Staff Blog

Everybody gets to join in on the kite fun at CSC.  Friday was the preschooler's last full day of school.  Uncle Marcel came into their class and taught them all how to make kites!  They were so proud to each have on of their own!  Enjoy the pictures of the kids making and attempting to fly their kites!  

Whenever we're on duty, we help with putting the kids to bed. One of the things I love about putting the kids to bed is sharing bedtime prayers with them. The children are so surrounded by strong people of faith here at CSC - their house parents, staff, teachers, aunties, and counselors. Their prayers reflect what they've seen and heard modeled for them. They are thoughtful, sincere, and even eloquent.

Last night when we were on duty, there were prayers for lots of different things. Here are a few of my favorites:

• giving thanks for CSC
• giving thanks for the aunties and house parents
• giving thanks for hot dogs
• asking for a mommy and daddy
• asking for strength and wisdom on upcoming on final tests
• asking for healing for kids in "iso"

And the most touching prayer of all was a heartfelt request from one of the 12-year old girls in the house. She asked God to please comfort a family whose oldest sibling had recently turned 18 and could no longer be adopted. This was particularly moving to me because those siblings that she was praying for don't even live in her house at CSC. In that moment I realized what a supportive place CSC is - that all the kids and house parents and staff are praying across houses, across siblings, across ages, for God's presence in each of their lives.  What a cool thing to be a part of.

Summer is here!  What does that mean to an island that remains tropical all year round?  Good question!  It really only means that it is hotter-a LOT hotter!  And there is less rain.  And its hot.  And your umbrella is your most prized possession because it protects you from the fierce sun.  And then there's the heat.  But really, I'm not all that grumpy about it...just a little grumpy about it...   :)

The kids, however, are unfazed by the heat.  They still run and play without abandon.  I, however, sit in the shade and look on with amazement---my mouth hanging open.

The summer brings with it new activities.  KITE SEASON is here once again!  It is almost as if a switch turns on inside of them and they all decide today is the day for kite-flying.  And they MAKE them!  Watching them making them is a favorite pasttime of mine---again, I do so in the shade, in case you were wondering!  :)

They are making these kites from twigs from brooms, plastic grocery bags, and string.  Permission to be amazed granted!

In flight!

Other summer activities...

CHALK!!!

FUN IN THE SHADE---These wise girls are making crafts with flower blossoms!

What pure happiness looks like! 

He is our newest kid, but it already seems like he has been with us for quite some time.  God has blessed us and him with a smooth transition and we are happy to have him here with us!

 Its hard to be grumpy about the heat when you have this smile to look at!

Thank the Lord for these children that bless me every day and remind me of God's endless provision and goodness!

Glory be to Him always!

I just finished Frontline for the month of April (Frontline is for all our prayer warriors out there - if you are not getting Frontline and want to get it, sign up here.)   Because of Frontline,  I've been thinking about all the prayers we have seen answered over the years. God has certainly blessed CSC.  We know that God listens to and answers prayers.  We have found that God does not always give us exactly what we ask for, but often what he gives is better than we ask.  Of course there are prayers that are still unanswered and prayers that were denied...but we know that God is there and trust him to know what we REALLY need, not what we think we need.  

Tonight I was on duty at one of our homes.  These kids are real prayer warriors.  They love to pray.   There have been numerous prayer sessions that end up with a few kids falling asleep while some of the kids just keep thinking of more things to pray for.  Tonight we only had about 30 minutes to pray (school night you know) so I limited the kids to only 5 things to pray for.   Their choices were  #1 - The CSC Banquet    #2  That all the people who don't know Jesus will know him  #3 That we will all be safe always      #4 my friend Suzy who is going through a tough time after cancer surgery and Jane Anderson (they had to share a spot)   and #5 Thanking God for the people who pray for them.   I wish you could have heard their prayers.   I know God did.

I did sneak a few photos....as you can see a few kids were on to me.  That really is how the little ones always pray...hands together in front of them.

We had some visitors here recently.  An adoptive family had returned to show their son where he came from so many years ago.  Those visitors are such a blessing!  Our childcare workers are always touched to see the children they once fed and bathed return happy and healthy and grown.  This family went above and beyond, however.  Their son decided that he wanted to celebrate his birthday with all of the kids at CSC.  He and his family arranged to have the Jollibee birthday brigade come with balloons, food (SO much food!), games and prizes!  Check out how much fun was had!

THE FEAST!!!!  There was fried chicken, spaghetti, Yum burgers, peach mango pie and Coke!

THE GAMES!

 This game was particularly hilarious to watch.  The kids started in a circle and then had to be the quickest to get into groupings of various sizes!  There was plenty of scrambling and frantic behaviors!  Other games involved singing a song, being the first to bring up a requested object (I gave my phone, a hair clip and a 1 peso coin for the cause) or saying "Jollibee," holding out the "bee" for the longest amount of time.  Let's just say some of our kids can hold a lot of air inside their little bodies!  ;) 

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of THE Jollibee!

EXCITED SMILES ABOUND!!

And he's HERE!!!!!! 

You would never know these two are archrivals---Joemar with his McDonald's hat! :)

Cool dudes!   

Clearly my camera was one of many, but you get the idea!!!  :)

Thanks to all visitors everywhere!  Your presence here is a blessing to the kids, to our workers and to the staff.