Timelessness

We've got this young guy working with us here in Cebu. He is Andrew and he is helping back up our records. His days are filled with scanning pages from children's files and putting them on dvds. He is also putting vhs tapes on DVDs. He's a fairly new graduate of the University of Minnesota and a really great guy. I like his sense of humor, his willingness to be a servant and his enthusiasm for CSC.

For the past few months we have spent time together getting to know each other. Our ages are pretty far apart - 22 and almost 55! We have different tastes in music, are miles apart politically and have banks of experiences and insights that vary significantly. But we both like baseball. We follow the Twins closely and enjoy talking about the ballclub. One of the endearing things about the game of baseball is the way that it bridges generations. The game has changed very little throughout its history. The dimensions, rules and purpose of the game is largely the same for someone who came to know it when Andrew did and for my generation.

I guess that leads in well to another thing that Andrew and I both love: CSC. Although we are involved in the ministry in very different ways, and have different perspectives on our history, we both find being around the children to be exciting and meaningful. We can find lots to talk about when we discuss the kids, their needs and potential. The things that separate us are not very important when we're talking about one of the kids in the hospital, an upcoming adoption, or some of the emotional struggles that a child might be having. Our ministry is attractive to people of all ages, backgrounds, political parties, denominational affiliations and other interests. It brings people like Andrew and me together, as well as hundreds of other people who would otherwise not meet or find significanct common ground. God bless CSC!

Sense and Nonsense

My cousin Jan used to have a company called Sense and Nonsense. It was a great name because it accurately reflected her approach to the work that they did. In many ways that same name describes life at CSC. Today is a good example. Earlier today, Joel Reasoner, Andrew Merkoris and I met to discuss the Reading Challenge that will be held during the first quarter of this year. Last year we had some challenge stipulations to encourage the kids to read: Joel would ride a water buffalo and I would be thrown in a swimming pool. Of course, the kids won! So we were discussing some more motivational devises for this year: head shaving, eating gross things, etc. Entertaining the kids requires a lot of nonsense!

Later today our staff will be meeting to talk about some very important matters concerning the adoptive placement of our children, as well as referrals and decisions about our new facilities. This will be far reaching and very significant stuff. We need to think clearly and to act in accordance with God's will for the kids and the ministry.

There you have it! Within a few hours we're tossing around ideas about having someone wearing one of those rubber Sumo wrestling suits do a "big splash" on Andrew's stomach, and deciding about which children to consider for adoptive placement. Sense and nonsense. Its one of the things that I love best about working here in Cebu.

I can remember in Kindergarten Miss Linden would tell us, "Okay students. Put on your thinking caps." We would pretend to strap them on and she would start asking us questions that required thinking. At CSC we are constantly transitioning from putting on thinking caps to donning silly hats.