Arnel's Gift

Do you ever wonder when you read about celebrities that are involved with charities? I'm sure that some of them are good hearted and generous, and are trying to make things better for others in their own ways. But sometimes I think that, for some of them, its a matter of publicity and image. The media tends to make heroes out of people who make high profile gifts - even if their charitable giving is only a small percent of their income.

Here's a story that will warm the heart of even the most diehard cynic! We have started a yearly program of collecting money at our school at Christmas time to be given to a poor family in the community. Our kids are given allowances during the year that they can use to go shopping. Some spend everything when they get it, while others save until they can get a large enough amount to buy a toy, music or clothes. Arnel is a nine year-old boy who has been with us for two and a half years. Before coming to CSC he lived on the streets, both in Manila and Cebu. His life was extremely difficult, and for the last few months, he lived near the jail where his father was incarcerated. In spite of those experiences, Arnel is a happy, thoughtful and big hearted kid who cares about others. He is able to think reflectively about his past, and has extended forgiveness to his relatives who let him down.

Arnel had saved a pretty good amount of money in his account. When the collection project was announced at school, Arnel inquired from Auntie Sandy about his balance. When told that he had more than 1200 Pesos (a pretty nice amount for a CSC kid! - almost $30), he didn't hesitate for a moment. He said he wanted to give the whole amount to the poor family!

I suppose all of us can let our life's experiences lead us in different directions. Some might feel that their purpose in life is to overcome the difficulties and difficiencies that they experienced - to grab for whatever they can. I am sometimes surprised at the materialism of former CSC kids who are quick to tell me about their cars, i-pods and other possessions, when I would prefer to hear about their progress in school, their families and their relationship to God and their service of Him.

Arnel is on a good path. He remembers his past and all the negative experiences he had. He recalls hard times like not having enough food to eat, and the helplessness of living on the streets. And he wants to help alleviate that suffering for other kids like himself, kids who didn't have the experience of being rescued by CSC and given a second chance at health, education and family life. I hope that he can continue to enjoy the blessings of life, even as he remembers where he came from and what the challenges of life are like for others.

A Dad Without Options

Recently we took in three boys who were surrendered by their dad. They had been referred to us several months ago but we didn't have room at the time. When a sibling group of three left for adoption a few days ago we decided to take them in.

The boys' father could be described in many ways. First, he is extremely vertically challenged. I guess he could accurately be described as a midget. I don't have any idea how his height has impacted his life, how it may have affected his ability to find work. He was married to a woman of normal height, and they had three handsome boys who are not vertically challenged. Recently his wife died and, shortly thereafter, he suffered a stroke that has left his right side partially paralyzed. He has difficulty walking and his speech cannot be understood except by his boys. From all we have heard, he was a hard working man who did all he could to provide for his family. But suddenly that was no longer possible. In the space of a few months he was a single, disabled and destitute parent. He had to bring his boys to a government center to live. He was able to find a place to live where he could help the owner feed the chickens for his room and board. But he had lost just about everything.

I can 't remember ever feeling more sorry for an adult. We have dealt with a lot of people in desperate circumstances in our days in Cebu, but there was something especially pitiful about this man. On the day that he brought the boys to the office he was very concerned about their making a good impression. He knew that CSC was a better place for them than the government center. He wanted us to like them. He was proud of his boys, but he was also dying a little inside, knowing that he had to give them up and what that might mean. He was torn in two, but was trying his best to do what was best for them. His tears when he bid them goodbye - well, they are not something I will probably ever forget.

She Just Needed a Chance

Last night we had a final rehearsal for Jeneviev's recital. It was a chance for her to perform in front of the staff and some of the children, to get a better feel for being in front of a crowd. On Saturday night, Jeneviev will be performing 10 solo numbers on the piano, one flute solo, a quartet with three of her siblings, and a family ensemble with all nine Pelones kids. If last night's rehearsal was any indication, it will be a grand evening for Jeneviev!

Before coming to live at CSC Jeneviev had not had a chance to go to school, much less study music. She has done magnificently well in just 18 months. She has talent and works hard, a great combination for success in music. I was thinking about her progress, and the role that CSC has played in her live. Basically, we just gave her a chance. She always had the potential within her to do well, but life's circumstances had worked against her reaching her potential. When her mom died she became responsible for taking care of the younger eight. It looked like she was destined for a life of difficulty and sacrifice. The best she could have hoped for was to get a job as a house maid. As her mom and grandma before her she would have probably been poor with lots of kids. Finishing her education would have only been a dream for Jeneviev.

People who believe that heredity is the strongest determinant for development would see this generational pattern as proof of the idea that children will become what their parents were. Certainly Jeneviev and her siblings have many personality traits of both their parents. But we would never have known of her potential, her musical talents and her zest for learning if she hadn't come to live with us. CSC is about giving children a chance to be the best they can be, to reach beyond what their parents and grandparents were able to accomplish. We attempt to celebrate the good things that they did inherit, but to open up a world of opportunities and possibilities through education, music, art and a personal relationship with Jesus.

I can't wait for Saturday night.

Ideas

Ideas are funny things, sometimes. A ministry like CSC requires lots of ideas. Ideas about how to best care for the kids, including how to educate, discipline, motivate, encourage and counsel them. We need ideas for planning for the future and for staff recruitment. Those kind of ideas usually come from lots of thinking, praying and collaborating.

But we also need ideas for how to promote the ministry: newsletter articles, layout ideas, color choices, website design, banquet themes, video topics and editing techniques. The creative side of running an organization. For a ministry like ours, we must run our ideas through several filters. Is it a true depiction of the ministry? Is it real and not glitzy? Does it honor God? Will it appeal to our supporters, who constitute a variety of ages and backgrounds?

Sometimes ideas come right to me, as if dropped on my head by an angel. Other times they come very slowly and painfully. That's particularly true when it comes to recurring things like banquets and newsletters. How can we present things that are fresh and exciting? Since the nature of our ministry doesn't change much, even though our children do, it is challenging to find different aspects of CSC to present, or different ways to talk about the same things. Because although some of our donors are new, many have been around for a long time. Some have been with us since the very beginning of the ministry.

At the current time we are working on a whole new look for our website. We have recently instituted changes to our newsletter format and are now offering an e-news option. We are looking into doing some podcasting and putting more video on our website. And we are thinking about better ways to communicate with our Foster Friends sponsors.

We need waves of new and fresh ideas all the time. And we need to surrender creative control of CSC to the One who created the universe from nothing.

Giving Examined

I've been thinking lately about what motivates people to give. We think about that at CSC. What is it about our ministry that inspires such faithful giving from our supporters? What can we do, if anything, to fan that flame and keep people motivated?

The other day I was confronted by a young girl who was begging at McDonalds. She stands right next to the drive-through window so when you get your food she is ready for you. I don't go to McDonalds a lot, but I have seen her there several times. Living in the Philippines, one is confronted with beggars every day, sometimes many times. I will confess that I don't always give. But this girl at McDonalds always gets something from me. Recently, as I pulled away I got to thinking about why I always respond to her and not others. I think its a combination of guilt and comparative thinking.

When you're buying something to feed your face, and a young girl is standing there, hungry and without a lot of hope in life, its hard to turn away. As I'm grabbing for my junk food she is reaching out her hand to ask for coins that I just received in change. Why should I have a nice lunch while she goes hungry?

The other thing is that when I see that girl I think of some kids at CSC that look a lot like her. The other night while I was on duty at the Cherne Home I asked some of the girls about begging. Most had been forced to do it before they came to CSC. They had stories of people who were mean and about those who ignored them. They mentioned being expected to get a certain amount before they could quit. When I see the girl at McDonalds or other kids begging around the city I remember D. L. Moody's comment about a drunk staggering in the street near his car: but for the grace of God, there walks D. L. Moody. Yes, but for the grace of God, there is any number of our kids, standing on a corner, trying to establish eye contact, holding out a skinny arm in hopes of getting a few coins, asking for charity from people who, usually, don't want to be bothered. It makes me thankful that we have been able to rescue some kids from this type of life, and profoundly sad that others have to suffer in this way.

I've had CSC supporters tell me that they think of their own kids when they read the sad stories of children who have come to live with us. The contrast is disquieting, to be sure. They think about the luxuries they enjoy and that their kids receive daily. Through the ministry of CSC they are able to look into the eyes of kids not unlike the girl I see at McDonalds, and respond.

An Amazing Woman

Tonight we will go to the home of John Ray and Rufa Mae for Rufa's birthday party. We will get a chance to spend time with this amazing family and to celebrate with them this special day.

John Ray and Rufa Mae both have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, more commonly known as brittle bone disease. They were born with this affliction. Neither can walk. Both have very brittle bones that can easily fracture, even with minimal contact. Even a hard cough or sneeze could conceivably cause one of their bones to break. They have to be pushed in wheelchairs to get to school, and need help in getting to the bathroom and getting dressed. Although they are both able to attend our Children of Hope School and are bright and dearly loved by everyone they meet, they are dependent on their family members for almost everything. Most of all, they rely on their mom, Alice.

Alice is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She is totally dedicated to her kids, and this commitment is tested every day. She is their defender, comforter and, to a large extend, provider. She sees that the other kids don't get too close, as even a small bump could be disasterous. She brings them to the Shelter to catch a short ride to the school. This involves carrying them, one by one, down the stairs from their home. By this time of the morning, she has already been up for several hours, cooking food. Alice not only feeds her own family, she prepares meals for sale to our teachers and some of the workers on our construction site. She has to go to the market at night to purchase this food, so Alice is usually on the go from dawn until after dark. Her husband is a farmer, and sells fruits and vegetables in the large market in Cebu City. He has to travel back and forth to their land in the mountains. So most of the care of their two special needs children is on Alice's shoulders. And she does it with so much love.

Sometimes I think about Alice's life, and how there is almost no part in it that isn't either work or the care of her children. She has no hobbies, no personal time and no opportunities to "crash." Every day, all day, she sees to the needs of her kids. And these needs will never change. They will need her for their entire lives. She doesn't have the luxury to feel sorry for herself or for her kids. She has to cook, get her kids' clothes ready and see that they are comfortable and safe. And she is the primary source of encouragement for them when they hurt.

I remember the first time we went to the house of Rufa Mae and John Ray. At the time, before we built them a home near the Shelter, they were living in a small home belonging to their aunt in a hilly area outside of the city. I brought a bunch of the kids to see them and we brought some groceries and treats. I remember how Alice cried that day. She had probably come to the conclusion that her kids would never have friends who would come over, that they would never be the center of positive attention and would not have opportunities for friendship, interaction and the chance to go to school. She had seen her kids suffer so much and live such isolated lives, that seeing a troup of kids come in their small house with gifts and smiles and expressions of love was almost overwhelming.

Having John Ray and Rufa Mae in our school has been a great blessing for eveyone. Getting to know Alice has been an added blessing. She is the embodiment of the concept of selflessness.

August musings

I'll have my 54th birthday in a couple days. I've been thinking back to when I was 24 and we were heading out to Cebu to start this ministry. "Greenhorn" doesn't begin to explain just how naive and inexperienced I was, stepping off that plane in 1979. I hadn't studied linguistics, missiology, theology, management, languages or organizational administration in college. I didn't have a master plan, core values or a mission statement. I hadn't thought of affiliations, networks or development plans. I can imagine that there were some people who wondered about my ability to lead this ministry back in the day. I wondered.

Just about everything that I have learned about running a child caring ministry and managing an organization I have learned on the job. In order to lead CSC I have had to learn about public speaking, organizational life, Board management, fund raising, promotional writing, event planning, newsletter production, video and music editing, administration, government relations, adoption work, human resource management, capital campaigning, budgeting and a bunch of other stuff. Some of this I have learned pretty well - some not so well. The CSC Board, my fellow staff members, our Filipino workers and our CSC supporters have been patient with me, and the other "greenhorns" over the years as we have learned by our mistakes as we have worked to build a quality ministry and an organization to fund it.

One of the things about this kind of work is that it is humbling. Just when you think you've got everything figured out, something happens to deflate your bubble. And when you think you have developed a good system, things change. People change. Values change. The economy changes. Kids needs change. Laws and government policies change. Technology changes.

But God doesn't change. The same God that put us on that airplane almost 30 years ago, the One who gave us the resolve and the strength to start the ministry against pretty significant odds, and the God who has provided vision and endurance and tons of joy over the years is still in control. He's here at CSC. He still cares. And He still believes in me and the others who help me lead CSC.

And He will be with me at 54 and all the other ages of my life. What a great life He has given me and Marlys here in Cebu City! Thanks for being a part of it with your gifts and prayers and friendship.

Perks

This job comes with a lot of benefits. We don't have big salaries or extensive retirement plans. But the things that happen around here every day provide lots of emotional rewards:

Lots has been written on this site about Sheila May and the recent recon-
structive surgery that she had on her face. It was a glorious thing and we all have been celebrating with her. We talk about the fact that she was a beautiful girl before the surgery, and that God has only improved on that beauty in an outer way. We talk in those platitudes, of course, but the simple practical fact is that, when she looks in the mirror she doesn't see the hole that used to be there! Her smile isn't any more radiant now, perhaps. But she can walk into any situation now and not feel self conscious. A couple of hours of plastic surgery have changed her life! I remember back to the first day when we saw Sheila May and her siblings inside the pastors home in Lapu-Lapu City. Jonathan and Lois Larson were with us and these kids were still reeling from the loss of both of their parents within a few months. There was no joy in that family of kids. Every meal was a big concern. I think of the staff meetings where we discussed the idea of taking them in and how that day eventually came. And now we have the perks of being able to watch them grow, go to school, and, for Sheila, get a new and even more beautiful shape to her face.


The other day I took a peek into the Eicher Home nursery and saw John Nino and Danielle, two of the cutest little smiling babies you can imagine. They are healthy, happy and enjoying the attention of the aunties and staff at CSC. Their futures are bright; soon they will be matched with adoptive families somewhere in the world. But back a few months both were abandoned in a government hospital as newborns. Nursing mothers in the hospital helped save their lives, and CSC eventually took them home. From a hopeless situation their lives are now filled with hope.

Yesterday we had a baseball game to help celebrate the birthday of CSC staff member Amy Luck. The kids were psyched and it was a great game. I noticed one of our newest kids, John, having a ball playing baseball. He came to live with us on June 3, but was in isolation for a couple of weeks, due to tuberculosis. He was able to join the kids for the start of school in the 23rd, and he hasn't stopped smiling since his first minute at CSC. John and his sister Jocelyn, came to us together, and they are the older siblings of Jovan and Jeralyn. Jovan was the extremely malnourised 11 month old about whom much has been recorded on this site. Those kids grew up in abject poverty and never had a chance to run and play in a safe environment before coming ot live with us. Watching him run around the baseball field, and learn to hit and field was a whole lot of fun for me and the rest of the staff.


This ministry can be difficult and emotionally draining. We work long hours and have many issues to deal with every day. But it is a lot of fun, too, and provides all of us with emotional rewards that are so sweet.

The long arms of CSC

CSC has long arms! They reach out to 80 children who have no other place to call home. They reach out to families in crisis and to children that have returned to their biological parents but still have needs for medical care and education. They reach out to adoptive families around the world: New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, England, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada and the United States. And they reach out to supporters, helping meet their need to be involved in ministry to needy children that is done in Jesus' name.

But this ministry also reaches out to our many workers and their families. Many of our workers, in spite of earning a good wage and receiving health benefits through CSC, still live in difficult circumstances. Many are the sole wage earner in their whole extended family. Many are responsible for the health needs of their parents and siblings, not to mention their own families. (Most people in the Philippines do not have any health or life insurance.) Many are not able to accumulate savings because of the many needs of their families. The culture of poverty affects most of our workers in major ways on a day to day basis.

This fact came home to me in a big way in the past few days. One of our workers lost her father the other day and she needs, in addition to comfort and emotional support, money for funeral expenses. Another worker is in the hospital and needs blood. Another has to buy medicines that the health insurance doesn't provide for. Sometimes we can offer salary loans or emergency help to our workers. But the needs can seem overwhelming. And I wonder about the families that don't have a member who works for a benevolent employer like CSC.

A day's work

As I was driving around Cebu today I got to thinking about all the work that our staff does, and the many jobs that are required for a ministry like ours to run smoothly. Maybe I'm thinking about all of this more these days because Mitch and Ruth Ohlendorf leave at the end of the week and I'll have lots more administrative duties to attend to. Or maybe my reflection was due to the fairly hectic schedule that we have today.

Today is a day when all of our vehicles are needed. We have a team here from Colorado (www.cebukids.blogspot.com) that is doing biking and adventure activities with the children. We need our van and two jeeps to take the kids, team and bikes to the venue. We made two separate runs to the airport today. Amy Luck from our staff arrived at 6:00 a.m., and an adoptive family from the U.S. got in at 10:30. After bringing the couple to CSC we had lunch with them. As I was driving down the hill from lunch a group of our child care workers was walking up to start their shifts. And I saw Jerry driving up with Joemar, bringing him back from his job at McDonalds. Marlys and the nurses were catching their breath before an afternoon run to several doctors offices with some kids. The houseparents were buying food for some special meals with the Colorado team. At the Teen Home, Edith was preparing food for a birthday party tonight for Joevanie, who is 17 years old today. (We will all be attending the party tonight!) Tomorrow, the adoptive family will have four different meetings: they will discuss their children's education with their teachers; the will have a chance to ask questions about their background information with the social worker; they will review their medical history with the nurses, and will talk with our counselors. Meanwhile, the Colorado team will be taking a big group of the kids south and to the other side of the island for an adventure outing, with several of our people (drivers, staff, nurse) going along. The teachers in our Children of Hope School are getting ready for the start of the school year, even as our maintenance guys get the building ready for the opening. Our social workers are out in the field, trying to get the birth documentation for our children so that they can be presented for abandonment hearings in court or for adoptive placement. And our buildings continue to go up, which keeps Jerry and Mitch busy.

CSC is fairly small in terms of our overall budget. But it is a very labor intensive ministry. We have more than 70 employees for our shelter, school and office, and each person has lots to do. On days like these I am thankful for the skill and hard work of everybody as we strive to meet the many needs of our children in an efficient manner.

Follow-ups

We have written about some kids who came to CSC earlier this year, and it might be a good idea to provide a follow-up. I know some of you have been reading and praying, and are concerned about the well-being of these kids.

Jovan was the pathetically malnourished boy we took in back in mid-January. He has spent quite a bit of his life in the hospital, but is currently doing better. He still recurring upper respiratory infections, but these are less severe lately. He is catching up developmentally, scooting around in the walker and working on taking steps.

In early March we took in his twin sister, Jeralyn. She had been given to someone when she was just a few weeks old, and that person had not pursued legal adoption. So, together with the government social workers, we decided to work on getting her. It took a while but eventually she was able to join her brother Jovan in our Cherne Home nursery. It has been great fun to see them get to know each other and interact as twins. Jeralyn is way ahead of Jovan developmentally, as she enjoyed decent health and nutrition as a baby. It is great to have them reunited and to know that they will have a chance to grow up together.

There are other children in the family who have been referred to us, and we are considering the possibility of taking in at least two more. Right now we don't have available space but there are nine children leaving fairly soon so we will have room for them. So the story of Jovan continues to unfold. We are thankful for the opportunity to work with Jovan and his sister, and to see the incredible changes in their lives.

Joevani and his siblings, Sheila May, Jayson and James, are also doing well. Joevani has responded so well to the changes in his life, and the opportunities that he now has at CSC. He lives in the Teen Home and has been enrolled in our school in a bridge program to prepare him for high school. He will continue that program for one more year. He works hard at his studies and wants to be successful. During summer vacation he is taking a computer class and spending extra time with his siblings at the Shelter. He loves to push James around in the wagon and help feed him. Sheila May (9) is a very active young girl, who loves to run and play and who has made good friends at CSC. She will need some surgery on her jaw and face, and we are consulting with plastic surgeons here about that possibility soon. Jayson (5) had a good start to pre-school and will be in that class again in June when school starts. James (17 months) is a very happy little guy who usually has a big smile on his face. He loves the attention of his older siblings.

Just a few short months ago, these kids were suffering in dire poverty and hopelessness. Now they are on a different path, and we are excited to see what God has in store for them.

Thanks for your prayers for all these kids. Opportunities to help kids like these are one of the great things about our jobs here in Cebu.

Joevani

In October we got a referral for five kids on Mactan, where the airport is. The story was that their mother died after giving birth to James in December, 2006. The children were devastated, as she was a loving mother and the stable force in their lives. Their father was a drunkard and had six more children with two other women, which added to the children's grief and suffering. In September, 2007, the father died. Although there may have been a sense of relief, the children were traumatized to lose their father as well, and a feeling of total desperation swept over the eldest child, Joevani. Joevani was 16 at the time. He felt the extreme burden of how he could possibly care for his four siblings. An Aunt, living in extreme poverty, offered to help them but she did not have the resources to care for an additional five children so Joevani dropped out of school and his daily routine was to go to the nearby dump to look for morsels of food or anything he could find to sell, just to care for his siblings. Thankfully, he did not resort to stealing but instead, went to that filthy place every day just so his siblings wouldn't starve. Consequently, Joevani became very ill. A pastor of a small Protestant church in the community knew about the family, as they attended his church on occasion. Joevani was the one who brought the children to church, if he was able. When the pastor and his wife heard that the children were starting to get sickly, they took them in to their home, even though they have six children of their own. They did not have the means for such an undertaking, but were moved by compassion to do what they could. There simply was not enough room for all of the children, so Joevani slept on a narrow wooden bench in the church, which was better than nothing, but must have been terribly lonely for him. (The pastor's wife is a sister to one of our house parents so that is how we became involved in the children's lives.) Since we were full at the time, and unable to take them in, CSC intervened and gave them food and clothing until we had room for them at the Shelter in late November. Paul and I visited the children at the pastor's house before they came to live with us, and Joevani just stood in the corner, hunched over with his head hanging, never looking directly at us. He looked much older than 16 years of age, and as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Shortly afterwards, we brought him to the doctor and he was started on medications for pneumonia. The following day the pastor's wife called with panic in her voice to inform us that Joevani was unable to walk. He was so weak that he couldn't even get up from the bench. They rushed him by taxi to the hospital in Cebu where he was admitted for severe pneumonia and other complications from a kidney disease. which caused temporary paralysis. Joevani was admitted as a CSC kid that day and the rest of the siblings came the next day. He was hospitalized for a week. The eventual diagnosis was that his illness was exacerbated by tuberculosis, in addition to the parasites that robbed his body of nutrition. Joevani was later told that he would live at the Wally Johnson Teen Home, as it was very likely that he would not be adopted, since he is nearly 17. He knows that his siblings may be adopted without him. He told us that he doesn't care if he never has a mother or father again, but he asked us if he could possibly have an education. He dreams of being an engineer. Joevani visits his three siblings at the Shelter whenever he has the chance. He is attending our Children of Hope school for the remainder of the year, in preperation for returning to high school at some point. Joevani struggles academically, as he had such a slow start in education, but with his determination, and the patience and dedication of our teachers, we hope to give him every opportunity possible to do something with the potential the Lord has given him. The children from the Shelter eat lunch at the home during their school day, so Joevani goes to the Cherne House where his siblings are living. He wants to spend as much time as he can with them. They adore him and it's obvious that he is very protective of his sister and two brothers. How wonderful that he no longer has to worry about them, however, as he knows that they are lovingly cared for at the Shelter. (Sheila Mae is 9, Jayson is 5 and James is 14 months old.) Sheila Mae was at camp with the Central Team in February. When Sheila Mae was about 3 years old she had a terrible abscess of her jaw, which left a disfiguring scar on her left cheek, and destroyed the teeth on the bottom on that side of her mouth. One night after hearing many stories from Pastor Chuck and Turnip, she asked the teacher in her tent if there really is a God. The other girls in the tent were enthusiastically telling her that most certainly there is a God. A look of sadness came over her and she asked, "If there is a God, why did He make me so ugly?" We would appreciate your prayers for Sheila Mae. She will be seen by a plastic surgeon in the near future, and we hope that the doctor will be able to restore that area that makes her feel so self-conscious. Joevani was moved to tears after hearing the many stories at camp. He told several of us that he believes in God and knows that Jesus Christ is His Savior, but being in the midst of everything going on at camp made him realize what a miracle has happened in his life, and that he is so thankful that he and his siblings were rescued by Children's Shelter of Cebu. There is another sister still living in Mactan. Jenevie is 14 years old. She has had some very difficult and traumatic experiences that would make it extremely hard to have her at the Shelter or the Teen Home, so for now, she is living with her Aunt. Naturally, Joevani is very concerned about her, but realizes that he is not able to help her at this point. Thank you for your part in helping us care for Joevani and his siblings. Without the support of people that love this ministry to the homeless, neglected and orphaned children in the Philippines, we would not be here to help them and to this day, Joevani would still be digging through the dump in Mactan. Worse yet, he may have not survived.

Our Annual Banquet

I am currently in MN working with Matt Buley and others to prepare for our CSC Banquet on April 12. We have had this banquet almost every year since 1980, and it is a great evening of fun. Last year was one of our best banquets ever, in my opinion, with lots of festive decorations and dances and interesting perspectives on the ministry.

CSC is a ministry that touches a lot of kids' lives in meaningful ways. One of the strengths of CSC, I believe, is that we have kept our focus over the years. Although there are many needs in the Philippines, and lots of things that need doing, we have kept our eyes on the things that we were called to do. I think this has helped us greatly, as people can readily understand what our ministry is all about. Even as we grow and develop, we are still about caring for homeless children in a loving, Christ-centered residential setting.

The only down side of this is that sometimes it is really challenging to come up with new and fresh ways of presenting the ministry. Although the children are constantly changing, the things that we do are pretty much the same from newsletter to newsletter and banquet to banquet. It certainly challenges our creativity to present new looks and approaches to the same ministry.

This year we're taking a look at the various "roads" that have led people to CSC. Our main speaker is going to be Eddie Henry, the first child that CSC ever took in back in 1979. Eddie as one day old when he came to live with us. He is now 28, and, together with his wife Hannah, expecting a child. He has had an interesting life and recently had a reunion in Cebu that he will be telling about. This is going to be really meaningful and emotional, and tell another side of the ministry that many probably don't think about.

Come and see the "Road to Cebu" at Bethel on April 12.

Jovan's Story by Marlys

On January 14th we received an urgent message that there was an extremely ill child in a squatter village near the city bus terminal, so one of our nurses, one of our social workers and I went there immediately to assess the situation. There was no place to park so the government workers brought eleven month old Jovan to the vehicle. It was hard to believe that Jovan was even alive, as he was so emaciated and malnourished. His bones and veins were barely covered by a thin layer of skin and he was so weak that his cry was a mere whimper. He was severely dehydrated so he didn’t even have tears. His mother was out begging when we got there so we took him anyway with the assistance of the local officials. There was no time to wait for her return. Our hearts were breaking as we rushed him through the crowded streets of Cebu for an exam at our doctor’s office. We wrapped him carefully, as he was so frail, and gave him milk very slowly. His little tummy was not used to real nutrition. The desperate mother had been giving him watered down rice water, which was somewhat better than nothing.

When Jovan was born his mother gave away his twin sister, as she was so distraught and wondered how she would feed another child when she had eight more at home. The father left his whole family, leaving the mother and nine kids to fend for themselves. No wonder she gave away Jovan’s precious sister. I wonder how she decided which one to give away. (Our social worker is presently trying to find Jovan’s sister.)

Later, when the mother returned, she heard that we had her son at the doctor’s office, so she went there right away to watch the exam. I can’t imagine what she must have been feeling as she watched her son slowly fading away from her in the dark and filthy shack she called home. There he was being carefully examined by our compassionate and tender loving pediatrician in a safe and clean clinic, just a few miles from her village where her son was literally dying. (The doctor was so moved by meeting Jovan that he didn’t charge for the exam.)

When I pulled in to our yard at the Shelter an hour later, the mother was about to leave with the barangay officials. She was there to see Jovan’s new home, and she met some of the Aunties and Uncles that care so tenderly for our children. She walked straight over to the window of the vehicle and there was genuine peace in her eyes as she stood outside, thanking us for rescuing her son. Maybe she slept a little that night, knowing that Jovan would no longer suffer the pain of starvation, but looking around her at the other eight kids must have quickly brought her back to reality.

Jovan was admitted the following day for severe pneumonia and diarrhea, and after receiving medicine for de-worming, he passed an awful worm that was robbing him of any tiny amount of nutrition. Surely, there are more of them that we are anxious to get rid of with several weeks of medication.

He has gained some strength, but he’s still very weak and barely able to cry to make his needs known. Yesterday was a thrilling day, however, as he was able to smile momentarily. He tires quickly. One thing is for sure, he will never again have to go to bed hungry, and never again will he ever want for anything. Just as I was about to leave I bent down to say good-bye and was so touched when he put his scrawny and frail little hand on my cheek for a few seconds. Oh my, tears came to my eyes as I thought what a blessing it is to have Jovan under our care!

We would like to ask for your prayers for Jovan as his body starts to grow and change with proper nutrition and tender loving care. We pray that Jovan will recover quickly and that he will not suffer life long affects from the severe malnutrition. Thank you being a part of Jovan’s life and for your loving support of this ministry that enables us to take him in to the caring environment at Children’s Shelter of Cebu.

Jovan is one of 76 children that we presently have. Each of them has a difficult past. None of them would be here today if not for the faithful partners of Children’s Shelter of Cebu. Bless each one of you!

Two Blessed Events

When people make positive comments about CSC and the work that we do, I always say that the nature of our ministry is that we get more than we give. This past week I had a couple of experienes that help prove that contention.


Early in the week I was part of a reunion. One of our first kids had the opportunity to meet his birth mom. He was adopted as an infant, and, about 28 years later, though a series of extraordinary events, was able to meet his birth mom in Cebu. It was an incredibly emotional time for everyone. It was such a blessing to be a part of that event, and to know that it was a very significant thing for both of them. Increasingly, an important part of our work is to welcome back former residents, to help them find birth families, and to facilitate reunions.

Later in the week we had the chance to tell one of our sibling groups that they will be adopted. They were so surprised and excited by the news. I try to imagine what it must be like to get news that is so lifechanging. The staff was able to show them pictures of their adoptive family, their house, school and church and to tell them a little about the state where they will live. Again, it was a very emotional time for everyone.

The ministry of CSC requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But we are very much blessed and these experiences renew our commitment to working hard for the children that God brings to us.