Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A time to reflect

So I spent the first part of my week away from Davao, away from the noise, the lights, away from Mercy, and spent three wonderful days on the island of Samal.



Its about 45 min trip from Mercy.... 20 min taxi, 20 min ferry ride....



I got off shift at 2 on Sunday and we arrived in Samal around 4. After the short ferry ride and a 10 min motor Ashton and I ended up at Precious Gardens of Samal.



It was perfect, cute little room, beachline, floating cottage, a simple garden to explore, amazing homemade food. Great pizzia, yummy complementry breakfast. Air Con.



So Sunday and Monday we spent at Precious catching up on sleep, going out to the beach, having dinner out on the floating cottage.



Tuesday was the day where we took a motot tour of the island. 6 hours of dirt roads : )



I was a little sore by the end but it was so so worth it!! We had a small map and we just pointed to diffrent places and then we stopped every hour or so to rest, go to diffrent beaches, walk around little beachfront villages, walk down steep trails to the waterfalls.



Once we got onto the other side of Samal, the rice fields it was like I wasn't even in the city, that is was miles away. The quiet farmland, the simple sounds of the ocean the tide and no city in sight! At Precious you are facing Davao so you can see the warehouse district and all the lights, however once you go to the other side of Samal, nothing but little islands and green trees. It made my heart sing, renewed!



While I was on Samal I got some time to reflect and just be with Jesus. It was so amazing, no distractions, I could sit out on the dock and just look at the stars. It was just what I needed!



So many times Ashton and I would look back at each other and let of a squil with delight because we were in the Philippines, its seems crazy, yet in many cases it is just that. (She is 20 and I am 21) We felt Gods call and packed up everything and said "Here am I send me", we both feel that God is calling us to be midwives, both of us have a desire to see lives changed, we want to use midwifery to impact the nations for Christ.



So many people have a dream yet don't go after it. So many people wait because they don't want to fail or feel they don't have all the pieces....They feel so small too young, not eqquiped to do so. If God gave us all the pieces it wouldn't be walking by faith.



Is it hard to leave everything??... yes it is.... its it worth it??... yes it is....do I feel unsure sometimes....yes...daily I have to let God take my hands and lead me, in HIM I find my strength to continue on.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Christmas Break.... free time... I'm not sure what to do with that

So what does free time mean? Its Christmas Break...

I'm in the Philippines.... its low 30 C and depending on the day its rainy and 25 C. Its the weirdest weather I've been in during Christmas.

I can't complain. I love the snow and cold, but... I'll be heading off to Samal Island day after Christmas for a couple of days!! Get some beach time, motorbike across the island, see the bat cave, amazing waterfalls... and oh so much more!

I'm on break but I still have a few things to look over, I have one last question to finish on one of my past assignments. A month ago I lost 8 pages or so of my assignment and I rushed together the last little bit and now I have to redo a few question. Oh well, the first part was almost perfect so I had a feeling that would have to redo the last couple questions. Its nutrition so I can have some fun with putting it together. Just one more question anyways. : )

I also have Cebuano to practice and continue to study. I've only had two classes in the last 5 weeks, either from being sick, or being in the bukid. We had two weeks of review, one week was the week I was in the bukid. So I got to review the first couple lessons and get the basics down. Now I need to continue on... self study... sometimes I would prefer to be in a place where I am engaged in the language 24/7 so I could practice more, and I don't hear my native language all the time. It would make things so nice... or at least that is my theory... since I would be speaking it more, and the people wouldn't be speaking English to me.

I am so ready to have a day of rest, its been one thing that I've tried to keep is at least 1-2 days a month where I could just rest, reflect and just spend time with the Lord. Sadly it didn't happenas much as I wanted it to.... with baby checks, and shifts. It will be something that I will work into my schedule once we start up again.

It will feel weird not having something to do, or to work on. I'm excited about it however I know its going to be weird, and my brain will be working a million miles a min, trying to figure out what to do.... rest... That is one thing God is telling me to do... rest, rest my child.... rest in who he is, rest and just reconnect.

To begin my break I am off to watch a movie, and then bed... time to relax!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Trusting in the Lord

When all things seems lost, or at least not going the way it looks like it should. All the Praise goes to God because HE is the one to sustain me.


Britt Nicole - Have your own way


Feels like I’ve been here forever
Why can’t You just intervene
Do You see the tears keep falling
And I’m falling apart at the seems

But You never said the road would be easy
But You said that You would never leave
And You never promised that this life wasn’t hard
But You promised You’d take care of me

So I’ll stop searching for the answers
I`ll stop praying for an escape
And I’ll trust You God with where I am
And believe that You will have Your way
Just have Your way
Just have Your way

When my friends and my family have left me
And I feel so ashamed and so cold
Remind me that You take broken things
And turn them into beautiful

Even if my dreams have died and even if I don`t survive
I’ll still worship You with all my life, my life

I know You will, I won’t forget
You love me, have Your way

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The cost for following Christ

Last week while in the Bukid our team decided to go up the mountain to another town further up the road. We didn't stay because the roads were really bad and they were expecting more rain. However God yesterday really convicted me of having a doubtful heart and unaware spirit as I was reflecting on my experiences.


We got to this one village around noon weds and the whole time my heart felt really heavy, oppressed, and all I could think was we needed to get away. As we unloaded the truck, the moskit nets were passed out and we went up to the back room on the little sari-sari store (little store, sells coke, candy...etc). We decided to just rest in the upstairs room, because we were not allowed to travel outside the court yard, which again irritated me. It wasn't until after we got to the other town, that I noticed that there was the spiritual oppression that overshadowed the village. While I tried to rest in the sari-sari store I couldn't rest, I just felt overwhemed (claustrophobic) it was like someone was choking me, I couldn't breath, it kept getting worse as an old man outside the sari-sari store started chanting on and on outside the building.
Finally I just asked God to allow me to sleep, soon after I fell asleep but again woke up with the overshadowing pressure upon me.


On Thursday night we freely got to discuss our time in the bukid with ate mary jean and her husband Kua June. Sure enough we had all felt the spiritual oppression while being in the last village. As we discussed what had happened, Mary Jean told us of the spiritual opression that held that village. The story that really touched me was of the old sick man that was demon possessed accepted Christ, but died a couple days later, and then during VBS one of the workers was presenting the gospel and as he began to share he stopped because he was being choked, and the only thing that released him was though Prayer. Two years ago they started work in that village and last week was only the 2nd team of mercy students to go with her.

Yesterday in the Orange house I got to have a discussion with Amber and Nikki about what had happen and the idea of spiritual warefare, I've seen it.... yes, though I don't always see it as it is. Sadly I feel that living in the west as shadowed my eyes. I feel that the doubt of not understanding and the doubt of unbelief in the reality of this subject hinders so many people. For many its scary, for many its a reality of life, for many it seems like a fairy tale.


The reality that though Prayer and by the Cross Jesus has the victory!


So many question come to mind, so many to ponder...


Would u die for Christ? Would you give your life?

What does that look like?

What does it take to take a stand for Christ?

prayer request....

Since coming back from the bukid God has continued to open my eyes to the muslim world and working in rural areas.

I'm planning on attending a muslim background church first sunday in Jan... I work day the rest of the month and am attending an evening service at the foursquare church. I am praying that I can attend the MBC in the mornings and then every other sunday night attend evening service.

The pastor the the MBC is an american and his wife came from a muslim family but now follows Christ.

When I've gotten to speak about my heart to work with Muslims, its been really disappointing, sad, please pray for the Philippino church to catch God's heart for Muslim here in Davao and else where on the island. So many people feel that muslims are unreachable, unstable, and unpredictable and lost with no hope. That they are Muslim and they will stay that way. Yet We have Jesus and he is the hope of all the nations! I know part of it is I am young, and single and they are worried about me, yet the safest place is where God calls you. My prayer is for nationals to rise up and reach their own people here in the Philippines.

I have a test of Monday, and I only have this week to finish because of outreach...

Saturday, December 11, 2010

While in the bukid I learned...

I've been in the city for four month, and I finally got to get out on the dirt roads and see the mountians.

After spending a week in the Bukid I learned so many things...

I faced my fears of riding motorcycles long distances. bumpy dirt roads, steep hills, riding 4 to a motor.

learned to trust the Lord in a new way

learned to trust the drivers

God continues to confirm my hearts desire to work with rural tribal muslim people

I learned that I really like durian

I learned how to cook rice in plastic bags

I learned how to cook duck/chicken in sprite

I learned to its okay to face your fears



I learned that so many people are unreached, even in the Philippines, I learned that its hard to go and its hard to even go to places by motorcycles. Yet some villages you can only walk in.

Things I loved about the Bukid



I loved the quietness


I loved working with ate mary jean... to see her work with her own tribal people



I loved the mountains



I loved to view



In the end I loved the motor rides



I loved just watching people interact



In the bukid I got to...



see what midwifery looks like outside the urban setting



I got to see how knowing the heart language is so important



I got to see that it is possible to work out in rural area



I got to see the hardships and the joys of life



I only got a taste of what it means to live in the bukid.



May the God of hope will you with all peace and joy...may you abound in hope... romans 15:13



again my heart goes back to this verse. If I could I would be back in the bukid, I would be in Africa, in the middle east, again my heart yearns to work among those that have never heard about Jesus. Last week I got a see the reality that many people are unreached, no medical care, no one to speak the word of truth. So many villages... I can't even count how many we just drove though, and even more that were unreachable due to rain, bad roads, or for some no road exsist.





So I am back in Davao, a city of 1.3 million, two weeks ago I wasn't sure if I could continue here in the city, then I got the e-mail saying I was going to the bukid. Yet God has given me grace upon grace. It was just what I needed. Last week I learned I need to be here, I couldn't get the knowledge, the supervision needed to go where I want to go later. I am not comfortable here, and yets its where God wants me to be. My prayer is that I wouldn't be comfortable, I don't want to lose my sense of need for the Lord, for his word.

Friday, December 10, 2010

My Trip to the Bukid....though the eyes of my camera...















Romans 1:20

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, nhave been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
































Psalm 33:8
Let all the earth fear the Lord;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!









































Psalm 33:1Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,

on those who hope in his steadfast love,





































































Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.































Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the Lord.

































Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!



























1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Romans 15:13


May the God of hope fill you with all ljoy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.





Friday, December 3, 2010

A servents heart

A Servents Heart... what does that mean??








What does it mean to seek the Lord with your whole heart??






Thoughout Psalms the call to seek the Lord, to seek Him with you whole heart is stated over and over again.






I've had many stuggles while being here. I've learned more about who I am, where I came from, How its made me who I am.






I've seen life... I've seen death... I've seen tears of joy and tears of pain.








I've seen miricles and I've had to ask the tough questions.... why did that happen?? I just don't understand...






However I've come to terms that God is in control. I dont' understand why things happen, they just do, I can't see the end result, I can't see the ending in the midst of a crazy situation and I may never see the ending while I am here on earth.






To seek the Lord... I've never heard God's voice so clearly, and I've never question God so much in the last four months. They seem so distant from each other yet, so close. Its in the hard times we come to see that we need Jesus...






I've been though a lot, and I've seen so much, not just here in the Philippines or in Niger, but also at home, my childhood.






Though living in community I've learn so much about fellowship and relationships. I've been able to be open and just share what the Lord has done, I've held back so many things, and I had kept barriers between different people in my life, family, friends, mentors, elders. To me it was for protection, however, it was because of my pride, my shame because I didn't want anyone to know the true me. I didn't want to let anyone down, I didn't want to stand up and speak. Yet in brokeness there is freedom. The glories of God grace!!!









The broken, the misunderstood me. The idea of what was normal, were so abnormal. From living situations, my mother health issues, the reason behind living with my grandparents. God is Faithful, I say it over and over. The Lord is Faithful, so many times I could of walked down the wrong path for just one day, one moment and I don't know if I would be here today.






In the midst of it all God kept his word in my heart, even though I didn't understand, I didn't know if I could trust the feeling, however I felt they were right. Just as it says in Psalms he will write his words on the hearts of all people, of all nations.








Over and over again I read though Psalms and it just set my heart free, I am in awe of the wisdom found within. As I finish Psalms I just have to continue into Proverbs... words of Wisdom.... Wisdom.... Knowledge... The Fear of the Lord.






As I prepare to go to the bukid next week. I know nothing, I am a planner, and its so hard to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Right now I know date leaving and date returning. I've heard I'll be on motorcyles for hours on end, I will giving injections, giving health teaching, doing prenatals. Its just the basic... I know the Lord said go... so my reply is Lord send me... Lord send me...To know that calling, to be called by God... may I have the right understanding of what it means to Fear HIM.






To be a servent.... to give myself, my all to the lover of my soul.... to the one that took my from the miry clay and set me upon the rocks. I am safe and sound in the Him. To know that brings comfort, to dig deeper bringa much joy, peace, yet heartache as God continues to mold me.






To have a Servents heart, to want to serve, to want to share of the hope that I've come to find. To dream dreams, to ask for healing, to ask for visions, to ask or wisdom and guidance.






I ask for wisdom and that pray that my eyes will be open and my heart set free so that I can live my life wholly surrendered to Jesus. To be free, to speak unashamed, to proclaim his goodness, to seek his face.






"Grace be with you" may the works of my hand proclaim his steadfast love, may I be a servent, may his grace fall upon those that I want to reach with his love. May that be the prayer of the Church. I look down at my stethescope and read that message. The ending to Titus... "Grace be with you" May his grace be with you and may you know his love.

Everything... but catching a baby...

So I am on night shift.... and I am last up... even though my last baby was the 23rd. Crazy, we have had lots of conts come in. Otherwise its been slow.

Being last up I got endorsed a immediate, so I got to everything but catch the baby and chart. So

I got some baby time... yay!

while cleaning and charting and assisting, and doing what ever need to be done

To have a servents heart has been my prayer. I got to see what it means to serve tonight, I got to witness my classmate catch her first baby! YAY! Baby Girl....

then in the middle of charting I got to go assist, the chart for another birth. All within about 20 min. So much for a quiet shift.

I even transported a patient to DMC by myself...

Now I am next up, and I may be able to catch a baby before I go off to the bukid.... we will see : )

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

mi hiti ma Korey!





I love you, I want you, I need you, I like you, I am in desperate need of you, so... so... very much!!. I guess that is the closest words in English to the Fulani translation mi hiti ma Korey.
Pics- Shootuu taken 2009 year after I was in Ly On Kara, Maternal Health care symbol, and Hope
All three pictures describe some aspect of my life, from being a midwife, to my ideas of where I want to go, who I want to be, how I want to use my skills to help as a midwife.
To see hope in a child's eyes, to trying to understand other cultures so I may be able to speak of Christ, that I may speak and train others in the area of maternal healthcare
my desire is to love, work, live life, in a way that I don't need to use words, just that I would lay my life down to the King of Kings and always be able to say Mi Hiti Ma Korey Isa Alamashi.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The walls are high.... the walls are strong....

The walls are high, the walls are strong
I’ve been locked in this castle
That I’ve built for far too long
You have surrounded me, a sea on every side
The cracks are forming and I’ve got nowhere to hide

Now I see
The walls I’ve built are falling
And Your waves of grace are washing over me
(Repeat x2)

My heart’s been hard, I have been blind
I have often worked so hard to keep You from my mind
I have ruled my life, in a palace built on sand
I want You to reign, Lord, take me by the hand

Lord please reign in every part
I give my life to You, I open up my heart
I want to be like You, I want to seek Your face
O Lord please wash me in Your awesome waves of grace

I'm a midwife.... What? When did this happen??

Yesterday it hit me... I'm a midwife....

I'm a midwife I deliver babies...

Yesterday I forgot I had a third week check up. So the clinic called the orange house and I jumped out of bed and got dressed and off to the baby check up.

Irish Belle... 3 week check-up. What how did that happen. 8lbs 11oz - three week check up. So big, so cute, doing really well.

Friday, November 26, 2010

what you do for a warm shower...

So its Friday night, and its been a long day. I spent last night texting my first 1st patient and because Muhammad wasn't feeling well and I didn't have load of my phone for 3 days... So there was lots to talk about. So finally around 11:30 I finally put my phone down and decided I needed sleep and I can text in the morning.

Around 6 I woke up to another text.... The Lord is faithful Muhammad was up, feeling much better and no more fever! YAY! Its been amazing to see Jesus work in so many ways.

At 7 I got to call home and say hello to everyone at my grandma's for thanksgiving. I am so thankful for the way God answer prayers!! I was in need of some family time even though it was short because of the internet and my the little ones getting on the phone and hanging up. I am thankful for each of the little 5-10 min conversations I got to have before prenatals.


Prenatals... initual prenatals.. they normally happen on Monday but we had another on Friday. close to 60 new patient and the Lord again answered our prayer that we would get done about the same time as normal Friday prenatal... between 11- and noon... Monday inituals usually go until 1-2pm... We got done at 11:20 am...yay!

I was on shift for both initual prenatal this week, and I took two conts. One is 13 weeks and the other is 17 weeks. I am super excited... the patient I took today is 16 and is 13 weeks, its er first baby, she is a twin, super sweet, really excited to have the baby, she had the biggest smile when she got to hear heart tones... she was unsure about the injections I had to give her and overall she just needed someone to love on her. At first she was really unsure if she wanted prayer when I asked, however in the end she was crying on my shoulder, that was when I knew I wanted to be her midwife and see her though this pregancy.

After prenatals we had a staff meeting at 1:30 which went well and then off to Mediterranean cafe... for lunch/dinner and the doughnut shop to work on homework...

Now I get to the title of the blog... after a crazy week of being sick, catching a baby, being homesick, being really overwhemed... I am off to the gym to go swim and finally get a hot shower... That was all it took to convince me to go with another classmate to the gym... $3 entrance fee... and I can go swim and then a hot shower...yay! While she does yoga I am off to do a few laps in the pool and then sauna... and finally a nice hot shower...

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving... its almost 2pm here in Davao.

Its warm sticky and well it doesn't feel much like Thankgiving... I don't have my family, I'm not in Africa with my Brittany and Kirsty...( my first time away from family was in Niger ) So you can say its a weird Thanksgiving.

woke up went had day shift....

but I'm here in Davao City Philippines with an amazing group of midwives : )

I am so thankful for them... for each of them!!

There is snow on the ground, like in Toledo right now

but the sun is shining here in Davao!


I have so much to be thankful for.... I don't know if I have the words to expess everything

However here is a little list

  • I'm thankful for my family...
  • I am thankful for my church family
  • I'm thankful for all the prayers... i couldn't do it with out ur support and prayers
  • I'm thankful to be in Davao
  • I'm thankful for my classmates
  • I 'm thankful for being able to catch babies
  • I'm thankful for coffee
  • I'm thankful for tea
  • I'm thankful for my mentors.... Pete and Nita, Shannon and Jody Caskey... Stu and Edith Nelson and so many more.... thanks for letting me call and e-mail anytime when things get crazy here
  • I can say I am thankful even when thing hurt.., I know God has a plan
  • thankful that God has better plans and I just have to surrender everything to him
  • I'm thankful for His Grace
  • I'm thankful for His Faithfulness
  • I'm thankful for being sick... kinda sounds weird but its been really neat I've seen God work in random ways and though being sick my eyes have been open to many more things.
  • I'm thankful for life how precious it is
  • I'm thankful for the freedom found in Christ

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Its been a long day...

On Sunday I woke up with the idea that it would be great spend the day in the baking. So I got together all that I needed and went off to Victoria, G-mall and Bankerhan the large market in Davao. In the end we had two bananna cream pies, mango tarts, veggie pizzia, homemade ranch dip, and orange chocolate cookies. (It was my idea, but Ashton decided she want to join me... So I wasn't alone )

For those that know me well, I am sure you can picture this... I spent the whole day baking and well by the end I was feeling well because I didn't eat much.... at the market I had a chocolate milk drink and stick rice and that was all I had except the test tasting going on during the day. I started to get a sore throat after the rice and chocolate. It never crossed my mind I was getting sick. Around 8 I went out with Ashton to get Mozzarella... I know it wasn't the best food, but it was so good.

Anyways Monday came and went, went out with Maria for dinner and coffee. Had prenatals... my sore throat came back around 10pm and just kept getting worse. I don't think I slept much over 2 hours. Around 3 I wasn't sure if I was going to make it day shift Tuesday morning because I wasn't sure if I could keep anything done. However I finally got the two hours of sleep and woke up at 5:30... an hour after my alarm was set to go off. I was going to text my supervisor around 5 and ask if I should come in or if I should stay home. So 5:30 I jump out of bed, sore throat gone, took a cold shower, ate, and made it to clinic by 5:45.

Birthroom lost of postpartums... no labors.. yay maybe a quiet shift, maybe some time to sleep since my sore thoat had disappeared. At 6:05 endoresement... I find i am first up and labor is in the CR comfort Room... AKA bathroom. Patient comes out and I notice she is holding the baby head inside with her hand and she is fully and baby is coming... I could of had a CR birth.... Everyone rushes in to get the bed ready... O2 tanks... birthcart, patient is on bed.. 3 cm head visible without pushing... thick mec... baby had passes stool so the water was stained... so deep suction ready and baby out at 6:09 am... crazy morning... woke up late, got to clinic, labor comes in ... baby out within 30 min of getting out of bed... nice wake up call?


My 5th handle 37th birth I've seen here at Mercy. Around 8:30am let the crazy times begin... first taxi arrives... horn is going off.. non-stop... taxi driver isn''t sure what to do... baby out 2min before arriving at MMC. Run grab blanket, cord clamp, cut cord, hold towel up to try and give privacy, huge crowd. Grab wheel chair... take baby in get mother to bed.... wait for placenta to come. Check Baby... baby fine...

A busy morning shift I okay with that... 9am baby checks... my sore throat returns.. it returns and take my voice away. It was hard to speak cebuano.. now I was trying to talk and all that was coming out was high pitch Cebunao words. At least I could speak but I had to keep repeating myself... so by the end of shift my voice was just done... I could speak I just had to raise my eyebrows yes, shake my head no and just point to someone who could speak.... my throat wasn't painful it was just I could speak... so noon.. discharge my patient she goes home... Ashton's patient pushing... and next thing you know I am charting... Baby girl out at 1:18 pm.

So two births lots of baby checks and taxi birth. A busy shift but good shift even though I couldn't speak. Around 2:30 I got home to the Orange house, herbs class 3pm. We made tintures, and othe herbal recipes.. So that was fun...my group made garlic salve used for chest colds, ear infections, etc... and also crampbark tincture used to help with cramps and other things... some people made sleep aid tinctures, cough med... It was nice because I could help out but didn't have to talk. Around 3:40 I took a nap and woke up about 5 min before dinner... it was french toast and baked oatmeal, fruit salad... yum... so so good.... so I sit down and try and speak and nothing comes out... So the only other thing I could so was use sign language.

Even now I still can't speak. My throat is sore but not painful. I feel fine, I took a few drops of the cough med that we made today in herbs, so that had helped and also herbal tea. So I feel much better right now.

well I am off to bed... praying that I can have my voice back by thursday shift, and/or friday I have prenatals and i can't really be that useful at prenatals with a crackly voice or no voice at all. I would love prayer just that I would just be able to rest in Christ, rest even though I am sick, I can't speak, that I may use this time wisely.

Thanks for you prayers!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Paradise resort




My day trip to Paradise beach and resort on Samal Island.... Ashton and I got up and went over about 8am, and around 11:30am we meet Fonda, Lizzie and Abigail. Then took the ferry around 4pm.


* I am planning going back to Paradise sometime in Dec or Jan. For 2-3 days and explore Samal Island some more!





























































Tuesday, November 16, 2010

life of a midwife

Life as a midwife.... I've come to be flexible with the crazy schedule... because babies can come into the world at anytime... Once the baby is born a flexible schedule is a must as well with baby checks.... Its a lifestyle... its apart of who I am and I thank the Lord for giving me the grace to handle it all and the courage just to trust Him.



Today I have been pondering Isaiah 52:7 and the first portion is also found in romans 10:15 ....



How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,

who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”




How beautiful are the feet of him who bring good news. When I look back in my own life i am so thankful for those that took the time to share the story of Jesus with me. I am thankful for those that went onto the mountain top and walked with me during my trials, in the midst of pain and tears. I thankful for those people that published the truth into my life, and I am thankful that God began to soften my heart. I was taken by his love!


My prayer now is that I could be the hands and feet of Jesus where ever I go. While I'm at Mercy, out and about in Davao. When I am at the Orange House. My my lips continue to sing his Praise.


Labor Story

Last night I got endorsed a patient from swing shift. It was the first patient in which I got to labor with though the night (labor watch). Sadly night shift was crazy kaayo (much/very) busy, we transported a couple patients, and two patient came in very active and had their babies within an hour of addmission. So my patient a G1(first baby) did so well even though the birthroom was busy. By the end she was getting really tired and I could just see her struggles as she just wanted the labor pains to stop and she was afraid that she might be the next one transported. At the end of shift she was still only 8 cm dilated and i couldn't help but stay, I had been her support though the night alongside her boyfriend, I was the one coming in every half hour to check heart tones and the one she could lean on when the contractions started to get strong.



I could just endorse her however thoughout the night God kept telling me that I needed to stay until she delivered. At first I wanted to fight it, (couldn't I just get off shift and go sleep in air con and sleep a good 7 hours since it was first night shift where I didn't need to be up 11:30 am)... (my response to God ) yes I watched her all night but I am so new at this, someoe with more experience could take care of her. I finally got the courage to ask my supervisor around 5 am if I could stay and she said I needed to ask the super on Day Shift. However at endoresemnts I didn't get a chance (I still was deciding at this point) becuase the super from night shift started off endorsement saying that we had not labors to endorse and that I was going to stay with my patient, and I would finish it all books, charting, baby exam and so on...SO THE CHOICE WAS MADE... It was actually what was best for her, because right after endorsements they talked about transporting her, but since I was going to stay on day they would give her some grace until 8 to show progess. So at 8 she was 9 cm... sl progress enough to let her stay. ( yay!! I was going to catch a baby (4th catch handle)...maybe... praying that I would, praying she wouldn't be transported... I was a little baby deprived as well... 6 days without catching a baby : ( three quiet shift (no births) can do that!)


So I labored with her on though the night and then on day shift. So from about 8:30 I tried diffrent pushing positions and at 9:45 finally some progress (pushing) and at 10:10 a BB boy Jacyle Davis... 6lbs 15 oz... yay! Since I was from night shift she became my countinuity patient (two weeks ago I got to do her prenatals) which meant that I did everything baby bath, newborn exam, shots, charting, birth certificate. Its a life on a midwife long hours...


Thank you Lord for the safe birth and no transport! I couldn't help but shead a couple of tear with her as Jaycle was born. She had a long active labor. However Jaycle finally decicded to join us!


I didn't get off of shift until 1:30 pm + a baby check. A half hour more I would of been on shift for 16 hours. I loved it, I got to see what it means to be a midwife and walk with a patient, even though I was tired I couldn't help but be joyful and praise the Lord for his protection. For his faithfulness.


I also got to see Ate Bai and Muhammad.. He is now two weeks old! So cute, very quiet little boy. I had to hold him for a while because we had to wrap his foot up in a hot pad so we didn't have to keep poking him for the newborn screening.



After shift I had just enough time to grab a cold shower and go off to herbs for two hours, and then a coffee shop to start my herbs assignment... I know crazy I should of gone to bed, but I've had a hard time falling asleep here without waking up at random times, so I wanted to stay up until at least 7 so i could maybe stay asleep all night. I would love prayer that I would be able to sleep peacefully. After being up for 34 hours I finally got to bed between 9 and 10. I slept all night woke up at daylight around 5am but fell right back to sleep within a few min and woke up to a baby check at 9:45am. 12 hours... thank you Lord!




Pics below...

Charting for the birth of Jaycle Davis

Muhammad and I two weeks old

Jaycle Davis

family photo