Staff Blog

Thomas is one amazing young boy.  He is one resilient and persevering boy.  He is one happy and upbeat boy.  And now he is one year old!

Thomas has been through more in his life than most people, and he just turned one.  He has had several surgeries and spent lots of time in the hospital in his first year of life.  Through it all he keeps his spirits high.  Even when in the hospital feeling bad, it is rare that he is in a bad mood.

Over the past couple months he has been healing up after a major surgery.  Now that he is healthier, the child care workers can give him more freedom to satisfy his inquisitive mind.  He is loving it!

He really likes books.  He looks at them so intently that some of the child care workers joke that he already knows how to read.  Recently, he has started to learn how to walk.

Many, many, many people have prayed continually for him and his recovery and development.  So celebrate with us as Thomas turns one.  It is great day!

One baby’s smile is extremely contagious.  Multiply that by 17, that is the current number little cute babies at the shelter.

My wife and I are expecting our first child in the next few weeks.  In the past months I have been spending more time with the babies at the shelter.

Each little one is cool in their own ways.  One little girl loves playing “peek-o-boo.”  A little boy shouts out my name when he sees me.  Another girl has a squeal of excitement that goes along with a huge smile.  A little boy will talk to me when he wants to, not necessarily when I want to talk to him.  And another girl has been calling me “Auntie Joel” for a long time and last week she actually greeted me as “Uncle Joel.”

Just trying to take a picture of five little ones can be a great moment.  Smiles, silliness, seriousness, and shyness can all fill one picture.

God has created each child to shine on their own.  It is a pleasure and honor to get to know each child at the shelter. 

Today new three new kids came to CSC.  It is another great day!  Of course these siblings are apprehensive at first, but are quickly warming up to the caring people that surround them.

Uncle Don Don is the house father of Eicher home where the new siblings will live.  Yesterday he shared with the child care workers, "We have three new kids coming tomorrow!"

Auntie Amy quickly bombarded him with questions.   "There are new kids Uncle?  How old are they?  Will there be kids in the nursery?"

Auntie Helen put it well, "Well, if we still have extra room, let them keep coming. Everybody is welcome!”

Uncle Don Don summed it up, "Of course!  These new kids are a blessing to us."

Most days in the Philippines are sunny and hot.  This past week a typhoon was passing by the Philippines bringing clouds and rain.  Only the edge of the typhoon affected Cebu City, so at the shelter the temperature cooled a little and it rained off and on for several days.

The kids wore long sleeve shirts to school to stay comfortable while studying and learning.  After school though, the activities changed from the normal routine.  The kids could not play soccer on the playground or climb on the jungle gym.  They had to stay inside, so they filled their afternoons with drawing, building boxes, reading and hanging with babies.

At CSC, we are blessed to have wonderful homes to shelter the children.  We are especially reminded of this whenever bad weather is threatening.  Thank you to all who help keep these homes safe and secure for the children.

The lunch hour was winding down and the kids started trickling into school.  I was talking with Uncle Jerry near the entrance and giving “high fives” to the kids as they walked by us.  They went to change out of their shoes for their slippers before lining up for class.

One of the newer kids came up to me before joining her classmates in line.  She stretched out her arms and gave me a hug.  I asked her what class she was starting her afternoon in. She said Filipino class with Teacher Cora was her first class.  She asked what I was going to do in the afternoon.  I told her I was going to do work on my computer.  When it was time to line up, she released her hug, gave me a smile, and we said, “see you this afternoon in school” to each other.

Now I sit at my computer, thinking of the things she is learning in class.  One hug from a kid can power a person through a whole week of computer work.