New Year's Eve Update

There is so much I want to write about, however, time is short, and I fear it shall have to wait until I return.... Let me just say that I saw God move mightily in the Passion and Purpose Retreat last weekend....not only in my life, but in others as well.  We had some precious fellowship, incredible praise and worship, and blessed time with our Saviour, King, and Redeemer!!

Unfortunately, this is one of the only photos I have of the retreat--talk about lame, I know...
But at least we have something!!!

It was so neat to be able to spend time with other believers discovering truths that truly set the captives free!! What a precious thing for brothers and sisters in Christ to do!

A beautiful (slightly enhanced ;) sunset

Sunday afternoon, after church, we all crashed, and I do believe we would have slept straight through until Monday morning if we didn't have a special commitment that night--my grandparent's just celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary!!! What an incredible legacy in this age of divorce and unfaithfulness... We truly are blessed!

Yesterday, Rachel and I scrambled around getting everything packed in time for the packing party at church last night... I am happy to say I got everything packed, and now just have some final details to wrap up (leaving time to blog of course.. ;p)

We really have a blessed team going down there--we all love God, and really want to take responsibility for our part, which will make it easier on all of us.

I would appreciate prayers--for me personally.. Yesterday, I came across my Filipino phone, with all my messages from a year gone by...
One year ago, I was in the Philippines--looking forward to 2 more months of ministry in the Jungle. I was celebrating the new year with friends, when my medical emergency happened, and in a whirlwind of events, I found myself on a flight headed home, instead of heading up North to the Bukid..

Just over 1 year ago....

I realized yesterday, that as much as I am anticipating serving the Belizean people, it's also hard, as my heart is really longing to be with "my people" - those on the island of Mindanao. This last weekend, I found myself speaking in Visayan and writing the same, and memories are just pouring back.

Right after giving out Christmas Dinner, gifts, and the Gospel to over 200 kids in Southern Cotabato

God really has helped me cultivate a heart of contentment (not that I don't struggle sometimes!), and I know He has a perfect plan, and I do believe that my time serving the Filipinos is not over. However, I would appreciate prayer that I would be able to completely embrace every aspect of my time in Belize, with a whole heart, nothing wavering.  I don't want ANYTHING holding me back from serving God down there, and being a part of the team -- no matter what my other mission experiences have been like.
It seems so weird to just be bringing various medical supplies, and leaving my beloved doppler, fetoscope, midwifery books, scrubs, and all of my supplies with me... So much of what I will be bringing was loved on in the Philippines--it is so different not to be going back there...

Praise God for His never-ending and always enduring mercy!!!

Na hidlaw sa ko imo, akong Pilipinas!!!

A few of us were practicing last night for a special number to be played in Belize, and the words ministered deeply:

With my whole heart I humbly seek You

Now use my life, O Lord, I pray

I yield my stubborn will completely

May your commandments light my way.

Your Word has promised me the vict'ry

And all I need to do is claim

Your strength, to soar with wings as eagles

To walk, to run, and not to faint.

My life is Yours to control

I give You my heart and my soul

I'll seek Your will, never mine

Rich treasure to find.

Give wisdom to choices I make

Along ev'ry path that I take

So when I complete life's race

"Well done" You will say.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

~ Isaiah 52:7 ~

Filipino Memoirs

I post this in May, but the following is what God showed me in February:
Time has passed, and looking back, there have been moments that I had to ask God "What did you accomplish through me in the Philippines? I didn't finish my time there...I didn't accomplish what I went to do in the first place--serve the Bukid people.."

In the last few weeks, God has given me insights into what He did there....
In total, I spent 2.5 months at Mercy Maternity Center, where God allowed me enough practice in midwifery and complications in prenatals and delivery, that I felt completely comfortable delivering a baby without a supervisor, in the Bukid (hours away from hospital help), and also allowed me to share the Gospel to different women and encourage others in their walks with God.

While there, I delivered 15 babies (bringing my total to 25); assisted with over 30 births (bringing my total to over 80); and performed over 70 prenatals (bringing my total to around 200). At one point, I delivered 7 babies in a mere 2.5 weeks, and twice, I delivered 2 babies within 4 hours of each other, on one shift!! That was an interesting experience!!

One Crazy Shift!!

With such short hours of sleep, God again reminded me that it was HE I could rely on for my energy, strength, patience, and wisdom.... Praise Him!!!!

Originally, I was supposed to spend 3 months in the mountains, but because God called me back early, I ended up only spending 2 weeks there, at the end of November. My time in the Bukid was definitely the most challenging of all, not only because I (the only white person there) lived with the tribal people, who spoke almost no English (and I only knew coherent Visayan), but I also had some major adventures relationally-wise with the pastor's wife I stayed with, which created a lot of learning, praying, and growing experiences. I was quickly forced to learn more fluent Visayan, God gave me the patience and oversight to just 'go with the flow'.

Some of the people I discipled/stayed with.

While there, I did a prenatal on a patient, that had I stayed, I would have delivered her baby in late January; helped clean up after Bagio Pablo (Typhoon Bopha, which I lived through); did much discipleship with the girls there; and helped lead Bible Studies and church meetings.... God grew me so much, and we had precious, sweet fellowship.

Ruins of Bagio Pablo

My Filipino Teammates

The remainder of my time in the Philippines (6 weeks), was spent in South Cotabato in Koronadal City (Marbel), with the Serisola family, helping my dear Filipino "sister" prepare for her wedding, get married, and then get moved to her new home (North in Cagayan de Oro), followed by my time in the Bukid before coming back for Christmas Break at their family home.

Kuya Jim Harris ug Ateh Sylvette ug ako--sila bridesmaid. ;p

Truly, it wasn't until I got home that I realized why God had me spend so much time there: Not only did I learn so much spiritually while there, but I also learned the Filipino culture intimately, and invested and experienced their Holiday customs/giving season. God also used me to help transition their family from having an oldest single daughter to having a married daughter, who had her own 'family' now that she was married.

Funny "Family" Picture :-)

That is just the tip of the ice berg of ways God used me, and I am so grateful that He allowed to spend the 7 months He did serving Him in the Philippines.

Truly, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth Salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except the be sent? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

~ Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:11-15a, 17-18 ~

Day 62/63: 4th Baby/Massage!!!

Night Shift went pretty well...one gal came in for labor and had her baby at 12:10am, delivered by Hannah. Meanwhile, another labor came in--an 18-year old primipara buntis (first-timer). We connected immediately. Her bana, a little bit older than she was, was extremely supportive. She was nervous about what to expect with the labor, and I had a really neat time explaining it all to her, while I took her vitals, felt for position, and did an IE. The position and IE felt different than normal, but I thought it was probably still head. Ate´ eSteph was super, and she came and re-checked the position and IE, and after really feeling around and palpating, she announced that the baby was in Breech position!!

Publish Post

Protocol for transport, is to always try to get an IV started before transporting, which we did (not me this time though). This particular IV cannula, instead of following the vein in like it was supposed to, kinked and cracked--IV Failure--making it extremely difficult and very painful to extract, and with the potential nightmare of part of the cannula breaking off into her bloodstream. It was pretty scary for everyone involved, knowing that we might have to transport her like this (a cannula stuck in her arm, which would not be a good remembrance on MMC with the SPMC)...Ate´ asked me to run up to the Filipino quarters, and get another Super to come down and take her place, while we both went to the SPMC with our patient. Unfortunately, most of them were either gone, or didn't answer, so Sylvette came down and helped take charge, as did Joy (one of the American midwifes).

By the time I got back from getting a Super, Praise the Lord!, Ate´ had gotten the IV cannula extracted with no casualties, and we got and IV set up in her other arm. Ate´ had just decided that it would be okay for me and another girl to transport her, because everything seemed to be going well, when the patient had SROM--2 minutes before leaving!! So, Ate´ and I ended up going, hoping that she wouldn't deliver on the way there...rolling her out in a wheelchair, and bringing into the SPMC on a gurney.

It was really neat, because Ate´ really let me be the primary with my patient, and let me have the time I needed with the patient before we left MMC, so that I could pray with and encourage her. Poor girl, she was so courageous during the whole ordeal, but she was crying heartily when we left MMC....I can only imagine all the thoughts that must have been going through her mind, and it was truly heartbreaking....

I prayed for her the whole time we were in the ambulance, as well as before we left SPMC....Ate´ eSteph and I had a really good talk on the way home about what actually happened with the whole IV situation and prayed for her and her bana, as well as thanked God for allowing the IV cannula to come back out, without any part of the plastic breaking off in the vein.

After I got back, another patient--Romylyn, a G3P3, 23 year old--came in at 1:40am. She had come for a prenatal this morning and referred for hypertension, thankfully, that resolved. At 1:52am, she had SROM, right before me and Ate´ eStephanie did an IE. It was completely unexpected, and got me a good bit. There was no staining, and the IE showed that she was already 5 cm dilated.

When I went out to get her bana (husband), I wasn't for sure that the word "bana" only applied for husbands, not both, and so I told him his 'bana' needed him...he was a young guy, and he got a huge smile on his face, and said "I am the bana!", upon which, I said, "Oh, right...." lol He was extremely supportive during labor and afterwards which was a huge blessing.

"Melyn" did really well pushing, and after 7 minutes of real pushing and a 13:15 hr labor, she gave birth to a beautiful 7 lb 6 oz lalaki (boy) at 2:59 am, who had Apgar Scores of 9 and 9 and was 21.5" long. After a long discussion and much teasing :), they decided to name him "Devon James". During the newborn exam, I found that his heart liked skipping beats irregularly, but so far, thankfully, it hasn't seemed to cause him any long-lasting problems.

LITTLE FACTS: Melyn gave birth laying supported by a wedge, and did not tear except some skin splits which did not need repairing. Her ebl was 500cc, so we inserted a D5LR IV. The cord was extremely short, and the placenta had marginal insertion, which means that the cord attached to the side of the placenta instead of the top of the round part.

After she had her baby, her bana's sister came in, and we had a blast...both her and Melyn's bana spoke very good English, and there was much 'joke lang' done... During labor, I wasn't sure how much English "Melyn" understood (of course, she was in labor, so to try to translate everything into her own language was hard), but afterwards, her bana confirmed that she did know English, she just understood it better than she spoke it.

During their teasing of me and the baby mostly, she kept quiet, but kept laughing, and in fact, we had so much fun, that my Super actually came in and asked us to be a little more quiet, since there might be other patients sleeping...that was actually very funny, because we went from Hannah sometimes translating for me during labor, to all of us chatting in Filipino English non-stop afterwards!! lol

Shift ends at 6am, but I stayed and tried to finish all the paperwork with them, because I liked them so much, and so didn't leave until almost 7am. I then ran home and took a shower (boy do I love cold water!!), before going back to take pictures of the happy family. In Immediate Pospartum, we had discussed a Bible verse, and I had promised that when I came back, I would bring my Bible and we'd look it all up. It was really neat, because they openly acknowledged that they didn't read the Bible too much, but they wanted to learn.... At Mercy, each couple gets a New Testament Bible given to them, and boy do they appreciate it!!

I then came back, took a nap, talked to my little sister Rebekah, family, and cousins for a couple hours, took another nap, moved all my stuff to my new room (the Barnett girls' room), made mexican dip for dinner, and then went for a massage at 7pm with Ashton and Joy.

I've always wanted to experience a massage, but at home, they're SO expensive....and my famliy gives really good ones, so I just never have yet.... Well, here, you can get a 1.5 hr. Aromatherapy Massage for 300 pesos, or $6.00!! Wow! Was it amazing!!! The only thing that would have made it better, would have been if I could have stayed where I was, and slept for another couple hours instead of having to walk back home!!!

Afterwards, we decided to stop by McDo and get an icecream and water....you sure get dehydrated with them!!

WHAT I LEARNED:

- God is always there in the worst of the situations.....we prayed hard when we had IV complications, and God answered our prayer...

- It is not often I see a truly heart-wrenching situation (in my mind), but this transport was one of them....seeing all of her hopes and dreams for this delivery wash away, as well as the stability and assistance she would of had here at Mercy disappear...especially as we had so both hoped that I'd deliver her baby... but God knew best.

- It is the most wonderful thing to have wonderful supervisors....ones who truly love the Lord....
- It is wonderful to be able to communicate with your patients...it opens up so many doors, and so many ways and thing to share about.
- Massages are "grabeah!" Just come to the Phils to find out!!!

7/19 - Back to the BOOST!!

***Before I start blogging about this trip, I just want to say that more than what I did or accomplished, this trip was about God, and what He did, accomplished, and taught me. I think this was my 'Faith Walk' for the Summer - one big test. I learned more about the Filipino Culture on this Outreach, than I could ever learn in the City in 3 months... You will read the line: 'God taught me this....." a lot... Enjoy!***

I never got to bed last night (again :D)...between work, blogging, and packing. I did get a 1/2 hour nap though. At 1:30 am, I finished talking to my mom and the rest of the family. This was the first time we've had the chance to talk for so long and so deep...what a blessing!!!  Afterwards, I went over to the Clinic to check on my patient (my 3rd handle and first Lalaki/Boy!!). I actually didn't start packing until around 2:30am, which meant that I had to sneak around my room, gathering what I wanted to bring, and then bring it out into the hallway to pack!! That was a fun memory....

At 6:30am, Sylvette and I took a Taxi to the Bus Terminal. Claire, another fil-wife came with us to see us off, only to take a jeepney back home immediately!! That was really sweet of her. The bus left at 7:30am, and we both settled down to a good, long nap.

Entering Butuan- Diosdado Macapagal Bridge

The Mighty Agusan River-3rd longest in the Philippines

Entering Butuan City

Though I have been the only American in the midst of Filipinos before, this was a much different experience. Imagine being on a bus of 40+ people, and being the ONLY white person and a female! Since Sylvette gets carsick sometimes, we were also in the VERY front, which increases it. It was pretty funny to see and hear the reactions of the Pinoys:

At one stop, they were all busily trying to sell their wares to the people on our bus, when someone espied Sylvette and me (who were sitting at the front, where everyone can see us the whole entire trip). All of a sudden, there was a buzz of them talking, staring, pointing, and saying excitedly, "Look~ Americana! Gwapa!", etc. It was pretty funny, because they were so busy talking about this rare event, that they totally forgot to sell their goods until we pulled out!!! What a way to put them out of business!! lol :)

 Of course, on our first outreach to Tagpopo-ot, we were called 'Snow White", which was actually quite hysterical: imagine one guy yelling out, "Snow White...this and that", and pretty soon, it spreads and other people are calling you that too!!!

A Pinoy sowing Rice in a Rice Field

Funny, because by the end of the Bus Trip, I seriously forgot that I looked any different from anyone else, and when people would stare, I actually thought "Why are they staring at me?" and then I'd remember..."Oh...I'm white..." (Talk about backwards!!)

While on the Jeepney---going to MJ Santos or "The BOOST"---I was called "Hey Joe!" for the first time. That was exciting....I guess I'm actually an Americana now!! Of course, the correct reply is to shout "Hey Phil!!" :D

This little girl was SO precious!!! A little princess.

Her mommy was probably 8 months pregnant, and Sylvette and I were just itching to get our hands on her and do a prenatal...we almost asked too!! :)

Guess what was written in the Jeepney Station??? How cool is that???

Sylvette figuring out plans at the Station...

Okay, back to my day: Once we arrived in Butuan, we walked to the store across the street to pick up some food items, and who did we meet there?? Bong's older brother-Renel and Dariel (a Nehemiah translator)!!! After chatting for a few minutes, we traded goods, and then continued shopping, while they headed for the BOOST.

Lanzones Orchard on our way to the BOOST

We took a Jeepney to the Boost a little later, after waiting at the Jeepney Terminal for about 45 minutes. As usual, everyone was so helpful (I wonder why??)...sometimes a little too helpful... Funny, because the Jeepney Assistant wasn't going to allow us to ride on the top of the Jeep, because 'we were girls', which was ridiculous, since girls ride up top all the time. So Sylvette simply told him, that we were just here less than 2 weeks ago, and rode up there... Needless to say, we rode up there. :)

THE BOOST:

BOOST Girl's Dorm House, also the BOOST Coffee Headquarters, where Casey and Judith run their many businesses. (Can't see it, but the Marsh is behind the house and up the hill, is where they keep goats and rabbits, and is the BOOST Guy's Staff Dorm)

The Office and 'official' guys dorm

The 'Meeting Place', Hammock Hangar, and Church Area

Clinic and 'Official' Girls Dorm

Once we got to the BOOST, we were met by the BOOST Staff, the Water Filter Team, and 3 Filipino visitors who had come to learn about the water filter installation for a few days. It was so much fun to be with them all again.

It is much different-being the ONLY Americana for miles around. When there were 3-5 of us, it was okay to walk from different parts of the boost by yourself, and though we were watched over, there was more lee-way.  Coming back as the only American/White Girl for miles around though, I was very protected and watched over for the first part of the trip (laxed a little more at the end), which in some ways was a little irksome, but on the other hand, I understand the possible dangers, and inheriting body guards/brothers is not a bad thing, especially when you miss your brothers as much as I do!!

For all of you who have been concerned my 'lack of homesickness', just a clarification, I miss my family, but there is a difference between 'missing people' and being 'homesick'....homesick I haven't been... There IS a difference... LOL ;)

I ate dinner across the marsh at one of the Staff Quarters, with Sylvette and 8 other Filipinos (I was the only white person). This was only the beginning of a thorough immersion into the Pinoy culture, and though I have always thought myself as a 'flexible' person, I am learning an entirely new spectrum of it:

What do you do, when you are the only white person among 8 Filipinos at a dinner table of Filipino food (which I happen to thrive on), and they are all speaking Cebuano? Do you pretend to understand everything they're saying (when you only understand a little), and laugh at the 'jokes', or do you sit quietly and eat your food, or what? What about when they ask you to 'talk', or start a topic? What are you supposed to say? What is graciousness here? In this situation, there were many facets that I didn't know about, until afterwards, which made it...interesting: the biggest one of which was that there were 3 people at the table who hardly spoke Visayan but another dialect, and next to no English.

In this situation, I believe God was showing me that to be a missionary in the Philippines (or anywhere), I'm going to need to learn to be adaptable and flexible in each and every situation. I'm going to have to learn how to think on my feet (which is not a strong point for me) and respond correctly to situations, that I don't know anything about, and have no idea what the 'culturally-correct' response is...when those around me are relying on me to respond appropriately. THAT'S HARD!!!!

After washing dishes and visiting, Sylvette and I went down to the lower portion of the BOOST (across the road) and spent some time with the Filter Team, which was a blast, before heading back up to BOOST Staff Dorm where we spent the night.

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:

- All of the above. ;p

- Always have an open and teachable spirit.

- Though I may not know the answers, God is there teaching me.

- Filipinos are often 'shy' about telling you things....you have to ask them, but when they share, wow is it helpful!!!

- God is teaching me a lot--having no will of my own, and it is good. I need it.

Rosetta Stone Sale!!

I just got an email from Sonlight Curriculum, saying that they're having a BIG sale on the Rosetta Stone Language Program. I would highly encourage you to look at it....the savings go up to $290!! Please see their website (link above) for details.

A Day With the Ruselers!!!

This morning, I went to the Ruseler's home, to ultrasound Jordan's goats (all of which are VERY pregnant), & Katie their dog; as well as talk about packing & vaccine plans. We also started studying/learning the Filipino/Cebuano language.

We are currently using MyLanguages.org, who's goal is to become the number one website in the world for teaching languages online. Though they are in the process of building it, it is already a wealth of information, and includes downloadable audio for different words. Best of all, it is free, with no strings attached, or subscriptions/registration required.

One thing I noticed (and though I've been told this by others, it hasn't really hit home until the past few months), is that with the little bit of Latin & Spanish that I've learned, it has already helped with learning Cebuano.

Below is a short video on the Cebuano Alphabet. It gives you a good idea of what the letters, words, and phrases sound like, & is also UNFORGETTABLE!! Ugghh! LOL