Learning
I have been able to learn lots in the last six weeks and have experienced being able to help lots in the clinic. Of course there are still times when I can get rather tense and can let me fear of doing something wrong overcome me. However I have started developing a technique to help me think things though which helps me be prepared and calm. I love working with the women and babies and find myself enjoying each shift all the more. Each woman is so special and beautiful and it is a complete honer to serve them. I am also so privileged to be able to work and learn alongside such wonderful midwives whom are so skilled and caring.
As far as my long distance academic education goes, the first big assignment (we had a smaller one earlier) and test are done and I was shocked at how well I did on the test so that's a good sign :) I am now in the middle of another assignment. So far I have been able to meet deadlines although I got considerably behind last week when my charger gave out, fortunately my fellow volunteer has connections and called "the computer guy" who got me a lovely new one and it is doing a marvelous job, he even delivered it to our door!
Now that I have been spending more time in the clinic it has forced me to speak some Ilocano which is the only way I will ever really learn the language hopefully (by practicing). Hopefully the more comfortable I feel working; the more comfortable I will feel speaking the new language but I do still have a loooong way to go to get where I would like to with the language. But I know it is all about practice.
Holding a baby that I had the privilege
of being present upon her arrival into the world
A Musical Story
Ellora and I got asked by the church that we are attending if we would sing a special song one Sunday. You would think since both of us sang on our worship teams at home we would accept with delight and I did a first but after the fact, the whole thing seemed a bit intimidating after all it is a whole new group of people, so Ellora and I just sort of never brought it up again and neither did the individual who asked us. We avoided the Sunday that we had originally been asked to sing on (well actually I had a skype date with my family on their Christmas day and didn't want to miss that so that was my excuse) Since no one brought it up again we thought maybe we were off the hook. Not so! the next Sunday the same guy asked if we would sing the following week. We couldn't say no and the truth was both of really did want to do we were just nervous. So all week we practiced "Come thou fount" which Ellora had been learning on the acoustic guitar.
Sunday came and we went early to practice then went for a walk and returned. We got called up after the worship and I was so nervous my stomach was in my throat. In addition we had also been asked to say something so throughout the whole worship time I was racking my brain for what to say and how to say it. When we got called up Ellora ended up having to use an electric guitar because there was a problem with the acoustic, yep that's right we did "Come Thou Fount" electric style and it went really well! As well as did the brief mini speech where I introduced Ellora and I and explained how the song we were going to sing had really helped me through my young Christian years. As it is about overcoming Christian struggles, the song went equally well, electric guitar and all, at least i thought so.
I am very glad that the guy from Church asked us again to sing because it was a lot of fun and was a great way to connect with the people at church. The interesting thing was that after the service in honer if it being the pastor's birthday they had a slide show and guess what the music was? that's right "Come Thou Fount" you would have thought we planned it! I am thinking God may have done that just for fun!
Moilliet tradition meets Tabuk City
Well as some of you know, my family have an interesting tradition of every February 2, watching "Groundhog Day" and eating pizza. So I decided to being this tradition to the Philippines. I made homemade pizza which actually turned out! and we all gathered around to eat pizza and have coca cola and watch "Groundhog day". It was a very enjoyable evening!
can you Groundhog fans tell what seen this is in the movie?
Kalinga Day
A few days ago was the province's (Kalinga) celebration of it's province and her people. Unfortunately I didn't make it to a lot of the events, but I did go to the Miss Kalinga Pangent and visited the special market which was very much like a fair ground, I went first with some of the other midwives and again with Ellora. There were beautiful handmade items, amazing food and fun sights to behold.
at the Miss Kalinga Pangent
At the Kalinga Market: Ellora and I's chocolate waffle and pineapple juice.....it was sooo good!
Ellora and I right before we ate our chocolate waffles the waffle tent
was set up like a little restaurant
Saying goodbye to a new friend
Well, we said goodbye this morning to Deborah a woman from Switzerland who has been volunteering here for two years. She is heading home to Switzerland now and there were lots of tear in letting her go. We had a big party in her honer the other night. At the end of the program Ellora sang "Let it Go" and I did an interpretive dance to it. Sorry you'll have to take my word for it since I don't think anyone took pictures of that particular event but here are some from the party
Last picture of the white girls with Deborah (the one in the traditional Kalinga dress that was a gift to her from the Filipina Midwives) before she left two days later
Ellora and I expressing our gratitude to Debora for welcoming us and encouraging us upon our arrival and for her friendship
Well I think that gives a brief summery of the most recent events in my life.
A few prayer request
language, learning, grasping concepts and knowledge, for health, spiritual growth, and finding opportunities to show and share God's love.
love you all and keep safe!
God Bless!
signing off from another post, Vienna, the sheepish midwife
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