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!
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