Removing the aspect of "surprise"

Happy New Year!!!

Hope you all had wonderful holidays filled with laughter, family, and delicious food. The holidays here were filled with lots of Christmas movies, good meals, fun times together, and awesome fireworks. I found it harder to be away this year than last year, but chances are it wasn't the last Christmas I will spent away from home and snow so I just consider it practice for more years ahead :)

In the spirit of the New Year, we often take a look back and remember the events of the past year. Come on a quick look back with me :)
The past year has certainly held some unforgettable moments. So many to name! More importantly, I want to tell you about how your support has had an impact on the clinic here in the past year. When you support and give towards my clinic fees, it goes directly to helping fund the operations of the clinic, thus helping us effectively care for the mother's of Tabuk and surrounding villages.

• In 2014, Abundant (the clinic I volunteer at for those who aren't familiar) saw over 550 women for pre-natal visits.
• Close to 300 of those women delivered their babies at the clinic (some drop-in labors are included).
• Over 60% of our mothers were either first time mom's or had delivered previous babies at home* without the help of a skilled birth attendant.
• Our intrapartum (in labor) transport rate was 9%. These are the patients who we need to refer to a higher level of care due to complications.
• In September, we had the clinics busiest month yet at 39 births!

I love looking at these numbers and seeing all the things being accomplished. It is such a privilege to be a small part of what is happening here, and it is YOUR generous support that has made that possible!

As the due date (Feb 1st) approaches quickly for my last portion of clinic fees, it can make for a pretty stressful time. Or at least, that would be expected and that is a feeling I have felt in the past as I waited patiently(HA!) for funds to come in. This time there is a different freedom, shall we say, that I have found in this process. I recently finished a book called Bruchko. It's a great book about a missionary to the Motilone Indians in South America (read it if you get a chance!). This missionary, like many, relied heavily on the financial support of others in order to continue the work he was doing. He would spend months and months in the jungle, come to the nearest town to get supplies or medicine, check his mailbox, and know without a doubt that there would be something there if he needed it. He just seemed to have this very matter-of-fact way about God's provision. Of course He will provide. Of course he is faithful. He writes about needing finances for medicine for an outbreak and going to his mailboxes in two cities and finding almost all he needed. The remainder came in the next day. When he found the finances were provided his response was "I wasn't surprised" (what do you mean you weren't surprised dude?! I AM surprised FOR you!). He trusted. He believed. He didn't doubt. Therefore, God coming through for him wasn't surprising. It was normal. How cool is that. Are you surprised when God comes through for you? I have been surprised many times in the past year and a half. Immensely thankful, but surprised. As if I have been living with this undertone of doubt, just waiting for something to not work out. Can I tell you something? I am so sick of that doubt. And I have no desire to live in that anymore, so I decided not too. I decided to remember that God has always been faithful, and that He will continue to be faithful. And I will continue to be so thankful, and blessed by how he provides through the generosity of people.

So here's a little financial update for ya!

• I currently need to raise $6,050! That is down from $6,900 just before New Years! Amazing.
• If 121 people donated $50, my goal would be met! That's less than a quarter of my facebook friends.
• You can donate ANY amount that suits you. It is all accepted with such thankfulness!
• You can donate by clicking the PayPal option to the right on this screen, or you can contact me (pagnucco.alexandra@gmail.com) for other options.
• Prayer and encouragement is just as important and means so much!

I'll leave you with a couple pictures of my favorite moments from 2014 in the Philippines!

Much love,
A

*I am a huge advocate for homebirth with skilled care providers and access to hospitals if needed. Most homebirths that occur here are without skilled attendants and often result in tragedy, therefore we are thrilled when they choose to deliver here with us!