The 2010 Banquet - From the Flip Side!

In 1998, I signed up for my first missions trip ever with my youth group - to a place on the other side of the world called the Children's Shelter of Cebu.  It sounded cool and I was excited for an amazing experience.  That year, my team all went to the annual CSC banquet at Bethel College, and I started to realize what an amazing ministry this was!  Every year since then I have made it to the banquet.  This was the first year I missed it since 1998. :(  I guess though...if you can't make it to the banquet, then the next best place you can be is actually IN Cebu AT CSC itself!!!

So this year I was able to take part in the banquet from the "flip side".  Since Cebu is currently 13 hours ahead of Minnesota time, the staff all got up early Sunday morning to be able to see the banquet.  We were up at the school and a big screen was set up so we could watch as the live video feed came in from the banquet.  Although we didn't get the scrumptious meal and the fabulous fellowship with people who love CSC, we got a good glimpse of the excitement that was happening a half a world away!  

When it came time for our Twins player kids to throw candy, we got to watch them get in position and practice multiple times to perfect it before throwing the candy all the way to Minnesota!  (Oh, and WE got to eat the candy too!)

I was moved in a whole new way as I heard the speakers this year talk about CSC, and about love abounding at CSC.  It was different this time, because I sat right in the middle of it all, sitting right next to some of the children whom I loved so dearly.  I watched as the video played and how our new group of seven was discussed.  The oldest of the seven was standing right near me and her face lit up as she saw herself and her siblings on the screen.  It was hard for her to understand that this was being seen by hundreds of people right at that moment on the other side of the world!

Then nearly all the kids came up to the school in their "Sunday best", ready for their few moments of fame as they would wave good-bye at the end of the banquet.  It was neat to look around at all the kids and houseparents lining up in position, then hear the offering announcement of how much had been graciously and generously given at the banquet to further the ministry of CSC for the year.  I realized that the whole thing wasn't really something the kids could understand, but WE understood.  We heard the offering amount, cheered, and could look right back into our kids' faces, knowing that God was continuing to provide so that THEIR daily meets can be met - so they can continue to eat well, live safely, learn, smile, dream, and hope. 

Soon enough, the kids headed back home, the banquet was over, and the live feed was disconnected.  On the Cebu side of the world, we couldn't mill around with CSC supporters and adoptive families and run around to grab a handful of kids' pictures or the last cupcake off the table.  However, we were able to sit where God had called us - right at CSC, there in the Philippines - in awe and humility.  We shared about how wonderful the banquet was and our favorite parts.  We also discussed how deeply grateful we were for people's generosity in continuing to give financially to CSC.  As we closed in thankful prayer, we were renewed in energy and hope, and reminded of God's continued faithfulness to this ministry as He provides for our needs time and time again.

THANKS to everyone who attended the banquet this year, and for everyone who gave so generously to help towards the operating costs of CSC!!!  If you have never been to a banquet, next year is YOUR YEAR!  It's an amazing time to learn more about the ministry, hear updates, see adoptive families, see cute pictures of our kids, and learn how you can be a part of furthering the ministry in a number of ways!