Staff Blog
I would like
say thank you, not only that Children of Hope School has given me a remarkable
honor, but also for the weeks of fear and
anxiety that I have endured at the thought of this big responsibility.
The sleepless nights finally convinced me that I can be a speaker once in my
lifetime. Since I had been here for five
years as a school teacher, it is a great advantage because I can
think that this is a simple reunion.
I have finally set my heart and mind about what I am going to talk about today. To the graduates, particularly Eugene, Epifanio, Analiza, and Wilmar, today is a day of celebration and thanksgiving. You have all worked hard to make it to this day. It has been a long journey and you have reached this far.
The staff, the teachers and therapists in the school, the house parents, and the uncles and aunties in the shelter, were all there and have witnessed when you started practicing on holding a pencil, when you were singing loudly the ABC song, when you were learning to write the letters of the alphabet, when you were trying to read the words with care, and when you were tirelessly counting the numbers from 1 to 100 until you have grown up and have improved your abilities like writing your stories and autobiography, performing an experiment in science, solving problems in math, and showcasing your talent in theater, music and arts, and even sports! Above all these, you have grown up with a personal relationship with the Lord. It’s been a long journey to have finished your elementary years in school, to have developed skills and values, and to grow up rich in spirit. Congratulations, graduates!
Going back to my own elementary commencement, just like you sitting in the front row, my heart was filled with thanksgiving. At 12 years old, I had already been planning on becoming a teacher and had dreamed of landing a job because, primarily, I wanted to elevate my family's situation. My parents were poor and , thus, I am poor. Then, when I was in the 5th grade, my father passed away. But I am blessed that my family stayed strong and had faith in the Lord. Since then, every day is a miracle. Although I am very much acquainted with the hardships in life, I did not use being poor as an excuse not to finish my education. As a matter of fact, with the support of my family, teachers and friends, I had all the motivation to work harder, to do well in my studies, and to give the best version of myself. I am very determined to learn more and even willing to run an extra mile for education.
In the midst of the challenges and hardships in life, I was successful in my academic journey. So, after college, I looked for a job. In June 2009, I was accepted here in Children of Hope School as a shadow teacher of Wilmar and an I.I. instructor for the kids in the afternoon. After a year, I was promoted to a regular teaching job and was assigned in Level B2. Some of you here were once my students then.
So why am I telling you all of this? That day on my elementary graduation, I was young like you, but was very determined to reach my dreams. And now with the blessings of the Lord, I have made some of them come true, like being a teacher and to have done the things that I love to do. Therefore, I want you to be reminded of not giving up on your dreams and to have faith that you will reach your goals. More than that, I am humbled that I was a part of this ministry and learned that life is more meaningful when it is shared with a cause. My five year stay in this school was one of the memorable times in my life and it was way greater than what I have dreamed of.
To the graduates, be grateful to the people that have supported you along the way. The CSC staff and supporters, the childcare staff which includes the uncles and aunties in the shelter, the medical staff, the teachers and therapists in school, and the maintenance staff, they were the set of people who DARED to choose you, serving and molding you to become what you are right now. They are the set of people who CARED not about your past, but on where you’re heading in the future. They are the set of people who SHARED their time, effort, love, and prayers so you won’t be left behind. They dared, cared, and shared because you are special. So dear graduates, we need you to make the most of the wonderful opportunities that have been given to you.
You may not remember everything I’ve said today, but my message to you is that: Do not give up on your dreams and make them all come true. My hope is that you will have the passion, the courage, the faith, and the sense of responsibility it takes so that you’ll be successful in high school and in the next years of your education. Again, congratulations and God bless you graduates. Thank you very much.
Visitors and Volunteers
One thing I've been able to witness this year is how often visitors are able to use their skills and abilities to help give back to CSC. So many times people don't just visit CSC, they also volunteer at CSC.
Here are some photos from the past year of family and friends that have visited and volunteered at CSC.
1. Gordie, one of CSC's board members, recently came to see CSC in action. This is a picture of when he led a Bible study for the older boys and girls at CSC about having a positive self image.
2. My family visited CSC in February. My mom taught the kids origami and led a workshop for the teachers. My dad did a pottery demonstration and then led an art activity where the kids made clay fish (or sharks or piranhas).
3. When Lindsay's family came to visit her dad, Allen (or Dr. Mork, in this picture), helped out by seeing some of the kids that were sick.
4. Our friend Angie recently came to visit Lindsay and I. She's an elementary school teacher back in Minnesota. She volunteered to help the preschoolers who had a lesson on clowns. She jumped right in. I love this pictures!
What an honor it is to have such incredible people visit and volunteer at CSC!
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A True Calling
Last week I had a friend visiting here in Cebu. Marlys Healy, the co-founder of CSC, took us on her standard "city tour" so my friend could experience Cebu a little bit more. It doesn't matter how many times I've been on that city tour with Marlys - I love driving around and seeing this city through the perspective of CSC.
There was one moment that will always stick with me from this particular city tour. Marlys stopped outside of a building to tell us a story of some kids who had come to CSC from that side of town, and she was mid-story when she happened to turn around and see these three kids on the other side of the car. Immediately she stopped telling the story and brought our attention to the kids sleeping on the concrete.
What will always stick with me from this moment seeing her get big tears in her eyes looking at these three through the car window. We all just sat there for a minute taking in this sobering reality. She even had to stop telling her story for a minute, which, if you know Marlys, is pretty significant. :) But what is so astounding about this is that Marlys has lived in Cebu and worked with kids in these very difficult situations for 35 years. And the fact that she still feels so much compassion that it moves her to tears after so many years is simply incredible.
I praise the Lord for Marlys and her true calling and deeply compassionate heart for ministering to children in need.
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Fried chicken & festivities!
We had some visitors here recently. An adoptive family had returned to show their son where he came from so many years ago. Those visitors are such a blessing! Our childcare workers are always touched to see the children they once fed and bathed return happy and healthy and grown. This family went above and beyond, however. Their son decided that he wanted to celebrate his birthday with all of the kids at CSC. He and his family arranged to have the Jollibee birthday brigade come with balloons, food (SO much food!), games and prizes! Check out how much fun was had!
THE FEAST!!!! There was fried chicken, spaghetti, Yum burgers, peach mango pie and Coke!
THE GAMES!
This game was particularly hilarious to watch. The kids started in a circle and then had to be the quickest to get into groupings of various sizes! There was plenty of scrambling and frantic behaviors! Other games involved singing a song, being the first to bring up a requested object (I gave my phone, a hair clip and a 1 peso coin for the cause) or saying "Jollibee," holding out the "bee" for the longest amount of time. Let's just say some of our kids can hold a lot of air inside their little bodies! ;)
Eagerly awaiting the arrival of THE Jollibee!
EXCITED SMILES ABOUND!!
And he's HERE!!!!!!
You would never know these two are archrivals---Joemar with his McDonald's hat! :)
Cool dudes!
Clearly my camera was one of many, but you get the idea!!! :)
Thanks to all visitors everywhere! Your presence here is a blessing to the kids, to our workers and to the staff.
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Happy Resurrection Day!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" -1 Peter 1:3
There have many different activities at CSC over the last few days to remember and celebrate Jesus' resurrection! He is RISEN! Praise the Lord!
On Wednesday, we had an Easter program at school! We sang praise songs to the Lord, watched several performances, and played some games related to Easter and Jesus' resurrection. It ended with announcing the winner's of the coloring contest! Here are the winners!
On Sunday, many of our kids performed in the morning church service. Below is a picture of them up on stage. It was hard to get a good picture because they were so far away. Almost all of the kids in white are our kids!
After the church service, each of the houses had their own Easter egg hunt. The kids had so much fun searching through the bushes and around the yard for the eggs! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from that event!
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Carts, Carts, Carts
Carts are a popular and useful means of transporting cargo in the Philippines. In Cebu City they are used for hauling just about anything, from fruits, vegetables and meat, to hardware, wood and household items. Some families live on their carts. Carts can be seen on streets and sidewalks - everywhere that people need to transport goods at a reasonable price. Of course, the toddler cart at CSC transports the most precious cargo!
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