Roles of all Kinds

I was looking at pictures of CSC in albums that Marlys has put together over the years. It is fun to see the kids that grew up at CSC and remember their stories and the fun we had with them.

It is also fun to see the adults in the pictures. It is amazing to me how many different people have visited Cebu over the years. Some came for just a few minutes to see our homes and the kids; others stayed for weeks, months or years. Some played bit roles in the story of CSC, while others have had major parts to play. As I think about the whole scheme of things, it is clear that God has provided just the right people at different times to perform different functions when it was needed most. Some heard about a financial need and met that need. In addition to the people who are regular supporters of the ministry, there are those who came onto the scene for only one gift in response to a situation that came to their attention. One guy, a Bethel college student, made a gift of $40,000 to us before we even left for Cebu that allowed us to purchase the house that we started with in 1979. That guy moved away and we have never heard from him since! Some friends of the ministry have been around for quite a while, but were needed for extraordinary situations that came up. Their help was crucial at the time, and afterwards, they returned to their supportive roles. A Northwest Orient pilot helped CSC in amazing ways when one of our kids, Jackson, needed to come to the States for surgery at a hospial in Texas. Years later I still shake my head and wonder what we would have done without his help at that crucial juncture.

In addition to our long-term staff members who have given many years of service to the ministry, there have been others who have served shorter terms. Kathy and Sned Flora, and Jeff Snyder didn't stay on our staff for more than a few years, but their contributions were great in helping the ministry get started back in 1979. Lynne Green was a staff member for a couple years. Alan and Rachel Lecher, Nora Dorsey, Michelle Peterson, Dawn Miller, Ben and Mari Bonnett and others taught in our school for a year or two. Others have come along for periods of time ranging from a few months to a couple years, helping out with the child care leadership or performing specific tasks that were needed at the time. Several people quit their jobs or took leaves of absence to join our staff and help us take care of the children in Cebu. On our very first furlough back in 1982 a couple named Joe and Kathy Graft took leaves to spend a whole year in Cebu to help out. Tim and Karen Erickson went to Cebu every 18 months for 16 years to provide free dental care to our kids. Doctors have come over to see our children. Teachers have helped with tutoring or done seminars with our teachers. One young lady came for a month to work with our therapist, giving ideas on the therapy program for our special needs kids. Teams have come to build, do camps with the kids or lead a Vacation Bible School program. A doctor came and delivered lab equipment to us and helped us set it up in our lab. Several college students did their internships in Cebu, helping at the school or with our computer system. One retired guy who was in Cebu working with another ministry spent a considerable amount of time with me, helping me learn how to use a computer. Choirs and drama troupes have stopped by to perform and share good times with the kids and staff. We've had clowns, mimes, acrobats, athletes, musicians, singers and dancers over the years, some of them excellent, others.....not so much! But they have been there to contribute something to the kids. And there have been many, many others who have used their time and talents for CSC.

Many people have helped in big ways without ever going to Cebu. One guy in Montana who worked for a medical equipment company got a very expensive brain shunt for us when a child faced a life threatening brain condition. Several years ago when funds were scarce we decided to sell bicycles in Cebu to raise money, and a group of men in Ham Lake acquired, stored and shipped the bikes to us. Ladies have made towels, diapers, bibs, blankets, clothes, puppets, toys, costumes and other useful stuff. One great friend of CSC who worked at a printing company got tons of stuff printed for free or cost by just asking his boss. Another guy set up our computer network in Cambridge during his spare time.

Among our many donors are friends who have given monthly for 30 years, and those who, like the guy mentioned above with the $40,000 donation, made just one gift to CSC. There are people who have hundreds of thousands of dollars for building campaigns, like Harry Schmidt of Canada, and those who perhaps gave a memorial gift at a funeral and never donated again.

It is overwhelming to think about all the great contributions of time, talent and treasure, and the people who have come onto the stage of CSC to play various roles over the years. Some, I confess, have been long forgotten, and the memory of others is only refreshed when perusing the picture albums. But I am thankful to God for all of them and what they have meant to CSC and to the kids we have cared for. Its good to reflect and to remember.