Can you believe it's Christmas?! I can't. Time has flown and it boggles my mind.
Part of the reason it snuck (sneaked?) up so quickly is because, to me, it doesn't feel like Christmas. I miss the snow, the cold, the bundling up, the scarves (of course), the traditions, and the family and friends. The feeling of the season is hard to catch when it's always +20, sunny, and there are palm trees everywhere. Regardless, we have had plenty of fun enjoying a different kind of Christmas. Different is good! It's hard sometimes. But if you just embrace it for what it is, it will surprise you in a wonderful way :)
My Christmas Eve started off quite eventful with.... drumroll.... laundry! Fun eh? Better then doing it tomorrow though. After that, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather by going for a quick run. It was a great way to start the day.
When Aisling was volunteering in Tacloban after the typhoon, she met a couple who are staying there to help for the foreseeable future and convinced them to pop up to Tabuk to spend Christmas with us. It's fun to have two more Americano's around. We spent the afternoon strolling the market for the ingredients to make some tasty food and then went back to Georgia's house (who is in Canada for the holidays) to prepare and devour. And that we did. After dinner we came back to the clinic bearing cookies, cake, eggnog, and fudge to enjoy with the girls here.
Tomorrow will bring more fun time with friends, more wonderful food, and a new and different experience. And while I will miss home, I will be completely thankful for it.
I want to take some time in this blog to thank everyone who has supported me over this past year. I am blown away when I look back and see all the things God provided so that I could be here. Thank you for being so generous in your giving. For believing in where God has called me to in this time. For praying for me and supporting me while I am here. I can never come up with adequate words to express how grateful I really am. I would not be able to be here without your help! Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for all the people he has put in my life who would give so freely and wholeheartedly to see this work accomplished and these women being cared for. Thank you!!!
I pray that you all have a wonderful Christmas. I pray you enjoy time with the people you love, that you see God's blessings in this season, and that you get to enjoy some of your favorite foods ;)
Much love to you all!!!
Merry Christmas!
A
p.s. We are planning on putting together a video tour of the clinic and area in the next couple weeks so that you all can get a better idea of what it is like here, the work we do, why it's worth supporting, AND how great it is ;)
It you have anything specific that you would like to see or know, please let me know so we can include it!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Happily Present
Hellooo!
At long last, I have turned on the Christmas tunes (Celine Dion to be exact.. don't judge) and settled down with some coffee to write this post. I'm imagining it's snowing outside. Ah, my happy place!
November seems to have flown by and left me in the dust. It was a month that left this country in devastation after the typhoon hit the central islands. We still see daily reports of progress on the news and it never becomes easier to watch. My friend and fellow midwife-to-be (in her second year of studies), Aisling, left two weeks ago to help on a medical team. She comes back in a couple days but has kept us posted with some pretty crazy stories. She says that although the devastation is heartbreaking, there is such a spirit of hope present. It's amazing how, in the midst of these horrible circumstances, hope prevails.
Last month was super busy for the clinic and there were lots of cute babies born! This month is gearing up to be a busy one as well with over 50 women due. Please keep these mom's in your prayers as they prepare to bring a new life into their families. Pray for health of both the mom and the baby, and a smooth delivery.
I'm well into my 4th month here and still loving it. It's not always wonderful. There are hard days. There are homesick days. But those happen anywhere, and a new day always comes. We are learning so much, so quickly. I often feel as though the more I learn, the less I know. Can anyone relate? There is SO much to learn. I often look at the midwives who supervise me and think "Will I ever get to that place?". It seems like it is so far off. And it is, really, but I know I will get there in time.
I find myself to be a bit of a dreamer lately(or always?). A dreamer with a slight dose of pessimism. I dream a lot about what the future will hold. Where this life will take me. What God has in store. I dream about and look forward to going home in the summer and seeing my friends and family. I can't wait to hold my new niece or nephew. To meet the babies my friends have given birth to over the past year. To stand with a best friend as she marries the man of her dreams. There is SO much to look forward too. However, God has been challenging me a lot lately about what it means to be present. To dream for the right now.
Something I'm sure we can all relate to is that life goes by so quickly. Often though, I wonder if that has to do with how much we wish away. I don't want to wish, or dream, away the moments here. I know that I am called to be here in this time and I don't want to take that for granted. Another day comes before we know it, but how much more fully could we live our lives if we took the time to focus on what God has for us today. To wake up in anticipation of what the next few hours hold, not the next few years. To be present and to focus on the women he has put me with to show his love too.
That has been my challenge this past month... and let me tell you, I'm not good at it yet. But I am trying. All I know is that while dreaming isn't bad, God has each of us in the place we are at for a reason. Live in that reason. Learn the lessons put in front of you. They prepare you for what's to come. Commit to where you are... before you know it, it will be where you were.
Anyhoo, it's about time to continue tackling my current assignment and maybe move onto the nsync Christmas album (I know I know... you are all judging my music choices right now. At least I know my dear sisters would be loving this right along with me). I'll leave you with some prayer requests...
1. For the upcoming Christmas party with the patients from the past year. That there would be a good turn-out and that we would all have a great time celebrating Christmas with the wonderful women who give us reason to be here doing what we do.
2. Continued prayer for the victims of the Typhoon. (Check out the Red Cross Philippines if you are interested in donating).
3. Wisdom, patience, and trust as I begin to fund raise again in the new year.
You are never far from my mind, friends. Thanks for reading!
Much love,
Al
At long last, I have turned on the Christmas tunes (Celine Dion to be exact.. don't judge) and settled down with some coffee to write this post. I'm imagining it's snowing outside. Ah, my happy place!
November seems to have flown by and left me in the dust. It was a month that left this country in devastation after the typhoon hit the central islands. We still see daily reports of progress on the news and it never becomes easier to watch. My friend and fellow midwife-to-be (in her second year of studies), Aisling, left two weeks ago to help on a medical team. She comes back in a couple days but has kept us posted with some pretty crazy stories. She says that although the devastation is heartbreaking, there is such a spirit of hope present. It's amazing how, in the midst of these horrible circumstances, hope prevails.
Last month was super busy for the clinic and there were lots of cute babies born! This month is gearing up to be a busy one as well with over 50 women due. Please keep these mom's in your prayers as they prepare to bring a new life into their families. Pray for health of both the mom and the baby, and a smooth delivery.
I'm well into my 4th month here and still loving it. It's not always wonderful. There are hard days. There are homesick days. But those happen anywhere, and a new day always comes. We are learning so much, so quickly. I often feel as though the more I learn, the less I know. Can anyone relate? There is SO much to learn. I often look at the midwives who supervise me and think "Will I ever get to that place?". It seems like it is so far off. And it is, really, but I know I will get there in time.
I find myself to be a bit of a dreamer lately(or always?). A dreamer with a slight dose of pessimism. I dream a lot about what the future will hold. Where this life will take me. What God has in store. I dream about and look forward to going home in the summer and seeing my friends and family. I can't wait to hold my new niece or nephew. To meet the babies my friends have given birth to over the past year. To stand with a best friend as she marries the man of her dreams. There is SO much to look forward too. However, God has been challenging me a lot lately about what it means to be present. To dream for the right now.
Something I'm sure we can all relate to is that life goes by so quickly. Often though, I wonder if that has to do with how much we wish away. I don't want to wish, or dream, away the moments here. I know that I am called to be here in this time and I don't want to take that for granted. Another day comes before we know it, but how much more fully could we live our lives if we took the time to focus on what God has for us today. To wake up in anticipation of what the next few hours hold, not the next few years. To be present and to focus on the women he has put me with to show his love too.
That has been my challenge this past month... and let me tell you, I'm not good at it yet. But I am trying. All I know is that while dreaming isn't bad, God has each of us in the place we are at for a reason. Live in that reason. Learn the lessons put in front of you. They prepare you for what's to come. Commit to where you are... before you know it, it will be where you were.
Anyhoo, it's about time to continue tackling my current assignment and maybe move onto the nsync Christmas album (I know I know... you are all judging my music choices right now. At least I know my dear sisters would be loving this right along with me). I'll leave you with some prayer requests...
1. For the upcoming Christmas party with the patients from the past year. That there would be a good turn-out and that we would all have a great time celebrating Christmas with the wonderful women who give us reason to be here doing what we do.
2. Continued prayer for the victims of the Typhoon. (Check out the Red Cross Philippines if you are interested in donating).
3. Wisdom, patience, and trust as I begin to fund raise again in the new year.
You are never far from my mind, friends. Thanks for reading!
Much love,
Al
Had the complete privilege of helping this little guy come into the world.
He had is three week check yesterday and he has somehow gotten even cuter!!
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