Christ in You the Hope of Glory

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely ignored and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ... that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice is disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence... that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, and spiritual insensibility and endure it as Jesus did... that is dying to self.

When your're content with any food and offering, any clothing, any climate, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God... that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown... that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor questions God while your own needs are far greater desperate circumstances.... that is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself an can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment raising up within your heart... that is dying to self.

Taken from Corrie ten Boom's writings

Filipino

So, there used to around 70 languages in the Philippines due to the influence of other coutries and islands nearby. Finally, American and Filipino were labeled the official language. So, I am trying to teach myself some words before I go. I definately hope to find more, but these are some I came across...

hello mabuhay (mah-boo-hay)
how are you? kumusta ka? (koo moos tah kah)
yes oo (oh-oo)
no hindi (hin dih)
please paki (pah kee)
thank you salamat (sa lah mat)

Good morning Magandang umaga
I don't know hindi ko alam

The Philippines

Sunday afternoon I walked down to the library to find some books on the Philippines. I left with a whole bag full. I will tell you a little of what I have learned so far.

The Philippines are what is called an archipegalo of 7,107 islands, 880 being inhabited. It is the world's longest broken coastline. It has gulfs, lakes, waterfalls, and volcanos. There are three regions: upper, central, and lower. I will fly into the capital, Manila, which is in the upper region. From there, I fly to the city I will be living. I will live in Davao City (pronounced Dah-baw) situated in the lowest region called Mindanano. Davao is in the third largest city in the Philippines.

There are two seasons in the Philippines- wet and dry. I happen to be there during wet season which is when the typhoons come. I am thinking that Charleston is good preperation for this, huh? Humidity and hurricanes, though I like the fact you can escape inland with hurricanes.

I am delighted that rice is the main food in the Philippines! And I am especially hopeful that the food takes after the name as Davao City is "little Japan!" As for Adobo that you mentioned I eat, it is a favorite among Filipinos. It is chicken and pork cooked with garlic and soy sauce. Sounds yummy, especially if it is with rice, which is likely.

I read more- history, politics, culture, lifestyle, religion, language. Nothing is like being in a place, but I figured this was a head start. Still not fully sure of what to expect, but getting excited!

Oh, Sissy

So, it has been a grueling week. I was tired before I got called in yesterday. But, what do you do, right? So, I was here and choosing to be glad. I told myself this is much more fun than playing games or watching a movie. We did what we do. Not as long of a night as it could have been. Then, I had to clean while the midwife made a trip to the hospital. I was to pick her up. Done with cleaning. Still waiting. Home. Went to sleep. Called in an hour to go pick up the midwife. Drove across town to the hospital. Picked her up. Dropped her off. Then, the icing on the cake. I dropped my stinkin phone in what I thought was an empty cup in the cup holder in my car. It starts making a strange noise and blinking. I realize it is wet and was relieved that it still appeared to be working. Then, as I get into the bed... it stops working. I do NOT want to get called in again and I do NOT want to be dealing with this.

So, back out of bed to drive to the birth center to call the midwife to let her know that I do not have a working phone and if we get a call to ring my doorbell and I will come. No calls. Wake up. I decide to go to church and then go to the Verizon store afterward. First, devotions. I was thinking I should read the one from yesterday again. It was one difficulties. No, I will read the one today. It said not to say, "we can't afford it" but to remember God as our provider. What a good message for my day.

Not sure if my phone will be salvaged or if I will get a new one. But, today at church Hannah let me borrow her phone while I am on call and trying to fix my broken one. The beginning of provision!

Some of the wise may stumble,
so that they may be refined,
purified and made spotless
until the time of the end,
for it will still come at the appointed time.

Daniel 11:35

Fourty Nine

So, did you notice the birth count to the right? I had my 49th management earlier this morning. One more to go! Hard to believe. So much hard work over the years. It is strange to be in the place of almost there. I am wondering how that birth will be. Easy? Long and hard?

This birth was a first time Mom. She was so tired and had not slept. She started saying she couldn't do it and didn't want to anymore. For hours she did this. She mentioned the hospital. We encouraged her. She found the strength. Beautiful baby boy born in the water this morning after a long night of laboring with us and a long day before of contractions. And he is the "spitting image" of his father:). And I am a sleepy midwife!

Pistachios and Ice Chips

Last week we transferred a couple to Shands because their baby was in a face presentation. This means the presenting part upon examination is the face instead of the vertex (head). It is very uncommon. Most babies are born via cesarean with this presentation. There are two types- mentum anterior or mentum posterior. Mentum anterior is good as the baby will flex his or her chin through the birth canal and be born this way. Mentum posterior will not fit through the pelvis and needs to turn or the baby will not be born this way, aka cesarean in the US. We transferred to see if they could continue to labor at the hospital or if she would be an immediate ceserean. I decided to go with them to the hospital for support. Good report-trial of labor!

We arrived around 10 am. They were so busy that we did not have our own room until 5o'clock in the evening. We had a bed surrounded by a curtain in the triage area. We labored in there the whole time except for a walk around the floor with a break on a very small "porch" leading to a stairwell outdoors- a 45 min break. At one point, I had to laugh as the husband offered his wife ice chips. She just was not able to keep anything else down, poor thing. He himself was eating pistachios to stay well nourished. So, he is eating pistachios. She is eating ice chips. I took a quick trip down to Chick-fil-a!

She had made progress when we arrived to the hospital upon assessment. By observation, it seemed to me that she was continuing to make good progress. When she was assessed next at 7 pm, no progress. We are told this could mean this baby is as far as he or she would fit. Just won't know yet. Contractions slow down a bit and we need them to finish labor. So, they give her pitocin. Now, she is not able to move around because they will continuously monitor the baby. We try changing positions as much as possible, but it is difficult. Staying in bed is so much harder for her to cope, so much more painful. She is a trooper though. She tenses because they are so strong and she needs to move around. Many interruuptions. An offer for pain medication. She looked at me, "can I do this?" I leave the choice to her. Not many women make it through Pitocin without pain medication, though I have labored with three now who have done it. I tell her to keep doing what she is doing. One step at a time. Let's see what happens after a bit.

Finally, progress. She is working so hard. Contractions are so strong. I hate that she is confined. She is doing this the hardest way possible except that she is surrounded by love. We help as much as possible- massage, silence, encouragement, words here and there. Finally, she is complete. It is time to push. She does not have to push too long. Baby is born at 12:46 am. It's a girl! Mom cries. She keep thanking everyone for helping. She thanks the doctor for believing in her. She thanks me for staying with her the whole time. We are all happy. It was a privilege to be a witness to a unique birth that not many will see.

C'est vrai

What lies before us
and what lies behind us
are tiny matters
compared to what lies within us.

~Raph Waldo Emerson