Whenever a visitor, staff, child, or adoptive family leaves CSC to go back home, the kids sing a goodbye song and everyone hugs. Like literally, every kid hugs every person. That’s 80+ hugs and yet somehow, for me, it went way too fast. In looking back at our goodbye, I just wish I could have had a full minute to look each individual sweet kid in the eyes, study their face one last time, and hold them tight for longer than any of them would have been comfortable with. But instead I just got millions of billions of hugs and kisses all in a 30 minute flurry, and then it was over, all too fast. And even still, it was heart-breakingly sweet and wonderful.
This video starts with a clip of the goodbye hug-o-mania and I did some editing work to give you the kids singing the goodbye song in the background. You know, just another one of my super fancy tricks. Like I do.
After the goodbyes, I just put together some scenes of life at CSC, of our favorite sweet and funny moments. My hope and prayer is that Bjork and I can communicate not just how much joy we got from hanging around these superstars for a year, but how much incredible work is being done around the world through ministries like CSC, and how people who care, share, give, and adopt are people who are changing the world. These kids were once malnourished, homeless, living in violent or dangerous places. And here they are, lighting up this little home on a bumpy mountain road in the Philippines.
Since this is one of my last mushy posts about our year in the Philippines, I’m shamelessly encouraging you to consider meeting a specific need at the orphanage because I cannot think of anything more appropriate to give our money and resources to than this cause. Immunizations, math books, kitchen equipment… these are all specific things that you can provide to further the work that’s being done here. Whether CSC or other organizations like it, this is it, you guys. I really believe that this is what life should be about, and that challenges me.
I have been humbled and blessed and just plain excited-dance-giddy from all your comments and emails with stories about the Philippines, working and living abroad, mission related stories, and orphan care. I told Bjork just yesterday how amazed I am at all the positivity that you bring to our little corner of the internet. We live in a big, big world and my heart is happy knowing that this little sliver of it touches others’ hearts as well.
Salamat kaayo! Thank you veryverymuch.
In your own words, that was “heart-breakingly sweet and wonderful”. Thank you so much for sharing – everything. You are so generous with your heart, time, and cookie recipes!! Not only have you touched and continue to touch many people’s lives, but also, you’ve allowed others to touch yours. You inspire me to put a pinch of compassion in whatever I do, wherever I go, and whoever I meet. THANKS LINDSEY & BJORK!!! And thank you to your family at CSC too–they don’t even know how much their smiles and joyfulness have warmed my heart so far away! 😀
What beauty. I just stumbled onto this blog (maybe) for a bread pudding sauce recipe and found much more that what I was looking for. I’m so moved by this video and I know I want to do something. I know I’m meant to do something. I don’t know how you leave there. I could move there and live forever living among those little ones, loving them until they get adopted or until they go out on their own, either way, I would make sure they knew they were loved. You two are awesome!
Thanks Mindy! What a nice comment.
I have loved reading and watching all about your year in the Philippines. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us.
Such a cute post and I am said to be saying goodbye to them!
That was seriously beautiful. As my husband and I feel called to adopt, it’s seeing these sweet babes that make me even more anxious. I love that you and Bjork poured into these people and children. The Lord is using you both and that is so awesome to see.
You’re amazing 🙂 What a beautiful, heartfelt and honest post! Thank you for sharing.
I love the pic of the gorgeous baby wearing the cute hat with the plaits….so sweet 🙂
Just thank you for your beautiful heart and for sharing it with those amazing kiddos. 🙂
That’s such a beautiful video, it must have been so hard to leave all those gorgeous kids!
Wow, this is incredibly powerful and touching. Thank you for posting, Lindsay. And thank you for listening to that call to serve – so inspiring!
this is something I want to do soooo much. you and Bjork both have a wonderful heart and thank you for sharing.
what a beautiful video. thanks for sharing!
It does touch my heart. Beautiful video.
I just recently stumbled across your blog, and I have to say….I am so moved by you and your husband’s amazingly huge heart and spirit. This video, and the things you did and experienced in the last year has truly inspired me. Thank you for sharing your experience!
OH….and I have to mention that I’ve tried a few of your “healthy” recipes and they’re AMAZING! I’ve printed off about 5 more to try. They even got the “boyfriend stamp of approval”. Thanks for sharing them!
Wow – thank you! And I’m so glad your boyfriend likes them too! 🙂
Thanks for providing the link to the CSC donation page! I’m happy to give even a small amount to such a worthy organization.
Such a beautiful film, it really brought all your tales to life.
Janie x
*Sniffle* You two are so blessed.
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:5)
Thank you for sharing!
Amen. Thank you for caring! 🙂
That was beautiful – made me cry! What you did this last year was absolutely amazing – I wish I could have done something like that before we had kids. It breaks my heart that there are kids like them all over the world. Makes me want to adopt a bunch 🙂 It also makes me so happy to read and support this blog – you are a great human being (as well as a mighty good cook), and I wish there were MANY more people like you and Bjork in this world. Keep up the good work – and cooking – I’m so happy to support you! And so glad you kept up the blog over the last year, I’ve enjoyed every post even if I didn’t get to comment as much as I would have liked. YOU. ARE. SO. AWESOME. God bless you, Lindsay!
That was beautiful. I think I started crying at the first “God will take care of you”! God bless!
Hahah! It’s rare for anyone to make it out of that goodbye “ceremony” without crying. 🙂
That was beautiful!! You and your husband were certainly being God’s hand and feet during your time at the orphanage. I spent a summer (8 years ago) at an orphanage in Taiwan and still think of those kids so often. It was life changing…as I’m sure it was for you guys.
This is SO beautiful. Touches my heart and I get mushy, too. Teary eyed at work (so not professional). You and Bjork inspire me SO MUCH, I have always dreamed about doing a ministry far away. You make it feel so real and tangible through your blog (and come up with the most AMAZING recipes). I hope and pray an opportunity can come like this for me, and because of you I can see the beauty and challenges that come with it. Yet again, a beautiful post by a beautiful woman. Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you Alana!
What a blessing! Praise God for the work he’s doing there and for the opportunity you had to be a part of it.
Lindsay – The fact that you guys spent a year of your lives with these children is truly amazing. You have such a great experience and memories to look back on. Thanks for sharing this part of your lives with all of us.
That was such a beautiful video! I teared up seeing all the little faces and smiles; the joy of children who have seen too much and experienced too much always amazes me. We do missions to Peru and I love every minute I can spend with the orphans there – thank you for sharing your experience : )
THanks Erika! That’s great that you have the opportunity to work with people and kids in Peru. As you know, it’s hard to find work that’s more meaningful than this. 🙂
I found your website through foodgawker and I thought that it was just another cute food blog with good recipes, but reading through your other posts showed me how wrong that first impression was.
See, I live in the Philippines, but for some reason, you seem to appreciate it more than I do. It’s a little heartbreaking to realize that. You speak so well about the food and the people and the places and your work here, while I, a local through and through, can barely muster the energy to think of the things I like about this place. Maybe it’s very stupid of me to be like that, but you made me realize that there is so much here that I haven’t seen and experienced yet. Somehow, you made me -want- to fall in love with the Philippines and I love how you probably didn’t intend to do that. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your thoughtful and honest comment! It was a really hard year in a lot of ways, I think that would be true no matter what country we would have been living in for a year, because most of the world lives and operates so differently than what we’re used to in America. It makes my heart really happy that I was able to communicate our true appreciation for the beautiful things and people in the Philippines this year! No place is perfect, and even in the times when it wasn’t easy and I wanted to go home, it was really an honor to live there. Take care Vida!
What a great video! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. You are such an inspiration!
Ok, I’m officially in tears. The last few months, my prayers have deepened, and something that keeps coming to light is adoption/orphanages/kids. I’m positive God is trying to tell us something. So, thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences. You are encouraging and inspirational.
Blessings!
Christina
Blessings to YOU Christina! What an exciting time… can’t wait to see where God leads you.