Catching up...

Hello!

So much has happened.  Sorry it hasn't made it's way on here.  I'm learning, slowly, how to fit all life into the days and what is priority and so on and so forth.  Whew.

The hand...that you all so very much for your many prayers.  It really looks like it is clearing up!  Praise Jesus.  I haven't been around mangoes, yet people still surmize that it might be stress.  That's a hard one because stress comes about in so many forms.  But then, it doesn't seem like anything except for the lack of cutting magoes, has changed.  Hmmm.  Thank you all so much for praying!

This past weekend was a double whammy birthday weekend.  It was a lot of fun.  Pictures from the second birthday are up on facebook.  We went on a zip line.  Actually two. It was lots of fun.  The facility is called "Outland Adventure."  You can check it out at www.outlandadventure.org.  They have an amazing ministry to the surrounding people, especially schools, in Davao City.  We sure enjoyed our time.

Just prior to that, I was able to enjoy some special time with a patient at an outreach.  We were able to take her to get her Ultrasound.  First of all, ultrasounds are just fun to be at, but being able to take her was amazing.  Just superb.  Nothing goes too fast here, so we had lots of time to sit and tsica-tsica (sounds like chica-chica), or chit-chat in a little Vasyan/English.  Then, we were able to take her back the next day to talk with the doctor.  Her "job" is nothing that we would consider table-talk, but as she works with the outreach (we partnered with a local NGO) she is learning to be open.  Although she was a little dissapointed with her estimated due date (she's not sure then, who the father is), we were able to encourage her and just spend time!

Just tonight...well.  Some girls here were eating durian...again.  They coerrsed me into trying it, again.  So, i did.  This time it didn't seem too bad.  Surprisingly.  However, i'm not ready to admit that, so i'm not saying I'd eat again (tho, i probably will).  And, we had it with Coke, which does help to balance out the flavor.  A little bit.  (like i said, i'm not admitting anything.)

This is one of my housemates, Annabelle.  The Durian is a specific type called "Puyat."  It tends to be "sweeter" than most.  If, you can call durians sweet.  HA.

The clinic is busy, as usual.  Today the day shift I was on (from 6 am - 10pm) wasn't too crazy.  We had a couple postpartum patients, that we discharged after their 6 hours of staying after giving birth.  Lots of baby checks, Newborn screening (government mandated), a couple labors that we had to send home because they were too early and an otherwise happy shift.  You can keep on praying for it.  The LORD will bring the increase.  He is painting a beautiful tapestry with it.

The weather has changed to mostly rainy in the evening, sometimes a rain shower during the day. So, it's a little bit cooler.  And, we are soaking it up.  Especially those of us who are missing Autumn!  So, those of you who are enjoying it, soak it up!!

Blessings.  May His peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds.

Only the Ignorant become Midwives.

Hello again!

Thank you all for your many prayers and well wishes for my hand.  It is indeed improving, praise the LORD!  The doctor requested last week that I return in one week, so I'll see her again this Friday.  Did I mention the office is in the mall?  Well, she is.  That is another topic for another day though.  Ah, the everyday things here. Here's a picture, if you wanted to see it...the blisters are much smaller, though at time sill itchy.  Please keep praying my body would be rid of them!   It's ironic to so need to use your hands, yet they are diseased?!  The LORD knows.
*ok, well there would be a picture, but it's not working this evening...maybe later.

On to the topic of this post.  It's just plain truth, that's all.  If you are a midwife you will conquer with said statement, "Only the ignorant become midwives."  Granted, this is the direction the LORD has laid on my heart, as well as the girls here.  It should be noted though that He did NOT show us what a midwife is before coming.  A general example is nothing compared to the life of a midwife.

Let me 'splain.  The majority of midwives here had no intention initially of any sort of midwifery.  Maybe missions, but not midwifery.  Yet, here we are.  Most of us have a similar story of wanting to do missions, maybe something medical, maybe not, then the Lord just lays midwifery in our lap.  Then you realize why He asks for obedience.  He knows we would see all the obstacles and never enjoy the amazing beauty of His handiwork.  Such sweetness.

Having said all that, you should know, we love it.  Oh, there are moments and days that is it hard.  The doubt creeps in, the reality of the craziness that at any moment someone might walk in ready to give birth regardless of the time of day/night or day of the week, yet it doesn't matter.  This is one of the most intimate handiworks of God, neigh, His most intimate?  So amazing that we even able to play a part.

Blessings to you all!

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. " - Psalm 139:14-15

quick update...

Ring Worm...OR NOT!

Well, in case you had read of the ring worm that I had contracted.  It turns out that does not seem to be the case.  I don't post a picture, because it doesn't look very pretty.  At least parts of it aren't very pretty.  It has started to spread a little and continues to hold the blisters.  If you really want more gory detail I'll gladly tell you, but you'll have to ask.  It was suggested today that I go see a Dermotologist.  God has all the wisdom and He supplied the doctor today.  So, regardless of her honesty to say that she doesn't really know what it is, but will start on the basis that it is a form of Eczema by ruling out other possibilies, God is the One who has allowed this.

It is rather discouraging, my left hand is hard to use, it needs to be covered when working with patients, is often sore because of ones that have blistered and broken due to their location in between my pinky and ring finger, God is still in control.  In this I will rest though it may be hard.

My friend came with me today and added great questions and lended a listening ear while the doctor talked and was overall and amazing comfort.  We did some errands, shared a yummy frozen coffee drink, and talked all about midwifery and God's amazing work throughout time.

Thank you all for praying.  My hand is turning into a bigger distraction than my heart desires. I don't know why God is allowing this, but He is.  He makes beauty from ashes and there is much in me that needs to be burned away.

The Lord is my Banner

can you guess what this is? First off, this is the side of my left hand.  What started as just a couple blistery, itchy bumps have turned out to be Ring Worm.  Yup.  It's a fungal infection that is highly contagious.  It is most easily contracted from touching animals (which I do not to here!), but can be picked up almost anywhere.  

My study space!  The door that is just past the fan opens up into the dinning room.  There are four of us at the table where I am, but I am right next to the window!  

Sending you a smile!

"Blessed be the LORD, my rock, 

Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle; My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me." -Psalm 144:1-2

So, you might be wondering about the ring worm.  There is a purpose for sharing that with you.  It's not because that's the most exciting thing happening in my life.  haha.  Rather, it is because it challenged me...my comfort zone.

You see, I was happily getting settled (it's only been 5 weeks, but it feels like forever!) and things were becoming comfortable.  I had it all under control.  Then this, this, thing appeared seemingly out of no where.  It was fully plausible that the ants which are part of the regular tapestry of life, had taken a few bites.   Yet, that was not it.

Then the Lord spoke to me so clearly.  As my dreams wander and wade through the next few weeks, months, and years and dream of the women who the LORD will bring, He reminded me that HE is the one in control.  My body is laid down for Him.  For Him to use, to protect, to place in people's lives as He sees fit.  I cannot possibly hope to keep myself from all harm including germs of all types.  However, HE is more than able.  Ah, to rest in that and trust that every time I enter the clinic, a birth, visit with a mother-to-be, or am placed in any other situation HE will be my guard because He called me.

That is my heart just recently and I wanted you to share in it too.  He is sooo faithful.  This is a little thing, but it could have been so much more.  Praise Him that He knows just what I can handle.

Tomorrow a team of us are headed to an outreach.  Hopefully you'll get an update on that shortly.

Praise:
- Lives are being changed
- God is the One who builds
- We continue to settle in
- We've had cooling rain...ahhhh.

Prayers:
- For the ministry of the clinic to continue in strength
- The midwives: they are hard workers and often things can be emotionally draining- Us as we continue to be stretched and challenge in this new culture

- Our dear language teacher had a tragety in her family and will be at a funeral this week.  Pray for the family to find comfort and rest in Jesus.

THANK you, as always.  May His peace guard your hearts and minds.

A little of the clinic!

Ready for a quick little tour around the clinic??

Here is goes with some more pics!!

OK, so this is me (above) after a morning being in the clinic to watch some Prenatals!  So many women.  We all dress up to look nice and the women generally wear their best too!  We only wear scrubs in the birth room.

Oops, well they are a little out of order...one day...one day they will end up in order!  This is the postpartum room.  Beds 6-10 are here.  The patients will stay here for anywhere from 5-6 hours after birth, usually.

Woo-woo!  Don't we look like a happy Crew!  Lois, Juniper (Juni), Hannah, and me.  So much fun.

Ah, this is the all important board.  This tells what is going on where in the birth room.  Beds 1-5 are in here.  The pt's names are not here, but they go on the very left.  And clocks...they are on every wall!

So, this is a little snap shot of "Birth Room Shoes."  We have some strict rules to keep things cleaned.  The only thing missing from this picture is the sweet ladies who wash them!

So, this is a little sitting area right inside the birth room for staff!  Just to the left of this is a desk, the wall with the board, newborn screening area, etc.  This is our hang-out and sometimes where we sleep if night shift has no one come in.

This is the "birth" cart.  After a birth we clean it up and restock it.  They are sure important to have stocked and ready for use!

This is one of the birth rooms/beds!  Each "room" is sectioned off with a curtain.  It is highly practical and allows for pretty good air flow.  There is a fan above each bed...most necessary.  There is a little plastic covering that goes over the middle of the bed to help preserve the mattress from, well, being dirty.  hehe.  Anyway, usually during a birth there is the handling midwife who will catch the baby, the assist, a charter who is writing down the whole birth, maybe a bana (husband or boyfriend) and the mother.

Well, that's a little bit of what I see daily. :) Enjoy!

1-2-3!

This little family happens to be a patient at the clinic AND he is a diver who dives for pearls and makes beautiful jewelry.  They live pretty far away... but we have outreaches that travel to them on a regular basis.

Here's a fun, quick, "1-2-3" about the clinic.  Maybe this will even help a little to give you a bigger picture of just who is able to receive care at the clinic.  There are three stipulations and if a patient meets anyone of these during her initial screening by our amazing office staff, then they become a patient at Mercy!



1) They must meet a certain income criteria.  In other words, they cannot be able to pay normal hospital fees.  If they can, then we will allow them to have their care there.  If they cannot, then we will take them.  All the births here are at a ver minimal cost.  They pay for a few things, which in US dollars usually amounts to somewhere around $10.00 or so.  Not very much, plus there are many things that they receive completely free!

2) The mother must be under 18 years of age.  Many of our patients are very young.  We do so love to care for them and minister to them in anyway that is possible for us to do so.  As best as we can, we try to make their birth experience and the care they receive a blessing to them.

3) They are a single mother.  There are many stories of single mothers here, some of them more tragic than others.  However, here again, we desire to serve them in anyway we can.  By giving them a safe place to have their baby, receive top-notch care, and at almost no expense is amazing.

Does that help anyone?  We do transport to the hospital that is no more than 10 minutes away in emergency situations and situations where we have to follow protocol (yes, we have that here too!)  None the less to watch the clinic in full swing is amazing.  Keep on praying for it.  The LORD is the one who builds the house, otherwise the builders truly build in vein.   

Add to the last post!!

hello!

If you care to see some video touring, then you can follow the link.  Sorry, i'm not savy enough, apprently, to get the videos up on the blog. :(  They are up on Picasa though, so enjoy!

Blessings!
Kelly

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