Staff Blog
Most people get a "watered-down" version of Cebu when they come as tourists. Some only see what the tour guides want them to see. Some fly into the airport on the neighboring island of Mactan, but never cross the bridge that connects it with Cebu City. They experience the five star ambiance of the lush resorts and rub shoulders with wealthy people and well-trained staff who pamper them, but they never observe the realities of life in this Third World city. They are sanitized from the poverty, the pollution and the suffering of people in our city.
Visitors to CSC also get an abbreviated version of the story of the ministry. Although we show them our facilities and let them meet our staff and, when appropriate, some of the kids, we aren't able to give them the bigger picture. They see our wonderful homes and get a sense for the quality of care that our children receive. They visit our school and learn about the education that we provide. And they often have questions answered about where our children come and how they can help us.
But there is so much that goes on behind the scenes at CSC that is not apparent to visitors, even if they stay for more than a few days. They probably don't see the efforts of the social workers, child development team, teachers, nurses, therapists and other personnel who make it possible for us to bring children in and provide them with the comprehensive care that they require. Efforts like these:
- Social workers out in the field, working with birth families and gathering information needed for procuring birth documentation, or processing referrals;
- Meetings, meetings, meetings. There are at least ten meetings every day, both formal and informal, involving child care workers, house parents, counselors, therapists, office staff, social work and child development teams, school faculty and security and maintenance workers. These meetings involve financial planning, behavioral issues and updates, strategizing difficult case management issues, and sitting down with people from other agencies, both private and governmental, to advocate for our children;
- Nurses bringing children to labs, doctors' offices and clinics for medical assessment and care;
- Counselors meeting with children to discuss issues from their past or difficulties they may be having at CSC;
- Workers meeting with house parents to discuss problems in the home;
- Team-building activities, staff development and training that aims at making CSC a better place for the children who live here.
- Office staff handling the payroll, purchasing, banking, bill paying and other financial management tasks that are essential to keep things running smoothly;
- The work of transporting these workers to accomplish these tasks, and to get children to school or to doctors or dentist appointments. Our fleet of 10 vehicles is constantly being used to support the many activities and appointments that are needed.
- And, while they may get a sense for the financial needs of a program like ours in Cebu, they don't see the constant fundraising and promotional efforts going on in Minnesota through our stateside office. They don't know of the decisions being made by families and individuals to give generously and sacrificially to CSC for the care of the children, the same ones that they are observing on our playground, at the supper table or marching off to school.
We are thankful for each person who makes a contribution to the ministry here in Cebu, back in MN and around the world. People like you. I wish you could each be recognized by those who lead the tours here at CSC, because you help make the good things that they see possible.
UFO's and Graduates
It is summer time at CSC. That means it is hot, really hot, too hot. But, the heat does not seem to deter the boys from making and flying kites, at any given moment there are numerous kite activities going on; making them, attempting to fly them, flying them, untangling the ones that get tangled together, trying to get them out of the trees and making sure we all see how high their kite is flying! There has to be some genetic code in all red blooded Filipino boys....April and May are for kites.
Today was GRADUATION day for five of our Preschool kids and three graduating from elementary into High School. It was a fun day for the Graduates!
We are now legally on our summer break - pray for a fun and safe time for each of our kids, and for our sanity! Having almost 90 kids on vacation in one place....oh my.
Enjoy the photos...
Pray along with us for comfort, healing and peace for our friends and loved ones in Boston.
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Molding minds
Yesterday at Children of Hope School, we proudly celebrated the graduation of three teenagers, who will go on to high school next year, and five pre-schoolers who will advance to pre-K. It was a special day for sure. The three oldest graduates have faced a lot challenges and have accomplished much in their years at our school. One of the graduates gave a speech. I thought he might discuss all of the academic challenges he had faced. While he mentioned those briefly, the larger message he shared was that of gratitude. He was thankful for his teachers and all of the time they had invested in him. He was thankful to the staff for their encouragement. He was thankful to his house parents for their guidance and leadership. He was appreciative of the support from the Aunties and Uncles in his life. And he was even thankful for challenges as he was so proud of what he had learned from them.
Waiting in anticipation...
The proud graduates!
I was impressed with his words and touched by his message. CSC is often described as a place of refuge for the kids that come here. Many have left violent homes, chaotic living situations or have had no home to speak of. We are proud to be able to offer our kids the basic things: food, shelter, clothing, a safe place to rest their head. But we are blessed to be able to give our kids even more. We have a beautiful school and a talented body of teachers who are willing to meet the individual needs of our kids. Our teachers go the extra mile every day and our kids benefit greatly from their tireless effort.
Our talented teachers!
Praise the Lord for how he has blessed CSC! Thanks be to God for how He brought each of these teachers to our school---for we are surely better for it! :)
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Kite Flying Season!
Continuing on with the theme of kites! Recently, I spent an afternoon hanging out with the kids at the shelter. Almost immediately, Jhaycob ran up to me with a tangled-up pile of string. He wanted me to untangle it so he could use it to fly his kite. I began looking around the yard and it was incredible how many kids were playing with kites. Some were making them, and others were busy untangling strings. Some of the kids were the "holders" and others were the "runners". Toddlers dragged plastic bags across the yard, and the older kids and houseparents had huge, fancy kites flying high in the sky! Some of the kites even had writing on them: "Fly CSC", "Cherne WOW", and "WOW CSC"! Enjoy a video of some of the different activities that were going on that day!
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Last Day of Preschool!
Everybody gets to join in on the kite fun at CSC. Friday was the preschooler's last full day of school. Uncle Marcel came into their class and taught them all how to make kites! They were so proud to each have on of their own! Enjoy the pictures of the kids making and attempting to fly their kites!
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Prayers
Whenever we're on duty, we help with putting the kids to bed. One of the things I love about putting the kids to bed is sharing bedtime prayers with them. The children are so surrounded by strong people of faith here at CSC - their house parents, staff, teachers, aunties, and counselors. Their prayers reflect what they've seen and heard modeled for them. They are thoughtful, sincere, and even eloquent.
Last night when we were on duty, there were prayers for lots of different things. Here are a few of my favorites:
- giving thanks for CSC
- giving thanks for the aunties and house parents
- giving thanks for hot dogs
- asking for a mommy and daddy
- asking for strength and wisdom on upcoming on final tests
- asking for healing for kids in "iso"
And the most touching prayer of all was a heartfelt request from one of the 12-year old girls in the house. She asked God to please comfort a family whose oldest sibling had recently turned 18 and could no longer be adopted. This was particularly moving to me because those siblings that she was praying for don't even live in her house at CSC. In that moment I realized what a supportive place CSC is - that all the kids and house parents and staff are praying across houses, across siblings, across ages, for God's presence in each of their lives. What a cool thing to be a part of.
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