CSC is in a time of transition.
Mitch and Ruth left a couple of weeks ago to return to the US for their
year-long furlough----the office is noticebly different with Ruth gone and I
have already had to remind myself that “the thing” I have to ask Mitch---he was
kind of the “Answer Man”---will have to be asked of someone else. Or will have to be “Googled”---Google knows
almost as much as Mitch! ;)
 |
| A farewell lunch |
 |
| Praying over the Ohlendorfs |
Similarly, Sandy is also in transition mode; she is now back in the Philippines after being home in the US for a year. She has resumed her role as Child Development
Director, and Amy and I are once again a 3-person team---which
is wonderful because we often need to be at 3 different places at one time!
Speaking of life changes----Amy's life is about to change completely! She is getting married in less than 2 months! She is planning for the big day while also teaching preschool and serving on the Childcare team. Can you say busy kaayo?!
I have also been in a bit of a transition as I moved out of
the home I was living in last year to a smaller apartment closer to the
shelter. I now have to fight the
lizards, ants and roaches on my own and I am sort of failing miserably---I miss
Katie (the dog) and Kali (the cat) who saved me from all of the creepy
crawlies. I no longer scream when I am
startled by them---I just sharply inhale and then have to psych myself up to
spraying them or smashing them with the nearest heavy object. Ah, personal growth, such a beautiful thing.
 |
| My bathroom/closet |
 |
Here is my entryway---come on in!
|
 |
| Speaking of creepy crawlies---this is a cutlery garage! |
 |
| My 2 burner, well, actually it is only a 1 burner, the second one is currently broken.... ;) |
The makeup in our homes is changing as well. We have received several new babies and will likely be admitting some older children later on. The babies are adorable, Uncle Paul says that
CSC always gets the cutest babies, and I am inclined to agree! As a member of the Childcare team, I am also
on our Referral team, the committee that decides who will be admitted. I feel privileged to sit at the same table
with our hard-working social workers, who live and work “in the trenches,”
Uncle Paul, who is truly an icon at this organization, my colleagues on the Childcare
team, who have proven their dedication to CSC for many years, Marlys Healy, our
Medical Director and the catalyst for this ministry, and our counselors, who
give each of our children time, attention and validation---their case loads are
HUGE! What an impressive committee, a
powerhouse, a wealth of experience, knowledge and HEART----I am humbled---I sit
there praying I will absorb, through osmosis, a fraction of their wisdom and
strength.
Just a few of our new kids...
 |
| She is clearly still figuring me out! ;) |
 |
| I have a feeling this one is going to be spunky! |
 |
| Look at that face! |
 |
| Gwapo na siya----He is cute! |
I am also sobered at those meetings. Even though these babies are 2 weeks or 1
month old, the heartache and despair they have come from is unreal. I pray that God has protected them from the
stress and chaos of their prior living environments and that their memories will
start here, at CSC. Under the watch and
care of our Aunties, who love these kids so tenderly, I pray that they will
finally understand love as God originally intended for it to be lived out. And our house parents, they are the salt of
the earth. They invest in the spiritual
and personal development of each of our children---they care endlessly day in
and day out for every child that comes and goes and they don’t forget.
Here, our children learn about God and even though they
don’t, nor do we, understand why their family was so devastated by poverty or
depravity to the point of dissolution, they learn and, we know, that God has an
even better plan. God is good at making
beauty from our messes. He often gives
us rainbows after the storm.
Please pray for our staff and our houses as we all flex
during these times of transition. These
changes are joyous ones: new kids, much needed relaxation for hard-working
staff members, a returning leader, a wedding, and a new home (for me!). But change is hard too, so your prayers are
always welcome!
I pray that you feel God’s presence strong around you---I
know His hand is on CSC---I see it everyday---in His provision, in answered
prayers, in protection, just to name a few.
That to me has been the most unexpected blessing I have received in my
time here.
Thanks for caring about CSC, our kids, our staff members,
our workers, our mission. You are all a
part of this beautiful legacy.
