Staff Blog
For quite some time, I tried finding ways to see someone who left Children’s Shelter of Cebu’s custody in 2007. He was ten years old when he and his older sister left CSC. It was everybody’s understanding, according to the agreement between CSC and the mother, that they would all live in the province. It was not until a while later that we heard they came back to the city. The sister was taken care of by the mother. The boy, once again, lived in the same place he had lived before he had come to CSC. It was hard knowing he would again be left on his own.
I tried following up on him through his mother and older sister. I asked many times to meet with him at the office. For years, his mother did not have nice things to say about him. The older sister, who was (and still is) under their mother’s care, seemed not to know how he was doing either. She would only say she did not know what he was up to, or she did not know how he was doing. She knew, though, that he was still living in the house near the market. It’s not that she did not care for him, she just did not want to do anything to displease her mother.
I tried for years to get him to come to the yearly outreach Christmas party. I even resorted to withholding his Christmas gift one year so he would come and get it at the office. He did not come. One year, when he was enrolled in grade four at a nearby school, I got him to come see me because I would not give him shoes if he were not the one to come get them. So, I brought him to the store and got him the shoes and socks. I even brought him back to the place he called home. That was the last time I saw him.
It has been quite some time. I thought I lost that young boy. But, God answered prayers. Early this year, I heard of a place that caters to out-of-school youth that want to better themselves. I talked, sent text messages, and visited some of CSC’s former kids whom I thought would benefit from the program. And I sent a message and talked to this boy’s mother, too. She told me she would tell him about this opportunity. And praise God, she did! I was very happy and thankful when he came to see me at the office to talk about the program and what it would mean for him.
I also could not believe it was him when he introduced himself. The negative reports from the mother had colored my perception of him. How could a drug-abusing kid look so clean cut and well-mannered as this young man seemed to be? But I was glad he finally came back. After all these years, he finally came back!
Now, this seventeen-year-old young man has been in training since the second week of May. And as part of his training, he is working part time (and earning a half-day’s wage) through the social enterprise project of the organization. He is also enrolled in the GED-like alternative school. He hopes to pass the exams to either graduate from high school or to get into the high school level. He only has a grade four education. His main goal is to become a Filipino Marine. He wants to serve his country and at the same time, help his family while doing it.
John Henry still has a long way to go. Please pray with us for him.
Thank you, Lord, for this little miracle and answered prayers.
Christmas Wish List
Like every kid, the kids at CSC have their Christmas wish lists. Each year, the kids receive their gifts on Christmas Eve. Imagine a room full of kids with huge smiles, giggles, laughter, anticipation, and eagerness waiting for their gifts.
So, how do we, the appointed present shoppers, have the kids share their requests without making it too obvious we are the ones buying and wrapping their gifts?
For the little ones, the conversation might go something like:
“Hey, I talked to Santa last night and he asked me what you want for Christmas.”
OR
For those who want shoes: “Can you trace your feet for me so we can see if they are the same size?”
OR
“What do you want for Christmas? I could tell Santa for you.”
For the ones who know THE TRUTH, the question is pretty straight forward:
“So, what do you want for Christmas?”
Like kids everywhere, our kids have no trouble telling us what they want. Even though we can’t always accommodate their requests, it’s fun for them to dream and imagine. They have lists in their heads. One little girl specifically told me that she does not want perfume because she already smells good. Others get influenced by what other kids want. And some want things a bit more difficult to fulfill like a horse!
The day after some of the kids had told what they want for Christmas, they asked me if I had already given their lists to Santa. My response was, “I will email it to him tonight.” One kid then said in surprise, “Email?! Really?!” I did email their lists, just not to Santa, but to the specific person who is in charge of getting their gifts.
Thank you for helping CSC in every way. You make it all possible for us to give the best care for the kids even at Christmas!
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Books are the Source of Knowledge
Books are the source of knowledge and one of the fundamental tools in imparting knowledge to learners. This is how I define books and I experienced a memorable and significant lifetime event that I will treasure forever.
Level B Group 2 students were preparing to share their learning during the morning meeting, so they decided to present a poem titled, “If You’re Not From the Prairie”. Everyone was able to memorize the poem and they presented it in the front of everybody. This poem left a strong impression of all of the students, especially the Level B1 Group 1 students.
Later on in the afternoon, I opened the door to the classroom for my last class. This is the toughest class each day. When I walked in, I was surprised and puzzled. Everyone was holding their reading books, but this was science class! All at once, the students started reading in a loud voice, “Teacher Lyrah, if you’re not from the prairie, you don’t know the sun! If you’re not from the prairie, you don’t know me!”
This group of kids have just started using this particular reading text and are on the first unit in the book. The prairie poem is in the last unit of the book, so is challenging for the kids to read and understand. But somehow they had been inspired by the poem when it was presented during the morning meeting. They wanted to share their excitement.
I smiled and praised them for reading the poem. One student said,” Teacher Lyrah, we have your book! Remember? If you’re not from the prairie, you don’t know the sun.”
I encouraged them to continue to read and learn from their reading. There are a lot of moral stories that they can learn from the book.
I learned something that day. Kids have many talents and thoughts. We, as teachers and adults, should look for and encourage the children to grow, knowing they have innate and hidden talents. And the children are just starting to bloom.
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Hapit na Christmas
Hapit na Christmas
This is the phrase going around CSC right now. The word is out that Christmas will soon be here. The kids are busy writing their Foster Friend letters, practicing for the school, and church Christmas play and program. They are all talking among each other about what they hope Santa will bring them this year.
The workers at CSC are getting in their last few days of vacation for the year to make sure they have time to spend with their families this holiday season. The teachers are busy in school with classes and Christmas program practice.
Many of the staff and CSC employees are busy starting to think about and prepare for the upcoming Christmas activities. I thought I would share with you what we all participate in here at CSC. The workers party is on December 5. This is a fun evening for all of our CSC workers with each department sharing a song or dance, a meal together, prizes and an encouraging message.
The following Saturday we will be having the CSC Outreach Party. This is a day for former CSC kids to come back to CSC and enjoy a meal together, games, a message from God’s word and a Christmas gift. We look forward each year to seeing some of our former kids who have gone back to live with their birth families.
The kids will be performing the Little Drummer Boy for their school Christmas program this year. They are already busy working on the music and their lines.
The Progressive Dinner is an evening when the kids get to eat at each of the Missionary Staff houses. A different course is had at each house along with part of the Christmas story being shared. At the end of the evening we all meet back up at the shelter for cinnamon rolls shaped into a Christmas tree.
On Christmas Eve Santa always seems to find his way to CSC and deliver a gift for each of the kids. The kids look forward to this evening for weeks and weeks. After they open their gifts they get to stay up late and watch fireworks and have a special snack at midnight.
Christmas Day we have a formal meal of ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and sugar cookies outside with all of the kids. After the meal, the adults share the Christmas story with the children including a live manger scene. It is always a joy to share the story of Christ’s birth with each of the kids at CSC.
We have a lot of fun at CSC during Christmas time. It is our prayer that amidst all the fun and busy times the kids would experience in a deeper way what Christ's birth means for each of them. Pray that each of us would be able to explain that clearly through our words and actions this Christmas season!
It is easy to get caught up in all of the Christmas excitement. Let us all remember to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us as we celebrate Thanksgiving next week. Giving thanks for God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. Remembering to thank Him for sending His Son. The reason we celebrate Christmas!
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Prayers
Houseparents get a night off each week to relax and take a breather from the past week. Most missionary staff fill in for a shift on a rotating basis to help out and hang out with the kids when the houseparents are gone. At the end of the night, after reading a book or two to the kids, we spend time in prayer. Often there is at least one or two kids who want to pray. Prayer is the way each home closes their night, whether or not the houseparents are home. Some kids are well versed in the tradition, others are still skeptical, but all children are present and know that this is what we do.
This past week I was on duty in Eicher home as Dondon and Ivy had a night off. Just before the smaller boys were going to bed, I was praying with them and when I ended and was sending them to their rooms, one boy spoke up...
"Auntie Megan, he wants to pray," he says pointing at a three-year old.
"Oh, ok. Sure!" I respond. I encourage this boy to go ahead and this is what we hear....
"Dear Lord....Thank you, Lord...Lord, Lord...Thank you, God. Amen."
Hugs are given and boys are climbing in bed. As I leave for the night, I can't help but think of the faith of a child and the way God is changing lives at CSC. He has aunties, uncles, and friends guiding him and leading him to God. He knows how to close his eyes, fold his hands, and call on the name of the Lord. I'm grateful, that even at a young age, the children at CSC are learning from their caregivers and peers what it means to follow God with their hearts and lives, and that they're learning the importance of prayer!
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A Nice Evening for Ginda
Last weekend we celebrated Ginda's 29th birthday in the Duterte home. Ginda was thrilled to have so many wonderful friends at her party to celebrate with her. Some friends of CSC from Cebu also came and provided a lechon baboy for the evening.
Ginda made a grand entrance in a beautiful blue dress and purple bag. The house was decorated with blue and purple tablecloths and balloons to match. It was definitely Ginda's night! She knew it and could not stop smiling! Everyone could sense Ginda's excitement!
Birthday parties are a lot of fun at CSC. A big thank you to all of our friends and supporters who helped make Ginda's party and so many other birthday parties at CSC so special for the CSC kids!
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