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.
Sign Language
“No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship.”
At first I was unsure and nervous about how to establish a teacher-student relationship with this sweet little girl. I had noticed she sometimes got upset when a lesson was hard for her. But with proper encouragement, motivation, and guidance, she now seems to have developed a readiness to face the challenges of our lessons.
It started off one day in Math when she called to me, “Teacher, ale.”(which means please come over here). I was puzzled about what she wanted. She whispered to me and said, “Can you sit beside me?” This gesture helped me realize she was having a hard time with the lesson.
As the days have passed, this has become our routine. When she needs me, she just calls my name and nods her head. Calling my name and nodding her head is our sign language and we both understand.
Recently one day during our Math class, I tried to sit beside her without having received the sign. She resisted and said, “No teacher, I know this.” I learned that day to wait for her signal.
Establishing a teacher-student relationship is very significant. It is how we as teachers establish trust and boost a student’s confidence. Perhaps, we are not only a teacher, but also a friend.
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The End of Second Quarter
We are halfway through the year at the Children of Hope School! This past week marked the end of second quarter. Students were diligently reviewing and preparing for their quarterly exams at the end of the week. Teachers were busy writing tests and helping their students review content they had learned over second quarter.
The idea of taking quarterly exams can be stressful for some students. Still, they persevere. Below is a picture of a student finishing her science test. The test was challenging for her, but instead of giving up, she took the time to review each question carefully. She asked questions when she needed clarification. This student has come a long way since the beginning of the school year. She is learning to be patient with herself when she doesn’t understand the material. She is learning to ask for help. When she finally came to the last question on the test, she looked at me and exclaimed, “Oh! Teacher! I know this one!” Ending her test with confidence was the best way for her to end second quarter.
This school year seemed to fly by so quickly! I can hardly believe how far we have come since June! Please continue to pray for teachers and students as we begin the second half of the school year.
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Dedication
Today was a special day. Today one of CSC's children was dedicated. CSC does not have the privilege of bearing witness to such ceremonies for all of its children, so when it does happen it is a treasured time. Of course, CSC staff and supporters, from all around the world (and around the clock) are constantly praying for our children. And in those prayers, God is given the authority to guide caregivers in how they care for each child, to draw His children closer to Him and to be under His protective care. And while those prayers are no doubt honored by God, there is something powerful and sacred in the ceremony of a dedication that is God-honoring.
In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter six, verses five to seven, we can read the commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Please pray for our houseparents and the very important job they have in raising each of CSC's children in the ways of the Lord. And enjoy the pictures from today's dedication ceremony!
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Jeepers Peepers
You
might be wondering what this picture is all about!
Each morning I have the privilege of meeting with this boy for 30 minutes of speech therapy exercises. Because of his cleft palate, he needs additional help with pronunciation and confidence with his speaking skills.
There are many activities that we do each day, but Jeepers Peepers is the last activity (and the funnest)! The rules of the game are as follows: one player at a time wears the “magic” glasses with a picture of an unknown object attached. The one wearing the glasses can ask as many questions as needed to identify the object, but they can only be “yes” or “no” questions.
Most of the time, this game involves quite a few giggles! At times, he asks for clues to help him guess. For instance, for this particular object, he asked if it was something his caregivers would use. When told that they would, he asked if the picture was of an umbrella. He is quite observant because umbrellas are a daily accessory for his caregivers; they of course use umbrellas when it’s raining but they also use umbrellas to protect them from the heat of the sun.
It’s
amazing how good he is now at asking questions. He usually correctly guesses half of the
pictures given to him, and the questions he asks are much more appropriate and on
the right track. Also, this kid has such
an upbeat personality---even if he doesn’t get it right, he still enjoys the
game!
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Charting the course forward
We recently had our annual board retreat. In a historical home on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, the board gathered to plan for the future of our ministry.
(Thank you World Mission Prayer League for the donated space)
These meetings don’t hold the emotional appeal that the kids in Cebu do. There are new residents finding their place at the shelter, and down-to-the-wire adoption dreams being worked on. Even the daily activity in the homes and at school trumps the appeal of a group of professionals gathering to pray, discuss and discern big-picture decisions. But, we also know how important that work is. As people who care about CSC you and I both want to know the ministry is charting a course towards the future that is hopeful and wise. I can see that we are.
Had you sat in on those board meetings, I trust you would have been impressed. Our members ask good, hard questions and wrestle with the direction they provide. We count on their wisdom, trust their collective savvy and lean on their prayers.
If you give to CSC to actively participate in providing a home to children, you give to a place that takes its leadership seriously. Everything that happens at CSC happens under a board that views themselves as stewards of God’s work. This is the best perspective we could ask for!
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