Staff Blog
In this season marked by gift giving and receiving, I've been reflecting about a significant gift that I received earlier this year. In July, I travelled to the Philippines and had the opportunity to spend 6 days visiting CSC.
While I've had connections to CSC for almost 15 years, this was my first actual trip there – not for lack of desire to have made the trip earlier, but working within the realities of parenting and being an at-home mom with our 4 young kids. Being there was, of course, amazing, and a true gift. The life-giving ministry that takes place there came alive for me in a whole new way. I don't want to lose that deepened sense of connectedness that I brought back to Minnesota with me, and as part of that desire to hold onto connection I recently revisited some of the journaling that I'd done during my week at CSC. I'd like to share a few excerpts from my journal with you – in hopes that you also will feel a rekindled sense of connectedness to the truly life-altering work that takes place every day, hour by hour and minute by minute at CSC.
From our first day at the shelter – Wednesday, July 19th
It is emotional to be here with the kids! To see little babies who don't belong to anyone-yet here belong to everyone, sweet toddlers who remind me of Berit (our 2 year old daughter) who have already lost someone for a lifetime, preschoolers coming close or slipping in a hand to be held who don't know what it's like to be someone's child, busy elementary schoolers curiously and boldly saying hello – their life stories already so complicated, and tall, growing-up pre-teens who act like they are at camp, yet don't have family to return home to. I've gotten lots of tears welling up in my eyes – for the kids, when seeing Paul being tender and familiar with kids of all ages, and in thinking about life and all of its complexity. So thankful to be here, and so aware that life can be hard.
From Thursday, July 20th
I've seen lots of poverty today while driving, especially on the city tour with Marlys. It's so surreal to drive by it and then to be done with it, while it is remains someone's total life and story. I like to imagine that all of the kids I see who are way too close to the moving cars in the street have a parent close by, or that they are just going for a walk, but I know that isn't true. Especially aware today of CSC as a SHELTER.
From Tuesday, July 25th
CSC is impressive. The physical campus, the stories behind the campus coming to be, the contrast for the kids between what was and what is – as well as new potential for what might be, the many aunties and uncles, the holistic set up that addresses so many important parts of each child's experience, the team of leaders that is both forward thinking and evaluative... and of course the kids themselves. I'm struck today by the RESILIENCY of the kids. Each child here carries with them a heavy, heart-breaking story, but they keep going.
While on the airplane as I journeyed home, as part of my processing of the days at CSC, I made two lists in my journal. One of the lists was titled "Hard Things", and the other was titled "Joyful Things". I'll share a few of the items that were part of each list.
Hard Things – Hearing kids who had been matched for adoption talk about where they would be going when they joined their new families (Australia, Tennessee, Italy), knowing that other kids listening had no adoption plan. Seeing endearing, funny, smart and talented older kids who don't have much time left until their adoption window closes – knowing that their amazing personalities could never be captured on paper and that their age would likely be what would speak loudest to potential adoptive families. Wondering if the CSC kids were wondering if I was "sizing them up" and considering the possibility of adding them to our family, and even choosing what to say about themselves based on that. Thinking about how quickly childhood passes, and "biding time" while waiting for a family. Hearing babies cry and seeing toddlers sitting in highchairs... even when being carefully tended to by aunties, as Paul would say, "It's not the same as being in a family."
Joyful Things – Bright smiles and sparkling brown eyes. Hearing the house parents lead the kids in devotions before breakfast and after dinner. Listening to the kids sing songs of worship – the sound of their voices floating out from the homes and through the campus. Seeing the kids smartly dressed in their matching school uniforms and getting to walk with them up the hill to school. Visiting Jacob and Ginda's rooms, specially created for them, and seeing how CSC is absolutely committed to them as valued family members. Getting to pray a prayer of thanks and blessing with the overnight workers one night as they started their shift. Being surrounded by a group of 11, 12 and 13 year old girls who just wanted to hang out and talk. Genuinely feeling that there are capable, thoughtful leaders in place. Seeing the employees call out, hug and playfully tease the kids. Sensing real openness from the staff to work together for the children.
Those are some excerpts from my CSC experience. It was truly such a gift to be able to spend those 6 days in July immersed in the daily life of CSC. I'm grateful in a deeper, broader way for this ministry as I'm reminded of both hard and joyful parts of CSC. As a CSC board member, I am especially thankful for the community that supports CSC. To know that children's lives are being changed each day is truly amazing and inspiring, and I'm so thankful for all of you who make that possible!
Bikes abound in Cebu
Getting people from place to place is only one of the many uses of bicycles here in Cebu. They are used for hauling hardware, ice, bringing pigs to market and delivering products to stores and food outlets. Bikes with sidecars are the only form of public transportation in some parts of the Philippines. And adapted bikes are often used as food stands on street corners and sidewalks around the city, where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, snacks, cooked meat and ice cream.
Of course, the bike pedalers who are the most important to us are the CSC kids, who love to ride around the CSC grounds. They come in all sizes, but they love to bike! Thanks to our generous supporters, they have quality bikes to ride, helmets for their heads, and a safe place to learn and practice.
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Eicher's Pancit Recipe
When we were still in the Philippines, I always loved watching Auntie Febe in the Eicher kitchen making all kinds of foods. But this particular meal and this particular batch of pancit canton was extra special because it happened to be for the sweetest little lady's birthday party.
She watched as the aunties washed and cut the vegetables, cooked the meat, simmered the sauce....
and then went about the task of getting all those pancit noodles into that one pot. There are a LOT of noodles required to feed this big family.
Pancit canton is and will always be one of my favorite dishes from the Philippines. The noodles soak up all the flavor of the broth where the veggies and meat are first simmered. It's just plain old nooddle-y comfort food. Squeeze a little calamansi on top and you're good to go.
Delicious pancit, coming right up!
Eicher’s Pancit (also known as Bam-i)
2 lbs. uncooked noodles – Auntie Febe used a combination of pancit and vermicelli
4 cups sliced mixed veggies: cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and green onions
1 lb. lean pork, cut into very small pieces
½ cup oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 pork bouillon cube
6 cups water
1. Soak the vermicelli in water for about 5 minutes or until soft. Slice and chop the veggies.
2. Brown the pork in the oil with the soy sauce, garlic, and onion.
3. Add the water and bouillon cube to the pork and bring to a low simmer. Add the vegetables and cook for 5-10 minutes.
4. Add the uncooked pancit noodles and soaked vermicelli. Simmer over low heat until the noodles soak up all the broth.
You can buy pancit noodles at many Asian grocery stores.
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ILLEGAL!!
The picture above looks seemingly harmless, doesn't it?
Well, beware! If you are found at CSC with such an item in your possession it will be confiscated forthwith and you will have to submit to an inquiry.
:)
The "elastico game" was the trend of the moment. Games tend to move in cycles here, you will learn why below. The rules, as best as I understand them, is that you put a rubber band on the ground. Then you put your hands together, your right thumb over your left thumb with your pointer and middle fingertips touching and you slap your hands on the ground just behind the rubber band. The rubber band then jumps! Of course, you want the rubber band to go far and if your rubber band goes the farthest, you win all of the rubber bands!
Can you imagine why this game is now outlawed?
Yep. You guessed it. For some reason, there were arguments over who actually won and whose rubber bands were whose. Some kids had many, many, many and some had few. It reached a point where the game seemed to involve more fighting than fun.
So, intervention was necessary. The picture above is only a fraction of the stash collected!
:)
It won't be long until there is a new game trending. The creativity amongst our children is astounding! Already I have seen a small group of kids throwing blades of grass over a roped off area of the yard, trying to be the one who threw the farthest.
They are getting wiser...it's got to be impossible to outlaw grass...
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Leaving on a plane
It sure seems like we've said a lot of goodbyes lately. People come and go: adoptive parents, CSC kids, visitors, staff. And, of course, for each "goodbye" there is a corresponding "hello." But goodbyes can be hard when they involve people we love: family, friends, co-workers, children. Sometimes we can find comfort in knowing that we'll see them again, maybe even soon. But with some of those leaving, particularly children going for adoption, we do not have that assurance. But that is part of life at CSC. People leave. We can take heart in the words of the song we always sing when people are saying goodbye:
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o'er all the way.
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
God's rich blessings on all those who have taken a seat at the picnic table to hear the song and to receive the hugs from children, workers and staff as they prepare to leave CSC. We know its not an easy place to leave.
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My moment for the week
This week has barely begun, but already I have had a moment. What I mean by moment is an experience that hits me wherein I understand why I have been called to serve at CSC and I feel immeasurably blessed to be serving at CSC.
In reality, these moments can be found wherever you look at CSC. I don't say this to downgrade the significance or value of these moments, rather I say that because I feel like this place is special for that very reason. Sometimes I think that CSC is in the palm of His hand.
The boy in the picture below is a special little guy. He and his siblings have been at CSC for a bit over 2 years now. They were admitted to CSC by police escort because their parents had so severely abused them. The police were protecting them until other intervention was found.
This little guy is the youngest of the group and as he ages we get to know him a little bit more. He is delayed in many ways. He was over 1 year old when he came to CSC but he was not yet walking and didn't for quite some time after. Socially he is also not on the same level as his peers. He was not able to self-soothe when he arrived; whenever he was upset he would grab his own hair and pull it so hard. Similarly, his response to others comforting him has been atypical.
However, recently, this little guy has changed so much. He is AFFECTIONATE now! I shout that because he greets me every morning I arrive to the shelter. He runs over, puts his arms up and lets me hold him. He really and truly wants it! I did not believe I would see the day that he sought such attention. And in the picture below you can see him reaching up to hold my hand.
That is a BIG moment....
I paused when that happened and I pause again as I look at this picture and I am reminded once again of the good that is done here.
This little boy has so many people fighting for him to succeed---to overcome the pain and suffering he should never have had to experience. And he is succeeding!
And there are so many people that love him. And he knows love now too!
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