Staff Blog

I wanted to take this time to highlight one of our missionary staff---Uncle Mitch.  It is more likely that you find him behind the camera, rather than in front of it, so I had to search far and wide to find pictures that he is actually in!  ;)

Uncle Mitch cares for and invests in CSC's children.  And has for quite some time, as you can see!

He represents CSC well in all sorts of occasions.  And is a pro at groundbreaking ceremonies!

He is an organized, polished and entertaining emcee!

He lovingly prays over our kids at birthday parties!  

These are just a few reasons why Uncle Mitch is important to CSC's ministry and to our children.  Next week he will be speaking at GLOBAL, a major adoption conference, held in Manila.  Please pray for him regarding his speech and his time there, but beyond next week, please pray for him as he continues to oversee so many tasks that are integral to the smooth running of this ministry.

Hellos and goodbyes are rather routine at CSC.  We welcome new kids into our homes, and then serve them in a variety of ways including teaching, playing, sitting, poking at bugs, listening, hugging, healing, caring, and many other things.  Eventually, we have to stop and say farewell to these kids.  This is one of those bittersweet pieces of serving at CSC.  I don't like saying goodbye because these are kids I've grown to know and love.  And yet, I am grateful to know God has answered prayers by providing a family, in his perfect timing and way.  Sometimes it takes a lot longer than we would hope or expect, but God does a lot in the lives of the kids and families during this time.  It's a season of preparation and patience. 

But here we are, reaching a time soon when we will say farewell to a sibling group of 3, after years of waiting.  These are the same kids I took to Manila back in January.  I've also had the opportunity to facilitate their Skype phone calls with their adoptive family, and teach them American Studies.  As a result, I've gotten to know them well.  In the midst of it all, I know that God has ordained them to continue on their way to the next chapter of their lives.  I've been able to witness growth and change in the lives of these 3 young kids and I know they will be a blessing to their adoptive parents and the community where they will live.  While they will certainly be missed around CSC, I know they will be loved and cared for by capable and loving parents.  I have been able to witness the bond the children have with their adoptive family over Skype and I am eager to see them fit together as a family, in the unique ways God has prepared for them.  So while the goodbye may be challenging in the short term, the long term trust and knowledge that God has prepared them for a new life in a different country is what brings comfort and excitement.  I know God will continue to work in this family and use both the parents and the children to bring honor and glory to himself. 

Most of my day is spent working in the office doing HR responsibilities.  At the end of the day I look forward to going to the shelter and hanging out with the kids.  One of my favorite things to play with them is basketball.  Basketball is popular at CSC and you can always find someone playing on the basketball court.  I enjoy getting to know the kids through shooting baskets, playing one on one, or a team game.  Basketball is always fun at CSC.  It’s a great way to end my day!

If you read Peter Arneson’s past blog about the Therapy Department, you will remember that we were in the process of taking out the Jacuzzi inside the therapy room.  Uncle Jerry was taking a warm dip in the picture in the blog.

Well, we have removed the Jacuzzi and replaced it with more shelves.  We also have new carpeting!  During the process of remodeling, I contemplated putting in a sensory wall and a climbing wall for the benefit of most of the kids we service.  With the help of Uncle Jerry’s team, we were able to put up a climbing wall and a sensory wall.  The sensory wall consists of four panels: textures, gadgets, magnets and falling objects.

Some of the kids are already enjoying the new digs! Take a look at our new therapy room.

Kind of a weird title for a blog I know, but it is something that I have been thinking about lately. 

We had one of our CSC KIDS return for a visit last week.  He is now 19 years old; he left CSC when he was about 19 months old.  When we told his house parents and his caretakers that he was coming back to visit they all were excited to see him of course…no one is forgotten at CSC.  One of the first things they talked about was his birthmark; he had a birthmark on one of his legs below the knee.  They remembered him of course, but his birthmark was something that was special to him. 

When he arrived we were all excited to see him, we recognized his smile and could see that little baby face that we remembered in the face of the young man with a mustache before us.  We all glanced at his leg and did not see the birthmark we remembered so well…was this really our little guy?  Finally, someone could not hold it in any longer; they asked him where his birthmark was.  I wondered how he would handle that question; but he stood up, put his foot up on the chair, and pointed out a barely discernible scar right where we knew his birth mark should be.  He explained that he had his birthmark removed when he was young because he did not like that people always noticed it.  He thought it was wonderful that we remembered though, it brought a big smile to his face that we remembered something that was specific and individual to him.  It gave him something positive out of something that he thought was negative.  He almost seemed proud to show us the scar, he knew it was part of his identity, and the fact that we remembered proved to him that we DID remember him as an individual.  

This little event made me think  about  the” birthmark”  that many of us  have, one  that should be obvious for one and all to see.  Do we let people see the “birthmark” that we have from our second birth; our birth into God’s family?  This “birthmark” would be visible in our actions, our words, even our thoughts.  I wonder if some of us would like to hide it and remove it.  I wonder if some of us are embarrassed about it.  I am sure that I have thought of doing all those things at different points in my life.  Nevertheless, in the end, we know that this “birthmark” is the best thing we have ever been given.  We can be proud of it and we need to show it to the world.  I love birthmarks.