Staff Blog

There has been an excitement going around CSC for the past few weeks.  Every other year in February a work team from Minnesota comes and does a camp with the older kids at CSC.  They get to ride a bus and travel to camp. Once at camp it is four days of fun, fun, fun!  The kids get to hear from Gods word, swim, sing, play silly games, eat good food, have camp fires, hang out with really cool people, and so much more.  It is definitely an experience the kids never forget!

Camp is approaching this week but the kids have had their bags packed for awhile already.  Those who have been to camp before have shared with their new friends at CSC all about it. Our work team arrived within the last few days and everyone is ready!  

A big thank you to our work team for coming and giving our kids such a special experiences! Please keep our kids and work team in your prayers as they are off at camp this coming week and weekend.

Sportsfest 2016 is officially over.  A great day of fun, athleticism, and sportsmanship was had by all!  The day started off with a parade,cheers from each team, reciting of the sportsmanship pledge and the lighting of the torch.  Then the games began! 
 Enjoy some fun photos of the day! The TorchGetting Ready

Hula Hoop

Sack RaceHurdlesThe Aqua Blue TeamThe Green TeamThe Royal Blue TeamThe Gray Team

Enjoy some smiles as the kids use their new Christmas gifts!

Hapit na Christmas

This is the phrase going around CSC right now.  The word is out that Christmas will soon be here.  The kids are busy writing their Foster Friend letters, practicing for the school, and church Christmas play and program. They are all talking among each other about what they hope Santa will bring them this year.

The workers at CSC are getting in their last few days of vacation for the year to make sure they have time to spend with their families this holiday season. The teachers are busy in school with classes and Christmas program practice.

Many of the staff and CSC employees are busy starting to think about and prepare for the upcoming Christmas activities. I thought I would share with you what we all participate in here at CSC.  The workers party is on December 5.  This is a fun evening for all of our CSC workers with each department sharing a song or dance, a meal together, prizes and an encouraging message.

The following Saturday we will be having the CSC Outreach Party. This is a day for former CSC kids to come back to CSC and enjoy a meal together, games, a message from God’s word and a Christmas gift.  We look forward each year to seeing some of our former kids who have gone back to live with their birth families.

The kids will be performing the Little Drummer Boy for their school Christmas program this year. They are already busy working on the music and their lines.

The Progressive Dinner is an evening when the kids get to eat at each of the Missionary Staff houses. A different course is had at each house along with part of the Christmas story being shared.  At the end of the evening we all meet back up at the shelter for cinnamon rolls shaped into a Christmas tree.

On Christmas Eve Santa always seems to find his way to CSC and deliver a gift for each of the kids.  The kids look forward to this evening for weeks and weeks.  After they open their gifts they get to stay up late and watch fireworks and have a special snack at midnight.

Christmas Day we have a formal meal of ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and sugar cookies outside with all of the kids.  After the meal, the adults share the Christmas story with the children including a live manger scene.  It is always a joy to share the story of Christ’s birth with each of the kids at CSC.

We have a lot of fun at CSC during Christmas time.  It is our prayer that amidst all the fun and busy times the kids would experience in a deeper way what Christ's birth means for each of them.  Pray that each of us would be able to explain that clearly through our words and actions this Christmas season!

It is easy to get caught up in all of the Christmas excitement.  Let us all remember to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us as we celebrate Thanksgiving next week.  Giving thanks for God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. Remembering to thank Him for sending His Son.  The reason we celebrate Christmas! 

Friday was an exciting day at Cebu Children of Hope School!  The kids got to travel to Russia, Spain, Albania, Ireland, and England.  They presented their passport and had to answer questions in order to enter each country.  Once admitted into the country they learned about their culture, famous attractions, did an art activity and sampled a food from that country. 

In the afternoon two representatives from each country dressed in their countries native attire. They were asked to give a greeting from their country and answer questions in front of the audience. Select students performed dances from some of the various countries. At the end of the day the representatives from Russia were crowned Mister and Miss United Nations 2015.