Staff Blog
prog·ress
part of speech: noun
pronunciation: ˈpräɡres/
1. Forward or onward movement toward a destination.
2. The advance or development toward a better, more complete, or more modern condition
part of speech: verb
pronunciation: prəˈɡres/
1. To move forward or onward in space or time.
2. To advance or develop toward a better, more complete, or more modern state.
It is almost summer where you are, so bare with me on this journey through Webster's pages and this highly intellectual post! ;) Progress, the noun, is a thing most of us look for to determine the success or failure of an effort. It a measure of change, advancement, improvement---pounds lost, degrees earned, etc., toward a goal. It is something we want to see.
Progress, the verb, is the effort. It is the actual forward motion. It encompasses the sweat and tears involved in bettering oneself, finishing a degree, running another mile. Or as it says above, becoming more complete. It is a process requiring hard work.
Sometimes progress, the noun, is hard to chart or to see. The work is there, but it seems there is little to show for it. Thankfully, at CSC, this is not true.
Below you will see only a smidgen of the countless proofs of progress at CSC, in a series of before and after pictures. Children arrive to CSC usually in a bad state. They are often not healthy. They stay in our Infirmary for as long as it takes to rid their bodies of lice, worms or other illnesses. The evidence of physical progression alone is cause for rejoicing in God's goodness to improve the lives of CSC's children. However, their progress is much more than physical.
If you look at many of the faces in the before pictures, their is understandable fear and uncertainty registering there. Strangers are visiting them and talking about taking them from their home. Of course it is for their betterment, their progress, their health, but that is hard to fully communicate in such emotional times. But look at the faces in the after pictures. There is peace, happiness, and excitement.
Some synonyms for progress: make headway, get better, gain ground, improve, advance, develop, and make strides. For our youngest residents, they literally learn to walk and then run while in our care. Now that's progress!
Some other synonyms for progress: thrive, prosper, blossom, and flourish.
And that is what kids do at CSC. There are many hands working tirelessly for the advancement of these precious children. From nurses, teachers, therapists, social workers, counselors, houseparents, guards, missionary staff and childcare workers. Their effort contributes to the progress of the children. I don't want to leave out the effort put forth by our children though, because that is very real too. They take the risk to trust, and follow our instruction and learn to be a kid again. And finally, the investments made by you donors is effort, it's forward motion. Your effort can also be seen in the smiling faces above.
To me, this is what progress looks like.
Bright Future Ahead
As an adult, we wonder what the future will look like. Too often, we are afraid of it, not trusting. It is funny. Even though we are more experienced than little children they often teach us to keep calm and have faith. The future is in God’s mighty hands.
Kids arriving at CSC are unsure, uncertain and sometimes doubtful. They have been through a lot at a very young age, but they never waver about the future. At CSC they learn to trust again; to know that they are provided for and do not need to worry if they will have another meal. They look straight forward with hopeful hearts. They rest in God’s knowing hands that they will have a bright future ahead.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” --Jeremiah 29:11
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
New Faces
Just as the kids are finishing up summer activities and heading into the last three weeks of their summer break, the school staff is getting geared back up to kick off the new school year. Whew! Summer went by so fast! The staff reports back on Monday, June 8 for two weeks of planning and preparation. Six new people will join our staff this year, so we have lots to do to get ready for the kids on June 22. Five of the new members are from Cebu or someplace nearby. Each will bring a fresh set of skills, one is an elementary major, another is a math major and yet another is a special education major. The sixth new person, Amanda, is from the US, just having completed her studies in science education. It’s been a couple of years since we have had a teacher from North America, so we are looking forward to having a native English speaker on the staff full time.
Amanda
More news of fun and learning will follow from the school halls in the weeks and months to come, but as we get ready for the kids, think of us and pray especially for the six new teachers, Alfie, Micillent, Lyrah, Amanda, Ethel and Ivy, who have committed to teaching at CCHS this year.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | School News |
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
Today we had a few Staff members from the LOGOS HOPE ship visit
us here at CSC. Their ship is docked here in Cebu City for the month of
May. It was fun for our kids to interact with young
Christians from all over the world, We had people from Europe, from
South America and one young lady from Florida. It was good for our kids
to hear the accents and to learn a few words of other languages, but
most important it was good for our kids to see the light of the Lord
shining it the eyes and beaming from the hearts of each of these young
people. One of our kids was surprised to learn that someone from
another country already knew about God....he thought that CSC was the
only place that told people about God. 
That conversation that I
overheard really brought home to me the staggering responsibility that
we have, we are telling kids about THE GOD, the creator of the
universe, their creator. WOW, what a blessing and what a
responsibility we have! All I could think of was the
children's song; "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands". That HE
does, and I am thankful for that fact. We all need to be reminded of
these simple truths from time to time. Thank you to the amazing young people of the 
Logos Hope for helping to bring this simple truth home to me today! 
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | Shelter News |
A Wet Responsibility
Jerry Salgo is one of the many people behind the scene making everything go smoothly. He is in charge of the CSC facilities, along with the maintenance and security personnel. While classes have been out on break, his team has been working to repaint and restore the school so that it will look as good as new when the students return near the end of June.
One of the projects they were working on was removing a
whirlpool from the therapy room. Cebu Children of Hope School acquired the
whirlpool several years ago and it was a great asset, meeting some of the
physical therapy needs of our kids. It has since worn out its welcome and is no
longer being used. The decision was made to remove it and sell it if possible. Uncle
Jerry, being the conscientious steward that he is, needed first to ensure that
it was working properly. As a man of high integrity, no task is too small or too
silly for him to oversee the details personally. It is one of the many reasons
we appreciate his hard work.
Once the removal is complete a new project will begin. The therapists, Jinkee Reasoner and Marwin Abong, have begun developing plans for a sensory wall to be installed. This will provide different tactile stimulation and be part of the therapy treatment for kids at CSC.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | School News |
CHS Graduation 2015
Children of Hope School recently celebrated its graduation.
Three students graduated preschool and are ready to move on to
kindergarten.
Five
students graduated sixth grade and are ready to make the transition from
elementary to high school.
It was a fun day to think back on all the hard work the students had put in over the past year. Each student received an award from their teacher, highlighting their individual accomplishments. Recognizing the hard work means a lot to each child. The graduates enjoyed their big day and are excited for next school year.
| Show Comments | | | Leave a Comment | | | Category: | School News |
