Would you do it all over again?

One of our former residents is here in Cebu for a visit. She spent some time with the staff and kids the other day and I was the one who brought her to where she was staying after a birthday party for one of the kids. She is a person who thinks deeply and asks penetrating questions. As we were driving along she asked, "Would you do it all again?"

That is a great question, and one that a person should think about before answering. I didn't. I just blurted out "Yes, for sure." It seemed like a no-brainer. We believe that God led us into this ministry and we would always want to think that we would follow that leading, again and again. And its been a good life for us here in Cebu. No question. We have had many difficult times over the past 32 years: financial crises, children who have died, natural disasters, disappointments and heartaches. But more true would be the good times, the joys and victories, the dedication of new buildings, graduations, recitals, celebrations, watching kids overcome physical and emotional hurdles.

After I dropped her off I thought about how I might have answered if I'd have thought about it for a day instead of answering almost as soon as the question was finished. The answer would still be "yes." But I would have a meaningful addition: I would tell her that she is both the questioner and part of the answer to the question. The joy of being a part of this ministry can be summarized this way: changed lives. We have had the opportunity to invest in young lives, to give them opportunities to learn, to be healthy, to have families, to get educated in some of the finest schools in the world, to have choices that never would have been possible if we hadn't brought them into CSC. The girl who asked me that question probably doesn't understand all of the motivations and rewards involved in our work. She likely doesn't know how we feast on the accomplishments and victories of our children. Maybe if I had answered her question more thoughtfully she would have a better understanding of what makes working at CSC such a delight.

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.

Banquet Musings

We put a lot of time and effort into our annual banquet. With virtually no exceptions, we feel that it is worth it. This year we had a splendid banquet where everyone did a great job and lots of people showed up and they gave generously. We had former residents presenting testimonies and poems. We had a video that explored our theme of "Take a Hand, Join the Family." We had a US Senator in attendance and the sibling group of nine whom she helped get adopted together in a fantastic family, who were also at the banquet. We had great music featuring Sam Butler and his family. And we gave an award to Tim and Karen Erickson, the volunteer dentist and his wife who went to CSC over the past 16 years to work on our kids' teeth.

It is amazing the number of people that it takes to do the job that we do with the children under our care. It takes many workers: child care workers, therapists. counselors, nurses, teachers, social workers, accountants, house parents, janitors, guards, drivers, administrative assistants and carpenters. It takes Senators, immigration officials, adoption agency personnel and embassy workers. It takes board members, US office staff, supporters and prayer warriors. It takes pastors and missions committee members. It takes adoptive families. I know I'm forgetting some people. Our banquet brings a lot of these people together. Our web site brings others in who cannot attend. How I wish that someday everyone who participates in the success of CSC could get together in one place so we could thank them and we could reflect together on just how great God has been and what joy we have experienced in being a part of CSC.

It has been a lot of fun and a great joy to be part of this ministry for the past 32 years. We have ridden the crest of the wave as God has continually taken us through challenges and tough times, and given us not only the basic needs of the ministry, but the desires of our hearts for the children.

Thanks for being with us for all or part of those years. Who knows how much longer God will allow us to be a direct part of CSC. But we will enjoy every opportunity to bless the children in Cebu and be blessed by them. Thanks and God bless you all.

Jenny's Latest Drawing

Jenny has been doing a lot of drawing lately at Anodyne Art Center, where she has been going for the past few months. This one is entitled "Food Chain," and reflects her interest in sharks, whales and other sea creatures. We are so proud of Jenny and her work! Enjoy.

Before anything else...

I need to comment on the great month that was December. As usual, we came down to the end of the year needing a huge months to make our budget. 2010 had been a slow year. Many churches and charitable organizations were hurting, and were sending out strong appeals for year-end giving. Some were in pretty desperate straights.

Although our situation was serious, it wasn't desperate. I don't think its possible to ever describe CSC's financial position as dire. Every year since our inception in 1979 God has provided exactly what we needed. Recent years have followed a pattern. Lower than needed income during the middle of the year forces us to use our reserves to pay our bills and send the needed money to Cebu. Year-end giving is strong and allows us to replenish our reserves and pay all our bills. Every year. We try not to take it for granted, but we certainly live in expectation of God doing

great things through the people of CSC.

The year's change, the Annual Financial Reports remain the same. In the recorded history of CSC, God has been faithful, helping us meet the needs of the children that we take in. Looking back to the year's of God's provision we can never look at our situation as desperate. As He has done in the past He continues to do.


So we look to 2011 with a confidence and assurance. I can't wait to see the ways that He will use to make good things happen this year, and the people who will step forward to help us reach our goals for this year.

Life in December

December is a very interesting time for CSC. It can be a little nerve-wracking, too. We always come the end of the year needing big income in December to reach our budgeted goals. This year is no exception and we watch the mail closely every day to see how we're doing. Because our fiscal year is the calendar year, we are already starting to think about our budget for next year. But we can't really do that until we know how we finished this year. It would be difficult to pass a budget for 2011 that includes needed increases if we fail to meet our goals for 2010. So it goes for people in the non-profit realm. The week after Christmas is by far the biggest income week in the whole year!

Its hard to predict exactly how things will come out. If we look at the US economy the outlook is a little cloudy. It has been a tough year for a lot of people, and the recovery that has been eagerly awaited hasn't happened for many of them. Lots of charities and churches are hurting badly. But holiday retail sales seem to be encouraging so far this year. How will it go for CSC?

As we look forward to December we also look back. We look back and remember how God has provided for CSC for 31 years. In all those years we have never missed a single meal for our kids. We have never had to deny our kids needed medicines or medical care. He has provided the money needed for our buildings and expansion. He has "rallied the troops" in amazing ways for 31 Decembers, and we know that this year will be the same. Many times in the past our income has bucked the economic trends as our people have given sacrificially, even while other organizations have experienced deficits. I look forward to watching how God will use his people to make miracles happen for CSC this December!

Thanks to all who will be a part of it.

Generosity

I've been thinking about generous people lately. Generosity is the reason that CSC exists. In the last few days this has come home to me in some pretty powerful ways:

Yesterday I had the pleasure to preach at Central Baptist, my home church. I grew up there, and as I talked about CSC I looked out on a congregation full of friendly faces, people who have been loving our children and supporting the ministry since the very beginning. They have been generous with their money, through good times and bad.

Sitting in the second row were Alberta and Viola, nonagenarian twins whose prayers and spiritual maturity are the foundation of our church. They are generous with their prayers for CSC. Often when I see one of them at church she will ask about some prayer concern that we had listed weeks or months ago. She had been praying for that faithfully and wanted an update. That kind of generosity has sustained the ministry, uplifted individuals and kept our staff from discouragement or error for the entire 31 years that we have been doing this work.

The other night we had a memorial service for Rufa Mae, one of the students in our Children of Hope School who died very suddenly in late October. About 50 of us gathered in Minnesota to celebrate her life. We smiled and we cried and we thanked God for this girl who had touched our lives so significantly. I looked around that room and thank Him for the generosity of love and compassion in that room. Some of the people there had not even met Rufa, but were touched by her anyway, and wanted to offer comfort to those of us who were grieving her loss. We showed a video that night that was made for out banquet in 2008. It showed how Rufa Mae and her brother, who both suffer from brittle bone disease, were carried down the mountain in a basket. That video has touched many lives and has been a great aid in promoting the ministry for the past three years. It was made by a volunteer, Chris Hansen, who has been doing CSC's media presentations for the past 10 years. He is generous with his time and talents, never saying no to a request for help. Like other volunteers, he makes time in his busy schedule for CSC.

As Thanksgiving approaches I am thinking about God's goodness to CSC in a more concentrated way. He has shown this to us through generous people who share our conviction that the situation of homeless children is unacceptable, and use the resources they have, time, talent, as well financial, spiritual and emotional resources to help make a difference for the children that live at CSC.