Marlys and I have been busy speaking in churches, giving updates on the ministry and thanking those who support CSC so generously. Here are a few of the churches we've visited recently:
Central Baptist - St. Paul Emmanuel Baptist - Mora, MN Trinity Baptist - St. Paul, MN
Little Log Church - Palmer Lake, CO Cherry Hills Community Church - Highlands Ranch, CO
Hillman Baptist - Mora, MN
Speaking in churches is a big part of what we do while in the U.S. I have to say that preaching is not my strongest suit. I prefer the work that I do in Cebu to doing public speaking or promotional stuff. The thing that makes it enjoyable for me is knowing that many of the people that I am addressing share our love and burden for the kids in Cebu, and our belief that the suffering of children is unacceptable. That makes things fun. There has never been a time in 27 years of being involved in promoting CSC that I haven't felt energized in front of a group. It is truly a privilege to represent the ministry and to be able to go to churches and thank the people who support CSC so generously.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Sunday, March 4, 2007
MN bliss
The contrasts between Cebu and Minnesota are many. Too many to mention. But the weather is the one that most people recognize. Imagine a child being adopted from the Philippines and joining a family in Minnesota, and facing a snowstorm of almost 18 inches. Its bizarre enough for missionaries who are only stateside every 3-4 years!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sermon notes
Our Pastor preached a message from Luke 7 on Sunday. The passage was about the woman who cried at Jesus' feet when he was at a banquet at the home of a Pharisee. The sermon highlighted the difference between those who can identify human needs and those who can only see laws and prohibitions. The Pharisee was scandalized that the woman came into his home, because she was a notorious sinner. Jesus saw her need and accepted her act of love and repentance.
I attended a church a few years back that was very strong on identifying sin and the many things that we should not do as Christians. We were informed of the threats out there in the world and the enemies to the faith. We were constantly circling our wagons in response to threats from without, even while we identified sins from within the camp. It was a breath of fresh air for me to hear a sermon that emphasized the opportunities in the world, and gave some encouragement on things that we should do, rather than things that she should not. In short, I feel we need to be asking "How shall we then live?" in response to our encounters with Christ, and to encourage each other in doing good to those in need around us.
I attended a church a few years back that was very strong on identifying sin and the many things that we should not do as Christians. We were informed of the threats out there in the world and the enemies to the faith. We were constantly circling our wagons in response to threats from without, even while we identified sins from within the camp. It was a breath of fresh air for me to hear a sermon that emphasized the opportunities in the world, and gave some encouragement on things that we should do, rather than things that she should not. In short, I feel we need to be asking "How shall we then live?" in response to our encounters with Christ, and to encourage each other in doing good to those in need around us.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Lots going on
The stateside ministry of CSC goes through cycles of activity, just like in Cebu. This is a fairly hectic time, as we prepare in earnest for the banquet and the adopted kids party, and as we start to crank up activity for the Building a Legacy of Hope capital campaign. Add to that the regular chores of getting out mailings, receipting donations, working with the auditors, producing promotional materials, visiting churches and trying to keep up with correspondence.
Right now we have two young people in Cebu working with the staff. Dennis Schoonmaker was adopted from CSC when he was a toddler. He lives in California and is in his first year of college. He is a very good baseball player and is having an opportunity to impart his knowledge to our CSC Twins baseball team which is has recently started practicing. Mariah Rosedahl is also in Cebu helping out at the school. She is the sister of one of our very first adopted kids, Paul Julio,who left CSC for his adoptive family in Idaho in 1982.
CSC is at the age where we have many former residents who are now young adults and who wish to go back for a visit. We are almost always encouraging when it comes to these requests, because we know how important it can be in their lives to reconnect with the country where they were born, the CSC staff and workers, and, potentially, birth families. Our social workers are very skilled at facilitating these reunions and in helping prepare the young people and the birth families.
In future blogs I'll be writing about some of the experiences that we have had in recent years with former resident's coming back for a visit, and some of the issues that relate to this. This has become a bigger part of the work of CSC, for sure.
Right now we have two young people in Cebu working with the staff. Dennis Schoonmaker was adopted from CSC when he was a toddler. He lives in California and is in his first year of college. He is a very good baseball player and is having an opportunity to impart his knowledge to our CSC Twins baseball team which is has recently started practicing. Mariah Rosedahl is also in Cebu helping out at the school. She is the sister of one of our very first adopted kids, Paul Julio,who left CSC for his adoptive family in Idaho in 1982.
CSC is at the age where we have many former residents who are now young adults and who wish to go back for a visit. We are almost always encouraging when it comes to these requests, because we know how important it can be in their lives to reconnect with the country where they were born, the CSC staff and workers, and, potentially, birth families. Our social workers are very skilled at facilitating these reunions and in helping prepare the young people and the birth families.
In future blogs I'll be writing about some of the experiences that we have had in recent years with former resident's coming back for a visit, and some of the issues that relate to this. This has become a bigger part of the work of CSC, for sure.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Home at Central
On Sunday we made a CSC presentation at Central Baptist Church in St. Paul. Central is my home church and has supported us since 1979. We had a great time. We gave updates, showed video and greeted many friends. My message was entitled "Lessons from Luke," and dealt with the life of our precious Luke and the many things that we can learn from him.
One of the highlights of our Central presentation was when we interviewed Mitch and Ruth who appeared live, via Skype. Technology allows us to do amazing things, and the congregation was amazed that Mitch and Ruth appeared suddenly on the big screen, live from their living room in Cebu City. We hope to do this type of weblink many times in the future, connecting the ministry in Cebu with our supporters. We've come a long way from the old slides shows that we used to show on our furloughs.
One of the highlights of our Central presentation was when we interviewed Mitch and Ruth who appeared live, via Skype. Technology allows us to do amazing things, and the congregation was amazed that Mitch and Ruth appeared suddenly on the big screen, live from their living room in Cebu City. We hope to do this type of weblink many times in the future, connecting the ministry in Cebu with our supporters. We've come a long way from the old slides shows that we used to show on our furloughs.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Jenny's Day
Tomorrow is Jenny's birthday, always a big day in the Healy family. Jenny will be 25. She is such a great blessing to us. When we compare notes with other adoptive families we realize that we have lots in common with them. They say things like
"We can't imagine our lives without _____." (S)He has brought so much joy to our family."
Marlys and I have experienced adoption in just about all of its many aspects. We have worked with pre-adoptive children of all ages, helping prepare them for joining families. We have had the chance to interact with adoption agencies and adoption professionals from many different countries, attending staff meetings, conferences and orientation meetings. We have visited adopted children in their families. We have had the opportunity to help host adopted CSC children and their families in Cebu, and assist in helping some of them find and interact with birth relatives. But, of course, our greatest experiences in adoption have been as parents of three wonderful daughters.
Thanks to all who have blessed Jenny's life over the years. We know that she has been a blessing to many people, as well.
"We can't imagine our lives without _____." (S)He has brought so much joy to our family."
Marlys and I have experienced adoption in just about all of its many aspects. We have worked with pre-adoptive children of all ages, helping prepare them for joining families. We have had the chance to interact with adoption agencies and adoption professionals from many different countries, attending staff meetings, conferences and orientation meetings. We have visited adopted children in their families. We have had the opportunity to help host adopted CSC children and their families in Cebu, and assist in helping some of them find and interact with birth relatives. But, of course, our greatest experiences in adoption have been as parents of three wonderful daughters.
Thanks to all who have blessed Jenny's life over the years. We know that she has been a blessing to many people, as well.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
To the Rockies
I'm off for Colorado tomorrow morning, after a brief breakfast meeting with Matt Buley. Matt just got back from Cebu and I know he's dying to tell me stories of the kids and his time there. From all I've heard it was a good visit and the staff, workers and kids enjoyed being with Matt and Theresa. My trip to Colorado will include a visit to an adoptive family who are great friends of CSC, a chance to speak in their church, and an opportunity to attend a dinner at one of our supporting churches in Denver. I'll be meeting lots of people and sharing about all the exciting things that are happening, and will be happening at CSC. Now that we have officially "kicked off" the capital campaign, my presentations will all include mention of the buildings we intend to build and the ministry opportunities that they will enable.
During the past week we had a chance to entertain some old friends, some more recent friends, and a family who will soon be adopting one of our boys. These people ranged in age from 10 years old to 84. The thing that they all have in common is that CSC has touched their lives. We often think about how our ministry impacts the lives of the children we serve, but CSC also brightens the lives of people who support them, those who visit CSC and serve on work teams, and those who adopt our children.
During the past week we had a chance to entertain some old friends, some more recent friends, and a family who will soon be adopting one of our boys. These people ranged in age from 10 years old to 84. The thing that they all have in common is that CSC has touched their lives. We often think about how our ministry impacts the lives of the children we serve, but CSC also brightens the lives of people who support them, those who visit CSC and serve on work teams, and those who adopt our children.
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