Staff Blog

I'm Marcel, the guy on the right! I am happy to be back in Cebu after spending the past year in the States with my wife and her family. It was great to meet so many of you while we were there. Upon returning to Cebu I have joined the Human Resource Team at CSC. We are working together to make improvements for all of the workers and processes for the organization. I am excited to be  a part of CSC and work alongside Joel and Peter!

Sometimes there are things going on in Cebu that make our team there feel too far away from me in the US. It could be a difficult decision, a weighty situation with a child or an important event in the life of one of our team members. Leading an organization in which most of the team and the work are regularly 9,000 miles away has its challenges...but this unusual arrangment has taught me over and over again the powerful role of prayer.

There have been times I've said, "I wish there was more I could do than pray." It's a statement that feels a little strange, but I know why it slips out of my mouth. I'd like to be there to lift a load, hold a hand or make the decision in the moment, but there's only so much I can do from the other side of the International Date Line. At some point, I have to leave things in the capable hands of our Cebu leaders.

I feel the same way when I'm in Cebu and something comes up with my family back home. At some point, there's only so much I can offer via email, Skype or text and I need to leave things in the capable hands of my wife.

It's a disarming feeling on either side of the ocean. I want to be able to take charge and make things better. It's a little delusion I live with...control. Ever struggled with that?

Thanks be to God it is his hands that ultimately hold CSC. He has breathed life into this place, and he offers us the opportunity to breathe a prayer into the day, situation and children he has given us. Feel free to breathe those prayers any time you think of us!

Oh, and if you'd like to pray more intentionaly for CSC we'd love to have you join our FrontLine prayer team. You can sign up here:)

Marlys, Jenny and I just got back from British Columbia, where we had the pleasure to attend the Canadian banquet. We have an organization in Canada that puts on a banquet and auction every Spring to raise money for the ministry of CSC. Led by a faithful board, the Cebu Christian Shelter Community for Children works hard throughout the year to promote CSC and plan their annual event.

The amazing thing about the Canadian organization is that it is entirely volunteer. As such, they can send everything that they raise to Cebu for the kids. This year's event raised about $30,000 for the ministry. I can not begin to describe how hard the board members worked to put on this evening, getting the auction items, displaying the silent auction items, decorating the church, planning the program and handling the seating. What a dedicated group of people expressing their love for the kids in Cebu through hard work and dedication.

We had such a great time attending and participating in the event, meeting with the board and fellowshiping with friends in the area. A highlight was seeing two former residents with their families.

Harry and Marlene Schmidt, who built our residences in Cebu back in 1992, were at the event, and it was such a pleasure to be able to thank them, once again, for the impact they had on our ministry. The Schmidt Family Foundation has partnered with children's ministries around the world, bringing hope to thousands of children.

Thanks you CCSCC, for your hard work and for sharing our burden for homeless children in the Philippines. What a great event you put on! Again.              

This year’s theme of our annual banquet was FRIENDS and this rang true for the entire event. What an amazing group of friends we have at CSC. Almost 800 of our close friends came together to pray for, celebrate and financially support the ministry. We watched videos, heard from former residents, recognized adoptive parents and rejoiced with updates and happy news. 

We also shared about the Foster Friend program and offered the chance to sign-up that night. We had many banquet attendees who joined the program that evening. One donor walked up to me and handed me a foster friend sign-up card. She wanted to support one of our children, Shelanie. I got the chance to share with her about this little bubble of energy named Shelanie and what a joy she is to everyone at the shelter. I asked this new donor how she was connected to CSC. She explained that just a few months ago, her dear friend died. It turns out her friend was a dedicated foster friend and long-time supporter of CSC. With tears in her eyes, she said “I realized with her gone, someone needed to step in to fill her role. So I want to do that.” 

We are so thankful for everyone who steps in to help Shelanie and the other children at CSC.

Well… O.K. Let’s give credit where credit is due. 

God did it. 

We went into our final days of 2014 needing $50,000 more in donations. That’s a huge number! I have to admit I was doubtful we would meet budget. However, the gifts that arrived on the last few days of 2014 totaled $54,000, just over the amount we needed!

As we look to 2015, we think about all of the CSC kids who will leave us to join their adoptive families and all the children who will come to us for care. We look forward to continuing to provide food, shelter, medicine, education and love to the children in need in the Philippines. We are so thankful for the amazing supporters that keep this work going. You make such a difference!  

Happy New Year!