Every year CSC children, 10-year-old and above, look forward to summer activities. Summer activities schedule is in the month of May. This year before January was over, the children approached me with a list of activities they want to be in. I tell them to wait in February. I will have the list of names of the kids who will be in the summer activities. In the list they could also put down 3 activities they preferred by numbering them 1 to 3. Kids were so excited. They continued to ask what activities were available to them. “Is there basketball?” Is there baseball?” “What about music?” “Will we have the same teacher for music as last year?” “Is swimming every day?” “Is it okay to have two activities to enroll in?” Even the 9-year-olds and below were curious to know when summer activities would be. The questions were usually “Is May after graduation?” “Is it far away?” “When will it start?”
After the lists were out to the homes, the next questions asked were “Who is in basketball or soccer or music or etc.?” Another one was “May I change my activity?” “I like that activity, why is it not in the list?” “I would like to be with so-and-so, may I transfer to that one?” When confusion, agreements and activities were in place, thirty-six children were enrolled in various activities this year. There are 3 in soccer, 8 in basketball, 1 in table tennis, 7 in cooking, 9 in music, 1 in badminton, and 7 in swimming.
The other day, I was the watcher for basketball. Early in the morning while I was up putting my bags at the child care office, one of the girls asked if we could leave earlier than the time we were to leave. When asked why, she said they did not want to be late. Their coach made them do push-ups according to how many minutes they were late. So we did and we made it!
It was the first time I was watcher for basketball this year. I was pleasantly surprised at what happened before lessons were started. The head coach told the kids who were there to sit down, bow their heads and he prayed for them and for the morning ahead. After praying, he proceeded to talk to the kids about discipline, practice and preparing for things in the future. He told them Noah did not start building the ark when it started to rain. Noah was ready with the ark and he was safe, together with his family, when the rains came. He finished his talk and encouragement to the kids by telling them to always practice what they learned, to be prepared, to do everything they could to come early to basketball lessons. When they do that, the lessons they learned will help them face difficulties, or trials that would come to them later on. He reminded them not to forget God will always be there to help them if they ask.
Workers' Christmas Party
Check out these pictures from our workers' Christmas party on December 1. It was a great night of fun, gifts, prizes and recognition of the great contributions of our workers.
Trust His Heart
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
-From a song called "Trust His Heart" by Babbie Mason
The view out of my classroom window on a recent rainy day.
Human as we are, we have lots of worries in life. As we worry, some questions come up in our minds. What will my future be like? Will I be able to sustain the needs of my family? What kind of life will my children have? How do I meet the needs of my students, especially those who are struggling? How will I deal with the difficult situations I will be facing in the future? Do the things that I strive to do matter? Am I making a difference in my workplace? Am I on the right track? Is this the will of God for me? I don't understand God's plan for me, what should I do?
Upon worrying and doubting, we sometimes forget that there's someone up there who is bigger than our worries. When our mind is clouded with worries instead of trusting the One who is sovereign over everything, we see the uncertainties. May the message of the song above encourage both you and me to put our full trust in Him who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient amidst uncertainties.
May we hold onto His promise and command from Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV that says, "
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
40 Years of Hope and Blessings at CSC
CSC will celebrate 40 years of ministry in Cebu City in June of 2019. Our friends and supporters are warmly invited to attend the festivities in Cebu on June 28 and 29. Everyone is invited to see historical videos, pictures and accounts from the past 40 years here on this website and on our Facebook page.
This is from Christmas 2007:
One Great Afternoon at CCHS!
The United Nations Day celebration is one of the exciting activities at CCHS. It is always fun and informative. Children and teachers look forward to this event every year.
The day before the event, all the teachers put in great effort to prepare lots of things for the kids. Everyone stayed late that night just to make their country booth really captivating. There was the sharing of minds on what to display and how to arrange things in the booth.
The celebration started with the singing of the Philippine national anthem at the shelter followed by a parade heading to school. After the parade the children visited the the different countries: Belgium, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands. Each group was given twenty-five minutes to stay at each booth and learn about the country. There was important information shared by the teachers, crafts to do, and food to eat.
After the country tour was the jeopardy game. Questions were asked to each group to test how well they remembered the things that were shared earlier. It was really fun to hear the students help each other think of the correct answers.
The event ended with a surprise thank you program for the teachers prepared by Teacher Eunice. It was indeed one great afternoon at CCHS!
Habitat Turnover
Habitat Turnover 60 homes for our workers were turned over to the homeowners on October 2 7 in an emotional ceremony in Talisay, Cebu. After many delays this project was completed and our workers will soon be moving into their new homes. All of these workers will be owning a home for the first time, a dreams that would have gone unfulfilled if not for Habitat for Humanity and Paul Reasoner, who led the fundraising.