The Beach and The Nuns

Well, it worked out for me to go for a wee travel to round out this year. And so another missionary and I have been travelling southern Negros for the last few days. Starting off here in Dumagette on the harbor.

There's this amazingly hilarious statue on the sea walk, of the nuns arriving on the boat from France. Only they don't seem to have a united front. One is evangelizing the sharks while the back one seems to be trying to keep it at bay. The middle one seems to be hailing a tricycle.

We hiked way up into the jungle to see the lighthouse, and we were not so impressed. It looks like a fat street lamp!

And then we found the old one, which slightly redeemed the journey.

This is the spot we stayed at, looks rough I know! But unfortunately Lonely Planet told us this beach was gorgeous white sand, and what's actually true is that it is white shell and rock! Sore feet! I wrapped my camera bag in plastic and climbed all the way out to the giant rock below to catch this picture.

Sunset behind the Black Rock, rather unlike the one on Lost.

Glorious skies!

The uninhabited side of Apo Island.

We found this awesome spot to spend the afternoon on the river! It felt just like a summer day in BC, except for the palm trees!

Looking good, feeling good!

Lindsey at Forest Camp.

The kinda sort swinging bridge at Forest Camp.

Bushes of the Amazon

Yesterday was Marielyn's birthday. She's the one in the middle. And she turned 21. That's only one year younger than I am. We are out for lunch to celebrate the occasion and the other woman is also 6'0" tall. We look Amazonish.

And in case you didn't know Bush is now recruiting Filipino nurses for America, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I didn't know that he represented the wishes and needs of so many countries!

They Know

The other night I transported a patient to the hospital, as I've done a few times through the months here. Each trip is a test of my language skills as I try to talk with our patients, the doctors and nurses, all in Bisaya. And thankfully this trip wasn't an emergency and the hospital staff were kind.
But no matter how many trips I take; to admit patients, or visit ones already there, I will never become immune to the shock of the place. Can you imagine an overfull, understaffed hospital, with paint peeling and floors crumbling. With cats and roaches running through, with blood on the floor. With a sign in the Pedia ward that says "Dengue Express Lane". With patients sharing beds, sharing diseases. This place is beyond imagination. But its all that is here, the only public hospital. It's what the people have.
So we arrived at the ER and then went on to the front desk, and back, and to the ward, and back, and to wait in the hall, and back. After an hour and half, the patients husband had bought all the necessary medicines and supplies at an outside pharmacy. And they were finally ready to be admitted. Time for me to go.
So I headed outside, and crossed the street to wait for a taxi to take me back to the clinic. The street was dark, but certainly not quiet, and I thought how strange it seemed to be there on that corner, across from that place, alone and at night. I wasn't worried, I never am, I don't feel in danger here. I don't think there's a time with less than a half dozen people watching me, and across form the hospital there was likely two or three times that!
As I'm waiting there is a constant flow of jeepneys passing by, urging me to board, and there's a lot of foot traffic even though it's late. As one man passes me he turns and tells me the name of my street. My address! And as I stare at him incredulously, he grins, says "I know", and walks on. There I am, a good 10-15 min drive from my place, and someone, some stranger knows where I live?? I expect than everyone in my neighbourhood knows where I live, as far as I know, I'm the only white person around. But standing on a street corner in the middle of the night, people know where I live! There are several million people in this city!
What I've decided is that he was probably a taxi driver I've had in the past. And harmless to boot, he certainly didn't do anything threatening. But what a strange feeling, I guess it's like Cheers, but instead of just a bar, its a whole city where "everybody knows my name".

Manila Bombing

On Friday afternoon a bomb went off in a busy Manila mall and killed 8 people, injuring over a 100. Its pretty sad, and a bit scary. (Especially as I write this to you from the main mall of the entire Visayas region.)
This comes in the midst of impeachments bids against GMA the country's president and continuing conflict between the government and muslim extremist groups.
Read more HERE and please keep the peace of this country in your prayers!

Sonja, Pedro and I

Welcome to Fort San Pedro!
This is my friend Sonja, we were roomies way back in Malaysia.

And we're hanging out again in the Phils!

If I wasn't wearing the sunnies, you'd see that my eyes were squinted shut. Apparently somethings you never outgrow!
Look at us and our monkey friend! This isn't the first time we've tangoed with monkeys together!
So Sonja is on her way to Bacolod City for 2 years with YWAM! I'm totally impressed with her commitment, and her monkey taming skills.

Hmmm...

This is the only green and pretty place I've found in Cebu!

Apparently in German this means, San Pedro's Fart. I'm guessing the Spanish didn't know that.

September's Baby Party

Best Hat Ever,
Best Name Ever (mine),
Best Hair Ever!

Tired

Tired midis crash on my living room floor!

Church Outreach

Last month I participated in a Sunday morning outreach of the Vineyard church I attend here. The church is involved in this community twice a week, and on this Sunday we had church and lunch with about 200 people, in the stifling heat, under a big tent like shack!

The community is a fishing community 10min from my place, and very near the ocean, they have ponds which rise and fall with the tide, these ponds are both full of fish and full of garbage.

And they're the playground of little children.

Things I've Thought

So here's the unbelievable truth... I heard White Christmas on the radio last night. For real! And I loved it, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I was about ready to call home to share the joy, when I looked at the clock and decided that a call wouldn't be appreciated.
So as I have said before, there is a LOT of dance built into Filipino culture. But I think I realized something more about it tonight. I was at the gym when the usual "I'm Too Sexy For My Body" aerobics class started, and as usual I joked with some of the trainers about it, and smirked and didn't dance! But as I gawked I realized that it is completely normal here for grown, straight men to work their stuff on the dance floor. I mean 40 year-old men are out there, not self-concious and grooving. Perhaps they don't have any ideas of embarassment?
For now I will not be joining in, I figure 6' tall and white is enough attention, without a dance performance. But you never know, if middle-aged men can dance and no one bats an eye, maybe it would be no more a show for me to join in. I'll let you know if I change my mind.
We had our August Baby Party this week, and I think that Baby Party Day is my favourite of the whole month! All of our moms get together at one time, and they're thanking God, and breastfeeding their babies, and singing and laughing, and showing off their babies! And some of the dads even come, and we coerce them into joining in too, (ok, so they don't breastfeed)! It's just the most tangible thing, I can't ever feel like my efforts here are wasted, I just look at the dozens of healthy, happy moms and babies. Eat cake with them, bless their babes and take lots of pictures! That's a day when joy is pretty easy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas All!!
Yes, that's right, it's September, so bring on the "Ho-Ho-Ho"s, the red and green, the lights, the carols! After all Septem(ber) is a Brrr month. And to those of you, groaning with disgust at the arrival of another commercialized Christmas season, and those of you determined that such festivities should not, will not begin until December. I warn you: don't come to the Philippines in the Fall!
My Filipina roommate and I turned on the Telly yesterday morning (September 1), just in time for "Wowowee!"; a daily, 3hr long, dance and game show that explains at least half of Filipino culture. In my opinion I've already seen a lifetime supply of this show, which is filmed in Tagalog, and is based on barely dressed dancers doing some questionable dancing, and then having lone audience members repeat said dances and kareoke for cash! The show always starts with a major dance production, smoke, lights, and all, and it takes a good 30-45min for the games to really begin. Well yesterday in all my innocence, I was SHOCKED, when the opening dance was performed to a Christmas carol! Yes, in order to mark the opening of the Christmas season, there were red and green outfits, sequins, a big shining star, and Christmas music!! I'm not even kidding you! I'm told that over the next 4 mths I can expect decorations and carols in the malls, on the radio, on the streets - everywhere.
There are some days that I think I was born to be Filipino, and then there are some days when I stand next to one or smell dried fish and know; I'm Western through and through. And can I say, September 1, is a day I think I was born to be Filipino!

Baby Party - July's Babes

Well, it's already time for another Baby Party here at the clinic! So bring on the blue tint and lots more babies!

As we start the party, each of July's moms stood to introduce herself and babe, and Thank God for their safe delivery!

To prove that it's rainy season here, no one arrived without an umbrella!

Just as we do at every prenatal day, we also take time to worship God with our moms, in both Cebuano and English, each week we pray with any of our moms who want prayer.

Well, no baby is always happy!

It's easy to forget that the little ones delivered here at Glory Reborn grow up, become little people, and one day adults! This little beauty was born at the clinic over 2 years ago, and is enjoying some cake with her mom and baby brother (the screaming babe above).

A testament to breastfeeding, look at this gloriously chubby babe!

The angel in construction orange is baby Kim, baby "first name" Kim "last name", I don't remember the rest, but her middle name is mine!

"You really think I can wear this colour??"

Lessons From Day-to-Day Travels

There is an attitude among the poor here that I've been noticing lately, that I don't see among any class at home. It is a pride in working, in providing, that exists regardless of the quality or glamour of a job. The working population here fits into two groups, those who do exhausting work, and those who get to take it pretty easy while they bring in their income. But both groups seem to work an unimaginable 6-7 days/week, pulling some nasty hours. Jobs are serious here, and if you're lucky enough to have one you respect it by working long and hard!
But back to that attitude, a quick trip anywhere in a Filipino city and you will see the wealthy in their new SUVs with tinted glass, and the packed out jeepneys with everyone else, alongside the the labourer (trabahador), who makes his living doing manual construction work, or sweeping streets, selling fruit from a basket or super glue at intersections. People here are willing to do menial work, they take jobs that I would cringe at, that I would demand a high wage for, that would embarass me. And the poor are willing to take those jobs and work hard at them day in and day out, and they go home with the satisfaction of having worked hard and to provide for their family the best they can.
In the West we ask our childern what they want to be when they grow up. Here, that would be a luxury. I wonder what the pedicab driver, the street cleaner or the garbage sorter dreamt of in their youth. Life here isn't easy, the middle class and the poor make a daily wage I'm sure you wouldn't believe if I told you. Even those with college educations aren't likely to ever enjoy luxuries. But regardless of prestige, people here have pride and a work ethic I want to learn from. It's just something I'm obeserving, it's part of the privilege and daily grind of being here - I'm seeing things I've never seen in any short term stay abroad. Like I said last week, I'm learning.

6 Months in the Phils

I'm sitting here, munching on dried mangos, and wondering if any of you really know the wonder of the Filipino Dried Mango?? They're a sweet and sour, chewy goodness that is best done by the 7D company. I'm going to miss the Phils.
Of course I'm not going anywhere! Just this week I past the 6 month mark, I almost can't believe it, I've been in this country for so long. I've passed halfway, there's only some 4.5 months left! And as I passed 6mths, I also ran out of visa. Whoops, so I spent 2 days in hiding, as an illegal alien. Ok, so maybe I didn't really hide, but yesterday I did send one of our clinic security gaurds down to renew it for me.
We have 4 gaurds at our clinic and they rotate throughout the day. These men are so sweet, opening my apartment door for me, carrying the drinking water jugs, getting us new gasul, and even going to immigration to renew my visa. It's been a bit of culture shock to relinquish some of these duties I would consider as markers of independence. But in keeping with my goal of learning and living within the culture, I am allowing a man to carry the heavy drinking water instead of doing it myself. I'm learning.
On top of these and the quinessential duty of "guarding", our guards also help out during our prenatal days; they gather charts, and take BPs and pulses and weigh our moms. They're great! A typical security job in the Phils includes wearing a stiff uniform, standing at a door, holding a gun. I'm glad our guards do so much else (and don't carry guns), they're part of the clinic family.

Baby Party - June's Babes

Once a month we have a Baby Party to celebrate all the births of the last month. Parents and their babes are invited back for worship, blessing of the children, family planning info, immunizations, check-ups, gifts and cake!
Wow. It's busy! But it's pretty neat too, where else would these families get that kind of celebration put on for them?

Our welcome room and prenatal area, this is where patients are first examined for prenatals, labours and postpartums, and if we're ever really busy upstairs, some babies get born down here too!

What a privilege it is to pray over these babies and ask God's blessing and protection for them. Please note, the blue tinge does not indicate a weird spiritual aura (haha), our parties just happen underneath a blue tarp!

Some of our midwives preparing an immunization. They look really, really into it! Things usually aren't that dramatic around the clinic!

Baby Irish who I caught last week.

Let Me Introduce You To...

Welcome to Glory Reborn Clinic!

This is where I'm working now, and it's such a great clinic. The labour room is the one just above the sign (gotta love the fire escape!), and I can see straight in from my kitchen window (it's a good thing that us midwives live next door). That means I can go over any time there's a birth to help and to learn.

This is my new little apartment that feels so much like home. It is full of sunshine all day and has such a cozy warm feel. And this is my little kitty, she came with the apartment and her name's Cheerio. Now I'm not a cat person, but this one's pretty cute, she entertains us and steals and then loses my pens. She's also pretty ferocious or friendly, depending on your take!

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