The First Touch

Well I know I've previously talked about a couple baby-catches, and I've assisted at plenty of births in the last 5 months. BUT... last night I had what was in my opinion my first Official, Official Baby Catch! It was such a high!!
I was the first person to ever get to touch that baby (a girl, yet unnamed)!! I got to be with the mom throughout labour, and when that head was born - reach down, to find no cord wrap, but one little hand grasping her little ear. I delivered that arm, and then the other and out came baby! Honestly, what a miracle!
Birth is amazing, Amazing and being a part of it as a doula, an assistant or primary midwife is an incredible privilege. There is a bond that's built between a mom and everyone present when she gives birth. Because you watch her perform a miracle, and demonstrate such incredible power, and then such gentle maternal love. And new life is too precious for words.
So friends, I caught a baby last night and it was fantastic! I guess I'll do it again soon!

Right Where God Has Me

So here I am, on the island of Cebu, and living in the city of Cebu, and feeling right smack in the middle of where God wants me to be! That's a pretty great feeling!
Even though Cebu is only a 45min flight from Manila I decided to take more adventurous route and got on board the SuperFerry instead. Which gave me 24hrs at sea to watch the water and the clouds, to wax poetic, to watch the water and the clouds some more and to get into an indepth religious discussion with a local pastor. I also ended up with a most fantastic farmer's burn, (on a cloudy dark day), and a good sense of transition, moving out of Manila and some of the difficult moments I faced there, and moving on to something different and new. I needed those 24hrs to reflect and make goals and watch the water and the clouds.
After arriving I had 2 beach days with some new friends and now I'm beginning to burrow into the clinic, my apartment and a new city. So far I've done 2 prenatal days, been at 2 births and completed my first night shift! What could be better than knowing you are in the place God has prepared for you?

The whole population of Manila on one fishing boat!

All just shades of grey: the incredible city skyline.

This storm formed over the island next to us, dark, amazing, looming clouds, pouring out their fury on everything below.

Mushroom Cloud: the storm moved off the land and passed right over our ship, somehow we survived!
The next day 360 degrees of this view entertained my eyes for hours.
At the beach my favourite flowers were there to greet us!
And at low tide we could walk out forever on this undersea sidewalk, with starfish and crabs and sea centipedes (of death), to watch on either side.

And look at the show God gave us at night!

NOT my ferry!
The sky was glorious

C-E-B-U

This is a much belated notice to say HEY, I made it to Cebu safely! I got here uneventfully after a good ferry trip and I have pictures I'll share from that later.
Since I arrived I've met a bunch of new people, moved into a cute little apartment that I'll share with another midwife, done a prenatal day at the clinic (Hallelujah, I'm midwifing again!), and spent 2 days at the beach a couple hours away! It has been a great reception into this new life.
Starting tomorrow life begins to settle in, and hopefully that will mean that I can upload some pics and show you some of the incredible beauty of the sea, storms and sunsets! Thanx for all the prayers for my boat trip.
PS: I know that its Father's Day and I'll have a touching-sappy post to Dad up here hopefully tomorrow, wait for it!

Closing Another Chapter

Well my time here in Manila is coming to a close and I am getting ready to leave for Cebu on Wednesday, another life Chapter is closing, a particularly short one this time. I have had a lot of good experiences, worked through some deep questions, and met many interesting and great people in the past 2 months - both while living at the guesthouse and through volunteering with PCF.
I know there haven't been many pictures lately, especially of any of the work I've been doing. As I'm sure you understand, pulling out a paparazzi style camera in a slum is a little insensitive, so I haven't even attempted. This week I did go in and photograph some of the moms busy with their livelihood projects of sewing and jewlery making and I sneakily snapped this from a second story window. It's not a good picture, but perhaps it will help you imagine the Navotas community a bit further, that wall of boxes is a wall of graves, the empty pavement the local basketball court, and the green fluid is unidentifiable. This is the place where children play, some naked, all barefoot. I have such respect for the beautiful people who live there, especially those who are working hard to serve their neighbours! I'm truely grateful for my time with PCF, they are doing remarkable work, all with hearts to love like Christ.

"Pagans in a Crisis"

I have enjoyed the wisdom of Mr. Oswald this week, here are some quotes:

"If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark."

"We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God."

"What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, 'But 'The Lord is my helper' this very moment, even in my present circumstance.' "

"Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— 'I will never. . . forsake you.' "

If you happen to be facing fears, the unknown, big questions or the call of God on your life, perhaps these words will encourage and challenge you as much as they did me. I especially love #2.
Yesterday I bought my ticket - no turning back now! I am setting sail from Manila next Wednesday, taking an overnight ferry down to Cebu City to begin this next chapter, it seems that life is just a series of chapters, and mine seem to be short ones... I am excited for the ferry experience, it might be one I only want to have once, but I'm ready to give it a try. I'd appreciated your prayers for my ship not to sink! Thanx.