Day 28: Church with Heidi

Jordan and I spent the day with Heidi and some of her friends Aaron (from the US), Joy, Maria, and Claudia. We met at Aaron at the McDonalds behind Victoria Mall, & then went to the Victoria McDonalds, where we met up with Maria and Claudia.

We then traveled across town to the NCCC Mall, where some of us had planned to go bowling, but unfortunately, we forgot socks, so we couldn't. Oh well!! For the next 1.5 hrs, we were stuck in an electronic store, waiting in line to get some necessities (everything is SO cheap over here, but made very well).

Aaron, Jordan, Heidi, me, Claudia (Maria's taking the picture)

Heidi, Jordan, Aaron, Maria, Claudia

We then went to a G12 Church called "Lord of the Harvest" (which was the real reason for this whole expedition anyway--it's the church as well). The service, which was preached by Pastor Noel (pro. Nole) Alkuino was very thought provoking. Here are the highlights (I wish I could make it a powerful message, but the right words fail me):

Many people thing of 'Normal Christianity' as people who are being nominal Christians - saying but not really doing what God has commanded of us, or just piddling around with following Christ. Many people also are shocked by Christians who are really following God with their whole hearts...they're thought of as 'extra-religious, extremely devout, abnormal, physco, exceedingly conservative, etc'. But in all actuality, 'Normal Christianity' should be the High Christian Standard of what God has called us to do!! Anything other than that, should not be looked at as normal: it is not!!!

Galatians 5:22 says: But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The 'Spirit' is the Spirit of God. We are to live out His Fruit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for our whole life. If we are not, then we are not not 'Normal Christians', because we are not manifesting the Spirit of God. Isn't that a switch???

Next thought:

1) The Power of Association:

   a) Who we associate with (family, friends, etc.) will shape us.

   b) Our close friends will affect and influence our mindset (Num. 13-14) and our values (1 Cor. 15:33).

  c) Friends are either for good or for evil. (Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are!!)

Other things he talked about, were immoral relationships, ungodly friends (2 Cor. 6:14-15) and groups, and premature relationships/timing (Eccl. 3:11a).

Something else I found interesting (this was right after the announcement), was that under 'immoral relationships', he mentioned how New York has just made Same Sex Marriage legal, & how disgusting and abominational it is. Interestingly, he didn't say "New York, USA", he just said "New York". A good reminder that we are being watched by other nations, and that we need to do as 2 Chron. 7:14 says:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Night Shift went really well. Jordan---after 7 labors that were either dismissed, transported, or endorsed---handled her first birth. I was honored to be the charter at it, which was a lot of fun. The birth was one of the easiest ones we have seen here....what a blessing!!!

 Then, right after that, I assisted another birth....what fun!!!

Day 27: Swing Shift

We had Swing Shift on Saturday. It was pretty slow all day, but of course there were various thing to do.

Our house had it's first 'First Catch' party, celebrating all of the gals who had already handled deliveries, which was most of them.

During the middle of the beautiful dinner, Stephanie's cont. came in, in active labor. I went over to our house and got Steph, while Jordan began vitals. Steph took over when we got back. I charted/assisted for her, which was a lot of fun. The labor and delivery went really well, & Stephanie did an amazing job....she's a natural--so calm and composed!!

Day 26: Josephine's Party

We had been home for a mere 2 hours, when we went to Josephine's Going Away Party.  Josephine (a Filipino Mercy midwife) is going back to her village to serve her people there. We are so excited for her, but are going to miss her desperately. Her bright smile, cheerful words, calm wisdom, and precious hands will be deeply missed here at Mercy, but we know that they will deeply appreciated wherever God takes her.

We played many midwifery games at the the party, as well as shared, encouraged, and prayed for Josephine. So many memories!!

In this game, the speaker yells out a position or happening, and we all have to act it out. The people who are not in a team, are out for the rest of the game:

Josephine & I, holding Jane (laborer) in an 'supported squat'.

Clockwise: Josephine, me, Abigail, and Jane helping Jenna (who is pushing and grunting)

Josephine and Stephanie delivering a 'breech birth' (I am the mom, and Sylvette is the baby).

A Clinic Staffer, Ate´ Ermie, and Joy (Ate´ Erms is pregnant!!!!)

In this game, there are 2 competing teams who have to dress a baby doll, from diaper to socks & mittens, to blanket. The only problem, is that one person has a blindfold on, and the other has potholders on!!!

Jordan & I were a team (we were drawn out of a hat together!!) and we WON!!!

BtoF, LtoR: Ate´ Elsa, Joy, me, Fonda, Lindsey,Heidi, a staffer,Kamerie, Stephanie, Julie
A Cleaner, Vania, Amber, Krys McNeil, Jacquie, Jenna, Jordan
Josephine-being held sideways
Ate´ Ermie, Claire, Jane, Willa, A Staffer
Sylvette, A Cleaner, Che Che (cleaner), Willow, and Ate´ Jobee

Praying over Josephine

It is such a blessing to be here with sisters in Christ, and though we may not always look eye to eye on everything, it has been a tremendous time thus far. Everyone is so encouraging and uplifting.

PS: I came upon a verse the other day, that I think fits perfectly my thoughts about The Roosters in Patel: 

"He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him."

~  Proverbs 27:14 ~

6/24: Travel Home

We all got packed, ate breakfast (rice and omelet), and then left at 8:15am on the motorbikes to go home. Ate´, Genevive, and Mary (who stayed another day) all came to Kapalong to wish us goodbye. The travel home went smoothly, with no events. We got home at 11:45am.

One Banana-all covered in a bag (to protect it)

Many Banana Trees

Piles of Bananas

Forests of Bananas

Truckloads of Bananas :)

A Touch of Home in a Foreign Place!

A small coconut tree

Another kind of coconut tree????????

In the afternoon, we had a Going Away Party for Josephine - one of the Filipina midwifes....pictures next post!!!

6/23: Lazy in Tag...

Today, Ate´ Mary Jean went to Kapalong to meet with the head macho over there, and so the plans that we had originally made for the day were cancelled. SO, we slept in, ate breakfast at 7am (rice & eggy eggplant), and then went back to bed to relax & TALK!!!!

After lunch (rice, chicken, and bamboo shoots/veggies), we went to Maribel's kindergarten class and taught them "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes".

On the way back, Indaiy (Sir Jun Jun and Ate´ Mary Jean Sabudan's niece) invited us to collect Buko Meat (coconut) with her. That was a blast!!!!

Heading to the Buko Trees

The 'Kid' climbing down the Buko Tree (barefoot). He cut the coconut branch off, and then dropped it down to the ground with a giant thud.

Another guy cutting the ends of the Buko Shell off. (The inner shell is still pretty soft-not hard like they are when the shell is off, so it's easy to cut into it.

Coconuts in the Tree

Indaiy scraping the 'meat' out of the shell

Jordan and her coconut

Yes, I am sitting in the mud, but I figured that since I was going swimming right afterwards, it was no problemo!!! :)

Mary & Indaiy

Coconut Scraping Party!!! (The meat goes in the yellow bucket, and the juice goes in the green container. The 'mat' underneath is a banana leaf.)

All of us (Josiah is in the white shirt). It was really sad, because one of the Buko branches missed the ground, and went through a neighbor's leafy roof, & we could hear glass breaking inside!! Praise the Lord, no one was hurt!!

Afterwards, we went swimming in the River with Josiah (the Sabudan's 12 year old son). After a little while, a bunch of the other kids joined us, & we had a full blown 'Splash War'!!! It started raining about 1/2 way thru our time in the water, thus we didn't get any pictures.... :(

We then went home, showered outside at the pump & then had Buko and Buko Juice with Indaiy. Indaiy is married and has a 3 year old daughter. Her husband works here in Davao, and her daughter is living with her Lola and Lolo (grandparents), while she teaches Preschool there in Tagtapopo-ot. She just started last week, and though she's hoping to be able to see her hubby in a week, she's not sure when she'll be able to see her daughter-that's really hard. I guess this kind of thing happens a lot....absolutely heartbreaking....

We had dinner shortly after (rice, chicken, and broth), and then went to bed. We've been trying to have Bible Time every night together as a group, and tonight, we talked about Romans 8....that was really encouraging...

We are SO blessed in the States....while here, I've learning how even without meaning too, I've taken so much for granted, & even here in the compound, we are so blessed with so much!!!

6/22: Patel

We all got up at 6 am, after realizing through the night, how very spoiled we are to be able to sleep on mattresses and sponges here in the Phil!! It is an art to sleep on the mats, and was hard for us, as we only had 1 night to get used to it.

We found out the next morning that there was a birth in the Bukid during the night, which might explain why the dogs were having a barking party at 1 am!  There are roosters all over the place here, & though their crowing might be appreciated once at dawn, I rather felt like making Chicken Stew by morning!! :)

We had Rice, Beefloaf (canned beef) and Tomatoes, Sardines, Various Meats, & Eggs for breakfast, and then took pictures:

Ronie & Baby Keziah

LtoR: Ate´ Mary Jean, me, 2 healthworkers, Christina, our Hostess, Mary, and 3 little boys :)

This dog reminded me of Homer - Samuel's new hunting dog!!!

We left Langan in 2 trips (Jordan, Genivive, and baby went first), because we had 2 bikes instead of 3.  It was a 15 minute ride, and I was chosen to ride in the front (sidesaddle). Riding in the front for me, was the hardest of the 3 positions to get used too, as you have to sit very straight. If you lean to one side, you'll be leaning on the handle (which would be disastrous), and if you leaned the other side, you'll block the driver's view of the road (which is something you DON'T WANT to happen...). :)

Near Patel, we had to walk for a while, because the hard rains had made the already steep descent very muddy, & the gully was a very flooded and swollen stream.

Genny (Jeanie) - Willa's (midwife) brother - 1 of our drivers

Entering Patel (the health center is the large building on the right)

Once we got there, we pretty much immediately started the Health Teaching, which was the same as yesterday, with a few tweaks added. We had heard that there were Filipino Soldiers in the hills, traveling from village to village, etc., but we were still a little surprised to see them in Patel.

Most of them gathered around for the health teaching, & we had to laugh afterwards, knowing that we taught them how to wash their hands to the tune of 'Happy Birthday'....Oh the joys of being a midwife!!!

Teaching about Anemia

Teaching about Edema and Preeclamsia (I am 'trying' to fit a ring on my finger, but since I have 'edema' :), it won't fit!)

We conducted more than 50 prenatals (including around 6 late stragglers that came when we were trying packing up to go home!!), and lots of baby checks/vaccinations, before eating a late lunch.

The guys often make the meals here....and it's really good too!! They're very supportive of us midwives.

Keziah in her 'cradle'

Afterwards, Jordan and I walked down to the river, and waded in it's muddy shallows...delightful!! I found a beautiful green rock... We then climbed around and took pictures.

On the beach

Guys fixing/building a house

A Caraboa

All the guys made me take a picture of this one alone....I guess he was shy... 

Pretending to be midwives (notice all the materials on the table.

Our medical team, Patel's health workers, and some guys.

We left at 3:55pm to go home, & this time fit everyone on 2 bikes. It started raining, but thankfully, never started drenching us. I rode on the front of Ronie's bike again, & after a while, it became completely comfortable. We (our bike) sang songs, learned new ones, called out Hellos to the people we passed, laughed a lot, & helped buy dinner (squash & eggplant).

We got to walk up the same hill & stream that we did yesterday, & Jordan almost lost my sandal in the water....that would have been interesting, to say the least!!!

Getting another motorcycler to help take us home (10 minutes from home!!)

Once we got home, we ate dinner: Rice, Squash, and Veggies, & went to bed.