A couple of articles have been written by others on our (and other’s) work for the flood relief in Cagayan de Oro.
Feburary Updates
Things are getting back to normal after the Disaster Response trips to Cagayan de Oro. We are presently in the middle of 2011 CPE Batch 4A training. We have just started 2012 CPE Batch 1B training. We are also finishing CPO (Clinical Pastoral Orientation) training with PCM (Philippine College of Ministry).
Upcoming:
Feb 17, BBEG Meeting hosted by Bukal
Feb 19-20 CPO-PCM final evals and graduation
Mar 1-4, Dr. Raymond Lawrence joins us during his Philippine Trip
Mar 12, Recollection service at Northridge School
March 19, CPE 2012 Batch 2A (Summer Intensive) starts.
CPE Policy Change Notice
Date: January 20, 2012
To: All Staff and Supervisors of Bukal Life, as well as prospective CPE trainees.
Fm: Administrator, Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center, Inc.
Cc: Executive Director, Board of Trustees, Bukal Life
Subject: CPE Application Requirements
Effective this date, January 20, 2012, all applications for CPE require submission and acceptance of two forms rather than one. The two forms are:
CPE Application Form: CLICK HERE
CPE Scholarship/Finances Form: CLICK HERE
Application and Finances Forms must be received, reviewed, and accepted prior to the first day of class.
Failure to complete these adequately will result in rejection or delay of acceptance to the program. Failure to meet the terms dilineated in the Financial Application will result in termination from the program or receiving an INCOMPLETE on the unit.
All staff and supervisors are requested to practice and enforce this policy change for future applicants/trainees.
Sincerely,
Robert H. Munson, Th.D.
Administrator, Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center
Return trip to CDO for Typhoon Sendong Relief
Our team of seven returned to CDO last Thursday (Jan 5) They have been working with Kagay-an Disaster Evangelical Response Network, Oro Christian Grace School, and DEPED in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. 
Monday, Celia, Ryan, and Cindy returned to Baguio while the remaining 4 stayed in CDO. Tuesday, they were able to visit the evac center at City Central School and have ministered to victims there. The remaining team (Ptr. Joel, Jehny, Becky, and Alma) will travel Wednesday to Iligan City to hold a crash course in Crisis Response Stress Debriefing Workshop with Evangelical churches there.
Return to Cagayan de Oro
Our Disaster Response Crisis Intervention Team returned to Cagayan de Oro for training and crisis intervention. The team will start work with the Department of Education, as well as at some of the evacuation centers.
It may be worth explaining what we do. We are a religious organization and so some might assume that we focus on evangelism. That is not the case. When someone has gone through a major crisis, they should not make major decision, and should not be encouraged to. They need to be taken to a place of safety and security (physically, emotionally, and mentally). They need to be given a chance for ventilation and validation. They need a chance to plan and prepare for the future… to find a new normal.
We use NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance) for group intervention. We use Crisis Care Chaplaincy by the Southern Baptist Convention for training of chaplains, as well as Psychological First Aid by NCCTS (and others).
Day Three Disaster Response in Cagayan de Oro
Pictures of some of the stress debriefing/disaster response of our team in Cagayan de Oro can be seen at:
Bukal Life Disaster Response Team with former Senator Dick Gordon, Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross
Cagayan de Oro Flooding Response Trip Update after Day 1
Our team of 5 individuals from Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center began the trip to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) on Monday approximately 6AM. The previous week flooding resulted in over 1000 deaths and 50,000 in temporary housing. The team arrived in Manila and got on their 4PM flight to Cagayan de Oro. Unfortunately due to bad weather in CDO, the plane was diverted Davao, a city that is 10 hours from CDO by bus. Arriving in Davao, they were able to find a van going to CDO and began the overnight trek. Local government was not recommending taking the overland route because of risk of landslides, but since air travel was cancelled, there was no choice.
The team arrived around 7AM on the 27th. After breakfast, they began training local church and layleaders in crisis intervention. During the previous week, local government, government agencies, NGOs and religious groups joined together in CDO to plan response. Because of our plan to come down, the evangelical churches were given the responsibility for crisis counseling/intervention. They formed Ka-gayan Evangelical Disaster Response Network. This was the group we started training. 97 trainees were with us on the first day of training. The same trainees plan to join us on day two of training. The following day, our team will work with the trainees in crisis counseling/intervention with primary and secondary victims of the flooding.
After the first day of training, the team visited some of the major flood areas. Now they are catching up on their sleep (having been awake for two full days). We will update you all in a couple of days.
Special Needs Parenting
Special Need Parents have it difficult. Often it is even more difficult in the Philippines. The support system is spotty at best. The school system, even where it does accommodate special needs children, is overcrowded, teachers overworked, and children are put together in the same classroom who should not be. There is also a cultural tendency to keep special needs children hidden away at home. 
Much of these problems are world-wide. With that in mind, here is a blog article that we think you might enjoy. It is called “11 Things I’ve Learned Since Becoming a Special-Needs Parent.” Here are the first three items. To read the rest, click on the article at the bottom of this post.
1. Not knowing is a lot harder than knowing. Yes, there is a lot we can do via therapy to help our children walk, talk, learn, etc. But the hardest thing to admit is that most of it is simply up to their brain and its wiring. There are no certain predictors that a special needs child will develop speech, be able to read, be potty-trained, or become self-sufficient . Good signs, yes. But nothing is certain. The not knowing can drive you crazy if you let it.
2. The internet is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, there is valuable information out there. Yet, information overload can get you stuck. You end up reading too many awful things — that often don’t apply to your child at all — and it can deplete your hope and make you paranoid.
3. Connecting to the special-needs community (whether it be acquaintances, support groups, or the internet) can be both a lifesaver and bummer. It is vital to find people who know what you are going through. Yet, sometimes it can produce even more negative feelings. Since there is always someone who has it worse than you, it can make you feel guilty for complaining. And, since there is always someone else who has it much better, you can sometimes forget that, when it comes to parenting, stress and worry are relative. Those people are just as immersed in their concern over their children as you are and, understandably, aren’t grateful simply because it could be worse. It can always be worse.
To Read More, Click on THIS ARTICLE
BUKAL LIFE PROPOSED 2012 CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
<CPE = “Clinical Pastoral Education>
<CPO = “Clinical Pastoral Orientation>
<CPSP = “College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy>
Jan-Mar Extended CPE (2011 Batch 4A) continues
Extended CPE-Manila begins (2011 Batch 1B). End date TBD.
Feb 6 CPO at Philippine College of Ministry completes.
Mar 1-4 CPSP Diplomate Visit—Staff Appraisal and Enhancement —Dr. Raymond Lawrence
Mar 20 –25 Summer Intensive CPE (2012 Batch 2) Orientation
May 8- May 13 2nd Annual William & Viola Farrel Pastoral Care Symposium
CPSP Diplomate Visit—Staff Appraisal and Enhancement —Dr. Cesar Espineda
May 26 Intensive CPE (2012 Batch 2) Graduation
Jun-Aug Extended CPE (2012 Batch 3)
Sept – Nov Extended CPE (2012 Batch 4)
Oct Board of Trustees Annual Meeting
Oct 8-14 CPSP Diplomate Visit—Staff Appraisal and Enhancement —Dr. Charles Starr
Oct 2nd Anniversary Celebration
Nov Bukal Life Staff and BOT Thanksgiving
Dec Break
—————————————–
On-going Activities:
CPO groups in Baguio, Kalinga, Bulacan etc. are being scheduled.
Bi-Monthly Pastoral Care & Counseling Mini-Workshop—Last Saturdays of January, March, May, July, September and November.
Disaster Response Crisis Intervention training for teammembers and interested partners will be scheduled
Note: Bukal Life-certified CPE supervisors as well as individual centers (such as Manila and Bacolod) work with a certain amount of scheduling freedom. Therefore, schedules can vary considerably.
End of Year Activity List
Some Activities in 2011
Thanks to all who participated in making 2011 a great year of ministry and growth.
Jan 4 Shepherd in Every Classroom training for teachers at Union School International
Feb 3 Recollection Retreat for High School students from CCDC, held at Mount St. Paul’s Retreat Center, La Trinidad
Feb 12 Parents Training at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, La Trinidad
Feb 23 Psychology of the Family Training, Bang-Ar group, Naguilian, La Union
Mar 4 Conflict/Confrontation Training, Psychology Group, University of Cordilleras
Mar 29 Basic Health & First Aid for Short-Term Missionaries. Asia Vision-STM, at PBTS
Mar 21 – May 28 CPE Batch 1. 23 students, 5 supervisors-in-training. Baguio.
Apr 20, 23 Inauguration of CPSP-Philippines, and Certification of Bukal Life as training center for CPSP.
May 9 Workshop for Special Needs Ministry, At PBTS
May 10-13 Training at Calvary Baptist Elementary School
May 14 “The William & Viola Farrell Pastoral Care and Counseling Symposium.” Baguio City
May 21 Medical Mission, Irisan Dumpsite
May 31 Crisis Care Seminar. Dalicno, Itogon.
Jun 14 Parenting Seminar II. Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Jun 18 CPE Batch 2 started. 6 trainees. Baguio
Aug 6 CPE Batch 3 started. 17 trainees. Baguio/Manila. Start of Bukal Life-Manila.
Sep 3 Annual Board Meeting. Baguio
Sep 29 Family Day, AVRC-1. Dagupan.
Oct 20 Dinner For a Cause/1st Anniversary Celebration. CPE Batch 2 and 3A Graduation
Nov 7 CPE Information Meeting, PBTS, Baguio City.
Nov 12 CPE Graduation, Bukal Life-Manila
Nov 12 University of the Cordilleras, Commerce Graduating Class. Seminar, Stress and Time
management.
Nov 14 CPO class start 1-4pm, Mid-City Christian Church. 17 Trainees
Nov 14 CPE Batch 4A begins. 11 Trainees
Nov 28-29 CPO Training with Highlands Convention, UCCP, in Tabuk Kalinga. 25 Trainees
Dec 10 CPO class with UCCP, Highlands Convention
Dec 16 Christmas Party (Bukal Life-Baguio and BOT)
Dec 26-30 Disaster Response Crisis Intervention, Cagayan de Oro
Bukal Life Care 