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.

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.

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...

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

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!

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!

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

a time to just relax.... a time to reflect

Thank you for your prayers!



mi wala sembe, ama..... I am weak but I in God's grace I made it though the last four weeks.

List of random things that happened within the last month...
• I've had way to many marriage proposals
• I love doing prenatals and catching babies
• I've tried balut
• I can't say....that I've never caught a baby....
• I've gone though college math, stats classes in just over 3 weeks time
• I got to meet with some compassion international translators
• I've learned how to cook for 4 people and up to 30 people
• I've learned the value of friendship
• I love early morning quiet time with Jesus on the balcony
• I love it that I can skype with people back home
• At first I wasn't sure how the 2am skype date with TFBC college group would go, but I enjoy so much... I find that at 3am Davao is quiet and I can just relax in the quietness
• I love it when I don't even have to say anything on skype and my friends know what I am thinking.... ; )
• I love being busy, but I come to learn that I do need time off and I need to manage my time well so I can take the time off that is needed
• I love getting letters ... I've only gotten one so far... so if you want to write and don't have my address contact me and I would love to give you the mailing address. : )

my crazy day

So I am back on shift... night shift





22 hours up and counting....





Day shift up at 4:30.... quiet shift, baby checks and a small hour nap.


Two tests

• nutriton
• final math exam

• final stats group project

• 1st years student group

• and then night shift...

One of the girls was sick, so I offered to take night shift... and so now I don't have to work day on Sunday! So I get to go to church and have the evening off!

So now I have the weekend off, Sat and Sun... first time in over two months!!! So worth the 26 hour day!


*above picture is baby Steffany born 11-10-10

Hello Hope..... Jesus you are all that I live for....

Well its 10:30 am and I just finished my 1st day baby check. Its been a quiet day shift, I didn't sleep well last night, but I got two hours of sleep because nothing was happening. : ) now I feel rested and refreshed ready to take on the day.



In an hour I'm taking my nutrition exam and turning in my assignment : )

Then at 1:15 I'm off to math for a review session and then the final exam... I'm almost done!



Jesus thank you for you faithfulness. Its been a crazy month with classes, catching babies, baby checks, but in the midst of the crazy schedule God has blessed me with amazing friendships, and a Philippino church to attend.



Its been three month since I boarded the plane in Portland and landed in Davao city.



In the last three months I've ....

• I've learned to manage my time


• I've learned that with God's grace I can live in a big city


• I've learned to love the big city even though its so hard to find quiet time


• I've observed, charted, assisted and got to catch babies


• I've gone on the longest zip-line in Asia


• I've cooked many meals : ) over 20 people


• I've made homemade chicken noodle soup and chicken and rice


• I've learned to make pretzels, homemade bread, tortillas
• I've like balut... yes I said I like balut... it wasn't bad at all... it tasted like turkey and eating an egg yoke with it


• I've come to enjoy sleeping on the top bunk


• I've had many nights shift


• I've come to enjoy night shifts then getting to sleep in the air con


• I've come to love coffee shops to study and to have long talks


• I love taking jeepneys around town


• I love the Philippino culture


• I love seeing all the kids at church


• I've found a home church or at least a home church when I'm in the Philippines


• I'm begining to understand Cebuano, speaking not so much but its progress

Its been the hardest 3 months of my life, at times I've felt hopeless, frusterated, unsure, homesick, and so many other emotions. I've seen new life, and I've seen death. I've had many nights where all i could do is stay up late and sit out on the balcony (11-midnight when its quiet)and reflect on what I've seen, cry, wrestle with my feelings, and just wait on the Lord.

However God has continued to show me his grace and faithfulness. I've learned so much while being here about myself, about the Lord. I've learn to surrender everything. I've learned that my joy comes from the Lord and He is my hope. My hope can't be in anyone else but Jesus.

Monday Memories

• 
  

Top working you way down, *psalm 34, *prenatal fetalscope and measuring tape,

*Muhammad 11-2-10, *MF and me with the two births for the night,* Ate Bai and Muhammad 3rd day check up,

*Irish belle 11-6-10 2nd day check up, mother and father, *Irish

A new week

So its a new week in Davao.

• My first full week of shift where I am able to catch babies.
• Its my first week of baby checks.
• First week where I don't have night shift :(

I feel like I am finally getting used to the weather here, I'm finally getting used to cold showers, I'm alway taking a jacket everywhere even when its 90's-100's outside because I am cold when I go into a building with air con. I'm getting used to using my phone to text instead of calling people. i'm learning to read Cebuano : ), I'm learning the best way to speak Cebuano is just to say what I am thinking and if its wrong its okay.

Prayer requests

Please pray that I can figure out my money situtation. My debt card isn't working. I'm not sure why, I think its something back in the States, the ATM is saying that the problem is that the bank is down and it isn't reponding to the request. So I'm down to maybe 70 peso and I won't be able to get money until Tuesday morning at the earliest. Its not a huge problem, since I don't have any plans that require me to spend money this week, but I would like to get money out for my next visa payment which is coming up.

On thursday I am going to talk to the Compassion workers at Davao Foursquare in the morning. I am super excited to be able to spend at least a couple days a month working with kids again. I don't think I will be able to do so in Nov, but I am going go meet the translators talk to the director of the compassion program, and try and get a couple dates set up in Dec where I can come and help out with a few classes.

Please pray that the Lord would show me what age group to work with, ( 3-5, 6-8,9-11,12-14)and if I should help weekly, biweekly or once a month. I am currently praying also about joining the young adults sunday school class which is at 8am on Sundays. I can't always make it because I have day shift, so it would be off and on.

What I will be doing......

9th and 10th swing shift

12th day shift

assignment due and exam on the 12th

baby checks monday (2x), wed, sat

math and stat last full week yay! 3 classes 5 days a week I've been so tired. Kapoy ko!

math ends 14th, stats 16th.

Herbs class starts 17th - assignment and exam 29th.

1st up.... 1st handle....Oh My....

Its was a quiet night shift, no labors, no postpartum endorsed.... Which was great because I didn't feel very well, 4 hours of sleep within the last two days, and lots of coffee was taking effect.

However in the middle of the taking pictures and making random videos, two labors came in around midnight....

So Michaela and I were the first two up. Vitals were done, IE done (I got to do my first IE), both were active enough where we addmitted them into the clinic.

At first I was so flustered, what so I do, what do I say... I've checked patients in before, I guess its just my nerves. However she was super sweet, she labored well, breathed though ctx well. She was disabled and couldn't completely straighten one leg, she stated that she got hurt when she was 10 years old, so she had lived most of her life with this disability. So we let her labor sitting on the side of the bed because it was the most comfortable place.

Patient: G4 P3 at the time, 28 years old, oldest 7, youngest 2, had all three at home. (Thank the Lord she came to Mercy for this birth).

While talking with her in between ctx I learned that she lived kinda far out, her husband (bana) who was asleep on the other bed worked pumping gas at a gas station, that she wasn't planning on having any more kids, 2 girls and 2 boys. (Her ultrasound stated that the baby was a baby boy, and Muhammad was going to be his name.)

Around 2 am she became really active, more vocal and asked if Amber and I would sit next to her and hold her hands though ctx. At 2:38am Muhammad came into the world, a little blue, a cord coil, and still within the membrance sac (very sl bow, but bow), but had a strong cry and pinked right up.

However within a few minutes the mother started to gush blood, in the end over 2500cc. So we got her stable and sent her to SPMC. So the rest of shift we got to watch baby muhammad.

Michaela and I with the two babies born on shift, and Muhammad and I.