Staff Blog
The fourth quarter of the school year was about to start and we decided to move up some students who were academically progressing to a new grade level. I was delighted, excited, and yet a little bit nervous thinking that I would have a new student who is intelligent, gifted, and of course, well-loved by everyone both in school and in the shelter.
The first few weeks were filled with many things to adapt to, and I prayed that the new student would not be too overwhelmed by the change. Slowly, with the help of the responsive classroom approach we implemented, it supports the student to have an easy transition to a new environment.
In our school, we usually do our morning routines such as greetings, group sharing activities, reading of the morning message, and praying before we start our classes. One of the best memories of my journey with this boy was when he first greeted me with my name as his "new teacher" and hugged me. He even asked me about my morning. He was so excited!
The first day with him was not as smooth as I hoped for. There were a few bumps. This was the reason why we observed him in the classroom and modifications were made to suit the student's needs. He would always choose to be the first person in the line, but I explained that we have our rules on "taking turns," and he already had his chance. When I checked on him outside the classroom the next day, he sat on his spot and patiently waited for others to come. I realized that firmness and consistency are two powerful tools to achieve successful classroom management.
Another classroom scene that made my day was when we had our group sharing. Knowing that younger students are visual learners, I added fun pictures to make our sharing more interactive and to get their attention. As I flashed some images on the screen, I heard him laugh as if he was being tickled. It went on for a long time, and it certainly gave his classmates a stomachache laughing with him which caused a little bit of chaos in the class. So, I gave him 30 seconds, and he did stop. It was effective, then we began with our sharing. Since that moment, we've been working on calling the name of the next sharer. He was very observant and quick to realize that he needed to do the same to his classmates. To our surprise, he was able to call the next sharer without his classmate's help and use the phrase "Popcorn, student's name." Everyone in the class was shocked and happy, telling me, "Teacher Lyrah, have you heard him saying popcorn? He learns so fast!" Truly, success happens not just because of one person working as "the teacher," but it includes the students and peers who help one another and have a common goal to lift each other up.
Moreover, I have noticed that he is gifted and very clever. I had set aside things each morning and prepared different materials that he would need to stay focused in our class. These things will be given after each class activity. It was essential to remind him that he needed to finish his tasks then he could use what is prepared for him. Well, being firm with expectations and setting classroom boundaries are challenging at times; however, at CCHS we always do it with love and care.
He appeared to be adjusting into our classroom setting over the next few days. He also loves to participate when being asked. Though, he needed some reminders from time to time for him to stay on track. There was one instance in the middle of our discussion he stood up and asked for his dinosaur books. We stopped, and most of his classmates reminded him to ask permission every time he stands or wants to have something. He did go back to his seat and asked permission. But it was not time for him to read a book yet. So, he participated in our reading first and answered all the activities. Then he got the book for him to enjoy. Another strategy that was very effective to him was giving him a time frame before he could get his desired reading materials. These things didn't come easy, it requires hard work, patience, determination, cooperation, and above all, love. We made a lot of classroom modifications to cater for his needs and the rest of the class.
To be successful in the classroom, as teachers, we need to set clear classroom boundaries for our students.
As Colossians 3:23-24 says: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."
Mothers to the motherless
Mothers' Day is a time to focus on our moms, their love and the great contributions they have made to our lives. Let's take some time to think about the aunties at CSC who take on the role of substitute mothers for our children. Most of these women have children of their own, so their work with the CSC kids is a testimony to the depth of their reservoir of love. CSC relies so heavily on the contributions of these workers, women to mother the motherless children of CSC. God bless them, especially on this Mother's Day.
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Places unseen
Last week I was walking into the Duterte House and was struck with what an incredibly beautiful building it is. It made me realize that you, the blog reader (or Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube follower), have probably never seen some of the "nooks and crannies" of CSC. So I decided to do a photo walk yesterday to try and capture some of these "places unseen." Hopefully these pictures help to communicate (1) how well CSC takes care of their facalities (2) how safe, secure, and protected these kids are and (3) that the only way these buildings and walls could have been built was with the generous donations from CSC supporters all around the world.
The Duterte House
The Cherne House
The Eicher House
Trees in the yard (the colored specks are kites).
The walkway that connects the infirmary with the Duterte House (and three boys flying kites).
The view from the infirmary.
The infirmary.
Iso, short for isolation - This is the place kids stay when the are first admitted to CSC (or are sick). As you can see, it sounds worse than it actually is. :)
The water tower in the back yard of the infirmary.
All of the walls around CSC have barbed wire to keep intruders out.
The main gate to CSC.
The hallway into the Children of Hope School. Daniel, one of the CCHS guards, is writing my name down in the "log book." Every person that comes and leaves CCHS is recorded in this book.
The main area in CCHS. This area is partitioned into classrooms during the school year.
The guard house and motorcycle parking at CCHS.
An interesting side note - It's rare to see a motorcycle bigger than 125cc here. Lindsay and I have a Honda XRM. It doesn't go very fast, but on an average week we spend around $2 on gas. :)
While these buildings and structures are incredible, it's what they hold that is truly beautiful:
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H-U-G-S
hug - [pronounciation: hugh]
verb; used with object
1. To clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace.
2. To cling firmly or fondly to; cherish.
Synonyms:
verb : embrace - clasp - cuddle - enfold - inarm
noun : embrace - cuddle - clasp - squeeze - grip
And there ends the English lesson on parts of speech and definitions. It was really just a refresher course... :)
I'm writing about hugs because they are an everyday occurence for me and have been since I arrived August 2011. They were an unanticipated perk of the job and are a daily blessing! How love and care is communicated through their hugs is so touching to me for many reasons. Firstly, I am away from the friends and family who would normally hug me. It is honestly hard to feel lonely when you have 5 children waiting in line for a hug from you! :) Secondly, they mean it. We have some of the sweetest kids here. Despite the things they have seen or the things that have been done to them, they have learned to trust and love others. That is the third reason. And they want it too--the fourth reason. When I am able to comfort a hurting or sad child by my presence or with a hug, I am so humbled. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to serve in this way, to love on these kids, and for some it is the first time they have been treated this way. Check out the pictures below of some of our most stellar huggers! :)
This lil' dear hugs me whenever she sees me and rubs my back---can you say heart-melter?
One of our newest tikes---he is a cuddler! And I am just fine with that...
This sweet girl, everyday, yells out a greeting to me from wherever she may be and then runs with arms open wide!!!
If I am sitting anywhere, this one is likely to be in my lap! :)
Legs count, don't they?! :)
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13
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A Day Not Forgotten
Today is a day that has significance for only a few people. May 4 
was the day in 1979 when three young Minnesotans stepped off the plane in Cebu City, to a blast of incredibly hot air on perhaps the hottest day of that year, to begin their plan of starting a ministry for homeless children. There was nobody to welcome us, no brass band or flower leis. But it was an exciting day for Kathy, Marlys and me. We had been thinking, dreaming and praying for this day. May 4, 1979.
Or was it May 5? Sometimes we debate that. We are at the age
now where we sometimes get a little fuzzy on details. It was one of those two days, I'm almost certain. I guess it doesn't matter. I've never been a slave to details. There we were, three young people without much in the way of experience or training about how to live in a tropical country, how to fix up a house or, more significantly, how to take care of children. I've got a feeling that there were a few people back home and here in Cebu who thought that we were destined for failure. In fact, I know its true because some of those folks have admitted it to me. I guess I can't really blame them. But we had one thing going for us. We were convinced that God had called us to go to Cebu and that, having done that, He would be with us. Through thick and thin.
T
here has been some thin over the last 34 years, but its mostly been thick. The excitement of stepping out in faith as we climbed down those airplane steps is still there for our staff. Much has changed in terms of facilities, staff, the number of children we care for, and the size of our annual budget. (Our first year we got by on about $6,000!) But mostly its the same. We get up in the morning, we do the work of taking care of children who do not have families, and we go to bed again. There is no drudgery in this work, and it is as fun and exciting as it was when we took in our first child in 1979.
May 4th or 5th or whatever day it was doesn't seem to matter much in terms of the big picture, and the challenges we face today in caring for 90 children in Banawa Hills. But it will always be important to those of us old timers who stepped out of that plane and into a life that has meant so much to us and to many other people, including almost 900 children.
Thanks to all who have had a part in it!
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The week that was.....
Every week has it's own excitement, and it's own joys and problems to deal with. This week was no exception. We have had a fun week with the kids. Summer vacation is on, summer school and summer fan classes have started. We have recently admitted seven new kids ages three to nine; so we have lots of behavior to observe and respond to with them. One of our little guys had the experience of having his very excited adoptive family emerge from the van....a family was made. We have had birthday parties to celebrate and spent one afternnoon cooling off with the little swimming pools. We were concerned about our Jacob, he had to be hospitalized, but as of a few minutes ago Jacob's very happy room mate (that would be Joemar) came running to my office to report that Jacob was home! Kites are still the afternoon activity of choice for the boys. Sidewalk chalk art was one days project. Roselyn found a way to keep her newly claimed kitten close to home.... We do admit to complaining about how hot is it about every 13 seconds, but, over all it was a good week!
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