Interesting?

We have been living and working in Cebu for 30 years. This is the only real job that I have ever had. One of the things about living away from the U.S. for a significant period of time is that I often feel culturally out of sorts in relation to America. I feel more and more estranged from the younger generation. The touchstones aren't there, I guess. I have never seen a single episode of American Idol or Dancing With the Stars. For that matter, I guess I'm out of touch with their parents, too, as I never saw Seinfeld or any of the popular shows of that era. I'm not on Facebook or other social sites. I'm not as informed politically as I need to be and I don't really know what is "in" and what is "so 90s (or 80s or 70s)." I'm more or less a dinosaur.

One of the practical results of finding myself out of touch is that I'm not at all sure at times what might interest people about CSC. I have to remind myself that the things that I feel are important, interesting or newsworthy might not be what turns other people on. As I think about items for the CSC website or newsletter I often wonder if I'm hitting the mark or not. What is it about CSC that makes people want to get involved? ? For people who have tons of information available at the click of a mouse, what is it that gets through to them and touches their hearts?
What chance do I have of reaching the younger generation and inspiring them to give?

Those are tough questions for a Monday afternoon. I'm glad that we have some younger people here in Cebu helping out with the ministry. They offer new perspectives on promoting CSC. They are used to getting their news and information on-line, for instance. They understand contemporary Christian music. They know how Americans keep connected. They can help us be relevant.

So we move on, faced with the questions that new blood brings to the ministry. Do we need to have a presence on Facebook, YouTube or Twitter? How should our new web site look? How can we present our message electronically but keep our supporters who are not on-line happy and updated? How can we best translate our work in the lives of these kids in Cebu into interest and giving from people in the U.S.?

These are some of the questions of the day. Thanks for reading them.

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.

We're Here and There

Several conversations that took place here in the CSC office the other day, indicate the nature of our lives here in Cebu. As I was walking into the office Andrew Merkouris was just leaving, but he stopped to give me the Twins score. (He had been listening on the internet and knew I'd be interested.) Later, Amy Luck, who was leaving the next day for the U.S. for her year of furlough, was mentioning the restaurant in Fargo where she would eat when she got there. Sandy Swanson stopped by to give me an update on her sister's surgery. The staff members here in Cebu function in two worlds. Cebu is where we live and work. We have adopted this as our second home, and we have learned to function well in a place that is very different from what we were used to. We have our homes and families here, and we are immersed in the culture and the ministry. But we are also emotionally involved in life in the U.S. We have families and good friends there, and we are interested in news from the home front. We call, we e-mail, we Skype. We care about important news, and even seemingly mundane things. Did Crede get any hits? What did mom cook for dinner on Sunday? How is Val doing? Is Joanne out of the hospital yet? I guess you could say that we have our feet planted on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

Our great staff

I am proud of our staff. They are all hard working, compassionate and fun-loving people who invest their lives so freely in our children. The love that they have for these kids is the foundation on which everything is built at CSC.

Yesterday we had a staff meeting to discuss a referral. The issues in considering a referral are available space and our ability to meet the emotional needs of additional children. The children being considered for admission, three siblings aged one month, two years and four and a half, include one that is very malnourished. We know from experience that every day matters with these malnourished kids. So our decisions are difficult ones. They have life and death ramifications. We have a lot of younger kids these days, so taking in three more would be difficult. But our staff members have so much compassion, and have seen so many of our kids make tremendous recoveries from sickness and malnutrition, that we really want to be able to help. I wish you could see them in action, considering various options, looking ahead to children who will be leaving for adoption, and feeling the pain and despair of these three kids.

The same story has been acted out so many times over the years. It is never an easy matter to decide to admit new children, particularly those who are sick or may have developmental delays. We aren't always able to say "yes" to referrals that we receive. But we always give it our best shot. This is a great group of people that I have the pleasure to lead here in Cebu!

A dear friend finishes strong

Yesterday Marlys and I had a phone conversation with a friend who is dying of cancer. We thought that maybe we could cheer him up by calling him from Cebu. 20 minutes later we were shaking our heads, totally swept away by our brief interaction with this man. We were the ones lifted up! He gave astounding evidence of faith, assurance of salvation, joy in life and love for his family, friends and Lord, in spite of his rapidly deteriorating health condition. He asked about the ministry and the children and praised us for the work we are doing. He said, "Isn't it amazing what God has done at CSC over the years?"

Let me tell you a little about this man. More than 20 years ago his daughter and son-in-law adopted three children from CSC. He was a CSC grandpa, and became interested in the ministry. He went to bat for us with his church missions committee, presenting the ministry to them and encouraging the church to get involved. As a result of that advocasy, his church became part of our support team, and has been a great blessing to CSC in many ways. I was so happy to tell him that the church will be sending a team to Cebu for the third straight year. His willingness to tell others about our ministry helped bring much joy and hope to children, kids like his grandchildren.

My friend is finishing strong! In closing out his earthly life, he is taking joy from the relationships and involvements that God has given him. I'm happy that being a part of CSC has brought him happiness and fulfillment over the years, and especially, at this time of his life. He gave to the ministry financially, he told others and got them involved, he raised a daughter who would open her heart and home to adopted kids, he had a chance to visit the ministry, and he was a source of encouragement to the staff over the years.

I thank God for this dear man, and I pray that, at the close of my life, I will find the same joy from the things that I have invested in.

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.