Staff Blog

"Happy Birthday!"  is something that we say a lot at CSC.  We work hard to make each birthday a special occassion for  each of our kids.   Really,  all our kids have of their own is their name and their birthday,  most other things have been taken from them. 

We have the big event on the exact date of their birthday....even if that means we have three different birthday parties in one week.    The kids know exactly what to expect.  They like to wear red on their birthday.   Their birthday will be celebrated in their house,  all the staff are invited and each of the kids get to invite two more people...usually one  kid from each of the other two houses, but sometimes they invite their teachers from school. If we happen to have two birthdays on one day that just means the party doubles,  we usually have it outside because all the kids from two houses are included.   Most often the first thing that happens is the kids are presented with a printed copy of all the greetings that were posted on FaceBook for their Birthday - they especially love looking at each of the tiny FaceBook profile photos!  They do read the notes as well.   We always have a rousing (read LOUD) birthday song and lots of table banging (trust me - it goes with the song).   Following that we all have to tell the birthday child "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and expect a "Thankyou" in return.    Then is time for a special prayer for the birthday child,  the child gets to chose a staff person to pray for them.  We are always certain  to thank God for bringing this child to CSC and for each of the talents that we know this child has.  Then...time to eat.   The kids love to have chicken and spaghetti!  Sometimes the menu varies (and that makes the staff happy.)  After everyone has eaten all they want (and that usually does not include vegetables when they get to fill their own plates) it is time for Ice Cream and Birthday Cake, but first they have to have their picture taken with their specially ordered birthday cake.   The birthday child is usually the first one done eating.   The last big event of the evening is getting their gift! They are so excited to get their birthday gift...CSC kids are appreciative and happy with what they receive.  It is a blessing to watch their face as each thing is pulled out of their bags...okay,  clothes usually get tossed aside rather quickly,  but they are happy to wear them the next day!   Then it is time to pack everything back in the birthday bag and bring it upstairs to their bedrooms to find special places to keep each thing (usually that will be in their bed with them for a few nights at least).   Yep,  we love birthdays at CSC.  Each and every one of them.

There are always lots of activities going on at the school.  Conferences, morning meetings, and programs.  It has been a very busy last few weeks.  Here are some of the programs we've had lately!

Level A2 Morning Meeting:

Two weeks ago Level A2 presented a morning meeting about different types of weather!  They did a cute skit in which a boy took pictures of the kids acting out all of the seasons.  That was followed up with the students explaining several different types of weather.  Then they danced to the song "Beautiful Day" before closing up the morning with a game.  For the game, two kids had to form a house with their arms.  A third child sat inside as the "baby".  Whenever there was a storm, the houses fell apart and everyone had to run around to form a new house with a new baby.  There was a bit of confusion during every "storm", but lots of laughter as well!  

Science & Math Day:

Last Thursday, our school held our annual Science & Math Day.  The program was split into two different parts.  The first part was the math quiz bowl.  The kids were all quite excited about it and many had asked their teachers in advance to PLEASE help them practice.  Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, number comparison, and fractions were just a few of the topics covered.  They all did a great job and it was fun to see the teamwork and encouragement that went on within the teams!  The second part of the program included presentations from each of the science classes.  Group 2 shared about plants and how they grow!  Group 3 explained potential & kinetic energy.  Then they used a roller coaster to demonstrate those types of energy.  Group 4 showed examples of energy transformation!  After all of the science presentations, the kids were clapping and spontaneously yelled out, "Science rules!!"  It's fun to see their love for science!  The day ended with two math dances put on by our older kids!  Here is a short video that we showed about group 4's energy creations. They had to create something that would move a Ping-Pong ball as far as possible!

Level B Morning Meeting:

Last Friday, Level B presented their morning meeting.  It started off with the girls performing a fun dance to the song "Show Jesus" by Jamie Grace.  Then they did a cute skit about camouflage.  The rabbit kept running into things that were hidden in the grass, trees, and flowers!  The program ended by acknowledging the March birthday celebrants!  

Check out more pictures from these events!

I never loved math as a student, but every year my love for teaching math grows a little bit more. And this year my love for teaching math is at an all time high because of my hard working and motivated students! I have never had students who are so excited to not only know if they got it right or wrong, but WHY they got it right or wrong. Sometimes they interrogate me - in a good way - "Why, teacher Lindsay? Can you show me number 6 again?" It's like a teacher's dream come true.

Not only do they love to work on their assignments in class, they will gladly accept homework and even get excited about "extra challenge" assignments. They truly hunger for knowledge and academic challenge, and it's such a privilege to be their teacher.

They even sing songs about math!

I'm so proud of these girls. :)

Over the weekend, I made a phone call at 4 a.m. Cebu time/2 p.m. Minnesota time to a bike shop in Roseville, Minnesota.  When the connection went through, right away I heard lots of people talking and laughing and the hum of bike trainers in the background.  A bunch of people with various connections to CSC were at a Habitat for Humanity event called Ride For Cebu (http://habitathomescebu.wordpress.com/) to raise money for the purpose of helping CSC workers get better housing. 

The phone was passed around so I could talk to some of the riders.  I talked to a couple of employees of CSC, an adopted CSC child, two supporters of CSC, an adoptive parent and an employee of the bike shop.  There were a lot of other people there whom I did not speak with. 

The verses in I John 3:16-18 say, "This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

All of the people who showed up at the bike shop care about CSC.  They were there living out God's love through their actions by participating in the trainer ride.  Tears came to my eyes as I sat in my apartment half way around the world in Cebu in the middle of the night.

Last night I worked late in my office. When I came down the outside stairs I was struck by the silence. Even the moon was hiding behind clouds. I didn’t hear dogs barking, roosters crowing or goats bleating. I didn’t hear music drifting across the neighborhood. Most of all I didn’t hear any sounds that are normal for having 80 plus kids on one compound. It was a Silent night. I decided to go into the homes to see just how far this silence could be pushed. I expected to see and hear at least a few babies awake to be fed or changed. But, in each of our three nurseries it was silent, all the babies and toddlers were asleep! The Aunties were busy preparing bottles that would soon be demanded and arranging clothes that would soon be needed. It struck me that it was not only a silent night, but it was a Holy night. Seeing these precious babies that have come to CSC for life and for a future, seeing them sleeping in a safe place and being confident that their needs will be met; it struck me that I was in a Holy place. A place where God was working, Silent and Holy.

Here is a bit of what I saw...