Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A happy ending...

As I went to night shift last night I couldn't seem to shake off the weird feeling that something was going on back home.... The night before I had a rough night with my mom. I woke her up and well it didn't turn out very well...

Yet I thank the Lord for placing it on my heart to call her. Praise the Lord for his wisdom as well. As I called her I could tell something wasn't right. She didn't understand me, she didn't really even know who was calling.

Within a few minutes I knew her blood sugar was low and in the end she hung up the phone because she was so mad at me. For once I noticed the signs I just kept saying "Check your blood".

Of course her answer was no... the very stubborn childish No ... However what can you do? Its not a 10 min drive anymore...

Again I felt God's hand upon me and his grace as he just quietly replied. You did what you could... Let it go... let your burdens down...

I grew up taking care of my mom. 6 years old reviving my mom as she lay on the floor unable to move because her sugar levels had dropped to dangerous lows again. It was normal for me, even though it was really abnormal. yet again I find that its was a gracious gift that God gave me, the wisdom and discernment, and I praise him for giving that gift.

As evening came and I was preparing for night shift, I again found myself wondering back to my mom. Was she alright, did her boyfriend relieze the state she was in... I didn't know... I could come back from shift and find an e-mail saying she was gone... I could call home and no one answer... Yet again I felt God calling me to just sit in his grace...

So here I am, after night shift, a world away from my mom (but yet so close with skype :)... Yet Gods hand of protection was over her. For once she hung up the phone her boyfriend decided to check her blood for her... 35 ... I can only say Praise the Lord she wasn't in a coma. Praise the Lord she woke up... So as I finish my breakfast and have a morning converation with my mom, I ever so thankful to hear her voice, I can't help but praise the name of Jesus.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

life outside MMC... outreaches.... (life outside the city)




Warning... the smell .... warning.... the taste.... warning these things may fall on your Head!!

Durian... King of the fruits... lami (yummy) or at least I think so... If your in Davao you have to try Durian.... the reason why they are so good around Davao is there is a colony of bats just off the bay on Samal Island...












Outland Adventure... the zipline.....











The farm... Baptist Rural Life Center... helping engage rural farmers with organic farming and livestock center






















The goat above was super friendly... however by the end of the day his head was on the fire roasting... yes ended up butchering him : (
Milking goats so much fun : )





Goat kisses... at least I have the barrier mask on ; )





















more to come later.... enjoy!

Friday, March 25, 2011

pictures of life at MCC







Welcome to MMC... lets go....
















Babies... oh Babies... lots and lots... : ) Above Jaylce and Below little Akiesha Hope















Baby Akiesha Foot prints... little purple feet!












Happy 15th to MMC (Feb) .... 17,000 babies and counting...








My badjao baby Nathan... (badjao patients are from Isa Verde outreach. )












Muhhamad... my very first handle delivery... Nov 2nd 2010!!




The faces of the kids at the outreach in Isla Verde (2x month thursdays prenatal outreach)


Assignments... oh assignments its a hate/love relationship... I love the stuff I'm learning, yet I feel so overwhelmed sometimes... Praise the Lord for his grace and strength to get though!






mix mix.... aka Halo-Halo.... the amazing food of the Phils... its condensted milk, jellies, ube (ice cream and jam), jackfruit, beans, rice cripys, candied black beans, chickpeas... and lots of other things... get the hint... its a pile of mix-mix!






#10 Opal St... my home... aka Orange house... Orange balay!





















A story line of pictures


The name that I was give at Birth.... Heidi.... Leann... McCully...


8lbs 9oz at 33 weeks... Yes I was a premature... but a macrosomic newborn... (large baby... just think if I was full term... wow!! )

Welcome Baby Heidi @ 2:02 am March 9, 1989




For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.




I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
(Psalm 139:13-18 ESV)

Pic- prenatal waiting room psalm 139:14






NorthWest... Washington... Where I was born and it will always be in my heart as home.... Mt. St Helens...

Summers learning to drive.... winters walking around in the snow... always living in the shadow of God's creation






Summers with TFBC.... Basin City mission trips... VBS... Kids Camp.... (Josie getting baptized at Kids Camp 10') : )






Every year God continued to open my eyes to his calling for the Gospel to be preached.... calling to go...

Here I am Lord.... Send me...




Foma Hope .... Hello Hope



..... First Time overseas!!






My time in Niger Aug-Dec 2008 Ly On Kara Niger...


Niger


has of the highest maternal/infant mortality rates in the world



One of the hottest places in the world
















I struggled with God with the calling to Muslim while in Niger... However again I found myself saying.... Lord Here I am... Send Me.... Give me a heart that beats for yours...

At first I was scared unsure it was God... yet God kept giving me the vision of working with Muslim women. Every place I looked I was running into someone who worked with Muslims...

So the vision of Foma Hope began... (Hello Hope)







May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(Romans 15:13 ESV)








Hello- Foma (fulani word for hello)

Hope... To be able to share the Hope of Christ and also bring Hope by training (nationals) and providing for the Physical needs as well.





Meet little Nathan... He came into the world Feb 8th, 2011... My 13th delivery at MMC. Super sweet little boy.




Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
(Psalm 34:8 ESV)










Outreach... to the mountains... the Bukid. To provide health care teachings, and do prenatals.







Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
(Psalm 119:73-74 ESV)






God created this world... it seems so big.... yet so small... An viewpoint on Samal Island (small Island off Davao bay)















Meet Leah... and Akiesha Hope.... My first contunity patient at MMC to deliver at MMC... born Feb 10, 2011







My 2nd baby I delivered in Nov 2010...











So you may ask why did I put a picture of a goat on my page. I'm a farm girl at heart. : ) My desire is to work among Muslim women. Rural Muslim women.
In Niger I learned how to take goats milk and make infant formula. So you never know what God will do....( MRBLC farm train center... march 9 2011)...
Fredrick my little rubby ducky that travels with me... thanks to victoria : )
Where does my Help come from.... My Help comes from the Lord maker of heaven and earth!!


I'll leave end the story with these two verses... I know God will continue to write this story and may be for his Glory...


“Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.
(Habakkuk 1:5 ESV)

I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
(Habakkuk 2:1 ESV)



Monday, March 21, 2011

In his grace... I find the strength to move

What were you doing at this time last year? Are you at the place you wanted to be?

What has the Lord said to you? Have you listened? Are you even willing to listen?

Its been a year since I found out I was packing up my bags and moving across the Pacific... a new place... new people...

The one thing I've learned is words give so much life to people... it can be + or - ...

" Is she crazy? Can she make it? Will she come back alive? What is she fails? What is she doesn't like being a midwife? " .... WHAT IF?? ...

Oh the responses I got from people... am I crazy??... (don't get me wrong I have amazing people praying for me and encouraging me, however I came across a lot of - responses to my vision of being a midwife and wanting to working among Muslim Women)

Yet God remains faithful...

I can't say the last year has been easy or even the last 8 month (Its been the hardest)... learning new things, coming to terms with my past, understanding more and more of myself as I let go of my fears and allow the grace of the Lord break though the walls of my heart.

I've seen 60+ births and delivered 15+ babies...I've seen life and I've seen death... Yet when God created man from the dust He breathed his life...

I've had nights were all I could was cry on my knees for the grace to endure... and then I've had days where the thought of leaving was not even an own option...

What keeps me going....

  • Prayers- of everyone supporting me back home
  • Desire to see lives changed
  • obedience to the Lord
  • the idea of Foma- Hope... Hello Hope- saying hello to the spiritual and physical needs of muslim women
  • getting to serve women here
  • to be one of the ones to open my arms to the Muslim women here in Davao
  • desire to use midwifery and one day (Lord willing) in an unengaged muslim area
  • to have a skill that I may work among people that have never heard of Christ
  • and the list could go on and on and on....

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

reckless love

I AM HIS... I AM a Disciple of Christ...

I've been redeemed, I can see that my present makes sense... I can see that I must move forward.

T be content in who Jesus is, to live a life where Jesus is the center... Always aware of the cross and the picture of LOVE it shows.

His words comfort me, show grace, love neverending, I'm secure... it comples me...
His promise give life, gives freedom

I'm Done Lord...
with living my own life... I'm ready Lord...

I'm ready to live a life of prayer.... I'm done living life standing unaware of who you are, I'm ready to be uncomfortable by living on my knees

Take my dreams oh God... You gave them to me... and I give my heart and theses plans back to you...Change them daily as you change and mold me...

I can stand on your promise that you are in Control oh God! I'm done with doubting your love, doubting your plans Jesus.

I'm ready to surrender the lies of manipulation, I don't need to compromise, Lord protect me, give me wisdom that I may not be lured away. I'm done with putting you in box... I'm done with the rules, that are based on worldly foolishness where everything need to be explained.


THE ROAD is Rough

It may look foolish, it may be rough, it may be hard, sufferings may lurk ahead... yet Jesus your grace, Lord your strength give me life.

Only two choices... take your word and let it flow within me... changing me... or reject the message... The truth is the truth it can't change!

The message lives in the shadow of the cross... Reckless love... That God came down to earth, lived and died to give life... He took the shame, he paid the price.... You can't have grace without the cross...

whole hearted devotion

While I was on the farm I started reading " The signature of Jesus" by Brennan Manning... I didn't get but three chapter in during the week, but I wanted to share a little about what God was teaching me...

To begin I've decided i would read though the Bible in one year using my ESV study bible online resource... which has about 10 devotions that I can use online ( thanks Pete and Nita for getting me the study Bible!).

I've used it a lot when I'm on shift on night shift when the lights are off and I can just sign in and listen or read my bible and use the different devotions... (so I don't have to disturb anyone its a quite shift and I don't want to sleep.)

So I started about two weeks ago... I'm all most though Genesis and the first chapter in the book was discussing the road from "Haran to Canaan" The sacrife, that Abraham made, the leap of faith he took as he followed God... To pick up and leave everything, to believe in God's promises even when they seem crazy... impossible...

Lets jump to Matt... 4 " you will be fishers of men..." "come and follow me"... What does that mean... I don't think the disciples or Abraham knew what was going to be next... yet they walked in faith... Did they have doubts... yes... do we have doubts.... How many times has the church or lets take it to a personal level...how many times have you doubted God? How many times have you heart the voice of the Lord and didn't respond...? Did it seem impossible, unrealistic, stupid, foolish?

I can't lie and that I haven't doubted God... I've wrestled with God, I've had to stop and just think... really God u want me to do this... your saying that to me...I don't understand...Yet he also takes back to the cross... He shows me the condition of my heart, his grace flows, his cleaning blood falls upon me...

* Why did u call me the Philippines... will you come though Oh God
*Will you provide
*Pakistian?
* Africa?
* I'm a single and you want to work among Muslims?? What...?

I'm the God that takes the things that look impossible and make them possible!!

"Lord increase my Faith" the end of chapter 1...

The cry of my heart is for your glory to fall... there is a yearning again a thirst for discipline...

It all comes back to Jesus... The cross...

Chapter 3..
1. The courage to take up the cross
2. the willingness to forgive
3. The discovery of where true wisdom lies
4The surrender of the heart of reckless love

Sunday, March 13, 2011

scars of life....I am the Vine... remain in Me

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
(John 15:1-11 ESV)

Since I was on the farm last week, I got a lot of time to just relax and just reflect... It doesn't happen much here in Davao... I try to set time aside but that doesn't always happen when the schedules doesn't stay the same.

It was an amazing week, to not be in the city, but also hard because I could finally be alone and just breathe and sometimes things just pile up and trying to debrief everything can be a struggle.

Yet Praise the Lord for his grace. Since being in the Philippines God has shattered everything that I once held dear... I find myself singing "the wonderful Cross" and I see now what it mean to count it all loss...

Last Sunday was the first Sunday where I could attend church without having a conflict with my work schedule. A huge blessing, it has been six weeks! I went a few times to prayer meeting during the week, but I hadn't gone to a sunday service in a while. So I attended morning service at Davao Fourquare Gospel church and then the SBC- Davao baptist church with a couple of the Philipina midwives from Mercy...

In the evening service they talked about the persucuted church... (pray for the leadership at the church, a couple people have gotten death threats!) They also talked about the scars of life... suffering, poverty, loss of life... How God uses our scars for his glory... Though the trials and scars... they rise up in the Power of Christ... yet ever so humble... meek....

Looking back at my scars... from life... the hardships...trials... It call comes back the Jesus...back to the Cross...

In the end... all that matters is what I do for Christ... if I give to the poor, deliver babies, if I'm an advocate for better health care, if I go to the unreached people in the world... YET IF I DON'T proclaim Christ or live a life in which he could uses me.... its useless, worthless, foolish junk...

Sunday, March 6, 2011

a new adventure!!

So I am off on a new adventure.... a week out on the baptist rural center in Davao der south...

I'm not sure what all is going to be going on... so please pray for safe travel, the relationships we will build ( as a group and with the staff)