Kenya Photos 2010

First Birth

Last Saturday, I was woken at 11pm for a birth. Maggie (the other Nurse-midwife) knocked loudly on my door and startled me awake. I got dressed quickly in the dark, searching clumsily for my flashlight.

When I arrived at the clinic, I met Awein and her husband. She was definitely in labor with contractions coming every 5 minutes or less. But when I did an IE she was only 5 cm along. Yet, this was her fourth baby and I knew she wouldn’t be long.

Maggie went back to bed with instructions to wake her when things were farther along. Awein told me she wanted to deliver on the floor, but it’s so dirty we settled on delivering on the bed in a squatting position. She was bright eyed and seemed at ease. When the contractions got stronger, she made faces instead of noise.

It wasn’t a half an hour later when she arched her back and started pushing. I tried to get her to stop thinking she wouldn’t be fully but… well… she wasn’t listening. And everything I said, had to go through Victor my translator (who I later learned had never seen a birth before!). She pushed strong and mighty and I realized we’d have a baby soon.

I sent Victor to get Maggie back at the compound and Awien kept pushing. A precious little boy was born a few short minutes later along with a wave of amniotic fluid and blood. I should have worn gum boots as each step made a splash. Such is birth when you have no linens.

They named him CHOK and he weighed a whopping 2500 grams.

June Newsletter~ Midwifery Times

Just click on this link to download the newsletter. It's a pdf document. Hope you like it.

First Impressions...

Much of my day is spent trying to remember simple things - like to breathe. Today happens to be one day when breathing comes naturally. It helps that I've had a day off from the clinic.

I've only been in Tonj for 5 days and yet it feels like longer. The things I've seen so far... the smells... the sounds. It feels both familiar and foreign.

Each morning I'm greeted in my new Dinka name... Kuac. I hear, 'Chibek, Kuac' and am saluted. I respond with a hand shake and smile. 'Chibek?' means 'How are you?' I'm told that my new name means 'White cow with black spots all over.' :- ) Yes, I'm named after a cow!

But I'm digressing... Let's back up a bit.

Tuesday, I arrived with the rest of the team on a small plane. It only seats 10 - including the pilot. But such small planes afford extraordinary views. We flew just above the cloud line and from my small window, I marveled at the patchwork below.

As we left Nairobi, it seemed like each inch of land was parceled out in neat little farms and quartered off in fences. But as each hour passed,  and we traded the deep luscious farms for grasslands, a new part of Africa was revealed - An Africa with rolling hills and towering peaks. An Africa with deed mountains that rival the Alps in every way but color. An Africa with rivers so deep they empty out 2000 miles away in the Mediterranean. Yes. the White Nile wiggled below us in all its muddy splendor. But by the time we landed, the ground was spotted in round mud huts set quietly among grassy fields and scraggly trees. The diversity was breath taking.


My first impressions of Tonj are too confusing to draw any conclusions. The town seems brimming with activity... but I've only seen it once. The roads are dirt and dusty. And the landing strip had a wrecked airplane at its end... someone forgot to apply the brakes! I wanted to take pictures but didn't. There were armed guards in military fatigues helping us unload our things... or where they just watching? I can't recall. All I remember is they were right in the middle of everything.

Hugs and great excitement greeted us by the staff and has remained the same. I'm impressed with the team here at the clinic and the Kuj family is lovely. I look forward to knowing them better. We only had a day with some of the team as a handful left the next morning for a little R&R. Our pilot over-nighted with us and flew out early the next morning before the rain descended.

When the rain came... it came with power and force. Many of my patients opted to wait it out for hours. I'm told, when it rains, no one comes to the clinic and now I understand why. Streets become rivers and rivers become lakes. I love it... but only because I had no where I needed to go.

It's winter here now with days of 80 degrees and cool evenings and rain. It is muggy and warm. I worry to think it will get hotter. But such is life for them... why not for me too. :- )

Dance to the LORD!

Last Sunday, I had a truly African worship experience.  My teammate Tyler was invited by a church in town to speak. He was to teach in the morning in an area of town called Pipeline, then once again that afternoon at another church’s youth group.

We were excited to see what God had planned but weren’t sure what to expect. None of us had met Tony (our Kenyan contact) before. As we arrived to our destination, Tony met us and directed us to the church. It was a humble property that looked two steps above a root cellar. The walls were simple mud bricks with a few strategic ones missing for ventilation. Compacted dirt made up our floor and scavenged wood, our roof. But this mattered little to those who gathered to worship.

Worship seems too tame a word to describe it. Each song was screamed to the heavens until voices failed. With arms lifted high in expectation, they danced and danced to Him. After a few hours of this, my heart was happy but my body, tired. Tyler shared and we were all edified.

After lunch we hiked through a neighboring area called Tessia where the other church was located. The roads were so poor we couldn’t pass them in our van. Walking through the streets, it was evident we were foreigners. Children stopped to gawk while women pointed and whispered.

Church was loud and exuberant just as before but this time in a stick building along the main road. It is the first church planted by Apostle Harrison - the first of ten we were told. It was fun chatting with him and a few of the other pastors. Apparently, Harrison went through the Calvary Chapel Bible School in Nairobi a few years back and was happy to share how he taught the Bible scripture by scripture.  --SW

Lights Out!

Today, our electricity went off. We shrugged thinking, ‘Oops, another power outage.’ Not two minutes later came a knock at the door. The man explained he just cut our power.

The reason? Apparently, someone forgot to pay the bill.

He wanted to be paid right away, or else we could spend the rest of the night in the dark.

However, none of us live here. We are just a bunch of confused Mozungu (whites) and our faithful leader is out and about.

The man wants to be paid 250 Shillings (Roughly $3 dollars) in order to turn it back on, in addition to the bill for the last month. Okay. But our main man is out, could you return shortly?

He said he would then left us sitting in the dark. No internet, and thus no way to get our emails out.

Hours went by and he didn’t return. We all had a good laugh and waited for Gordon to get home. As night fell, we pulled out our flashlights and laughed.

Finally, Gordon drives up and moments later the lights are back on! What happened we wondered? What did he do? And how did he fix it so fast?

He went to the fuse box and switched it back on! Yes. It was that simple.

Oh Kenya!

Karibu Kenya!

My flight to Kenya was deliciously simple - if not long. Two layovers quickly turned into three when my first flight was canceled. But our God who cares for the details worked it out for me to get bumped to first class! Leg room is not something to take lightly. Thanks for praying!

Once I landed, I was surprised to find Nairobi more developed than I expected. Even Athens and Spain don’t have airports this nice! Gordon (our faithful logistics man for In Deed and Truth) picked me up at the airport and has been helping me jump through hoops ever since.

I’m now updated on my immunizations and have the coolest looking entrance permit into Sudan! However, they seem to think that I have brown eyes and am 200 cm tall! Apparently, getting the facts right is not a priority.

The Kenyans I’ve had the privilege to meet so far have been surprisingly open and welcoming.

They are a smiling bunch with a penchant for being polite. Their signs are even polite. At a grocery store, I saw a sign saying, “Polite notice. Parking at your own risk.” ~ Don’t say you weren’t warned.

The language spoken here is Swahili and English. Thanks to Gordon, I’ve started picking up some words in Swahili.

I’ve learned to count to ten. And in order to remember them, I sing the numbers to myself over and over like a three year old. Perhaps he wishes now that he hadn’t taught me but it’s too late. Muhuhaaha!

Karibu means ‘Welcome’. And ‘Karibu Kenya’ means “Welcome to Kenya”. I certainly do feel welcome!

My Bodyguard!

While shopping, Gordon is being careful to take me to only ‘safe’ and ‘clean’ places. I asked him why we weren’t going to the open air market since it’s bound to be cheaper. He told me that he isn’t allowed to do it. He knows he’ll get in trouble if he takes ‘risks’ or puts me in unsafe situations. I get that but … we are talking fruit here. Right? No. Apparently there’s more.

I don’t know what more I’m missing but I’m sure I’ll understand one of these days. Half laughing, I asked him if he was afraid I’d go to these places, get scared and run from Kenya screaming. He answered without a hint of sarcasm, ‘Yes. That is it.’

I laughed but he didn’t. Oh, Kenya!

What's OSHA anyway?

  Yesterday, in an effort to get our team the best meat products we went to a specialty butcher. The place was clean … well, for the most part. Our butcher was very friendly, suggesting the choicest cuts. We decided on goat and marinated chicken. 

He took the goat out of the display case and put it on the counter. No gloves. No protective sleeve on the scale. Not even a sink in sight. He then proceeded to take the chunk of goat in back and chop it up for us. He returned with nice little cutlets which went back on the bare counter. He trimmed the fat, weighed it and we settled on a price. Great.

Next we went to the chicken section of the display case. Mind you, he still has goat parts attached to his fingers, the scale has not been cleaned and my OSHA alarm bells are going off. He hand picks a half dozen chicken thighs, piles them on the scale and again we agree to the price.

I’m not sure why this bothers me so much. Perhaps it the endless ‘Food Handlers’ licensing classes I’ve had to sit through over the years. I tell myself to get over it, that’s how it’s done here, etc. But I can’t. 

My stomach churns in dread. Just how many microbes am I going to have to digest today?

All this gives new meaning to praying over your food!

 

No foreigners here!

Today I got shot! Shot with immunizations that is. Apparently, keeping up on your vaccination card is VERY important. When I told my nurse that I didn't have an immunization booklet with proof of all my shots, she seemed a bit surprised and quickly got me a new one. It looks very official with a handful of very cool stamps. Now I guess I'm cleared to fly into the wild unknown!

Next we went shopping for a SIM card and phone credit. I got the card but it doesn't work on my US phone and I may have to buy a cheapy just to get a few texts out. I'm holding out for some place to just hack my blackberry, but I guess that isn't as common as in the Philippines. There has to be a way!

And this evening, Gordon and I and two other missionaries from the Sudan all went to see a movie. We watched Robin Hood. It was nice. But afterward, the couple from the Sudan (Dan and Laura from Minnesota) ate in a restaurant, whereas Gordon and I went shopping for fruit! :- )

I have missed the tropical fruits and am thrilled to find them! Would you believe grapes cost roughly 500 shillings a pound but you can get big juicy mangos for 20 shillings a pound! Yum! Mangos it is!
I can handle that.

But while we were at the store, he asked me if I were comfortable here in Kenya. I told him I was very comfortable but I couldn't quite place my finger on why. So while I walked through mountains of papaya and heaps of pomelos, I considered his question.

Then it hit me! No one was staring at me. No one was calling out to me, 'hey joe!' or making cat calls behind lewd glances. I was all together uninteresting. That's it. I'm comfortable here -very comfortable- because no one treats me like a foreigner. It's refreshing.

In the Philippines, men would call out after me as I walked to the market. "Marry Me! I Love You! What is your name?" I'd laugh and keep going but it was very disconcerting. I was always made to feel like a foreigner there. I never liked the attention but eventually I got used to it.

In Haiti, instead of the silly 'proposals', I got glares and distrusting glances. I wasn't loved because of the color of my skin. I was made to feel 'less than' and seemingly hated as a result of it. I don't mean to pick on Haiti but I must say, the overall effect was to make me feel very uneasy. It was clear I was NOT one of them.

Here, all that is different. I like the fact I draw little to no attention. I enjoy being of no consequence. I appreciate blending in with the crowd. It makes me feel very much at ease and .... yes, even comfortable! Just one more reason to love it here, I'd say!

It sure is nice to be home.

My journey began on wednesday with a canceled plane but got better along the way. Two lay-overs turned into three. But for my flexibility, I was bumped to first class part of the way!

I met a number of characters along the way (missionaries, nuns, BP gas company representatives!) and was able to sleep. I'm glad I thought to bring my own pillow. However, I'm strongly convinced that the airline industry has shrunk the seats and foot space to an all time minimum! Honestly, how much can they be saving my causing all these leg cramps and blood clots? Is it worth it?  Sigh. Regardless, it was a simple trip - long but worth every leg cramp and food stain. (yes. food finds me non-stop on these flights. Ha!)  

When I landed, I was surprised with the number of smiles and sweet consideration. Perhaps, I was expecting Haiti and didn't know it. I hadn't realize this was the case... until I noticed how surprised I was. Remarkable? Perhaps not. But the case none-the-less.

The people here are open and inviting. I get smiles everywhere I go (which offends my french veneer but blesses my American core!). I like a people willing to stare (thanks to France) and smile at strangers (American). I like a people inviting and generous of heart (love you Filipinos! I really do!) and happy to talk to anyone. And so... I've decided to like Kenyans too.

Gordon Sunga (hereto will be referred to as Professa Sunga!) picked me up at the airport and has been my constant guide ever since. He is a young man from the Luo tribe who is the logistic man for In deed and truth. I'm glad he is here. He is a good example of the Kenyan kindness. But most importantly, he has exhibited extraordinary patience with me in learning Swahili. :- ) Thus his new name - Professa!

This morning, after sleeping like a log, I woke to the sound of LOUD exotic birds cawing out my window. The sound soothingly reminded me that I was 'not in Kansas anymore'. However, I can't say it feels foreign.

Everywhere I turn, a sheen of familiarity shines through. The smell of the land reminds me of home. The crazy driving takes me back to the Philippines... but different. They drive on the left side of the road here and my brain is trying to shift to this new dimension. I have to say the reverse images flashing in my brain have shifted a number of times... and not in a good way! :- ) But all the same... it feels very familiar.

But most of all, it's the soft humid caress of the air that brings me home - home to the Philippines. The heavy air and sweet tropical flowers transport me. I feel like I've breathed this air once before. And well... with a happy sigh, I find myself thinking, "It sure is nice to be home."

Pilgrims

I leave the grand ol' USA in a few short days - 3 1/2 to be exact.
It's hard to imagine what my upended life will look like a week from now... let alone a year from now. But I'm excited.

This place seems so real... and my destination... well.... it seems imaginary, exotic and strange.
My brain in an effort to understand what it will be like, has started superimposing the images I've seen of Tonj with what I see around me. The overlap just doesn't mesh.
And to be honest, I almost want to run and hide.
But instead I take a deep breath and I pray.
I've been praying for this and preparing for this for years.
Yes, my new home will be quite different but then again, aren't we just pilgrims on this planet after all?

Great Expectations!

Frequently I’m asked questions I’m not sure how to answer; “Aren’t you scared?” “What about the food, what will you eat? Are there big bugs? Will you have to EAT the bugs? Will you get malaria!? Will you die?”

Truthfully, I am scared - not for my life but for the women who are dying there in childbirth. I am nervous about the many diseases and questionable food, but I’m more nervous for the newborns suffering from them and dying.

Believe me, I would rather live a comfortable life, eat fresh crab and sip on lattes. But I want to to obey God more.

He has put in my heart a desire to go. He has given me a love for the hurting, the dying and the lost - especially those lost in sin!

Frankly, I can’t imagine a place I would rather be. I can’t imagine a people I’d rather serve.

So to answer your questions. No. I am not scared to go.

It is my joy.

I expect God to move in great ways - first in my heart but also among His people.

I do expect hardships and trials, lonely days and sadness. But I also expect God to work in great ways! He is a God who does not disappoint! My expectations are great! For He is GREAT and most worthy of praise! Thanks for coming with me!

Love Stephanie

Beauty Secrets of the Dinka!

Among the Dinka people of Southern Sudan, personal grooming and decoration are valued. The Dinka rub their bodies with oil made by boiling butter. They cut decorative designs into their skin. They even remove some teeth for beauty.

This is a far cry from Botox and laser hair removal. I guess we all have a standard to meet. Right?

How to send me a package in the Sudan...

How to send me a package in the sudan?
Many of you have asked how to send me cards and packages in Sudan. Well, I now have some answers for you. To send a card or letter ONLY- please look at the address below. It will go to Kenya but then be carried to me in the Sudan.

However, for those who delight to send packages, you must have someone walk in the package to me. This is only done by someone coming to either Kenya or Sudan for an outreach. Fortunately, In Deed and Truth ministries has a team coming to Sudan every month this year. Please contact Jeamette Lock at info@indeedandtruth.org to find out which team is coming next and how to get the package to them.

What to send in the packages?
The following list is just a suggestion of sorts. Please feel free to send anything you would like. These are just ideas...
Books: Christian fiction, biographies, midwifery, medical topics, etc.
Movies: Romantic comedies, action, mystery, tv series, etc.
Music: Christian, bossa nova, jazz, R&B, anything in Arabic (to learn)
Foods: dried fruits, nuts, coffee, tea (chai, herba mate, earl gray), etc.
Beauty: body scrub, facial scrub, foot scrub, body wax (sally hansons)
Drinks: powered or instant drinks (i.e. propel, coffee, energy drinks)
Batteries: size D for my fan, 9 volt for my medical equipment...
Misc: insect repellant w/ deet, breath mints, hand sanitizer, sun block, film for regular camera (b&w or color, 200-800), packets of seeds, etc.

Praise and Prayer

New kid in town!
What if they don’t like me? I know it’s silly to say out loud, but it is a concern. Pray that my relationships with the staff there would be God centered, sweet and joyful.

Pack Mule!
I have more stuff than I can carry. Pray I’m able to take what I need and leave what I don’t. And most of all be happy about it!

Knee-time! Me-Time!
Struggling to pray and study the Bible, has kept me back. I need prayers for my spirit to stay in tune with His.

Tongue Tied~
I must learn two languages almost immediately - Dinka and Arabic. May He touch my tongue and open my ears to hear, to speak and to communicate His words.

Culture matters:
The adjustment to any new place is challenging but this is big step for me. Pray I’m sensitive to their customs and transition well.

Healthy as a horse!
Please pray my health improves.

Showers of Blessings!

In the last month since choosing to move forward in this grand adventure, God has done extra-ordinary things! I am here to tell you, Our God is Amazing!

I’m still calculating the donations that have come in, but I feel confident in telling you that God has completely provided!

He has provided both my one-time support to get there and my monthly support! I’m humbled and overwhelmed by His goodness and your outpouring of love and generosity! Thank you! A million times THANK YOU!

On top of all this, God has provided me with a truck to use for the last few weeks as well as the Rosetta Stone language program so I can learn Arabic!

He has also moved on many peoples hearts to be a part of my Serving as Senders Team! I’m truly humbled and grateful!

However, if God is moving on your heart to be a part of this as well. Please don’t hesitate! It is only by His Spirit, moving His people to action for His purposes that any of this can be done!

If you would like to be on my Sending Team. Please let me know.

And for those of you who have pledged but are unsure where the funds should go, you can donate in one of three ways.

You can set up a monthly automatic donation by calling 760/707-7367 (ask for Jeamette) or go on their website (www.indeedandtruth.org) and donate directly there. My name and donation button should be on the webpage in the next few days.

If you prefer to mail in a donation. Please put my name in the memo section and send it to:

In Deed and Truth Ministries
Po Box 51253
Colorado Springs, CO 80949

Or donate online by going to www.indeedandtruth.org

I’m set to fly out on June 16th. Pray that all the last minute preparations go well and my heart would settle. I’m just so stinking excited! I’m ready to burst!

Until the whole world knows!

~ Stephanie

Serving as Senders!

When a missionary goes to the field, they never go alone. There is always a number of people standing behind them making it possible for them to go... and to stay.

This team is made up of a number of talented people who serve in very different ways. The following is a list of ways a person can support their missionary. I've taken a lot of liberty in describing these roles. This information is taken from a very good book called... yup, you guessed it... "SERVING AS SENDERS' by Neal and Yvonne Pirolo. I definitely recommend it.

Prayer Maniacs (Prayer Support)
These people feel called to pray for me specifically (spiritual, emotional, physical needs). They are willing to wear holes in their jeans as they lift up the day to day emergencies while on the field.

Cheer Squad (Moral Support)
These sweet ones make a point of encouraging me and spurring me on to good works. They specialize in finding new ways for me to be encouraged and loved as I serve the sudanese. (packages, letters, supplies, etc.) But they also help remind those here in the states of what I’m doing, even getting new people on my team.

Nuts & Bolts (Logistic Support)
This nutty crew helps me with the details of life here in the States. They help me with things that I cannot get accomplished overseas. They are the “get’er done” kind of people with a heart to serve practically.

Watering Can (Spiritual Support)
This group’s goal is to make sure I’m getting spiritually fed. They hold me accountable to daily devotions, send me bible study CDs, and/or find a way to water my dusty soul.


Hilarious Givers (Financial Support)
These people are those who deem giving to be an act of joyful worship and they desire to do it Hilariously. They recognize that we have nothing but that which God has provided and want to see God work powerfully in Sudan.


Foreign Correspondents (Communication Support)
These lovely ones put pen to paper and send regular letters (or emails) full of news from back home. They write about the latest news and don’t let me miss out on special event (marriages, births, conferences and even deaths) in the church body. They help me stay in touch so when I get home after 2 years, I don’t feel like a stranger.

If you feel led to participate in any of these capacities leave me a note and I'll contact you. :- )

Sudanese Birth Statistics

- 82 out of 1000 Sudanese babies die within a year of life
- 550 women die in Sudan for every 100,000 live births
- There is only 1 doctor for every 5000 people.

Fishers of Men... Midwife of Men?

While reading through the book of Mark recently, I came across the section when Peter and Andrew were called into ministry.

Two things stand out for me in this passage. The first is that Jesus called them to come and “immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

On the surface, Mark makes it sound like they heard Jesus speak once and (boom!) they followed.

But I’m not so sure. Jesus had been teaching in the synagogues for some time. People from all over, were coming to hear this Galilean speak. Peter and Andrew knew this Galilean was different but didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to follow.

I like that.

However, what I find most interesting about this passage, isn’t the speed and conviction with which they dropped their nets. What catches my attention most, is the fact that Jesus calls them to do exactly what they were already doing ~ Fish!

But instead of netting trout and sturgeon, they are called to be Fishers of Men.

Think about it. He didn’t call them to be preachers or evangelists of men -- even though that is what they would end up doing. In fact, had He said that, I wonder if they would have followed at all.

Instead, He called them to do what they knew well. Fishing. This encourages me. God choses to use us where we are in life with the skills we have currently.

He will use our talents, skills, knowledge and experience if we will just let Him. He calls us to do what we are already doing for the furtherance of His kingdom. He doesn’t care if we are day care workers, architects or paper pushers. The call is the same.

“Come after Me and I will make you ________ of men.”

Are you coming?

Where am I going and... why!

~Tonj, Sudan~

Thank you all so much for praying for me these last few months. We all prayed for direction and God has answered beautifully!

I’ve been invited to work in the Sudan with a group called In Deed and Truth.

This ministry has been working among the Dinka people of Southern Sudan since 1998, training pastors and serving the needs of the community. In 2006, they started a medical clinic and today, it serves roughly 1000 patients a week. They are in desperate need of a midwife.

Soon after I got the go-ahead for Sudan, I started studying what life will be like there. I’m told it is very remote. There are NO stores and all our supplies need to be brought in by a chartered flight.
I’m also told since living in such an isolated place can be so intense, missionaries must leave every 4 months for a months respite. I’ll spend this time in a guest house in Kenya.

To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what to expect. I anticipate that it will be a hard adjustment in the beginning and that the learning curve will be high.

But I’m happy to join them and ask that you would team up with me as I prepare to head out. I’ve committed to two years and am hoping to fly out in the beginning of May. But much of that depends on getting everything in order.

A year of silence.

Many of you may have thought this blog was a sleeper and it's author a mute. And frankly, I don't blame you. It has been more than a year since I posted something. But this year has been life changing and I once again have something to say.

It is amazing what a year can bring.

Last year, January of 2009, I started praying about where I was to go next. I prayed. God listened. I prayed again. But no answer. I begged and pleaded. But still silence.

After months of this... He finally spoke. But instead of answering me, He told me two bits of information. One: that it was okay for me to work with an organization in Haiti that I was considering for long-term work. Two: that I would not know where I was to go longer-term until March of 2010.

Strange.

So I continued to pray. God continued to tell me, "you'll know in March." I would argue and nag. He would whisper "March".

Very Strange.

God has never spoken to me quite like this before. But as each month would come and go, and I still didn't know... I found comfort in March. A lot of comfort.

June of 2009 - I graduated with a group of women whom I'm honored to know- women who have taught me what it means to be a compassionate and loving midwife. But still no idea where I'd go long-term.

July of 2009 - I continued to study for my NARM exam, I continued to learn all I could as I served in Davao City. But God was still silent.

August of 2009 - I got to return home for the first time in 2 years, hug on friends and family. Most of all, I got to take the NARM exam in SLC, Utah. I passed - happily. But I still didn't know where I was to go.

September to December of 2009 - I traveled to Haiti to work among amazing women at Heartline Ministries. I learned lessons during this time that have and continue to change me in ways i'm still not able to voice.

I loved it and was asking God if this was were I was to return and work full time. But the answer was so clearly "NO!" I was a bit startled. So I kept praying. I kept asking. But by this time... after hearing "March. You will know in March, My Child. Relax. I've got this covered." I finally started to believe Him. So I relaxed. I enjoyed my family and for three months, I took a break from midwifery.

But... I have to admit. I still kept begging Him to speak to me. I still struggled with the grand ol' question of WHERE!

So as December snowed in January, and February melted into March, I got very excited. And would you believe it? God told me where I was to go in... yep... in March.

An opportunity fell out of the sky! An opportunity that I was praying for specifically. One that fit all my hopes and dreams. One that fit my desire for ministry. One that put as much of an emphesis on evangelism as it did on community development. One that considered the soul's salvation equal with (if not more important than) the health of the body.

It is In Deed and Truth ministries. Please check it out. www.indeedandtruth.org I think you'll be surprised.

I'll write more about it later.

May Newsletter 2010 ~ Midwifery Times

Check out my May Newsletter by clicking on this link and downloading the pdf document. Hope you like it.

April Newsletter 2010 ~ Midwifery Times

Check out my April newsletter by clicking on this link. I hope you like it.

March Newsletter 2010 ~ Midwifery times

Check out my March newsletter. I'm posting it late but... If you'd like to read back on the events of how I got to Sudan. Here it is. Click on the this link and downloaded the pdf.

February Newsletter 2010 ~ Midwifery Times

Check out my February Newsletter by clicking on this link and downloading the pdf document. Hope you like it.

January Newsletter 2010~ Midwifery Times

Check out my January Newsletter by clicking on this link and downloading the pdf document. I hope you like it.

Graduates of the Class of 2009

This is all the staff and students working with Newlife.

 The graduating class of 2009 Last week was graduation day! It was a day at a beach resort which included water slides, pool party and a whole slew of fun-ness; followed by awards, ceremonies and lots and lots of pictures. I had a great time, and am excited to have finished this race. Thank you to all those who rooted for me and cheered me on along the way! I couldn't have done it without you!

Smoothie? Fruit? Oreos?

I'm willing to bet that Mindanao is the fruit capital of the Philippines. I've not read this. This is not official information. It is just my two cents. But believe me when I say the fruit is AMAZING and FRESH! Having said that, there are fruit stands everywhere. Over these last few years I've learned about all fruits exotic and strange. I've tasted the gut wrenching stench and yet delicious flavor of Durian- it smells like gym shoes but tastes like garlic and honey... and? ... and? ... I'm without words.

It's a must taste to believe kind of fruit. I've delighted myself on Rambutan, Santos, Lansones, and a whole mess of other fruits that I never learned the name. The ones I like the most are the Mangosteens! Right now, its Pomelo season. If you are unfamiliar with Pomelos, imagine a grapefruit on steroids and much much sweeter and we're in business! Okay... I got off on a tangent. Smoothies. Smoothies here are fantastic. I'll miss the fruit and I'll miss the smoothies. But I won't be missing all the flavors. Yesterday, I walked up to a smoothie stand and saw that one of their featured smoothies blends; cantaloupe, green mango and oreo cookies! I must confess I wasn't even a little bit curious as to what it tasted like! Can you imagine! I'm going to miss Filipino smoothies!

.... closure?

As I prepare to go home... I've been thinking a lot about the things I'm going to miss, as well as the things I won't! This week, I took all my assignments to a book binding/photocopy center to get them bound. I want to use them to study for my NARM exam this coming August. They told me to come back the following day. But when I got there, the place was CLOSED. For reasons that are still unclear to me, the city shut them down and sealed off the premises.

As I stood there a bit confused (but laughing inside), just staring at the barred up doors and official seal, the owner's son saw me and came my way. He told me not to worry; that they would be open the following day! Sure enough, the next time I passed by, they were open and my books were safely returned- beautifully bound.

Moral of my story~ a year ago, that would have stressed me out. Two years worth of assignments are taken hostage by the city's closure?!? I probably would have gotten a bit flustered and tried to be all "American" on them and stuff. But after seeing how normal that is, and being subjected to it for over two years... I think my Surprise-O-Meter is broken. All I did was shrug, laugh and come back another day. However, I must confess, I won't be missing this when I leave.

Water buffalo with pumpkin mash and braised witlof -- Yum!

Water buffalo with pumpkin mash and braised witlof (Endive)

Serving size: Serves 4
INGREDIENTS 4 x 150g fillets water buffalo 1-2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper 1 medium onion, sliced 45ml port 1/3 cup beef stock 50 ml fresh pouring cream 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 teaspoon picked thyme leaves 4 head witlof 2 tablespoons caster sugar 40g butter 5-6 baby zucchini 80ml white wine 40 ml white wine vinegar Pumpkin mash to serve Parsley sprigs, extra, to garnish

METHOD Season buffalo fillets and rub with olive oil. Heat a large pan, cook buffalo to your liking, as you would with a fillet of beef (4-5 minutes each side) for medium/medium-rare. Remove, cover with foil and rest. Meanwhile return pan to heat. Add a little extra olive oil, if necessary, cook onion until soft. Add port, beef stock and cream, cook, simmering reduce by a 1/3 or cook until sauce thickens. Stir in fresh herbs and remove from heat. Meanwhile cut witlof in half and rub cut side in sugar. Heat a medium pan, place witlof sugar side down and cook a few minutes to caramelise. Reduce heat, turn witlof. Add butter and zucchini and cook covered until vegetables soften. Add white wine and vinegar, simmer until wine and juices reduce by half. Serve Buffalo Fillets with port sauce, pumpkin mash and caramelised witlof. Garnish with a little extra parsley if desired.

http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=48343

New life! New Adventure!

After 109 births, I got the chance to do something brand new! I got to sign my very first birth certificates! To me, that is just flat out exciting! It makes me feel like a midwife. All the previous ones were signed by my supervising Filipino midwives. But here in Tabuk, they don't care that I'm not Filipino.

These are pictures of my third catch up here at Abundant Grace of God Maternity Center. She was expecting her 5th child and was hoping for a little girl. All the rest have been boys up 'til now. But alas, there was no doubt when he was born that he was ALL BOY! We laughed and told her that now, they can start their own basketball team. Basketball is huge here! :-) Look how cute he is! - little Ericson!

Oh the things you will see!!!

This unusual mode of transportation is called a Huliglig. The engine is actually a rototiller that is attached to the body of this 'car' to get around town. It is detached again when they need to till the fields! :-) I love the ingenuity of it!

This sign says, "Your Army in Kalinga is just a text or phone call away to serve you..."! I have never called the Army to do anything for me... I wonder what might occasion it here! :-)

Here are more beautiful views of the mountains during out trip to Bugnay! Here the clouds are low on the mountains.... It turns the view gray and chilly but oh so beautiful!!

Prenatals in Bugnay...

Early the morning after we arrived, we started doing prenatals at our house. The women arrived at our stairs, knowing we were in town for just that. When we unpacked all our stuff, we realized we forgot a very important part- the measuring tape. But it was an easy fix, we just asked all the builders in town if we could borrow the construction one. Every time we brought it out to use that day, we laughed. Instead of a soft cloth material, it was metal... the women didn't seem to mind. And we had a good time trying to use it .... bulky and stiff as it was. :-)

We also did house visits for prenatals and baby checks. This mother had delivered the night before we arrived. So this little guy is two days old. He was such a cutie! As you can see, he had a something little special on his hand- and extra thumb. This is regarded as good luck and is not removed in their culture. All in all, we did well over a dozen prenatals and a half dozen baby checks. It was wonderful going to their homes and meeting their children.

 The women seemed so much more relaxed having us as guests in their homes. I even met one young lady who has my EXACT birthday (day, month, year!). Her name is Angela. I took pictures of us together but they didn't work out. :- ( She is due in the next few weeks, and tells me that if she delivers a girl, she'll name her Stephanie.

Our first night in Bugnay...

This is the entrance into Bugnay. We stopped to say hello to friends on our way to Belen's family's house. We have to step over fences made to keep the pigs in and the trails are made of rocks, cement and mud. The women carry all their packages on their heads. And this little girl is no exception. The homes are made of mahogany and concrete as the men learn from an early age how to be master carpenters.

When we arrived, our first visit was to Belen's home where we met her parents and sister who is visiting from Manila. In this picture, you see Belen's back, her niece Sonia and her father. The woman with all the tattoos, is her great aunt. She incidentally, has no idea how old she is. :- ) This is outside their home. We unloaded our bags and settled in for some native coffee. The coffee grows rather well here and it is served extra sweet! - much like the rest of the food in this country! The Filipinos i know have insatiable sweet tooths!

Again, this is Belen's great-aunt. She is so used to squatting and bending over that she is no longer comfortable standing up straight. Although she tried to do just that for this picture. She is smoking native tobacco, rolled in a cigar. Most of the older generation smokes it. Around her neck, hang very old beads that have been around for generations. Many women wear them. They seem to indicate status (as the older the beads, the more expensive they are). She also has the local tattoos on her arms. This is done for beauty. Tattooing is seen as very beautiful and indicates which tribe they are from. It is rarely done anymore, as the younger generation find it difficult to find work in the city when they have tribal tattoos.

That first night, we attended a viewing of a film made to share the gospel with the native peoples. It is called 'The prodigal Son' and has been made into several different dialects. The church was packed and sat riveted by the depiction. I too, understanding nothing, was riveted. We had a few people explain certain events, but as a whole it was very clear. And best of all, it was well received. They showed two versions that night. We didn't stay for the second viewing, as we were too exhausted from our trip.

BUGNAY HO!

Friday morning we packed our bags and climbed atop a Jeepney for an adventurous ride through the Filipino mountains. Our destination? ... BUGNAY! We planned to stay the weekend, check up on all the pregnant women in town and worship with the But-but tribe on Sunday morning. This picture is of me on top of the Jeepney at the beginning of the journey. At one point, there were 23 of us holding on to the rails and bouncing along the bumpy, muddy road. The views were spectacular! This was the main reason we wanted to be on top of the Jeep instead of inside. For more than 6 hours we feasted on the lush scenery and gawked at the rugged tropical beauty.

What a breath of fresh air from the fumed-filled city streets of Davao City. One mountain in particular stands out. It is called 'Sleeping Beauty'. Perhaps you can see her lying there, sleeping in the distance. Rice is the main crop of the Philippines, i would say. This is a rice paddy up close. It will be ready for harvest in July, I'm told. This is a picture of Belen (our lovely local guide and translator!) and me standing on the bridge leading to Bugnay. The bridge is made of metal and sits several hundred feet above one of the largest rivers in the north. That day, it was raging with brown muddy swells from the recent rain storms. In the distance, you can see some of the houses of the village. I am told there are about 1000 inhabitants in Bugnay. And Bugnay is just one of 5 towns, where the But-but live. I'm told the But-but tribe is one of the largest ethnic groups here in the north.

Breath of life...

These are pictures of my second catch here at Abundant Grace of God... We got a text late one night and took our 'ambulance' to go get her. She lived 30 + minutes away in another village and had no means of getting to the clinic. She said she was not active, but when we picked her up she was having strong contractions every 3 minutes. She got to the clinic shortly before 10 pm and had her baby an hour and 13 minutes later! It went quite fast. Her baby needed resuscitation but he perked up quickly. I'm glad she didn't have him at home, as he needed a lot of extra help getting started on this whole breathing thing! This is a picture of our ambulance we picked her up in. This is her sister-in-law, the grandmother and a Filipino midwife on staff... and of course little baby Errin.

This is a picture of my patient and me in front of the clinic. She, like many of the women we serve, is very petite. She isn't angry... at least that is what I'm told. Her tribe is not a smiling bunch.

Transporting to the local hospital...

The other day, we had a patient who chose to go to the hospital and deliver. She got discouraged because she developed severe leg cramps. This picture is Janelle transporting her in our 'ambulance'. Her husband was our 'stretcher' carrying her from the deliver room, to the ambulance and then into the hospital. I think this is my new favorite way of transporting women now. It was fast and very effective... but then again, she weighed very little. Eventually,she was placed on a stainless steel stretcher. It didn't look very comfortable, but it was definitely clean. We all went in to make sure she got the best care possible. We attracted quite a lot of attention so we didn't stay too long. We stopped over at the pharmacy to get some supplies. It is on the side of the hospital.

Prenatal questions...

Yesterday, a very sweet young mother asked me, "Ma'am, I am work on computer. Will hurt my baby?" At first, I wasn't sure what she was asking, so I repeated her question back and she said that I had understood. She wanted to know if her computer would cause any fetal abnormalities or problems during her pregnancy. I assured her that sitting in front of a computer screen would not hurt her baby but that I couldn't say the same for her eyes.... or tush! :-) She left much happier and not just a little relieved. I was happy to share the good news. :-)

A sneak peek at the Birthing Center...

This is a quick peek at God's Abundant Grace Maternity Center where I am currently working. It is clinic within a house. The bottom floor has a kitchen, bathroom and three rooms for the clinic. There is a delivery room, prenatal room and postpartum room. It's tight but very efficient. The main entry is the reception room... And this picture is of the director and one of the staff proof reading birth certificates.

In this picture, one of the staff is washing linens. The patients family are required to do their own laundry by hand. It's a simple process and works well.

This is a picture of my first patient here at Abundant Grace. I enjoyed getting to know her over the two days she was here. It was a beautiful birth.

Outreach and prenatals in Laclong!

Today we went to Laclong, a neighboring village to do a teaching on Labor and Delivery and prenatals. It rained the whole time... but it was warm and fun, none the less!
Look at the size of our umbrella!

She was doing the laundry in the rain!

 We also gathered the women and their babies for check-ups.

Laclong- second take...

Getting ready for teaching... already we were attracting a crowd.

 Janelle taking blood pressure

 Inside look at the prenatal room... we fit three women at a time inside the house.

Manila and beyond! - Day one and a half of the adventure

So much... oh so much to share.... but I'll start with this, the ADVENTURE HAS BEGUN! Yesterday morning I was shuttled off to the airport where I caught the early flight to Manila. My partner in crime and trusty side-kick is a travel savvy MK from Africa,named Janelle. Together we had it all figured out. We'd drop our bags at the bus depot and then explore the city on foot. We were excited. Once we landed, we powerhoused our hiking bags on and off carts, around the masses and made it to the concierge desk for information.

We figured it couldn't hurt to ask for directions for the bus depot. When in doubt, ask! Right? We made it to the concierge desk and were thrilled to learn we could get to the station using public transportation. So off we went, with a skip in our step to the bus depot. We boarded a transit bus and rolled on and on... and on. We were told where to get off by the conductor and then asked a few people who helped us find the place. We were so proud that we made it there by bus... all on our ingenious own! (plus the help of about 25 locals- of course). But soon after arriving, we discovered there was just one problem... it was the WRONG TERMINAL!

We then had to brave the taxi system (not a good reputation in manila) and cross town to the northern terminal!.... Amid the honking and exhaust fumes... we had to laugh. We had tried to avoid the taxi and here we were begging one to get us to our next stop. Three hours after landing in Manila... we made it there at last. We purchased our tickets and stored our bags. We were exhausted... hot... hungry and a bit defeated. The noise and the dirt, the heat and the hassle, had conspired to zap the adventurous spirit out of our steps. We had grand plans to see Rizal Park (a 58 hectare oasis in down town Manila) and then roam around museums to while-away the time. But instead we opted for the nearest mall and settled in for a 7 hour lay-over.

We ate, played and laughed our way around the mall. We got lost in the book stores and even more lost looking for the loo! (Apparently only the locals now where they are... and restroom signs cannot be trusted!) We didn't want to stay any longer than we had to at the bus station so we tried to time our connection to the last possible moment. We had to be there at 7pm so, optimistic us, we gave ourselves 15 minutes. We were naive to think that a 7 minute ride could take us longer than 15 minutes or that traffic might play a part in our downfall. But most of all, we assumed that like in everything else in the Philippines, that time didn't matter and they'd hold the bus for us! Oh... we were WRONG! Oh so very WRONG! Not only was our bus gone at 7:05 when we arrived but it had left exactly at 7pm!!! Timeliness is a concept that is largely unknown... or possibly unappreciated by this culture- EXCEPT AT THE BUS STATION!

Happily, my story does not end with my trusty-side-kick and I standing sullen and dejected, holding our bags amid the masses of travelers. We were able to catch the next bus (which thankfully left only 45 minutes later) and bunker down for the 12 hour commute to Tabuk. Yes, you heard that right... 12hrs! Now, I've taken international flights across the Atlantic that didn't take that long! But we were happy... because the Victory Liner bus was taking us further and further away from the BIG-BAD-CITY with every minute. And we were both craving a little country-side time. The ride was uneventful... if you don't count the cheesy-B-class horror movie they subjected us to, or the lack of sleep and leg room. This morning, we arrived safe and sound to our destination... a lovely birthing clinic surrounded by rice fields on three sides and a main street on the last. As I sit on the balcony and type out this message, I get excited about what the next few weeks will entail. I'm sure it will have something to do with catching babies... but i'm hoping for much, much more. But as each adventure leads me to new places... I'll make sure and bring you along. Until then, thank you for lifting us up in prayer!

101 reasons why I love being a midwife!

This last week I caught my 100th and 101th baby! This is a mile marker for me in my new life as a midwife. I'm in the three digits! I'm amazed at the opportunities I've had this last year and a half. I'm overwhelmed by how much I've learned and all that I've seen. But I'm also keenly aware of all that I have left to learn!

As many of you have noted... I am not writing the birth stories on my blog anymore. This is out of respect for their privacy. I'll be sharing stuff more anonymously and with pictures that don't have names. This is all very intentional. I hope you understand. Thank you for praying for me and my ministry here.

Up in Smoke!

So immigration is not a place you want to spend much time. I don't care if you are talking about the American immigration or in any foreign country. It's just not a pleasant place. You have lines. lots of them. You have uncomfortable chairs and flickering neon lights. And you have hot, cranky, impatient foreigners mindlessly tapping their feet and staring off into space. The staff are sometimes friendly but often they are just disinterested and going through the motions. It's not a job I'd sign up for personally so I can empathize with the monotony. Well, this morning I found myself standing in those lines and waiting in those seats. They took my papers and informed me they'd be going on lunch (a two hour lunch!) so I should return after 1 pm. That's fine with me. I'd rather be doing other things too. So i left and had lunch with a patient in the hospital down the street. I had to transport her because of signs of hypertension. It was a nice lunch and she let me cuddle her cute little girl, Charmaine. When I returned, I waited as they came back from lunch and start my paperwork. But then, all of a sudden there was more flickering of the lights than normal. There was fluctuating power surges then POOF!!! one of the computers went up in smoke. The women screeched. The men ran to cut off the power and everybody in the lobby started for the doors. except me. I just walked closer for a better look. It was only a computer. :- ) I would have unplugged the computer and turned back on the power. it's an easy fix. But here they went the opposite direction. They closed down the office and asked everyone to come back another day... So I won't be renewing my immigration status today. Perhaps tomorrow. Assuming nothing else explodes while I'm there.

~ A surprise ending ~

Mai-Mai came into the clinic moving slowly. She had a strange, wild look in her eyes and she keep repeating over and over again in a low whisper, "My baby is coming! My baby is coming! .... My baby is coming!" Together we walked to the bed where she started pushing immediately. Within minutes, a little patch of dark black hair poked through. A push or two more and little Jonred joined us on this side of the uterus. It was a slow, sweet birth .... truly beautiful. Then... we all sat back and enjoyed this little crying, slimy boy a bit while we waited for the placenta. When it came time for the placenta, she pushed once, twice... there were no signs of placental separation; no bleeding. There was just a bit of cord lengthening. So I waited. Then as I looked down to see her push for the third time I was startled to find myself COVERED in her blood! Her placenta hung most of the way out but her blood was everywhere... mainly all over me! The best part was the reaction of everyone in the room! My assist, supervisor and the father of the child all recoiled in unison! Together they all made the same sound of disgusted 'uuugggggggghhhhh!!!!' I was covered from neck to thigh in almost 100 cc of blood! Then we laughed and I made a B-line for the shower! I should have taken a picture... :- )

Badjao Wedding ~

~An Atypical Tuesday Morning ~
On Tuesday morning at 11, I was invited to attend a wedding among the Badjao. When I asked why get married Tuesday morning at 11? The answer made me smile. To understand the answer you must know that the Badjao are a native ethnic group in the Philippines. They are social outcasts, sea gypsies and street beggars. They have their own language and live in stilted housed on the sea. Most are Muslim but not all. Those who live in Isla Verde are some of the poorest. So when I asked why Tuesday morning? I was told, “When nobody works; Why not?”

 The bride is named Lassa. She is the pastor’s daughter and was marrying late at 18 yrs old. (Most are married off at 13 or 14 yrs.) A Badjao wedding is a three day affair with dancing, food and festivities. The whole town is invited. I got there on the final day of festivities, to find most of the town gathered in front of the church, watching dancers and waiting for the fun to begin.

 The bride was beautiful! She reminded me of a fine porcelain doll with her layers and layers of make-up! She had white foundation, green and gold eye shadow and a perfect circle of bright pink blush on each cheek! Her lipstick was deep red and she wore one inch fake eyelashes! They must have been heavy as she kept her eyes to the floor- downcast and demure.

 She wore a white, frilly gown that must have been sweltering in the heat! Her hair was tucked up under a white tulle veil that trailed behind her. On her hands she wore lacy gloves. Each finger donned at least one large gold ring and her wrists drooped with gold bracelets. Around her neck hung not one but two large gold necklaces with another in her hair which laid low on her forehead. She resembled nothing of the giggling young girl I had met months before. She didn’t smile. She didn’t move. She didn’t giggle. She sat stock still while one friend caked on more and more make-up and another fanned her with a piece of cardboard. She looked very nervous- and hot!

The groom was also in his finest. But for him, that meant shiny new sneakers, dark blue jeans and a traditional white linen shirt. His hair was spiked with gobs of gel. And up until the vows, he wore brand-new black sun glasses. He looked green and ready to pass out at any moment! As it came time for the ceremony to start, the crowd cheered as the groom went to get the bride and then led her to the altar.

 They sat on a bench with their hands neatly folded on golden pillows and stared stoically as the crowd bustled in close for a better view. The crowd stood quietly as they exchanged rings and vowed to love each other in a way that would glorify God! Then slowly, the church emptied and the kids ran for the cake. It was simple and lovely. There was just one thing. The groom was reluctant…and the bride was hopeful. Their families had arranged it for social prestige and money. She came with a hefty dowry (14,000 pesos or $300.00 US). ….. And he had no choice. Pray that they learn to love each other as Christ loves the church!