“GRATITUDE IS THE MEMORY OF THE HEART”
By Father Alvin

     “You not only gave us a health clinic for physical healing, but for the renewal of wounded hearts and souls as well,” remarked Sister Gemma after the trio of CN seniors: Brandon Calos, Spencer Fowler and Ward Hoskins, completed their CBSL project at Bukid Kabataan in the Philippines. Located about a two-hour drive from Manila, Bukid Kabataan (Children’s Farm) is an orphanage that houses more than fifty physically and sexually abused children and teens needing rehabilitation and treatment.
     The Religious Sisters of the Good Shepherd running the facility were filled with gratitude not only for the gift of the health clinic, but more importantly for the quality time that the CN teens spent with the children who were left behind in the farm during the Christmas season. The eight boys who could not be placed with foster families during the holiday break (in some cases no one simply wanted them) were overjoyed by the gift of having big brothers even for a short period of time.
     During the farewell dinner, in appreciation of the CN seniors help and presence, the children sung their theme song entitled “Gratitude is the Memory of Heart,” a song composed by Sister Myra that was based on the real struggles and hopes of the children. The song reminded the American guests that the children appreciated the financial assistance and moral support given because it brought them more than material help; it gave little broken souls opportunities to dream again of a beautiful life that was stolen from them at an early age.