I was giving a tour the other day to some visitors. I have done it hundreds of times over the years. Sometimes it is fun, other times not so much. It kind of depends on the people who are visiting and their interest level. Most people who come to see us are really into CSC and want to see the facilities and hear stories about how we got started and how we ended up with the great facilities that we now have in Cebu.
During the most recent tour I was telling about the miraculous ways that God provided for our buildings. I told about how we got the land to build on in the first place. I related how our school was built and how Harry Schmidt came through for our homes. I started to sound like a broken record. This was our need; this is how God provided it. Different people, the same basic story. We had been renting for years and needed some good buildings on land that we owned. God provided it. We needed a place where our children could get a quality education. God gave us a school. We needed additional housing and an infirmary. God gave it to us. We needed playground equipment and some gazebos for the kids to play in during rainy times or very hot days. One of our supporters gave the money for it. Medical equipment, computers for the school, vehicles, surgery for little Thomas, hospital beds for Jacob and Ginda? He came through. Everything we have is the result of gifts from people who God uses. We have dedicated staff and workers, but without the gifts of our supporters, all that commitment wouldn't amount to much. You dear people put the food, the medicine, the books, the baby formula, the Smart board, the toys, the clothes, shoes, diapers, cribs, beds, into our hands and into our homes so we can provide a great place for 90 children to live.
So I guess that giving an honest tour of CSC means that the tour guide will sound like a broken record. It is unavoidable at CSC, where everything comes from God.
Hands that Serve
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
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!
Sore Eyes
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
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.
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.
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!