, cleaners and, of course, the rest of the Aunties—as we call them—who watch over the children at the shelter.

Most of them don’t have a college degree, some never got the chance to finish grade school; but they take pride and joy in working at CSC.  They teach the kids household chores, sometimes you see them in the playground playing with the kids and often times, they teach the little ones how to pray. They treat the kids at the shelter like their own.

For some of the aunties, being an educator is a gift. Singing nursery rhymes, dancing and learning how to count are some of their tasks that just come out naturally. Below is a short video of two aunties and some toddlers reading the story of Jonah and the Big Fish.

 Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness in providing CSC with very willing hands. Please pray for all of our workers at the shelter as they continue caring for and teaching the kids.

Stacks of Books

Sep. 10, 2015By: Joel Reasoner

The Reading Challenge is finishing up tomorrow!  The children have been reading, a lot.  Many of them leave school will a stack of books in their hands.  The total number of pages read is staggering.  Keep reading!

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Sore Eyes

Sep. 9, 2015By: Marcel Pacada

Sore eyes has hit CSC!  As this blog is being written, seven babies and toddlers and one school age child have sore eyes.  Sore eyes is very common in the Philippines. In the US, it is called pink eye. It affects all ages and usually spreads from one eye to the other very quickly.  One’s eyes become swollen, turn pink, and are very itchy and painful. It can be miserable for anyone who has it, especially the babies and toddlers. Please pray for all the kids who currently have sore eyes and that it would not spread to others throughout the houses.

Friendships

Sep. 8, 2015By: Paul Healy

Everybody needs friends.

For our CSC children, making a new friend is often the most important part of their adjusting to life at the Shelter.

Someone to run with……. Play with…..talk to…….laugh .……study .…..eat… and pray with.

CSC friends  teach new kids the ropes, are partners in mischief and sources of understanding, comfort and encouragement. And not only that, they are a lot of fun to hang out with.

Our children come from backgrounds of poverty, neglect and loss.  Who better to understand them than a friend  who has experienced the same things before coming to live at CSC.

The memories of these friendships could last for a lifetime.

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Mabuhay ang Wikang Filipino!

 Last Friday, August 28, was a happy day for everyone at CCHS.  It was the Buwan ng Wika Celebration, an all-day event focusing on Filipino language.  All the students as well as the teachers really had fun.

 

The Filipino games played in the morning gave every student a chance to participate and every team showed good teamwork.  The older kids helped the preschoolers even by carrying the little kids to get the tasks accomplished.  It was an amazing sight to see all members of each team working as one.

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The afternoon activity was short, but sweet.  All the students’ presentations were really great!  Each presentation displayed the children’s and teachers’ great efforts.  

Mabuhay ang Wikang Filipino!