Staff Blog
Airports have played a significant role in my life and the life of CSC. I was thinking of that the other day when I was sitting in the Cebu airport waiting to catch a plane that would lead me to another plane and another airport, which would get me home to be a part of my dad's memorial service. Sitting there and thinking, wondering what the next few days would hold. I've done a lot of deep thinking in airports. Once I get on the plane it is pure misery, as they are not made for people my height. But airport chairs, while not being luxurious, are okay for sitting and thinking.
I've been in many, many airports in my lifetime, as many as 75. Several of them are in the Philippines. I have spent the most time in the Cebu and Manila airports, waiting for flights to attend matching meetings or meeting to address problems with ICAB, or getting ready to go home to Cebu and report to the staff. Since most Philippine Airlines flights out of Manila are late in leaving, there has been much time to think and reflect on things. Sometimes my thoughts were discouraging ones, my having been disappointed with the outcome of matching conferences or meetings with officials. Other times they were joyous thoughts, and I couldn’t wait to get back to Cebu to share the outcomes with the rest of the staff.
I can remember several times when I needed to make a quick trip to the US to be with my family when my dad had a bad accident, or when he eventually passed away. Airports can be sad places for missionaries in these situations, wondering what it will be like to get home and join a grieving family or to visit someone who recently had to go into a nursing home. I have experienced a lot of heavy thinking in airports around the world.
But there have been lighter times, and joyous ones. I remember times when Marlys and I were traveling to visit former CSC kids in their adoptive families, or going to visit supporting churches with good news about what God was doing at CSC. I remember traveling to different parts of the Philippines, to some of the dinkiest airports that you could imagine, checking up on referrals of children, or, in the days before we had a social worker, to do case management work. Often, those airport visits were far more enjoyable, and thoughts were expectant rather than worrisome.
And for every hour spent waiting to take a flight there was one at the Cebu airport waiting for an arrival. Hundreds of hours have been spent waiting for adoptive parents, family, staff, board members and other visitors. While waiting our thoughts would be all over the map. Would they like Cebu? Would they be good adoptive parents for our child? Would they fit in on our staff? Would they ever arrive?
On the whole, I have not enjoyed sitting and waiting in airports. But those airports, and the planes that they service, have allowed us to go and do the work that God called us to do for the children of CSC. For them, every waiting hour has been worth it.
A Special Friend
You guys all know Wilmar. You see him playing basketball, riding a bike, holding a toy lion, crocodile or a dinosaur or you see him just sitting and singing a song or two. Wilmar receives a lot of support at the school and shelter.
At school, Wilmar has three different teachers and one physical therapist. Yup, we make sure these kids get what they need. So yeah, Wilmar has teachers supporting him, but what about a friend? Who plays with him at the shelter? Who helps him line up? Who holds his hand during school programs?
Well, there is one special friend and classmate who assists Wilmar in all of these. This girl sang a duet with Wilmar in the last music recital. She holds Wilmar’s hand when going up and down to the stage; she walks with him to the next class and works on classroom activities with him. Even her classmates know who Wilmar should sit with. And she is very happy to do all of this. No complaints.
This girl is also close to the rest of the special needs kids/adults in her house. She sees them as equal. She has a big heart for them. Now, that’s one special friend!
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Sportsfest 2016
Sportsfest 2016 is officially over. A great day of fun, athleticism, and sportsmanship was had by all! The day started off with a parade,cheers from each team, reciting of the sportsmanship pledge and the lighting of the torch. Then the games began!
Enjoy some fun photos of the day! 
The Torch
Getting Ready
Hula Hoop
Sack Race
Hurdles
The Aqua Blue Team
The Green Team
The Royal Blue Team
The Gray Team
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Yesterday and today
I have been finishing up my book on the history of CSC. It has been a great experience to look back on the earlier years of the ministry and see how many times God has seen us through difficulties and helped us meet challenges. We have faced financial hardships, political uncertainties, sickness, natural disasters, death and a fire. And one year we faced all of these. Except the fire.
1990 was quite a year for CSC. Our board had approved a budget that was significantly more than the previous year. But income was down significantly and our reserves were being depleted. What's more, CSC's Executive Director had to resign for health reasons. There were lots of political uncertainties in the country. Many of our children were sick and one, little Sonny Boy, died after a 72 hour battle in the ICU. Three of our staff were on furlough during the year, leaving us short-handed in Cebu. And, in November we got hit by super typhoon Ruping which cause lots of damage in Cebu, though nothing major at CSC. We were inconvenienced by power outage and lack of sufficient water.
Not a great year. But one where we learned a lot about God's sustaining power, his heart, and our ability, with his help, to withstand lots of challenges. We also learned a lot about CSC's supporters, and how they rally around us during difficult times. People stepped up, pitched in with the fund raising, gave sacrificially, prayed for us and help pull us through 1990. And every year since.
Some of you have been around CSC since 1990. If so, thanks for then and for now. If you were a part of our stupendous December giving rally in 2015, or have been praying for CSC or our family, BIG thanks. We have needed you so much. We take on the challenges of today and in the future because of what you have meant to us in the past. Bless you all.
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Playing with Dominoes in Science Class
If you walked by our science class on any given day, it might resemble play time. In fact, we are having so much fun, things are falling over fast! One of the science classes recently finished a unit on speed. They learned how distance, time, and speed are related. To further illustrate this relationship, they had the opportunity to play with dominoes. The class was divided into two teams. The teams had to line up 25 dominoes that were equally spaced in such a way that their dominoes would fall faster than the other team. This led to a lot of discussion about concepts related to speed, and we had fun in the process!
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A Wonderful Surprise!
Happy New Year!
God is GREAT! He has been so faithful to Cebu Children of Hope School during the past year. His protection and provision were so evident in the lives of each one of us at school. A number of kids were given forever families and are now starting new chapters in their lives in new families, homes, and schools.
This year already God has given us a wonderful surprise at school. Seven lovable students joined classes after the Christmas break, three preschoolers and four elementary students. Their coming has made the school merrier because each one of them is a bundle of joy. They are gifts from God that enrich everyone’s lives at school.
New Preschoolers
New Elementary students
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