My first catch!

Hey friends,

Update
Its been an exciting and busy past couple weeks here in Tabuk. We had two girls come up from the clinic in Davao to hang out and volunteer with us for two weeks. It was so fun to have them here and I miss them already.

I finally managed to find a computer! :) Through a true God plan, we happened to run into a previous patient and her husband as we were all studying at the gas station(café). Aisling chatted with them and somehow discovered that the husband runs a computer shop and probably had something for me. Georgia and I went to see him two days later, and two days after that I had a computer. Not just a computer actually, but also a super duper case(see picture below), and a super deal of about 3,000 pesos less then I had been able to find anywhere else. I'm very thankful!(sometimes I have to remember that when trying to learn how to use a PC again, not gonna lie!)

Edol and I LOVE my computer case.

The change of seasons back home has been making me a bit homesick... or a lot homesick some days. There are many times that I wish I could be home enjoying the beautiful fall colors and the first snowfall, but there will be a time for that again and until then, I will happily embrace the life that I love here.


My First Catch
The girls visiting and finding a computer finally were both very awesome things... but I must say, the true highlight of this past week was my FIRST catch!!! About two weeks ago, my supervisors decided that I was ready to start catching. It was exciting to hear that, yet also nerve wracking. I can barely catch a ball, yet somehow I'm expected to help a slippery little baby come into this world? Thankfully they don't fly at you like a ball ;) In the first few days after told I would be able to catch I had two different labors that I helped with... neither went the way we would have expected. The first one we ended up transporting to the hospital and the second our director and midwife extraordinaire here, Georgia was called upon to step in. Both moms and babies are doing great, and while those labors had their challenges, I'm so thankful for them! Each held many, many lessons for me and I wouldn't trade that. When my labor came in on Thursday and we discovered her blood pressure was a bit elevated I started to get nervous and didn't want to get too excited that today could be the day. As I began to labor watch with this mom, I really felt like we had a good connection. For me, I feel like that's something that can be hard to establish considering the language barrier and culture differences. Something was different about this one though. She was clearly nervous and needed support. We began trying different methods to bring her blood pressure down, but it was taking a while for success. I decided we needed to try something a bit stronger... prayer. I sat down on the bed with her and asked if she would like me to pray for her. The relief on her face almost brought me to tears. We prayed for a couple minutes and she thanked me profusely when we were done. A short time later and after a couple different things, her blood pressure came down. God is good! She labored well and it wasn't long before we welcomed her little son to this world. She burst into tears when she saw him which, of course, made others including me tear up a bit too. It was an amazing moment that I will remember forever. I'm so blessed to have such amazing people around me who not only helped support the mother, but supported and congratulated me as well. It seemed like all the midwives were in the room shortly after to see how things had gone and give me a big smile. It was a great night :)

Adorable little footprints!

 

 

Financial Update
As I have said before, the past month has held some unexpected expenses. Having to purchase a new computer was not something that I had planned on. On top of that, my immigration expenses to stay here for two years has also been more then planned... and both things have come at the same time. While I do not want finances to always be a focus, it is a reality that they are. I am in a place of constantly trusting God to provide for these things. I'm not going to lie and say it's easy. It's probably one of the hardest parts about being here. Yet I know that He has called me to be in this place right now, and that he will provide. I have no doubt in that. But it also means that I have to be open and honest about my needs. So, this is where I am at. The computer cost and extra visa expenses have put me at almost $1000 over budget. I am trusting and praying that God will provide, and I'm asking you to do that with me as well. If you feel that you would like to support me financially to help with this, I would be so grateful. If you are not in that place, but can join me in trusting and praying then I would be so grateful for that as well!

Prayer requests
- For my first catch and his wonderful Mom. Blessing and health for them both :)
- For all our patients; healthy pregnancies, no complications in labor, and healthy babies
- For financial provision. For strength to continue in this fundraising journey.
- For health. I've been sick off and on for the past couple weeks.


Thanks for reading this rather long-winded post!!

Much love to ya!

Rainy day thoughts...

Hi friends,

It's a very stormy evening here in Tabuk and I am happily curled up with tea and some thoughts to share.

I often find it hard to write blogs, or updates of any sort really.  It sometimes difficult to explain the intricacies of life here. I want to be as honest and transparent as I can, yet often lack the words that will make sense. Yet,  I want it to make sense.  I want you all to be able to understand a bit of what God is doing here and the things that I am experiencing... So please bear with me :)

I remember when I was preparing to come here. Way back when I was first sending my application. I remember sending it off and thinking 'phew! The hard part is over'. Then came the waiting for an answer,  another hard part.  Then the acceptance and figuring out how this was going to work... Hard part.  Then the fundraising,  you guessed it... VERY hard part. It just continued like that.  I remember venting to a friend about wishing all the hard parts would be done and I could just enjoy it.  I also still remember the look she gave me and I'm sure she was thinking 'she thinks THIS is the hard part?! She's in for a treat'. At least that's what the facial expression said.

It honestly just gets harder... Yet more enjoyable at the same time so don't start worrying about me :)
It's hard to be in an unfamiliar place around people (who are awesome!!) who you are just getting to know.
It's hard to live in a place where you are the outsider. Where you don't speak the language (though we are learning).
It's hard to learn to love and communicate with mothers who you don't understand and who don't understand you.
It's hard to continually trust that God is going to provide finances to make this all possible... Especially when emergencies come up (like broken computers and immigration bills all at the same time. Gotta love it!).
It's hard to be here when things are happening with people I love that break my heart and I feel powerless.
It's hard to miss things happening in the lives of people I love.

But, with all that being said,  I wouldn't trade it for anything. I know that things aren't always easy,  but I serve a God who wants to carry my burdens(Psalm 55:22). I serve a God who is sovereign(Psalm 103:19). Who knows the plan when I loose sight(Jeremiah 29:11). A God who is strength in my weakness(2 Corinthians 12:9-10).  Who is faithful even when I am faithless(2 Timothy 2:13). A God whos promises endure forever(Psalm 100:5).  And I am so thankful for the journey that he has me on... Even when it's hard.

There is a song that's been on my mind all day and has been such a great reminder to me.  It's called Sovereign Over Us by Aaron Keys and I'll post it below for you just in case you need the reminder too :)

So, those are my thoughts for tonight.  Thanks for reading!
I hope you are well...  And that you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Eat an extra piece of pumpkin pie for me.

Much love,
A


Prayer requests:
- for the health of the women and babies we see.
- traveling safety for a couple students that are headed up here from Davao (there are Typhoon warnings).
- for continued financial provision...  And maybe that there would be a stellar deal on a computer that will work for me here :)  I go tomorrow to look.


Click this for the song:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EufaligPigU

'fall' in the Philippines, more births, and dead computers :(

The days fly by quickly here and before I realize it it's been almost two weeks since my last blog.  I'm sorry... I know you're all hanging on the edge of your seats for a new post ;-) (hehe).

I'm happy to report that the weather is starting to get a little bit cooler here.  I can almost pretend it's fall.  All the beautiful pictures posted from home of fall colours and pumpkin this and that have really helped strengthen my character.  Specifically when it comes to jealousy and envy...  So thanks for that :)

I have now seen 12 births in my time here with each being beautiful in their own right.
One of my favorite moments happened the other night when I was woken up at 3am to assist a birth even though I wasn't on shift.  There were two midwives on that night, which is usually enough for that shift,  however we ended up having two labour's who started pushing at the same time. As you can imagine,  extra hands were needed and I was able to fill some of that need.  Both the births went well and delivered within minutes of each other, but it's not so much the births that made it a favourite moment.  It was the feeling of being a part of something amazing right along side some pretty spectacular midwives.  In the wee hours of the morning,  two new lives entered the world and while everyone was asleep in their beds,  we got to witness first breaths, first cries, first sneezes,  and lovely moments of a parents first look at their child.  It's truly a beautiful thing and I feel so blessed to be a little part of it.

On to a less lovely note...  My week did include some disappointment and slight frustration.  My Mac died.  Some of you may feel my pain and some may wonder why this is significant at all.  For those of you who feel my pain,  thank you for making me feel less crazy.
While I am very thankful to have a working phone that still allows me to keep in touch, it doesn't help much when it comes to writing rather long assignments, researching,  and doing a large portion of what I am here for: learning.  We do not have the luxury of a computer lab or library with which I could make due with those computers for the time being. I have weighed the pros,  cons,  and prices in trying to figure out what to do. It seems my best option is to get an inexpensive PC here. As you can imagine,  this is not something I planned or budgeted for.  People often ask me what I need, and quite honestly, this is it.  I need the financial provision to purchase a computer for my time here.  I would be so thankful if you would prayerfully consider helping me out in this.  If that is praying and believing with me that provision will come,  that is great!  If you would like to support financially, thank you!!  Just use the PayPal button on the right side of the page.  Or,  if you happen to have a computer lying around (or know of anyone who does), and feel like sending it on a trip across the ocean,  I would be so grateful!! If you have any questions,  or need an alternate way to support besides PayPal please contact me.

Thank you for reading my little bits about life here. And for the prayers.  And for the messages,  comments on posts,  and mail that has been sent.  It always brightens my day and makes me feel a little bit closer to home.

Love and prayers,
A