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For the past month and a half, the older girls of CSC have had the chance to experience "girls night". Almost every weekend, two girls are invited to my apartment for an evening of fun! 

The event starts long before the weekend even arrives. On Monday after school the group for the week is told that they are invited to girls night. Their excitement is immediate, and only builds over the coming days. On Wednesday the girls are given menu choices. I have  a variety of dinner dessert choices that the girls have the chance to agree upon, and then make. Many of the foods on my list are meals that are uncommon here in the Philippines, so I often have to explain what the meal consists of. So far, each group has chosen something that they have never tried before!

At 4:30 on Friday, the girls meet me at the guard shack. From there, we get a ride down the road to One Pavilion, a shopping center near my apartment. I give the girls a list, and they are then responsible for finding all of our needed ingredients. Once we check out, we make the trek to my apartment on foot. It has been fun to provide this experience for the girls, and have the chance to teach them life skills like cooking and grocery shopping. When we arrive at my apartment, I give the girls instructions on how to prepare the food. Everything we eat that evening will be prepared and cooked by the girls. 

Cooking has been a joyful experience for all involved. Jonnalyn and Andrea enjoyed mixing up and frying meatballs. Jannice and Pretchy made some interesting choices in dessert (corn and cheese ice cream!!). Joanna Mae and Hannah devoured their tacos (they each had about 5!). Adelyn and Ven Ven went into a sugar coma with s'mores dip. Cheryl Mae and Sarah got messy kneading cookie dough. 

The final event of the evening includes watching a movie. With these girls, it was no surprise to find my collection of chick flicks exhausted. Like any teenage girl, the girls of CSC are saps for a good romance movie...especially a Disney one! Watching their reactions to particular scenes has been the most entertaining part for me. Cheryl Mae almost started hyperventilating as the kissing scene in Pride and Prejudice approached, Jonnalyn giggled constantly during A Cinderella Story, and Janice melted at the romance in The Lizzy McGuire Movie.

With the rotation of teens finished, I can say that girls night has been a great success! I look forward to many more nights of fun with these wonderful girls!

CSC Hiring Teachers

Jan. 31, 2013By: Matt Buley

We can't tell you it would be easy, but we can tell you you'd be changing lives...including maybe yours.

Children's Shelter of Cebu is looking to hire two new teachers for our Cebu Children of Hope School, an elementary school, in the 2013-2014 school year. These positions begin in June. Teachers are hired for a one-year contract. They must be licensed and have experience in a school with an English-based curriculum. We have a strong staff of Filipino teachers, but also like to have teachers who have taught in the US as most of our school-aged children are adopted there.

We expect a lot of our teachers, excellence in the classroom and more. You would raise funds prior to going to Cebu for the majority of your salary. You'd take part in activities at the shelter and school beyond school hours. You'd be asked to help host frequent visitors to Cebu. Most importantly, you'd be asked to be part of a loving family to children who have lost theirs.

We offer health insurance and travel, and an experience you'd remember for a lifetime.

Think you might have what it takes? Application instructions follow the position description here.

Three Generations of CSC Lovers!

Jan. 16, 2013By: Paul Healy

227321Back in the '80s, Warren and Marie Hagfors were in Cebu as volunteers with the Evangelical Free Church. While there they got to know the CSC staff and were frequent visitors to the shelter. Warren helped as a computer instructor to the staff. Within a few years, they were back in Cebu, this time as CSC short-term staff. Upon returning to the U.S., Warren served on the CSC Board and Marie cross-stitched over 40 designs for the houses in Cebu.

 

 

DSCN8253Pat Hoeft learned about CSC from Warren and Marie, her parents. She became a loyal CSC supporter and friend to the staff. She is a medical doctor, and the hospital that she works in donated lab equipment to CSC several years ago. She went to Cebu to help get the equipment set up and running. Just this week she went to Cebu to visit her daughter, Lindsay, who is working on the CSC staff as Director of Counseling as a part of our childcare team. Lindsay is a third generation CSC lover from the Hagfors line!  We were recently overjoyed to learn that Lindsay has committed to a third year with CSC in Cebu!

CSC 2012 Highlights

Jan. 15, 2013By: Joel Reasoner

Children's Shelter of Cebu has come through another amazing year with the Lord's guidance.  Fifteen children joined their adoptive families while twenty-nine new children came to CSC in 2012!

Continue to pray for the adopted children, newly admitted children, and all those at the shelter as we enter this new year.  Please pray for the Lord's continued protection and love for all in our care.

 

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Morning Presentation Features Students' Creativity

Jan. 14, 2013By: Paul Healy

At a recent school presentation, Level B students presented art, drama, and dance numbers that showcased their creativity. The dance number was choreographed by Sarah and featured moves and formations that celebrated Jesus' death and resurrection. Eugene narrated an original script for a stick puppet show. "The Monkey and the Squirrel" was the name of Eugene's masterpiece, which talked about respect and cooperation. Epifanio drew a picture of people around the world, all accomplished during the playing of the song, "Imagine." It was a great presentation all around, and showed what our kids can accomplish when their creativity and imagination are encouraged.

Click Here to see photos from the event.

Science Group Looks at Emotional Health

Jan. 14, 2013By: Paul Healy

tammy_venusTammy Vosika's science group has been learning about what it means to be an emotionally healthy person and how that includes having a positive view of oneself and others. She gave the kids an assignment to come up with at least one positive thing about each person in the class. Click here to see what they came up with!