Staff Blog

Today as I sit at my computer on this Saturday morning with an extensive list of reports to update, pictures to upload, e-mails to compose and reply to, I feel as though there are invisible straps tethering me to this technological device.  And I don't particularly enjoy the feeling... 

I can't help but wish I was outside on the playground, running, climbing, swinging, riding and just generally hanging with the cool kids we have here.  Of course I would last all of 15 minutes out in the heat and sun before I would long for my air-conditioned office once more!  :)  But still, right now from my office window---outside looks better!

And yet, to some of the kids in the Eicher Home, having to do work on a computer is NOTHING to complain about.  It seems they would be eager to do some of my tasks for me...

I too played "computer" as a kid but somewhere along the way it lost its luster for me!  Seeing this reminded me of those days and it showed me that despite what these children have gone through, they are playing like I once played.  They are safe and healthy and free to do their "work" of being a kid and just leaving the rest to us.  The prayers, time, money and thought that goes into this ministry, from you and many, many, many others, makes this moment of playtime possible.

And its a beautiful thing.  And it comforted me.  And it strengthened me to return to my computer and tackle my to-do list.  I can almost check off: "Write blog."  :)

I will say that working on the computer would probably be a lot more fun though if my mouse were a Lego...

Bless you all for your heart for CSC!

Change is inevitable in life.  Some changes are good---they are pleasant and easy to go along with.  Others are hard to come to terms with--they are a challenge and they sometimes bring pain.  I want to tell you about some recent changes in my life...

Many of you already know that Teacher Tammy's 8 year run at CSC and Children of Hope School has ended.  She has been gone for 2 weeks--and kids and adults alike are mourning the loss. 

Tammy is missed for many reasons: 

Tammy was a good co-worker.  She was helpful, reliable, and thorough.  She was quick to jump in if something technological was going haywire---an asset on days of school programs.  :)  Tammy was true to her word.  She promised the kids that she would take each of them out for something special before she left and SHE DID!  If she had a job or a task assigned to her, you never had to worry about it getting done in an organized and timely fashion!  She was hard-working and did whatever was in front of her---and did so with a smile.   

But Tammy is also a good friend.  She is someone I OFTEN laughed with, went on adventures with, confided in, celebrated holidays with...and the list goes on.  She is a good listener and a Godly woman.  She has become family to me and you can't help but miss family when they are gone!

Tammy, myself and Amy were quite the terrific trio, however, at this time, Amy and I are down to just a dynamic duo....

The upside of change:

We recently admitted a new child.  She was afraid of the change, of me, of our counselor and our social worker.  She was hesitant, quiet and reserved.  And who wouldn't be?  She knew something big was happening in her life but she had no idea what it meant.

But oh to see her now!  How happy and animated and secure and playful she is!  She is grateful for the life-changing experience she has had and WE are so happy to have her with us where she is safe and provided for.

God is the god of everything in our life and everything happens for His purpose and good.  And that includes changes.  I am happy for Tammy and all that God has in store for her back in MN.  I miss her, but am grateful for her continued friendship---thank goodness for Skype!  :) I am also happy about our new arrival and for her safety and health and the fact that she FINALLY gets to be a kid.

Please join with me in praying for Tammy as she transitions back to living in the US and for our newest one and all of those that will come through our doors in the future. because no matter your age or the type of change you are facing, its always easier with God.

God does truly have a sense of humor. I have done some travel to Africa in my role as an Emergency Department nurse educator, but never did I picture myself as a dental assistant working at the Children’s Shelter of Cebu. What an awesome experience!

I was approached by my local dentist, Dr. Matt Struve, earlier in the year about traveling to Cebu. He was planning a trip to the shelter to provide routine dental services.  All he said I needed to do was “pray about it.” My initial instinct was to decline his invitation to go, but the invitation to pray was a tough one to ignore. So I prayed. After much thought and prayer it was evident that I was being called to go. It was clear once I arrived that it was no mistake that I was there. It was an awesome feeling from the time we arrived.

The work was not easy. As a pediatric nurse I felt equipped to manage the physical work . . . but the details of the dentistry piece was another story. Our team consisted of Dr. Struve, Brenda Birk (another non-dental person), myself, and Evan (11 year old son of Dr. Struve). God had a plan. He put together everything that we needed (except for our autoclave). The kids and staff were awesome. Each child was so brave and trusted “Uncle Matt” to take the best care when working on their teeth. Marlys Healy was also integral to our success. She spent many a day with us, holding the kids’ hands, and providing the necessary words of encouragement in Cebuano. Throughout our week some awesome things happened. A 10-year old boy demonstrated compassion far beyond his years, a 6-year old championed his procedures and gave a thumbs up to let us know; and although he didn’t complete all we needed to do one boy truly was strong when he needed to be. I can only say yet again, these kids are amazing!

The week was long and left me with a few muscle aches, but it was an extraordinary trip. We worked hard, but we also played hard. It was so fun to play alongside the kids. They got to know us better and we got to share in their laughter and their contagious energy. I really feel strongly that playtime was truly the bridge to the success of our trip. It provided the kids with the time to get to know us on their “turf.” I managed to get in one ping-pong game but was beat hands down. There was time on the swings, basketball games, and even time to just sit and chat.

What was the highlight? It is so hard to answer that question. My thought is this. I was given an opportunity to witness God’s amazing love through the work of so many. His love is exemplified by the laughter and joy found in the children cared for at CSC.

- Anne Renaker

The other day Marlys and I were waiting to talk to Jenny's doctor. We had been told that she was in and that we could see her at 3:00. We waited and waited. It wasn't until 4:50 that we finally were able to see the doctor, after almost two hours of agonizing boredom.

As I was sitting there on the hard bench, I thought about Marlys, and the hundreds and thousands of hours that she has spent waiting in doctors' offices, laboroatories,  hospital rooms and various other waiting rooms over the years. The number of times that she waited for several hours would be too many to count. Most doctors in the Philippines do not take appointments, so its first come, first served. And many times the doctors get delayed and are very late in arriving. Another factor is that we have always tried to provide our children with the very best doctors available in Cebu City. And these quality doctors are usually the busiest. So she often had to wait. Sometimes for most of a day. These days we have several nurses on our medical team that can share the waiting time. But Marlys still is one of our "waiters," sitting in crowded and noisy waiting rooms, holding babies or trying to keep active children occupied. She does it for the sake of these kids, and I'm amazed at how she has been able to do that for all these years.

The best time to visit CSC is between 3:30 pm (kids get out of school) and 5:00 pm (the bells ring for the kids to do chores or go in the house for bathtime and getting ready for supper.)   If you are here between these times you  will see a yard full of kids doing an amazing number of  different things.   It never ceases to impress me how many things can be going on in our playground at one time!  

I took a few minutes to take some photos this afternoon.  I know I missed some of the action but we had kids busy playing with basketballs, soccerballs,  foam bats and  baseballs,  frisbees,  playing the infamous "rubber band game", catching bugs,  swinging,  climbing,  practising their gymnastic skills,  biking,  taking some time to be alone,  visiting,  and last, but certainly not least,  trying to decide if a tantrum was in order or not....    

Spoiler alert - apparently it was.