Staff Blog
One of the values that guides CSC is especially important to me. We need to be thankful people. And we need to express that thanks. It starts with hearts of thanksgiving to God, the Giver of all gifts. Even though we may thank Him regularly in personal or family prayers, it is important to be intentional about group times of thanksgiving, like staff or team meetings or through corporate prayers at church or small groups. At CSC we need to unify our thinking around thankfulness, because, without God's provision, our efforts are just not enough.
But we also need to be thankful to those around us. At CSC, we need to continually express our thanks to those who support us financially and through prayers. In many ways, this kind of thankfulness is an organizational lifestyle. Every gift should be acknowledged and in a timely manner. The personal touch is important; we should send personal notes with receipts. We are even working on sending occasional thank you notes from the staff in Cebu, when possible. Every form of thanks is important and beneficial because, without the provision of our friends, the efforts of the staff are just not enough.
Here in Cebu, we are aware of the need to teach thankfulness to our CSC 
children. Although they have had difficulties in their lives, God has been good to bring them to CSC and to give them a second chance at family. People give sacrificially to help provide for their care. Aunties and staff show them kindness. The food is good and plentiful. Their medical needs are met. They have a great school to attend with loving and talented teachers. And many of them will eventually go to an adoptive family that will open their homes and lives to them. We need to help build a foundation of thankfulness for their lives that will help them understand their debt of gratitude to God, CSC and their adoptive families. I wish you could join our kids for their nightly prayers with their houseparents or a staff member. They almost always remember to thank God for our dear supporters, as they should. The kids know that it takes a lot of money to keep CSC going and to allow them to live in a healthy and comfortable way. And they know where it comes from.
Thank you for visiting our site and for reading this blog. Thanks for your interest in CSC and for the gifts and prayers that you might be willing to offer to help us love and care for these children. Thank you so much!
Learning About Pottery
We have been so excited to have some special visitors this week - my in-laws! Larry and Vicki have known about CSC for many years and it's so great to have them here to share their gifts with the kids. Since Larry has a passion for pottery, we arranged for him to do a lesson with the kids! He demonstrated "throwing a pot" on the pottery wheel and then gave them the opportunity to make their own clay fish with the help of CSC's art teacher, Teacher Jun Jun. It was a really unique experience for the kids and a fun afternoon for everyone.
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Tartanillas---riding in style!
This week, one of our house fathers celebrated his birthday and he decided to bless everyone by renting a tartanilla for all the kids (and adults) to enjoy! What is a tartanilla you ask? It is a horse-drawn carriage. Back in the day in the Philippines---the Spanish colonial days that is----tartanillas were the common mode of transportation. They have since been replaced by Jeepneys, but you can still see some here and there----like on the congested streets of the marketplace or in the provinces! Check out the pictures to see all the fun that was had by the kids, the birthday boy and ME! :)
Happy riders---Aunties and kids alike!
The birthday boy had fun being the driver!
The view from my seat---pretty cool!
SMILES GALORE!!!
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An Every Day Conversation
Teacher Junelyn and I planned an activity for library that involved each of the kids sharing about a favorite book using a prop related to their chosen book. Junelyn and I had our own book and prop picked, but we kept it a bit of a secret from the kids. A student whose class was not participating approached me and whispered, "Tell me what your book is. I won't tell."
I replied, "No, I think I'll keep it a secret!"
The student raised her hand as if to make a pledge and said back to me, "I promise."
Raising my right hand also, I said, "You promise?"
Without missing a beat, she said, "I plead the 5th."
This student is in American Studies and she was applying what she had learned in class to our conversation. I must admit I laughed pretty hard.
Later that day, the kids had a great time sharing about their favorite books. One student dressed as Gandalf from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Another student wore a quiver and horn to represent Robin Hood. Oh, yes, Junelyn and I had the kids try Turkish Delight from C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
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Introducing Jill Grasley
Meet Jill Grasley (pronounced "grays-lee"). She has joined Children's Shelter of Cebu as Development Officer. We are thrilled to have her on the team. I have been praying for this position for over a year, and Jill is going to be a great fit. She is an answer to prayer!
Jill will work in our US Office in a much-needed role. For the last nine years, CSC's US office has consisted of two full-time employees and one part-time. In those years, our budget has more than doubled--growing from $915,000 to $1,890,000. Now that my job scope has expanded, we need someone who can focus full-time on the fund development that provides our beautiful children with a home.
Jill has been employed at Crossroads Adoption Services in MN for over 12 years. She assisted many families through the adoption process--including several CSC families. Jill has focused the last several years working in the area of fundraising through event management, grant writing, donor cultivation and social media.
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Jill received her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Cedarville University in Ohio and her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. Jill and her husband Michael are very involved in Grace Church of Roseville (Minnesota). Jill is a youth volunteer and their family is active in a small group. Mike and Jill have three girls- Calli (12), Miranda (10) and Brooklyn (1). Welcome to CSC, Jill! |
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CSC Smiles
Many people comment on two things when they arrive at CSC. The first thing lots of people say when they come through our gate is that CSC seems to be an “Oasis” of green grass, cleanliness and hope in a neighbourhood that is lacking all three of those things. The second thing that people say is that our kids seem happy and that they have beautiful smiles. I agree. It is hard to give you the opportunity to really see that CSC is an “Oasis” in photos….but I can show you some beautiful CSC smiles. Enjoy.
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