Hi Friends!
My first blog since being back on Canadian soil has been a long time coming, but that time was necessary. Hopefully this will shed some light on the next steps that many of you have asked about and maybe give you a little look into what being back "home" has been like.
Re-entry, repatriation, adjustment, culture shock, etc, are all words that people throw around to give some sort of label to what this time is like. I found comfort in these words when I was still in the Philippines. Comfort in knowing that many had walked this road, often repeatedly, before me. I thought, if they can do it, so can I. I had prepared myself as much as I thought I could. I mean, how can you actually prepare for this? It's more like you know that the pain is coming, that it will be a bit crappy, and that life will go on. You can't pre-feel the pain, and the light at the end of the tunnel doesn't appear until you are actually walking through the tunnel. Now speaking from inside that tunnel, all I can say is it is so much MORE than I imagined. So much more pain, so much more confusion, so much more joy in some things, so much more everything. It's just MORE.
It is a strange thing stepping back into the country that felt like home for so long and feeling like a complete stranger. It is painful to get up every morning and feel like you have to fake it until you make it because the pain that you are experiencing isn't tangible. It is confusing to relearn cultural norms. It is hard to justify rest. It is hard to communicate about the past two years of my life because so much of it includes things that people are not generally interested in. It is challenging to deal with the pressure to just be ok. Ninety percent of my time in Canada has felt like I am walking through a cloud. I can keep up the act, be happy, be present, only to collapse when I am alone. It is difficult, it is painful, my heart often feels lost, and my head a mess. BUT, it is also so wonderful. The difficulties have also been met with so much goodness!! There is absolutely nothing like getting to hug my family again. Or hearing my niece every morning. Or being completely loved and blessed by amazing friends. I don't want to diminish those things at all. They have literally been a God-send.
Day by day things get a little bit better. I feel a little less like a fish out of water. I feel a little less like I am faking the smiles. And I feel a little bit more at home. I still miss my life in Tabuk a great deal. I miss my friends who became like family, I miss the clinic, I miss the heat (though I am loving the snow), I miss the food, I miss it all. The way my time there affected my life will continue to pour over into whatever I do next and I will always be thankful for that. I am forever changed (and this is a great blog to help explain that! It helped me a lot) by those amazing people, that culture, and the place that I found home.
So what's next, you ask? GOOD QUESTION! I have no idea. Actually, I have many ideas. I am just not yet sure which path to choose. All I can see at this point is the Philippines. Understandably so considering it was the last place I felt most at home. However, that doesn't mean that I am supposed to go back. Right now I am slowly but surely looking at the options of licensing in Canada after I write my board exam in the US. It is a program that takes about a year but is, of course, competitive to get into. At this point my focus is settling into the Soo, taking advantage of quality time with family and friends, working through this whole adjustment period, trying to stay involved in the birth culture as much as I can, and just finding some rest. Next steps will come in time.
I cannot thank you all enough for your support in the past two years. I would not be sitting here, on the other side of things, had it not been for the generosity and prayers of the people around me. I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful. You have permanently touched my life and I am thankful from the bottom of my heart.
Abundant, the clinic I worked and trained at, is a place that will always be so very dear to me and I was so blessed to see the impact that it has on the women of Tabuk and surrounding areas. Just because I am no longer there doesn't mean there isn't a way to still support the work being done there and even sponsor a birth! If you feel led to continue supporting this ministry, please go to www.gthemidwife.com and keep updated there. Any information about continued support can be found on that page.
My journey as a midwife (almost!) is really just starting so I will keep this blog open and will occasionally post updates, but for now, I'm gonna take a little break and just jump into life in Canada. Which, of course, means jumping into a couple inches of snow! :)
Much love and prayers to you all,
A
Monday, November 23, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Bitter-Sweet
Hi All,
I had taken a bit of a break from this blog and stuck to newsletters for my final months in Tabuk, but this seems like the easiest form of update at the moment. Sorry about the back and forth : ) There are just too many ways to keep everyone in the loop, and so many guidelines and thoughts about what should remain private and what can be public.
The past weeks have been filled with organizing, packing, graduating, and oh so many tears. On Oct 2, the Wiebe's and I said goodbye to our Tabuk home and the people we love so dearly. That was one of the saddest days regardless of the fact that I knew it was coming and hoped I could be "prepared". Prepared, I was not. I was not ready for what it would feel like to drive away from the clinic, having left my heart behind. I wasn't ready for these past couple days of feeling as though I am wandering aimlessly, without purpose or plan. I wasn't ready to feel as though I have left my entire self in the place that was my home these past two years. There are so many emotions. So many thoughts. I fight the urge to get back on the night bus and say "forget it Canada!", but I know that isn't the right move ;) Regardless of the pain of leaving, I still feel such peace from the Lord that this is what I have to be doing right now. Regardless of how much I want to be with my Tabuk family, I am still very excited to hug my Canadian family! What a blessing it is to know and love people that are hard to leave and easy to miss.
Prayer Requests:
Pictures are worth a thousand words, right? Since the more words I say, the more the tears flow, for now I will just leave you with a couple pictures from the last weeks.
Thank you to everyone for all the love and support in these past two years. I will write a better update once I am home.
Much love!
A
I had taken a bit of a break from this blog and stuck to newsletters for my final months in Tabuk, but this seems like the easiest form of update at the moment. Sorry about the back and forth : ) There are just too many ways to keep everyone in the loop, and so many guidelines and thoughts about what should remain private and what can be public.
The past weeks have been filled with organizing, packing, graduating, and oh so many tears. On Oct 2, the Wiebe's and I said goodbye to our Tabuk home and the people we love so dearly. That was one of the saddest days regardless of the fact that I knew it was coming and hoped I could be "prepared". Prepared, I was not. I was not ready for what it would feel like to drive away from the clinic, having left my heart behind. I wasn't ready for these past couple days of feeling as though I am wandering aimlessly, without purpose or plan. I wasn't ready to feel as though I have left my entire self in the place that was my home these past two years. There are so many emotions. So many thoughts. I fight the urge to get back on the night bus and say "forget it Canada!", but I know that isn't the right move ;) Regardless of the pain of leaving, I still feel such peace from the Lord that this is what I have to be doing right now. Regardless of how much I want to be with my Tabuk family, I am still very excited to hug my Canadian family! What a blessing it is to know and love people that are hard to leave and easy to miss.
Prayer Requests:
- Edolbina currently has a migraine and we are scheduled on a flight this evening. Prayer that it would be gone quickly would be so appreciated.
- Safe travel for the Wiebe's and I.
- Grace, comfort, and ease as we transition into life in our Canadian homes.
- Provision of travel expenses as well as the board exam fee which will need to be paid very quickly after getting home.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, right? Since the more words I say, the more the tears flow, for now I will just leave you with a couple pictures from the last weeks.
Thank you to everyone for all the love and support in these past two years. I will write a better update once I am home.
Much love!
A
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| Going to miss adventures with these three beauties! |
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| Loved my last newborn snuggles... |
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| GRAD! We did it! |
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| Love this girl! |
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| One of our last mornings enjoying the terrace |
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| A last picture, right before we left |
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| Ari misses his Tita's! |
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| Love this crew! |
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| Bina and I are slowly finding our Canadian roots... in Manila |
Thursday, May 21, 2015
I'm slacking...
Hi Friends,
It has been many weeks since I have written any sort of update. Ooops! The past couple months have been filled not just with everyday stuff, but also with beginning to tie up loose ends of different assignments here and there. It's now at the point where it's hard to ignore the fact that my time here will come to an end... much sooner than I want. In the same breath, it is exciting to see how everything is coming together and to look ahead to hugging my family and some colder weather ; )
The last 6 weeks...
As I mentioned previously, my dear friend Lee was here visiting and interning at the clinic for the month of April. It was so wonderful to have her around and to have the chance to work together. We miss her lovely smiling face in the clinic and all wish she could have stayed for longer. The clinic has been getting busier again, for which we are very thankful! It's definitely an answer to prayer.
This past Monday we celebrated the wedding of one of the Abundant staff. I was honored to stand as a bridesmaid and had so much fun getting all dressed up with the girls - not something we do around here much!
And then there have been some cute babies to keep me busy as well... Sadly I only have pictures of two of them so far! More to come of the others.
Decisions Decisions
Since the new year I have been spending lots of time thinking and praying about what comes next. I had been considering the option of staying in Tabuk for another 6 months, coming home, or possibly heading somewhere else for awhile. It is so difficult to think about leaving this place that has become my home and stepping into another unknown season. But I will make that step in faith. I've decided that I'll come back to Canada and enjoy my home there for a little while - Sault Ste Marie to be exact - my hometown. I'm excited to be going back to a place that I love so much and where I know I can find some peace and rest as I work towards whatever is next.
People keep asking "so you're going to come back and be a midwife??"... well, no. I will not yet be licensed to practice in Canada and therefore will take a little break from the world of moms and babies. Hopefully just a little break as I find a way that I can still be involved but not practicing. I'm so nervous to come back and not be doing what I do every day here, but I trust that God will provide work in the meantime that will still challenge me and help me to grow in different areas. As for when I will be a midwife in Canada... I can't answer that yet and don't want too. There are many options to choose from, such as pursuing midwifery in Canada through a bridging program, moving into the states to work as a CPM (certified professional midwife), or again spending time overseas. Each option has it's appeal, but I am not tied to any specific one yet. I simply want to enjoy some time in Canada with my family and friends before jumping into the next thing.
Prayer Requests
If you feel that you'd like to join me in prayer, here are a few things you can keep in mind:
It has been many weeks since I have written any sort of update. Ooops! The past couple months have been filled not just with everyday stuff, but also with beginning to tie up loose ends of different assignments here and there. It's now at the point where it's hard to ignore the fact that my time here will come to an end... much sooner than I want. In the same breath, it is exciting to see how everything is coming together and to look ahead to hugging my family and some colder weather ; )
The last 6 weeks...
As I mentioned previously, my dear friend Lee was here visiting and interning at the clinic for the month of April. It was so wonderful to have her around and to have the chance to work together. We miss her lovely smiling face in the clinic and all wish she could have stayed for longer. The clinic has been getting busier again, for which we are very thankful! It's definitely an answer to prayer.
This past Monday we celebrated the wedding of one of the Abundant staff. I was honored to stand as a bridesmaid and had so much fun getting all dressed up with the girls - not something we do around here much!
And then there have been some cute babies to keep me busy as well... Sadly I only have pictures of two of them so far! More to come of the others.
Decisions Decisions
Since the new year I have been spending lots of time thinking and praying about what comes next. I had been considering the option of staying in Tabuk for another 6 months, coming home, or possibly heading somewhere else for awhile. It is so difficult to think about leaving this place that has become my home and stepping into another unknown season. But I will make that step in faith. I've decided that I'll come back to Canada and enjoy my home there for a little while - Sault Ste Marie to be exact - my hometown. I'm excited to be going back to a place that I love so much and where I know I can find some peace and rest as I work towards whatever is next.
People keep asking "so you're going to come back and be a midwife??"... well, no. I will not yet be licensed to practice in Canada and therefore will take a little break from the world of moms and babies. Hopefully just a little break as I find a way that I can still be involved but not practicing. I'm so nervous to come back and not be doing what I do every day here, but I trust that God will provide work in the meantime that will still challenge me and help me to grow in different areas. As for when I will be a midwife in Canada... I can't answer that yet and don't want too. There are many options to choose from, such as pursuing midwifery in Canada through a bridging program, moving into the states to work as a CPM (certified professional midwife), or again spending time overseas. Each option has it's appeal, but I am not tied to any specific one yet. I simply want to enjoy some time in Canada with my family and friends before jumping into the next thing.
Prayer Requests
If you feel that you'd like to join me in prayer, here are a few things you can keep in mind:
- Baby MJ - we are currently working to get MJ nice and healthy so that he can have surgery on his cleft palate by the beginning of June. He is having a mild case of pneumonia due to microaispirations when eating - this is very common with serious clefts. Please be praying that his body would be healed in the next week and that they would be able to go ahead with surgery soon. Also - if you would like to donate towards helping MJ's family with the costs of travel etc for this surgery, please click the PayPal link on the side and specify MJ when sending. Any bit can help!
- As Edolbina and I get closer to the end of our time here, it can be hard to stay focused on the present. We would love prayer for us to not feel like we have one foot out the door, but instead that we can stay fully engaged and committed to what is in front of us at this time. We certainly are not eager for our time to end, but still struggle with remembering to stay present.
Thanks for reading! I'll try to include stories in the next blog so it's a bit more exciting ;)
Much love to you all!
A
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Good News!
It's time for a quick blog update, I'm thinking! I'm not exactly sure where the month of March went...? If someone could grab it and bring it back, I'd be grateful. Thanks. While the clinic has been slow, life has still be relatively packed and there is one specific story I think you may all enjoy...
but FIRST - Happy Easter!!
He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
It has been a wonderful Easter Sunday starting with a pancake breakfast with friends and some time to reflect on the resurrection of Christ and the freedom that that brings for us. The Easter story can be told over and over and over, yet the wonder is never lost. The grave could not hold him. He defeated death. Nothing is too big for our God. Gosh, how much would change if we really walked in that truth?
More good news!
Back in May of 2014, I had the joy of helping Mae Dianne make her appearance into extra-uterine life. She was born with a cleft lip. Thankfully, she had few troubles breastfeeding and has grown to be quite the healthy little girl. We have been in contact with her mom over the past months in hopes of arranging for Mae Dianne to have surgery. Last week, we went to visit the family at home to check in on things and arrived to see this:
See that little scar? This little beauty is healing from surgery that was done on March 7th. We are so thankful to see that she is doing well and that her family was very motivated to get this done for her. She will need on more surgery that they hope will be done in June or July. She is thriving, smiley, and such fun to be around.
These moments bring indescribable joy to my life. If anyone tells you that midwifery is all about catching babies, please tell them they are so very wrong. That is such a small part of things. Midwifery is about relationships. It's about empowering women. It's about transformation. It's about community. It's real, it's raw, it's hard, and it is so very beautiful.
But then there are also some real, raw, hard, but NOT so beautiful moments... such as:
The adventure of donating blood. I picked a tame, blood-free picture for you all. Truly an adventure, as is anything in this place it seems. Thankfully, Bina was up for the adventure and so we made our way to the hospital, armed with our own sanitizer, to donate some blood for one of Bina's patients. It seems that Bina and I have a habit of getting poked together now. We learned IV's on each other, so why not let them "bleed" us together. After this experience, I can honestly say that I have never had SO much fun donating blood. When people say "it's more fun in the Philippines", I promise you that is not just a slogan. IT REALLY IS!
In other news:
A dear midwife friend of mine, Lee, is visiting for the month of April. It is so great to have someone from home come and experience the life that I love here. I have wanted so much to share it, and now I can. Plus, we get to do the whole midwife thing together! So fun. Next week we will head up to Bugnay for a couple days and then the rest of the time will be spent around the clinic here. Prayer for a busy month at the clinic would be so appreciated!
This is a bit of a shorter update, but the beautiful rainy evening and a cup of tea is distracting me. Time to go enjoy that :)
Much love from this side of the world,
A
but FIRST - Happy Easter!!
He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
It has been a wonderful Easter Sunday starting with a pancake breakfast with friends and some time to reflect on the resurrection of Christ and the freedom that that brings for us. The Easter story can be told over and over and over, yet the wonder is never lost. The grave could not hold him. He defeated death. Nothing is too big for our God. Gosh, how much would change if we really walked in that truth?
More good news!
Back in May of 2014, I had the joy of helping Mae Dianne make her appearance into extra-uterine life. She was born with a cleft lip. Thankfully, she had few troubles breastfeeding and has grown to be quite the healthy little girl. We have been in contact with her mom over the past months in hopes of arranging for Mae Dianne to have surgery. Last week, we went to visit the family at home to check in on things and arrived to see this:
These moments bring indescribable joy to my life. If anyone tells you that midwifery is all about catching babies, please tell them they are so very wrong. That is such a small part of things. Midwifery is about relationships. It's about empowering women. It's about transformation. It's about community. It's real, it's raw, it's hard, and it is so very beautiful.
But then there are also some real, raw, hard, but NOT so beautiful moments... such as:
The adventure of donating blood. I picked a tame, blood-free picture for you all. Truly an adventure, as is anything in this place it seems. Thankfully, Bina was up for the adventure and so we made our way to the hospital, armed with our own sanitizer, to donate some blood for one of Bina's patients. It seems that Bina and I have a habit of getting poked together now. We learned IV's on each other, so why not let them "bleed" us together. After this experience, I can honestly say that I have never had SO much fun donating blood. When people say "it's more fun in the Philippines", I promise you that is not just a slogan. IT REALLY IS!
In other news:
A dear midwife friend of mine, Lee, is visiting for the month of April. It is so great to have someone from home come and experience the life that I love here. I have wanted so much to share it, and now I can. Plus, we get to do the whole midwife thing together! So fun. Next week we will head up to Bugnay for a couple days and then the rest of the time will be spent around the clinic here. Prayer for a busy month at the clinic would be so appreciated!
This is a bit of a shorter update, but the beautiful rainy evening and a cup of tea is distracting me. Time to go enjoy that :)
Much love from this side of the world,
A
Friday, February 27, 2015
Some quick thoughts, should you care to step into my brain for a moment :)
It's almost March, my friends, almost MARCH! Yikes. For those of you so sick of the snow, this is excellent news. One step closer to summer. For us here, it means the start of our summer. And it's starting with the snap of a finger. One day cold, the next day a balmy, wonderful 33 degrees. I couldn't be happier. While I love the cold in Canada, my body does not seem to handle it well here and I spend months in what feels like an allergy coma some days. I am thrilled to be feeling better and not needing meds to get through the day!
This month has gone by like all the ones before it... fast! It's been a slower month at the clinic, but a productive time for the necessary things like assignments and such. There are good days and bad days, as with anywhere, but generally my days are filled with laughter and contentment. Bina (my classmate) and her family took a week off to do some traveling around the area this month. While they were gone, they graciously allowed me to stay in their house. I love my quiet time, my own space, and my place to breathe so I was really looking forward to this. A house to myself! I did not realize that I would be entirely lonely waking up in the morning to silence instead of the regular noises of the clinic. Or going to sleep at night and not hearing the usual laughter while the girls watch TV. I lasted two nights on my own before decided I much preferred my home at the clinic. My, how things have changed.. and I wouldn't trade it for anything :)
I want to take a few minutes to say thank you to everyone who generously supported me in my last months here. It was so amazing to see things come through again, in ways I never expected. I am humbled and so grateful. You are the reason I can be here, and you are a huge part of helping this clinic to function. God is so good. Even if I doubt, or my faith waivers, he does not.
To finish - while this may seem like a ridiculous thing considering the many forms of social networking already being used, I have decided that I am going to write a newsletter as well. Now before you start thinking I am crazy, let me explain. It has often come up that I have prayer requests or things to share that I don't feel comfortable putting on such an open space like a blog - for that reason, I would like a better way to update the people who really want to know those things. I will still blog, but it will more be the thoughts, stories, and ideas that I feel more open or led to share. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, you can click THIS link.
That's it for now!
Till next time...
A
This month has gone by like all the ones before it... fast! It's been a slower month at the clinic, but a productive time for the necessary things like assignments and such. There are good days and bad days, as with anywhere, but generally my days are filled with laughter and contentment. Bina (my classmate) and her family took a week off to do some traveling around the area this month. While they were gone, they graciously allowed me to stay in their house. I love my quiet time, my own space, and my place to breathe so I was really looking forward to this. A house to myself! I did not realize that I would be entirely lonely waking up in the morning to silence instead of the regular noises of the clinic. Or going to sleep at night and not hearing the usual laughter while the girls watch TV. I lasted two nights on my own before decided I much preferred my home at the clinic. My, how things have changed.. and I wouldn't trade it for anything :)
I want to take a few minutes to say thank you to everyone who generously supported me in my last months here. It was so amazing to see things come through again, in ways I never expected. I am humbled and so grateful. You are the reason I can be here, and you are a huge part of helping this clinic to function. God is so good. Even if I doubt, or my faith waivers, he does not.
To finish - while this may seem like a ridiculous thing considering the many forms of social networking already being used, I have decided that I am going to write a newsletter as well. Now before you start thinking I am crazy, let me explain. It has often come up that I have prayer requests or things to share that I don't feel comfortable putting on such an open space like a blog - for that reason, I would like a better way to update the people who really want to know those things. I will still blog, but it will more be the thoughts, stories, and ideas that I feel more open or led to share. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, you can click THIS link.
That's it for now!
Till next time...
A
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Two days!!
Well, my lovely friends, it's two days (or I guess three depending on where in the world you are) until February 1st - the due date for my LAST payment of clinic fees. I am currently $2,640 away from meeting the goal and it's down to the wire! In my experience, it always gets down to the wire, but it also always comes through somehow. I'm excited to see it all come into place... hopefully very soon :)
You may think I get sick of writing these financial updates or plea's for support, and to be honest, sometimes I do. It's a hard, humbling journey with fundraising. However, I NEVER get sick of seeing how God provides and being able to share that with you all! I also never get sick of talking about the clinic and WHY I believe in supporting the work being done here.
Every day that I live here I get to see your support put into action. It is seen through every pre-natal visit we do, every birth that happens here, every post-partum visit, and every well-baby seminar following that. The women are welcomed, supported, loved on, and shown the love of Christ, all the while receiving excellent midwifery care. And when I say excellent, I mean it. I have the immense privilege of being taught and trained by some of the most gifted midwives I have ever met. These women love God, and they love these women. Day after day they pour their hearts out to care for the patients of Abundant. I am constantly humbled and amazed at who they each are. Not to mention the fact that they are all hilarious and make living here a complete joy!
When I ask for support, I don't simply ask for me. I ask for the place that has captured by heart in the past year and a half. I ask because I believe in the importance of the work being done here at the clinic. I ask because I see the huge benefit of, and NEED for the clinic to be here to serve the women of Tabuk.
Will you consider being a part of supporting this clinic? When I say I need $2,640 more in clinic fees, it's cause that's what the $$'s really are for. It goes to help support the clinic I call home. If you have ANY questions at all about how to support (click the PayPal link), why to support, or the best way to support (monthly or one-time) please let me know! As I always say, every thing matters... whether $20 or $2,000, it all goes to support this amazing clinic.
Thanks for reading :)
Much love,
A
You may think I get sick of writing these financial updates or plea's for support, and to be honest, sometimes I do. It's a hard, humbling journey with fundraising. However, I NEVER get sick of seeing how God provides and being able to share that with you all! I also never get sick of talking about the clinic and WHY I believe in supporting the work being done here.
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| Sweet little Jerrika |
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| Chad Beau |
When I ask for support, I don't simply ask for me. I ask for the place that has captured by heart in the past year and a half. I ask because I believe in the importance of the work being done here at the clinic. I ask because I see the huge benefit of, and NEED for the clinic to be here to serve the women of Tabuk.
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| The first Well-Baby Seminar of 2015! |
Will you consider being a part of supporting this clinic? When I say I need $2,640 more in clinic fees, it's cause that's what the $$'s really are for. It goes to help support the clinic I call home. If you have ANY questions at all about how to support (click the PayPal link), why to support, or the best way to support (monthly or one-time) please let me know! As I always say, every thing matters... whether $20 or $2,000, it all goes to support this amazing clinic.
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| Huddled for warmth at the Church Anniversary party in the village of Pakak |
Thanks for reading :)
Much love,
A
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| January birthday girls - celebrating together for the last time :( |
Friday, January 23, 2015
One Week!
One week to go till my LAST portion of clinic fees are due and only $2,740 to go!
While it usually gets to a point where I feel really antsy and doubtful, there is something so different about this year. I know I have talked about it already, but this "deadline" shall we say, really does not scare me like the other ones did. Maybe it's because I have so many moments of God's faithfulness to look back on, or maybe it's because, with His help, I've been able to change my perspective this time around. All I know if that I feel such freedom in knowing that things are going to work out just fine!
Yes, there is still just under $3,000 to raise in one week.
Yes, the Canadian dollar is HORRID right now resulting in a very unwelcome increase in dues.
Yes, it seems like a lot. And it seems impossible.
Last time I checked, God specializes in impossible.
If ONLY 60 people supported with $50, my goal would be met.
So with that, would you please be praying with me that:
While it usually gets to a point where I feel really antsy and doubtful, there is something so different about this year. I know I have talked about it already, but this "deadline" shall we say, really does not scare me like the other ones did. Maybe it's because I have so many moments of God's faithfulness to look back on, or maybe it's because, with His help, I've been able to change my perspective this time around. All I know if that I feel such freedom in knowing that things are going to work out just fine!
Yes, there is still just under $3,000 to raise in one week.
Yes, the Canadian dollar is HORRID right now resulting in a very unwelcome increase in dues.
Yes, it seems like a lot. And it seems impossible.
Last time I checked, God specializes in impossible.
If ONLY 60 people supported with $50, my goal would be met.
So with that, would you please be praying with me that:
- The fees are provided for in full, in time.
- The exchange rate changes, even just a little bit, in favour of the Canadian dollar.
- That my computer gets fixed :)
- For health over everyone in the clinic. We have all been a bit under the weather, and I currently have a sinus infection. Health for us all is needed.
If you have any interest in financially supporting the work being done here, you can just click the PayPal link to the side. Or contact me if you have any questions :)
$20 or $2,000, there is no big and small. It all makes a difference! As does monthly support!
If you know of anyone who you think would have an interest in partnering with me, please pass this along!
Much love,
A
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| Life with these girls is NEVER boring! |
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Another year has gone by... (yikes!)
I must be honest. When I was a kid I really disliked the fact that my birthday was so close to Christmas (and I'm not even a big birthday person). It was like all the excitement (read: presents) for the year was compressed into a measly few weeks. As I grew up, that changed quickly. Now it's like a New Years do-over for me. Or New Years is a trial run for my ACTUAL new year. There is so much joy to be found in a new year. It's like opening the door to a whole new adventure. Now I do understand that not everyone feels that way due to our lovely human fear of aging, but if you aren't excited about turning a year older, then you can at least be excited about a new adventure, right?
As I close the door on last year, I move into this new year with joy and thankfulness. Every year is filled with happiness and sorrow, laughter and struggles, lessons and learning. I am grateful for each bit of those things that made up my past year as it has taught me and helped me grow. This year is filled with many unknowns, and I'm jumping two feet in knowing that I am never alone and that my God will always catch me.
For the past month I have been feeling the strong need to simplify my life a bit. Even living in a small room, the amount of things accumulated is unnecessary, at least in my opinion. It's not like I have a ton of stuff, but I DO have stuff that I certainly DON'T need. I'm pretty sure we could all say that! As a birthday present to myself I am clearing my room of 27 things I do not need in honor of turning 27. Why not start the year with a little challenge eh? Want to join me? You know you should ;) It may seem like a very simple thing, but it is unbelievable how attached we become to material things that are not important and that we probably don't even use. So whether you want to now, or want to do some spring cleaning later on in the year, I want to challenge you... Evaluate what you have. Consider the word NEED. Act. Clean our your closets. Clean out your junk drawer (there are people in the world that would take EVERYTHING in your junk drawer, make something from it, sell it, and buy their family food for the day). Be aware of the fact that we use ridiculous excuses to live in extreme excess. Just go for it! You'll be glad you did :)
So, to finish off this little blog, let me give you a quick fundraising update. God is SO SO good. All the time! Only $3,240 to go until my last payment of clinic fees is provided in FULL! I am continually blown away by the generosity of friends and their willingness to be a part of what God is doing here in Tabuk. THANK YOU!
A couple prayer requests:
Thanks for reading, friends!
Much love,
A
As I close the door on last year, I move into this new year with joy and thankfulness. Every year is filled with happiness and sorrow, laughter and struggles, lessons and learning. I am grateful for each bit of those things that made up my past year as it has taught me and helped me grow. This year is filled with many unknowns, and I'm jumping two feet in knowing that I am never alone and that my God will always catch me.
For the past month I have been feeling the strong need to simplify my life a bit. Even living in a small room, the amount of things accumulated is unnecessary, at least in my opinion. It's not like I have a ton of stuff, but I DO have stuff that I certainly DON'T need. I'm pretty sure we could all say that! As a birthday present to myself I am clearing my room of 27 things I do not need in honor of turning 27. Why not start the year with a little challenge eh? Want to join me? You know you should ;) It may seem like a very simple thing, but it is unbelievable how attached we become to material things that are not important and that we probably don't even use. So whether you want to now, or want to do some spring cleaning later on in the year, I want to challenge you... Evaluate what you have. Consider the word NEED. Act. Clean our your closets. Clean out your junk drawer (there are people in the world that would take EVERYTHING in your junk drawer, make something from it, sell it, and buy their family food for the day). Be aware of the fact that we use ridiculous excuses to live in extreme excess. Just go for it! You'll be glad you did :)
So, to finish off this little blog, let me give you a quick fundraising update. God is SO SO good. All the time! Only $3,240 to go until my last payment of clinic fees is provided in FULL! I am continually blown away by the generosity of friends and their willingness to be a part of what God is doing here in Tabuk. THANK YOU!
A couple prayer requests:
- For continued provision of funds before Feb 1st. Click the PayPal link to support, or contact me at pagnucco.alexandra@gmail.com.
- For my poor computer... contain your laughter people. I have had my fair share of computer issues since I have been here and am struggling to keep patience regarding my current issues. I need this computer to last until Oct 1st.. that's it :) Just pray it stays together.
- The Mom's and babies we care for at Abundant. Good deliveries, healthy babies, and healthy mommas.
Thanks for reading, friends!
Much love,
A
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Quick update!
Hi Friends,
It's been 5 short, but fantastic days since my last post. I was able to enjoy a few days of relaxation in Manila, and am now back in chilly Tabuk. Chilly or not, I'm happy to be home :)
The past 5 days has brought amazing provision. I am now only needing to raise $4,490 before Feb 1st in order to cover my last portion of clinic fees! While I had broken it down into a reasonable "$50 from 121 people", God shattered my idea of reasonable and provided $1600 from just 3 people. However, if I was to stick to this idea of breaking the total down into $50 dollar donations, that would mean only 90 more are needed... Wow!
Please check out my previous blog for more information on what was accomplished in the past year, how to donate, and what your support goes towards :) Also, check out www.gthemidwife.com for even more great information about what was done in 2014.
Much love,
A
It's been 5 short, but fantastic days since my last post. I was able to enjoy a few days of relaxation in Manila, and am now back in chilly Tabuk. Chilly or not, I'm happy to be home :)
The past 5 days has brought amazing provision. I am now only needing to raise $4,490 before Feb 1st in order to cover my last portion of clinic fees! While I had broken it down into a reasonable "$50 from 121 people", God shattered my idea of reasonable and provided $1600 from just 3 people. However, if I was to stick to this idea of breaking the total down into $50 dollar donations, that would mean only 90 more are needed... Wow!
Please check out my previous blog for more information on what was accomplished in the past year, how to donate, and what your support goes towards :) Also, check out www.gthemidwife.com for even more great information about what was done in 2014.
Much love,
A
Sunday, January 4, 2015
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.
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'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!
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!
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!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
The importance of language... as seen through my eyes (or heard through my ears).
Words carry weight, right?
I think that's something that we can all agree on. Whether positive or negative, the words we use can affect people or situations. Do you often think about that? I sure don't! While I'm not exactly what people would call the "outspoken" type, I certainly can't say that I always put consideration into the words I use. This is something I've been contemplating a lot in not only the past months, but years really. If you feel like walking through those contemplations with me, keep reading. If not, I'll never know anyway ;)
I have been really blessed throughout my life to have friendships with people who really value words. People who consider the affect that language can have and strive to use words that will correctly express what is being said.
For example, what would you think if I said that midwives deliver babies? Do you agree? I sure don't! I have spent enough time around birth in the past year and a half to understand very well that midwives do MANY things but none of those things include "delivering" a baby, unless it is their own child. Some people may go even farther and say that women don't "deliver" babies, they "birth" babies. There are pretty popular bumper stickers amongst birth activists saying "Babies aren't delivered.... Pizza's are!" I'd say that's pretty accurate (I'd also say I'd LOVE to have some pizza delivered right about now, but I'll stick to the point). If I, as a midwife (sooooon!), were to say I delivered a baby, I would feel that with the language used I am taking WAY more credit for all that work than I deserve. I'm not gonna lie... Midwifery is really hard. But birthing a baby is so much harder. I think that women deserve to be empowered through birth, therefore, I'm careful about the language I use as I feel that it carries weight. Make sense?
Ok. Let's transfer this concept biblically!
If you know me well, you know that I love Elevation Church and Pastor Furtick's sermons. He said something in a sermon last week that really challenged me and brought me back to this whole point on the importance of language, or words. He was talking about Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones. Now let me tell you, if I were in that situation and God told me to prophesy to a bunch of skeletons I would be like "Heck no, Lord!". I have a hard enough time speaking life into smaller situations. Looking at a bunch of bones and prophesying that they will come to life is a BIG DEAL! There have been some big things that I have had to believe for in the past few years (such as finances to be here), but nothing like that! One of the points that Furtick made with Ezekiel's story is that Ezekiel spoke TO the dry bones, not ABOUT the dry bones. That hit me in the face like a good hard God brick.
I think that's something that we can all agree on. Whether positive or negative, the words we use can affect people or situations. Do you often think about that? I sure don't! While I'm not exactly what people would call the "outspoken" type, I certainly can't say that I always put consideration into the words I use. This is something I've been contemplating a lot in not only the past months, but years really. If you feel like walking through those contemplations with me, keep reading. If not, I'll never know anyway ;)
I have been really blessed throughout my life to have friendships with people who really value words. People who consider the affect that language can have and strive to use words that will correctly express what is being said.
For example, what would you think if I said that midwives deliver babies? Do you agree? I sure don't! I have spent enough time around birth in the past year and a half to understand very well that midwives do MANY things but none of those things include "delivering" a baby, unless it is their own child. Some people may go even farther and say that women don't "deliver" babies, they "birth" babies. There are pretty popular bumper stickers amongst birth activists saying "Babies aren't delivered.... Pizza's are!" I'd say that's pretty accurate (I'd also say I'd LOVE to have some pizza delivered right about now, but I'll stick to the point). If I, as a midwife (sooooon!), were to say I delivered a baby, I would feel that with the language used I am taking WAY more credit for all that work than I deserve. I'm not gonna lie... Midwifery is really hard. But birthing a baby is so much harder. I think that women deserve to be empowered through birth, therefore, I'm careful about the language I use as I feel that it carries weight. Make sense?
Ok. Let's transfer this concept biblically!
If you know me well, you know that I love Elevation Church and Pastor Furtick's sermons. He said something in a sermon last week that really challenged me and brought me back to this whole point on the importance of language, or words. He was talking about Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones. Now let me tell you, if I were in that situation and God told me to prophesy to a bunch of skeletons I would be like "Heck no, Lord!". I have a hard enough time speaking life into smaller situations. Looking at a bunch of bones and prophesying that they will come to life is a BIG DEAL! There have been some big things that I have had to believe for in the past few years (such as finances to be here), but nothing like that! One of the points that Furtick made with Ezekiel's story is that Ezekiel spoke TO the dry bones, not ABOUT the dry bones. That hit me in the face like a good hard God brick.
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and
you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.' "
Ezekiel 37: 4-6
I am really good at talking about whatever valley of dry bones I may be facing, but I am lacking when it comes to talking TO the bones. How much would change, I wonder, if I altered my language (and thus my heart, possibly) a little bit more to match Ezekiel's gumption? Would it bring more hope to a dire situation? Would it put the "bones" back in the hands of the giver of breath? Would I see life come from these "bones", whatever they may be? I think I would. I think WE would.
What are your "bones" right now? What do you need to alter about the way you speak TO your situation? Maybe nothing. Maybe something. That's for you to decide. I, for one, will continue to be challenged to consider the power of the words I speak, whether to people or to situations in my life. God didn't give us communication for nothing, my friends!
Anyways, that's it for my musings today :) I'll move onto some other things of importance.
I am currently 7 weeks away from my LAST payment for clinic fees being due. Doesn't seem like a lot of time, but it is certainly enough. Unfortunately, due to the relatively horrible exchange rate (my fees are due in USD), I have had to add a little bit extra to my budget. Instead of $8,000, I need to raise $8,500. I didn't consider the exchange rate enough with the last payment, thus forcing me to really consider it this time. However, I am very stoked to report that I have already received some very generous donations and am now needing to raise only $7,200!! Amazing eh? While that number still seems a tad large, I know it's do-able!
Besides a small amount needed for a flight home next year (which I will talk about in the late spring), this is the final stretch in fundraising! I know that I have said these things over and over again, but it's important to remember that your donations go directly towards supporting the clinic that I work with here, allowing us to provide excellent midwifery care for the women of Tabuk and surrounding villages.
I have been so blessed by all the people who have believed in and supported the work being done here, and I would love if you could continue in that with me. Your support, from $10 to $1,000+ goes so far and is received with a very grateful heart. If you have any questions about supporting, please contact me. I would LOVE to talk with you. To donate, just click the PayPal button on the right of this screen or e-mail me for other options.
Thanks for spending the time reading! Much love to you!
A
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Christmas time is here... almost.
It's almost December!!! EEE! While I have been in full Christmas mode for well over a month now, I understand that not everyone shares in that with me. Therefore, I can be excited that all you Grinches who do not celebrate until Dec 1st will soon join me in rockin' the Christmas spirit ; )
The past 7 weeks have been quite full and it's hard to pick out the details to share. I was able to spend a wonderful week in Bugnay near the end of October. It was fun, relaxing, and a good break from the norm. I always look forward to my time spent there. The weekend I got home all the staff and volunteers at the clinic had the opportunity to do a shoulder dystocia (a complication in birth resulting from the baby's shoulders getting stuck somewhere in the pelvis) workshop with Gail Tully (www.spinningbabies.com). Gail is a very respected midwife who specializes in "spinning" babies into optimal positions for birth, as well as techniques to resolve shoulder dystocias. We first watched a workshop video, in which our hearts all stopped as it showed a dystocia that was over 6 minutes, and then had a Skype call with Gail the next evening to ask any questions. It was such a great learning experiences and we were all thankful that Gail was so willing to share her wisdom with us.
Life continues to be filled with amazing moms, adorable babies, and jamming my brain full of as much information as possible. I honestly feel like the more I learn, the less I know. My great friend and now certified midwife, Aisling, says that's a great place to be - that it keeps us humble as midwives. I sure hope she's right ;) I do find though, that the more I see and learn, the more hungry I am to continue learning. I'm pretty thankful for that fact.
Besides all the learning, I'd have to be honest and say that I've been struggling quite a bit. I don't say that to evoke pity from anyone, instead I just ask for your prayers. I LOVE my life here and have nothing to complain about, at all! However, that hasn't changed the fact that I have been feeling so emotionally exhausted. I'm sure you can all relate to that feeling. I've come to the place more than a few times where I feel like I have nothing to give, no words to say, and no energy to put into anyone or anything. I've felt empty and unable to refill. Thankfully, I serve and am loved by a great God who does that refilling for me and is right there in the midst of any struggle. I am in a place where I want to be able to pour God's love into the awesome women I am around, and your prayers that I would continually be able to do that would be so appreciated!
And to add something really important to that prayer list...
Meet MJ!
My amazing continuity patient delivered this adorable little guy last week. Before I tell you more about him, let me just brag for a minute about his mom. MJ decided to make is appearance a little bit "late" so we were in the position of needing to try a bunch of techniques to get labor progressing. His mom was amazing! Her and I had quite the fun time walking up and down stairs, and up and down again, and again... Not gonna lie - my legs were sore!
In the wee hours of the morning, we welcomed MJ to the world. He was born with a complete cleft lip and palate. As you can imagine, this poses some breast feeding challenges. While he is able to breastfeed a little bit, he is not able to get as much milk as he needs from the breast on his own. Amazingly, Georgia had a connection to a clinic in Manila who had just received some donations. Included in those donations was a special bottle made for babies with clefts. This clinic sent up the bottle as well as a breast pump for MJs mom to keep. The picture is MJ trying the bottle for the first time. He did so well!! His mom and I were very proud. I'm so thrilled to report that MJ is now gaining weight and so far has been a very healthy little guy. I'd love it if you could keep him and his mom in your prayers. Please pray that she would feel loved and supported as she faces these special challenges, and that MJ would continue to gain weight and remain healthy!
The past week has blessed me with two other adorable babies born to awesome Momma's! :)
It's hard not to love what you do when you are surrounded by these little ones...
That's all for tonight! Thanks for reading :)
Oh, and to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!!
Much love,
A
The past 7 weeks have been quite full and it's hard to pick out the details to share. I was able to spend a wonderful week in Bugnay near the end of October. It was fun, relaxing, and a good break from the norm. I always look forward to my time spent there. The weekend I got home all the staff and volunteers at the clinic had the opportunity to do a shoulder dystocia (a complication in birth resulting from the baby's shoulders getting stuck somewhere in the pelvis) workshop with Gail Tully (www.spinningbabies.com). Gail is a very respected midwife who specializes in "spinning" babies into optimal positions for birth, as well as techniques to resolve shoulder dystocias. We first watched a workshop video, in which our hearts all stopped as it showed a dystocia that was over 6 minutes, and then had a Skype call with Gail the next evening to ask any questions. It was such a great learning experiences and we were all thankful that Gail was so willing to share her wisdom with us.
 |
| Shock, awe, and nervous laughter while watching a VERY long dystocia. |
Life continues to be filled with amazing moms, adorable babies, and jamming my brain full of as much information as possible. I honestly feel like the more I learn, the less I know. My great friend and now certified midwife, Aisling, says that's a great place to be - that it keeps us humble as midwives. I sure hope she's right ;) I do find though, that the more I see and learn, the more hungry I am to continue learning. I'm pretty thankful for that fact.
Besides all the learning, I'd have to be honest and say that I've been struggling quite a bit. I don't say that to evoke pity from anyone, instead I just ask for your prayers. I LOVE my life here and have nothing to complain about, at all! However, that hasn't changed the fact that I have been feeling so emotionally exhausted. I'm sure you can all relate to that feeling. I've come to the place more than a few times where I feel like I have nothing to give, no words to say, and no energy to put into anyone or anything. I've felt empty and unable to refill. Thankfully, I serve and am loved by a great God who does that refilling for me and is right there in the midst of any struggle. I am in a place where I want to be able to pour God's love into the awesome women I am around, and your prayers that I would continually be able to do that would be so appreciated!
And to add something really important to that prayer list...
Meet MJ!
My amazing continuity patient delivered this adorable little guy last week. Before I tell you more about him, let me just brag for a minute about his mom. MJ decided to make is appearance a little bit "late" so we were in the position of needing to try a bunch of techniques to get labor progressing. His mom was amazing! Her and I had quite the fun time walking up and down stairs, and up and down again, and again... Not gonna lie - my legs were sore!
In the wee hours of the morning, we welcomed MJ to the world. He was born with a complete cleft lip and palate. As you can imagine, this poses some breast feeding challenges. While he is able to breastfeed a little bit, he is not able to get as much milk as he needs from the breast on his own. Amazingly, Georgia had a connection to a clinic in Manila who had just received some donations. Included in those donations was a special bottle made for babies with clefts. This clinic sent up the bottle as well as a breast pump for MJs mom to keep. The picture is MJ trying the bottle for the first time. He did so well!! His mom and I were very proud. I'm so thrilled to report that MJ is now gaining weight and so far has been a very healthy little guy. I'd love it if you could keep him and his mom in your prayers. Please pray that she would feel loved and supported as she faces these special challenges, and that MJ would continue to gain weight and remain healthy!
The past week has blessed me with two other adorable babies born to awesome Momma's! :)
It's hard not to love what you do when you are surrounded by these little ones...
 |
| RJ |
 |
| Chad Beau |
That's all for tonight! Thanks for reading :)
Oh, and to my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving!!
Much love,
A
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Letting go...
Happy Belated Thanksgiving to my Canadian Peeps!
I hope you all had a great weekend celebrating with family and/or friends and were able to indulge in some pumpkin pie. Maybe even with vanilla ice cream. Mmmm.
Life has been pretty great over here on the other side of the world. Us few Canadians (plus the other Americanos!)cooked up some traditional-ish food and we enjoyed a meal together with the Abundant family. It's hard to be away from home during holidays, but I am so thankful for the laughter and hilarity that fills my home here. It makes everything much easier.
A constant theme in my life over the past 6 weeks has been this idea of letting go. And let me tell you... I'm not very good at it. I am a champ at clinging to things that I have no control over, mulling over situations in my head for days, letting my mind wander to all the possible scenarios that could happen if things don't go exactly how I would like them too, etc... You would think that I would have learned this lesson over the years of always having to LET GO, but nope. My thick skull takes work, but God keeps on going with the lessons. Let go and Let God, right?
Yesterday was one of those lessons. I was on morning shift, as per usual on Wednesday's, and was excited when a labor came in around 7:30am. She was such a gem and was working through contractions really well. Unfortunately, her blood pressure was quite high. Over the next few hours we tried everything we could to stabilize the BP. It would stabilize for a while, and then jump right back up. Through this all, she labored beautifully and was such a joy to work with. Eventually, we had to make the decision to transport her to the hospital. I hugely dislike transporting. I think all midwives do. But there are some cases where labor jumps outside the realm of normal, and we have to let go. Whether we want to or not, we have to make these decisions. I don't want to let go. I don't want those patients to have to go somewhere else. I want to be able to change the circumstance. I want to have more control. But I don't, and I can't. So I must let go. I have to trust that God is taking care of the situation better than I ever could and that He will continue to do so whether at Abundant or at the hospital. And he did. This morning I was able to go visit a beautiful little 3.4kg baby girl, born to my patient about three hours after we transported her. Mom and baby are doing very well!
The lessons of letting go don't stop with clinic work, but roll over into so many areas of my life it seems. But that's ok. I know that God is in control and that I can do very little by clinging to things with my little (but strong!) fists.
Next week I am heading up to the clinic in Bugnay... and I am so excited! I get to hang out with the awesome folks up there, hike up into some other villages, do well-woman appointments, and enjoy the mountain air. I will bring back some stories and pictures to share.
In the meantime, I'd love to share some prayer requests with you!
Love you all!! Thanks for reading!
A
I hope you all had a great weekend celebrating with family and/or friends and were able to indulge in some pumpkin pie. Maybe even with vanilla ice cream. Mmmm.
Life has been pretty great over here on the other side of the world. Us few Canadians (plus the other Americanos!)cooked up some traditional-ish food and we enjoyed a meal together with the Abundant family. It's hard to be away from home during holidays, but I am so thankful for the laughter and hilarity that fills my home here. It makes everything much easier.
A constant theme in my life over the past 6 weeks has been this idea of letting go. And let me tell you... I'm not very good at it. I am a champ at clinging to things that I have no control over, mulling over situations in my head for days, letting my mind wander to all the possible scenarios that could happen if things don't go exactly how I would like them too, etc... You would think that I would have learned this lesson over the years of always having to LET GO, but nope. My thick skull takes work, but God keeps on going with the lessons. Let go and Let God, right?
Yesterday was one of those lessons. I was on morning shift, as per usual on Wednesday's, and was excited when a labor came in around 7:30am. She was such a gem and was working through contractions really well. Unfortunately, her blood pressure was quite high. Over the next few hours we tried everything we could to stabilize the BP. It would stabilize for a while, and then jump right back up. Through this all, she labored beautifully and was such a joy to work with. Eventually, we had to make the decision to transport her to the hospital. I hugely dislike transporting. I think all midwives do. But there are some cases where labor jumps outside the realm of normal, and we have to let go. Whether we want to or not, we have to make these decisions. I don't want to let go. I don't want those patients to have to go somewhere else. I want to be able to change the circumstance. I want to have more control. But I don't, and I can't. So I must let go. I have to trust that God is taking care of the situation better than I ever could and that He will continue to do so whether at Abundant or at the hospital. And he did. This morning I was able to go visit a beautiful little 3.4kg baby girl, born to my patient about three hours after we transported her. Mom and baby are doing very well!
The lessons of letting go don't stop with clinic work, but roll over into so many areas of my life it seems. But that's ok. I know that God is in control and that I can do very little by clinging to things with my little (but strong!) fists.
Next week I am heading up to the clinic in Bugnay... and I am so excited! I get to hang out with the awesome folks up there, hike up into some other villages, do well-woman appointments, and enjoy the mountain air. I will bring back some stories and pictures to share.
In the meantime, I'd love to share some prayer requests with you!
- For the clinic, as always. I am SO blessed to be a part of this amazing ministry here and love to see it prosper.
- For our patients - health for moms and babies.
- It is almost time to begin fundraising for my LAST semester. Yes, LAST. Crazy, eh? I will need to raise another $8,000 to finish out my time here. It will be due Feb 1st. Prayer for provision would be amazing!
Love you all!! Thanks for reading!
A
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Adjustments
Hi Friends,
I'm sitting here in my room watching a crazy lightening storm (and a few episodes of Friends) and relaxing before night shift, so it seems like a pretty good time to write a quick update. I've had a ton of things that I have wanted to blog about in the past month, but haven't yet been able to put the proper words to my thoughts, so I just haven't blogged any words... Maybe those thoughts will come together in time.
August was a month of adjustments for me here. Adjusting to the heat again, getting used to always being sweaty and the amount of water to drink to avoid constant headaches, adjusting to my favourite Irish Aisling leaving, thus making Edolbina and I the second years (yikes!), getting in the swing of assignments and clinic work again, and adjusting again to being so far from Canada. I struggled a lot in the first weeks back, wishing that the places and people I love were much closer to each other, but that's not the reality. So in the meantime, I will embrace where I am at, knowing that in just over a year it is going to be my lovely home here that I am missing in the same way that I miss Canada now.
I came across a quote today that pretty clearly explained the way I feel... I wish I could have put it into words like this myself, but someone else did the trick nicely.
I'm sitting here in my room watching a crazy lightening storm (and a few episodes of Friends) and relaxing before night shift, so it seems like a pretty good time to write a quick update. I've had a ton of things that I have wanted to blog about in the past month, but haven't yet been able to put the proper words to my thoughts, so I just haven't blogged any words... Maybe those thoughts will come together in time.
August was a month of adjustments for me here. Adjusting to the heat again, getting used to always being sweaty and the amount of water to drink to avoid constant headaches, adjusting to my favourite Irish Aisling leaving, thus making Edolbina and I the second years (yikes!), getting in the swing of assignments and clinic work again, and adjusting again to being so far from Canada. I struggled a lot in the first weeks back, wishing that the places and people I love were much closer to each other, but that's not the reality. So in the meantime, I will embrace where I am at, knowing that in just over a year it is going to be my lovely home here that I am missing in the same way that I miss Canada now.
I came across a quote today that pretty clearly explained the way I feel... I wish I could have put it into words like this myself, but someone else did the trick nicely.
"You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will
always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness
of loving and knowing people in more than one place."
In other news - gosh I'm so happy to be back to baby catching! I missed the moms, the bellies, and the baby's while I was in Canada. Every day I feel so fortunate to be here, doing what I love and have dreamed of for years! As this year goes on, I would so appreciate if you would keep me in your prayers. Pray for the clinic, for the patients we see every day, for the babies we help welcome into the world, and for the amazing midwives I get to work with.
Oh! and please enjoy the fall for me!!!! I have been dreaming of wearing sweaters, scarves, and boots. Strange? Maybe. But I would say pretty typical for a fall/winter girl living in an endless summer.
Much love,
A
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Home in the Phils
After a few long days of travel, I finally made it back to Tabuk! And I am so thrilled to be back.
Jet lag is currently taking over and I am seeing hours of the morning that I only wish to see when there is the promise of a new baby, but I am sure in a couple days my body will settle into normal routine here again. I am loving the familiarity of the heat, reliance on a fan, the sound of Filipino tv shows, and the excitement that the first of the month brings faster internet.:)
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It is often surreal thinking about being back for second year, and that the next time I come home, I will be finished this program. Crazy! Last year flew by, and everyone says second year goes by even faster. While the appeal of home (of the Canadian kind) makes me wish the time will fly, my love for this place begs for the time to stand still. After a couple years of constant countdowns it seems, I've decided that this will be a year of no countdowns. I even deleted my countdown app ;) I intend to enjoy this year in it's fullness, making the most of the time and experiences I have here knowing that God has brought me here for a purpose. I can't wait to share the stories of second year with you!
As I write this, the sun has just risen on August 1st. The day my next set of clinic fees are due. As it stands I am still $1,500 away from meeting that goal. A daunting number maybe, especially considering the day. However, it's not an impossible number. There is nothing impossible about this. I have seen that to be true time after time, and I know that provision and faithfulness will continue. Will you pray with me to see that provision?
Before I go, I'd like to explain to you a little bit about these clinic fees. Tuition comes along with being a student, right? Not here. Instead, our "tuition" is in the form of clinic fees. These fees that are paid on Aug 1st and Feb 1st of every year in the program go towards sustaining the clinic that I volunteer and am trained at. It's actually pretty cool how it works. Each time a birth happens, I am able to see these finances at work. These fees help the clinic to run smoothly and ensure that we can continue to provide excellent midwifery care to the women of Tabuk and surrounding areas, while practically sharing the love of Christ with them.
I'd love if you would prayerfully consider partnering with me in this! That can be done by clicking the Donate button to the right, or, if you have questions about alternate donation methods please e-mail me at pagnucco.alexandra@gmail.com. Your monthly or one-time donation, whether $30 or $300 goes far towards seeing these goals met!
Thanks for reading!
A
Jet lag is currently taking over and I am seeing hours of the morning that I only wish to see when there is the promise of a new baby, but I am sure in a couple days my body will settle into normal routine here again. I am loving the familiarity of the heat, reliance on a fan, the sound of Filipino tv shows, and the excitement that the first of the month brings faster internet.:)
It is often surreal thinking about being back for second year, and that the next time I come home, I will be finished this program. Crazy! Last year flew by, and everyone says second year goes by even faster. While the appeal of home (of the Canadian kind) makes me wish the time will fly, my love for this place begs for the time to stand still. After a couple years of constant countdowns it seems, I've decided that this will be a year of no countdowns. I even deleted my countdown app ;) I intend to enjoy this year in it's fullness, making the most of the time and experiences I have here knowing that God has brought me here for a purpose. I can't wait to share the stories of second year with you!
As I write this, the sun has just risen on August 1st. The day my next set of clinic fees are due. As it stands I am still $1,500 away from meeting that goal. A daunting number maybe, especially considering the day. However, it's not an impossible number. There is nothing impossible about this. I have seen that to be true time after time, and I know that provision and faithfulness will continue. Will you pray with me to see that provision?
Before I go, I'd like to explain to you a little bit about these clinic fees. Tuition comes along with being a student, right? Not here. Instead, our "tuition" is in the form of clinic fees. These fees that are paid on Aug 1st and Feb 1st of every year in the program go towards sustaining the clinic that I volunteer and am trained at. It's actually pretty cool how it works. Each time a birth happens, I am able to see these finances at work. These fees help the clinic to run smoothly and ensure that we can continue to provide excellent midwifery care to the women of Tabuk and surrounding areas, while practically sharing the love of Christ with them.
I'd love if you would prayerfully consider partnering with me in this! That can be done by clicking the Donate button to the right, or, if you have questions about alternate donation methods please e-mail me at pagnucco.alexandra@gmail.com. Your monthly or one-time donation, whether $30 or $300 goes far towards seeing these goals met!
Thanks for reading!
A
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Almost there...
5 days till I get to jump on a plane to a place I've been missing lots!
Until then, I am enjoying my last few visits with some pretty amazing people :)
My recent 30 hour drive west to Calgary (my last stop in Canada) gave me some much needed time think about the year ahead. While I am in a much different place heading back as I was when I first went, there are some things that are still fresh on my mind. Last year I stepped into this completely green in so many ways. I had never seen a birth. I had never been around a laboring woman. I had never lived in a foreign country. I had never needed to trust God so much to provide financially. I felt ill-equipped and empty handed. You'd think I'd be done with feeling that as I step into my second year, but apparently that isn't the case. What has changed though, is the perspective that God has given me in regards to that. I had the chance to share a bit of this perspective when I was back in Kamloops, but haven't spoken much of it since. Bear with me as I explain.
I have had the joy of learning over the past year, that no matter how ill-equipped or empty handed I am, God never sees me as such. When thinking about this, the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 came to mind. When you read this story in John 6 it talks about how Philip, when Jesus asks him "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?", responds rather incredulously that "it would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!". He's feeling pretty empty handed at this point I'm guessing. Then Andrew pipes up to say "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?". They are not even close to equipped to handle this crowd. But you know what is really awesome? Jesus never looked at this situation and felt empty handed. He is the one who fills the hands. He is the one who equips. All he asked is that his disciples would be obedient in following him and in that, they became part of a freakin awesome miracle. He filled my hands and equipped me to get through my first year, and as I go into this second year, I know he will continue to do so. I find a lot of encouragement, and quite honestly, relief in this fact! Maybe you will too...
Before I began my trip home 8 weeks ago, I was in the position of needing $8,000 in clinic fees and very minimal expenses to continue working and training in the Philippines for the next 6 months. The clinic fees go directly towards ensuring that our patients can receive excellent midwifery care while also being shown the love of God by practically being his hands and feet in their time of need. Practically loving women through midwifery care has a greater impact than I ever could have imagined, and it is such a privilege to be a part of this. I am now in the final stretches, needing only $1,930 more to meet the goal! Seeing this provision is something that constantly amazes me. I know that God is faithful and that he will provide, but it doesn't take away the awe of it when it actually happens.
If you are interested in partnering with me in this, you can click the Donate button to the right. Whether monthly or one-time support, every bit makes a huge difference! Please contact me if you have any questions!
Much love,
A
Until then, I am enjoying my last few visits with some pretty amazing people :)
My recent 30 hour drive west to Calgary (my last stop in Canada) gave me some much needed time think about the year ahead. While I am in a much different place heading back as I was when I first went, there are some things that are still fresh on my mind. Last year I stepped into this completely green in so many ways. I had never seen a birth. I had never been around a laboring woman. I had never lived in a foreign country. I had never needed to trust God so much to provide financially. I felt ill-equipped and empty handed. You'd think I'd be done with feeling that as I step into my second year, but apparently that isn't the case. What has changed though, is the perspective that God has given me in regards to that. I had the chance to share a bit of this perspective when I was back in Kamloops, but haven't spoken much of it since. Bear with me as I explain.
I have had the joy of learning over the past year, that no matter how ill-equipped or empty handed I am, God never sees me as such. When thinking about this, the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 came to mind. When you read this story in John 6 it talks about how Philip, when Jesus asks him "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?", responds rather incredulously that "it would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!". He's feeling pretty empty handed at this point I'm guessing. Then Andrew pipes up to say "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?". They are not even close to equipped to handle this crowd. But you know what is really awesome? Jesus never looked at this situation and felt empty handed. He is the one who fills the hands. He is the one who equips. All he asked is that his disciples would be obedient in following him and in that, they became part of a freakin awesome miracle. He filled my hands and equipped me to get through my first year, and as I go into this second year, I know he will continue to do so. I find a lot of encouragement, and quite honestly, relief in this fact! Maybe you will too...
Before I began my trip home 8 weeks ago, I was in the position of needing $8,000 in clinic fees and very minimal expenses to continue working and training in the Philippines for the next 6 months. The clinic fees go directly towards ensuring that our patients can receive excellent midwifery care while also being shown the love of God by practically being his hands and feet in their time of need. Practically loving women through midwifery care has a greater impact than I ever could have imagined, and it is such a privilege to be a part of this. I am now in the final stretches, needing only $1,930 more to meet the goal! Seeing this provision is something that constantly amazes me. I know that God is faithful and that he will provide, but it doesn't take away the awe of it when it actually happens.
If you are interested in partnering with me in this, you can click the Donate button to the right. Whether monthly or one-time support, every bit makes a huge difference! Please contact me if you have any questions!
Much love,
A
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
It's that time again...
The goodbyes have started, quite sadly.
Besides saying goodbye to my wonderful friends in Kamloops, the past few days marked the start of the hugs, the tears, the "see you later's", and "the time will go by so fast!". I know the time will go by so fast. It already has. Yet, there is still a sting in having to say goodbye to friends and family. In the same breath, the closer I get to being back in my own bed in the Philippines, the more excited I am. It's a strange thing having so much of your heart in two very different places.
Over the past couple weeks, it has been absolutely amazing to see provision of finances continually come. There are few words to say besides, God is so good and Thank you! To the people who have supported me, whether prayerfully or financially, I am beyond appreciative. It is because of your generosity that I am able to continue the work and training in the wonderful little place of Tabuk. I am so excited to be able to go back, connect with my past patients, and care for new ones!
Just two weeks ago I was still in the position of needing about $6,000 to return to the Philippines. I am now only needing $3,100!! Pretty crazy if you ask me! While I often find support raising to be the hardest part of this whole journey, it is also very exciting. Every day I live in the reality that God's provision is so great. I will continue to trust that the remainder will be provided, and again that the last set of fees in Feb will also be provided. He is faithful :)
If you are interested in supporting my work as a missionary midwife in the Philippines, you can click the donate button to the right.
OR
You can also go to the GoFundMe page set up by my wonderful Aunt!
http://www.gofundme.com/b28avs.
AND
If you would like to read a great story about a birth I had the privilege of being a part of, check out www.gthemidwife.com
Until next time,
A
Besides saying goodbye to my wonderful friends in Kamloops, the past few days marked the start of the hugs, the tears, the "see you later's", and "the time will go by so fast!". I know the time will go by so fast. It already has. Yet, there is still a sting in having to say goodbye to friends and family. In the same breath, the closer I get to being back in my own bed in the Philippines, the more excited I am. It's a strange thing having so much of your heart in two very different places.
Over the past couple weeks, it has been absolutely amazing to see provision of finances continually come. There are few words to say besides, God is so good and Thank you! To the people who have supported me, whether prayerfully or financially, I am beyond appreciative. It is because of your generosity that I am able to continue the work and training in the wonderful little place of Tabuk. I am so excited to be able to go back, connect with my past patients, and care for new ones!
Just two weeks ago I was still in the position of needing about $6,000 to return to the Philippines. I am now only needing $3,100!! Pretty crazy if you ask me! While I often find support raising to be the hardest part of this whole journey, it is also very exciting. Every day I live in the reality that God's provision is so great. I will continue to trust that the remainder will be provided, and again that the last set of fees in Feb will also be provided. He is faithful :)
If you are interested in supporting my work as a missionary midwife in the Philippines, you can click the donate button to the right.
OR
You can also go to the GoFundMe page set up by my wonderful Aunt!
http://www.gofundme.com/b28avs.
AND
If you would like to read a great story about a birth I had the privilege of being a part of, check out www.gthemidwife.com
Until next time,
A
Friday, June 27, 2014
Unswervingly, but not.
Over the past week, I feel as though I
have somehow been brought back to the place I was in last time this
year. Last year, when I was preparing to move to the Philippines and
start this journey, I was so excited, hopeful, and invested in the
road ahead, but I also struggled with quite a bit of doubt. I had
$15,000 to raise in 3 months. A task that seemed impossible. I often
felt very overwhelmed by that number and it was a challenge to live
in faith that this would come to fruition. I am again feeling very
challenged by this task, even though the number is now a smaller
$6,500 left to raise for this semester. I wish I could say that I
always trust completely that I will again see provision and will be
able to go back to finish this task, but honestly, I don't. I'm
human. My faith falters. Doubt creeps in. Distrust overwhelms.
As I was driving into the Soo from my
sister's house 20 minutes outside of town the other day, I was hit
with the idea of “what if I can't go back?”. My heart broke and I
sobbed as I drove. That was a thought I hadn't faced in a long time,
yet it was still hiding somewhere deep in my mind. After the tears
and hysterics dried up (thankfully before I got into town and looked
like the crazy crying lady in my car), I was able to come to peace in
the fact that whatever reality I face in the next few months, it does
not change who God is. Doesn't change that he is faithful. Doesn't
change that he provides. Doesn't change that he is in control.
Doesn't change that I can trust him. The only thing that changes is
that I, again and again, learn to live in surrender knowing that his
plan is greater.
Daily I am challenged to trust that provision will come. I am always facing my own kind of impossible. It's not comfortable, and it sure isn't fun. But it is stretching, it's character building, and it is so darn amazing when the “impossible” is proven wrong. I woke up this morning determined to live in the possibility rather than not and came across this verse:
Let us hold
unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
Unswervingly can be an
intense word. I feel a lot more swervingly
than un. However, I can hold to the fact that he who promised
is faithful. Unswerving means to remain constant and steady. Constant and steady, regardless of the uncertainty surrounding me. Challenging? yes. But through Christ and him alone - possible.
I have always promised myself that in walking this journey of support raising, living in the Philippines, serving God on the mission field he has placed me in, and learning to practically share the love of Christ through midwifery care, that I would be honest and transparent. This is what that looks like. I'm not always together, my faith isn't always strong, life isn't perfect - surprise surprise :) But, it is GOOD, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Where it's at:
In order to go back to the Philippines to continue serving and finish my training, I need to raise $6,500 still. That is $1,500 down from my semester goal of $8,000. This is due on Aug 1st. The next fees, of $8,000 again, will be due on Feb 1, 2015. It's a long road ahead, and I know that. But every cent has been provided before and I am believing it will again.
If you are interested in partnering with me, any amount goes a long way! Just click the donate button to the right and let me know if you have any questions. If you would like to chat more about the work being done, I would be more than happy to do so!
Thanks for reading, friends!
A
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Culture Shock - sort of
Hi Friends,
These blogs are usually written from my cozy bunk in the Philippines, often after a long day when I feel the desire to unload some stories and catch my Canadian friends and family up. This one is being written from the comfort of my Mom's kitchen. Very different, yet equally special places. I have been back in Canada for 17 days, and have loved every one of them. It is surreal, yet normal to be home. My weeks have been filled with visits, coffee, good food, and lots of travel. I have covered a good bit of Canada in the past 17 days and I am very thankful to have the freedom to do so.
People have asked often how I am dealing with culture shock. To be honest - I'm not. Truly through the grace of God, the adjustment home has been pretty easy. There are some things that shock me a bit, and there may or may not have been a minor meltdown over $6 Greek yogurt at Superstore, but other than that, it is just really great to be here. In preparing to come home I was praying a lot about a smooth transition. While on my long flight home, God spoke to my heart about expectations. I think that has made things so much easier. Canada is not the Philippines and the Philippines is not Canada. Each are beautiful in their own right, and I love them both for that. Things can be appreciated much more when not in constant comparison to something else. More than just with culture shock, that has been a good reminder for me in many areas of my life.
Fundraising:
I am so excited to update that I have now raised $1500 towards my goal of $8000 this semester. Through the generosity of three people, I now only have $6500 left to raise. The remainder of my funds is due August 1st. That date is fast approaching and while my tendency is to stress and worry, somehow I have felt such peace about it. I have so many stories of God's faithfulness to look back on and I know that he will keep adding to those stories.
Will you considering partnering with me over this next year? Your support goes towards the clinic fees that I pay to be there. The clinic fees go directly towards ensuring that our patients can receive excellent midwifery care while also being shown the love of God by practically being his hands and feet in their time of need. Practically loving women through midwifery care has a greater impact than I ever could have imagined, and it is such a privilege to be a part of this.
Your support, whether monthly or one-time, $20 or $2,000, goes so far and is always received with immense gratefulness. You can simply click the "Donate" button to your right, or talk to me if you have any questions at all!
Below is a video that I think does a great job of explaining more about the importance of midwives... It's 3 minutes well spent! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxbL6bF5vxU
Much love,
A
These blogs are usually written from my cozy bunk in the Philippines, often after a long day when I feel the desire to unload some stories and catch my Canadian friends and family up. This one is being written from the comfort of my Mom's kitchen. Very different, yet equally special places. I have been back in Canada for 17 days, and have loved every one of them. It is surreal, yet normal to be home. My weeks have been filled with visits, coffee, good food, and lots of travel. I have covered a good bit of Canada in the past 17 days and I am very thankful to have the freedom to do so.
People have asked often how I am dealing with culture shock. To be honest - I'm not. Truly through the grace of God, the adjustment home has been pretty easy. There are some things that shock me a bit, and there may or may not have been a minor meltdown over $6 Greek yogurt at Superstore, but other than that, it is just really great to be here. In preparing to come home I was praying a lot about a smooth transition. While on my long flight home, God spoke to my heart about expectations. I think that has made things so much easier. Canada is not the Philippines and the Philippines is not Canada. Each are beautiful in their own right, and I love them both for that. Things can be appreciated much more when not in constant comparison to something else. More than just with culture shock, that has been a good reminder for me in many areas of my life.
Fundraising:
I am so excited to update that I have now raised $1500 towards my goal of $8000 this semester. Through the generosity of three people, I now only have $6500 left to raise. The remainder of my funds is due August 1st. That date is fast approaching and while my tendency is to stress and worry, somehow I have felt such peace about it. I have so many stories of God's faithfulness to look back on and I know that he will keep adding to those stories.
Will you considering partnering with me over this next year? Your support goes towards the clinic fees that I pay to be there. The clinic fees go directly towards ensuring that our patients can receive excellent midwifery care while also being shown the love of God by practically being his hands and feet in their time of need. Practically loving women through midwifery care has a greater impact than I ever could have imagined, and it is such a privilege to be a part of this.
Your support, whether monthly or one-time, $20 or $2,000, goes so far and is always received with immense gratefulness. You can simply click the "Donate" button to your right, or talk to me if you have any questions at all!
Below is a video that I think does a great job of explaining more about the importance of midwives... It's 3 minutes well spent! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxbL6bF5vxU
Much love,
A
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Home Soil
I'm HOME! Sort of.
After a very long, close to three days of travel, I have touched down in beautiful Canada. The unfortunate thing is that I touched down slightly (almost 3 hours) behind schedule which resulted in missing my flight to Kamloops. So here I sit, in the Vancouver airport, with a belly full of a twelve-grain toasted bagel with plain cream cheese, trying to embrace the fact that my trip has not ended as planned. However, it is just an addition to the adventure and after a few meltdowns and more tears in public than I am proud of, I decided I should probably use this time productively (in the hopes that it will go by faster!)!
It's crazy to think that I am actually home... for me anyway. May flew by so quickly and it didn't leave much time to process what it would be like to be here again. Though even if I had the time, I don't know that I would have been any more prepared. I'm sure in a couple days I won't feel like the crazy person sitting here thinking "there are white people everywhere!!!!!".
Since I am going to be seeing most of you wonderful people who read this blog within the next couple months, I don't want to over talk you... but instead would like to share a couple of memorable times from the month of May.
The first was the birth of this adorable girl, Mae Diane. She captured my heart quickly, as well as everyone else around. Despite the cleft lip, she was breastfeeding within minutes, which we were all thrilled to see! I had the chance to visit her and her mom at home last week and was very happy to see how well she was doing. She is gaining weight well, eating like a champ, and looking cute as ever. They are currently moving towards surgery to correct the cleft lip. Prayers for provision regarding this surgery would be so appreciated!
Second was the birth of this other cutie! They named her Alexis Francine. "In remembrance of you ma'am" is what I was told when I asked the name. Such an honor. The birth of Alexis came after a long labor watch. Her mom came in labor around 10:30 of Wednesday morning, and Alexis finally made her appearance at 8:51 of Thursday morning. Her mom was quiet amazing and there were many time that I wondered if she was going to get to the place where she wasn't smiling continually. She did, but not for long. The smiles came back so quick after Alexis was born.
After a very long, close to three days of travel, I have touched down in beautiful Canada. The unfortunate thing is that I touched down slightly (almost 3 hours) behind schedule which resulted in missing my flight to Kamloops. So here I sit, in the Vancouver airport, with a belly full of a twelve-grain toasted bagel with plain cream cheese, trying to embrace the fact that my trip has not ended as planned. However, it is just an addition to the adventure and after a few meltdowns and more tears in public than I am proud of, I decided I should probably use this time productively (in the hopes that it will go by faster!)!
It's crazy to think that I am actually home... for me anyway. May flew by so quickly and it didn't leave much time to process what it would be like to be here again. Though even if I had the time, I don't know that I would have been any more prepared. I'm sure in a couple days I won't feel like the crazy person sitting here thinking "there are white people everywhere!!!!!".
Since I am going to be seeing most of you wonderful people who read this blog within the next couple months, I don't want to over talk you... but instead would like to share a couple of memorable times from the month of May.
The first was the birth of this adorable girl, Mae Diane. She captured my heart quickly, as well as everyone else around. Despite the cleft lip, she was breastfeeding within minutes, which we were all thrilled to see! I had the chance to visit her and her mom at home last week and was very happy to see how well she was doing. She is gaining weight well, eating like a champ, and looking cute as ever. They are currently moving towards surgery to correct the cleft lip. Prayers for provision regarding this surgery would be so appreciated!
Second was the birth of this other cutie! They named her Alexis Francine. "In remembrance of you ma'am" is what I was told when I asked the name. Such an honor. The birth of Alexis came after a long labor watch. Her mom came in labor around 10:30 of Wednesday morning, and Alexis finally made her appearance at 8:51 of Thursday morning. Her mom was quiet amazing and there were many time that I wondered if she was going to get to the place where she wasn't smiling continually. She did, but not for long. The smiles came back so quick after Alexis was born.
And last, but not least, little Dan. Or not so little Dan. He is one healthy boy! Everyone spent so much time admiring his baby rolls. We love the chubby babies! His beautiful mother, Mercy, was one of my continuity patients who we ended up having to transport due to PROM and mec staining. Dan was delivered by CS, and as you can see is doing so well! This was his 6 week check and I was so thrilled to be able to see them before I left. During their visit, Mercy asked me if I would like to be one of Dan's Godparents : ) It is truly such a special thing to be a little part of this time in someones life, and to see that continue even past their 6 week check. It's an honor.
I love looking back over all the babies and mothers I have met in the past year and am excited for what the coming year holds. The miraculous provision that has occurred through out my time so far in the Philippines has amazed and humbled me. I am so grateful for everyone who generously support this time. I am excited to let you know that so far, $1,000 has been raised toward my goal for the next semester. That means there is only $7,000 to go! I'm sure "only" might not be the word that comes to mind, and it isn't naturally the word for me either. However, what is a huge sum to me is pennies to God. He has been so faithful, and he will continue to be faithful. Of that, I am sure!
Your continued prayers for provision would be so appreciated. If you would like to support in anyway, you can click the "Donate" button, or just ask me and we can figure out what is easiest.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to read this!
Much love,
A
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