Going to the local dumpsite to try and earn a living by finding saleable items is a desperate move for a young teenager. But hunger, despair, and the responsibility of caring for younger siblings can cause a young person to do what he would otherwise not dream of doing. Such was the case for Jonathan.

When both of their parents died within nine months, Jonathan and his three younger siblings were dispersed between relatives, none of whom really wanted them or could provide for their basic needs. Being unwanted is a very difficult thing for a young person. But being hungry and unwanted is worse. Jonathan watched his younger siblings become sick and malnourished. He had to drop out of school because there was no money for supplies, and trying to learn on an empty stomach is just about impossible. So Jonathan started going through garbage at the local dump, looking for plastic bottles or any scraps of metal that he could sell to purchase food for his family. But the dump can be a dangerous place, where infections and disease are very real risks of the trade.

Jonathan and his siblings would often go to a nearby church for shelter. The pastor and his wife were kind to them and the congregation would sometimes provide them with food. They enjoyed going to Sunday School. It was the only safe haven that they knew. The pastor’s wife is the sister of one of the CSC house mothers, so she called us and referred these four children. She and her husband have several children of their own and they could not continue to provide food and shelter for these kids. It was a difficult decision for the staff to make, considering that Jonathan was already 16 years old, and the prospects of finding an adoptive family for all four seemed pretty remote. But they decided to take them in, trusting God for their future.

The first weeks were spent in trying to get the kids well. Jonathan was very sick upon admission and had to spend some time in the hospital. The youngest child, Jesse, was also very sick and needed medical attention. Eventually they were able to join the other children at the Shelter and begin school. Jonathan was aware that the younger children might be placed for adoption without him, because of his age. He went to live in the CSC Teen Home while his younger siblings moved into the Cherne Home.

Jonathan was thrilled to be in a situation where he and his siblings were safe, well fed and where they had a chance to go to school. He was able to concentrate on his studies as he prepared for high school. CSC’s intervention in their lives had produced happiness, health and a sense that things might be okay for this family. But the future was still uncertain for Jonathan.

The children made good progress at CSC. The staff prayed for them and that God would make a way for them to have a family through adoption. Later that year they heard that there might be a family interested! They are a large family with lots of adopted children and a wonderful faith in God. But because of the number of children they already had, it was not certain that the Philippine government would approve them. Paul Healy went to Manila to talk to the Adoption Board and everyone continued to pray. A couple months later the staff was informed that the couple had been approved, and that Jonathan would be included. It was a miracle of God’s love and grace.

When it came time to tell the children of the news, they were brought to the school library to meet with the staff. When the news was broken Jonathan began to cry, thinking that he would not be included. That was cleared up quickly and then the floodgates really opened. God had worked in a way that seemed impossible! They were going to have another chance at a family. They were wanted!

Merlinda was the oldest of three siblings. They came from a broken home and had been abandoned by their birth parents. Their grandmother sent them out to beg to provide food for the family. They were sickly, scared and hungry.

Eventually the government intervened and placed the three kids in a subsidized foster home. Although they were safer in that home, they were not treated well. They were not allowed to sleep in the house with the “real family,” but were made to stay outside in the playhouse. They would eat out there after the family had finished eating. They were second class citizens, an inconvenience for the foster family that was only interested in the money they were paid to take in kids.

A concerned government worker eventually saw what was happening and referred the three kids to CSC. When the jeep pulled into the CSC compound they were overwhelmed by the grass, the flowers and the beautiful houses. Although they saw the kids going in and out of the houses they wondered where they would be staying. It took Merlinda and her younger siblings quite a while to realize that they were on the “first team” at CSC. They had their own beds in the Cherne Home, and they could eat with the other children. It was almost too much for them to believe.

In the coming weeks and months CSC was able to give Merlinda a gift that helped transform her life. We were able to give her back her childhood! Merlinda hadn’t had one. Even as a young girl she had been responsible for her younger brother and sister. She was charged with bringing home money from begging and with doing housework. Instead of playing with friends, she was standing on a street corner holding her baby sister and asking for money from passing motorists. Instead of going to school she was cleaning the house or worrying about the health of her siblings. At CSC she was able to turn so many worries over to our caregivers. She was able to go to school. She had friends to play with and a beautiful playground where she could run, fly kites and play tag. She learned to play the clarinet and was able to participate in the school Christmas program. She had a chance to learn about a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior that loved her very much. She was a child again!