Saturday, May 10, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
That Moment
As of today, April 19, I have had the privilege of being at twenty labours/births since arriving in Olongapo. Sixteen of those have occurred in the past nineteen days. Most have been straightforward, uncomplicated births. Others have required a bit more intervention to ensure the well being of mother and infant. A couple have made me seriously consider a career change to waitressing at Denny's. But each one has resulted in That Moment. That Moment is observed when the mother doesn't know that you are watching her taking in every detail of the new life cradled in her arms. She is etching every minute detail of this brand new little person on her heart. Tracing the creases of the skin, the tiny fingers and nails that gently grasp her own. The infant is likely gazing up on her face, bonding by her touch, her smell, the sound of her voice. Oxytocin is being exuded like perfume, the essence of love thick in the air. Nothing else exists at that moment for either of them. They are both consumed by each other's presence.
I have never been particularly comfortable with women and babies and had never intentionally stopped during my clinical rotations at the hospital to watch That Moment. I have been much more comfortable finding something to be charted, cleaned or straightened. Perhaps I haven't even been aware of That Moment, consumed with my own insecurities and perceived importance of the tasks at hand. Or perhaps I have intentionally avoided it, not wanting to intrude on such an intimate exchange of knowing and being known. But since being here, I am being taught to take a conscious and deliberate pause; to acknowledge the miracle of birth and life and this bond between two unique individuals that goes beyond words. Without even knowing it, my own heart has been softened and enchanted by the exchange between mother and newborn. I am learning to love something that goes beyond my personal experience and understanding; to deeply appreciate something that has absolutely nothing to do with me.
I have never been particularly comfortable with women and babies and had never intentionally stopped during my clinical rotations at the hospital to watch That Moment. I have been much more comfortable finding something to be charted, cleaned or straightened. Perhaps I haven't even been aware of That Moment, consumed with my own insecurities and perceived importance of the tasks at hand. Or perhaps I have intentionally avoided it, not wanting to intrude on such an intimate exchange of knowing and being known. But since being here, I am being taught to take a conscious and deliberate pause; to acknowledge the miracle of birth and life and this bond between two unique individuals that goes beyond words. Without even knowing it, my own heart has been softened and enchanted by the exchange between mother and newborn. I am learning to love something that goes beyond my personal experience and understanding; to deeply appreciate something that has absolutely nothing to do with me.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
March Update
Greetings from Olongapo on this lovely Saturday afternoon! Once again, time has flown by and my intention of sharing a monthly update is pushing the borders of tardiness as we are already moving in to the second half of March!
It has been brought to my attention that I have not introduced the organization that I am volunteering with here in the Philippines. Although I have chronicled personal experiences and involvement with them over the past year - starting with the Maternal/Child and Disaster Preparedness Seminar last April, then the three month academic intensive midwifery school in Boise in the fall, followed by joining their team in response to the Yolanda Disaster in Dulag, and finally here in Olongapo as a volunteer nurse at their lovely clinic - I have not formally explained their work and ministry. I encourage you to visit Mercy In Action’s website at www.mercyinaction.com/about-mercy-in-action for more information. Also, please view the video at the bottom of this post.
I want to share about my daily life here, but because of privacy reasons I am cautious to share any details about anyone I have met or built friendship with. That being said, it is difficult to accurately portray what goes on each day, but I will try to share a snap shot of my day. I can’t say a “typical” day because they are always so different!
- woke at 5:30am to the sound of a million roosters crowing. There are chickens everywhere here, but I live particularly close to a rooster farm and have no need for an alarm clock!
- Made a cup of coffee - I’m getting accustomed to the instant granules and powdered creamer that is standard here, although I have friends that readily share from their stash of beans with me :)
- I move outside to sit on the Kubo porch, watch the sunrise over the river and prepare my heart for the day
- At 7ish, I walk to the clinic, which is about a 3/4 mile stretch of road that follows the river, then rural housing, passes “Zombieville” (an abandoned/vacant area of apartment type housing) and then up a shady neatly paved road that leads past the clinic
- Once at the clinic, I help set up for prenatal visits and assist with whatever is needed. Today it is mostly paperwork.
- After prenatals and a quick lunch, I walk with the 4 interns and one of our Filipina nurses to a remote village to find “buntus” (pregnant women) and pass out vitamins. This particular village was of interest to me because it was the one I visited nearly a year ago when our team laid pipe for them to have a nearby fresh water source. The pipe was still there but I couldn’t get a straight answer as to whether it was still a reliable water source...
- Enjoyed interacting with the interns during the long walk and learning about their backgrounds and plans for the future.
- Arrived home in early evening and found my Canadian neighbor playing with her 3 girls. I hung out and assisted in creating a “fort” for the girls to play in.
- This evening, I am attempting to write an update. The gnats are attracted to the bright screen and I am continuously batting them away as I try to hint at the geckos that instead of supervising me, they should get to work and eat the bugs!
- My heart is full of thankfulness and gratitude that the Lord has brought me to this place and I have such an opportunity to serve and sow in to the lives of others.
Labor of Love from Join the Lights on Vimeo.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Geckos...
I have become very jumpy over the past few months, as there
are a variety of critters that appear suddenly out of nowhere when I am least
expecting their presence. I’m using the term “critters” with a bit of sarcastic
endearment, as most of these encounters have occurred with a certain, rather
large, arachnid species that send a shiver down my spine every time I see one. When
I get up each morning and again when I walk through the door in the evening, I
make a general service announcement and warn all creepy visitors that I am home
and taking up residence again. So,
for the most part, after several public displays of the death penalty, word has
gotten out that all spiders will be destroyed on sight…no questions asked. (And don't expect much better if you're a rat..)
Geckos, on the other hand, have total disregard for personal
space and have generously populated the kubo. (I saved a naive baby gecko the
other day from going down the drain and I am pretty sure that encounter is what
endeared me to their heart?) They have taken great satisfaction in keeping my
company and even go so far as invite themselves for dinner on occasion. They
are curious little creatures of lightening speed and funny high pitched
chirping sounds. Lucky for them, their “non creepy” nature has earned them
entrance in to my abode. (I talk as though I have control over what comes in my
house…I really don’t, but it’s nice to pretend…)
As I was preparing dinner the other night on the propane
stove, I turned around to get a plate. I caught a movement out of the corner of
my eye. Turning back to the skillet, I jumped back because a large gecko
had decided to inspect my cooking up close. “Get out of there!” I scolded and
promptly flicked him with my fork.
In lightening speed, he was out of the skillet and back on the wall
supervising my dilemma. I decided to fire up the burner again, heat the food
well and eat it anyway. There are some things you just have to live with here, and
curious geckos are just one those things…
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Life in Olongapo
Dear Friends and Family, February
9, 2014
It
has taken me a couple of weeks to transition from disaster relief effort in to
a routine of some normalcy in Olongapo. I apologize for the delay in getting
this letter to you. First and foremost, I want to thank you from the depths of
my heart for your investment of prayer and support over the past two months,
especially since I was out of contact for the majority of that time. I know
that I was protected and empowered with grace because of the prayer covering of
those interceding. I cannot thank you enough for your faithfulness. Our outreach
had significant impact for the individuals affected by the disaster in that
area. These are Mercy In Action's grand totals during our disaster
response to Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda from November 28, 2013 through January
31, 2014:
- Total Deliveries: 116
- Primary Health and Wound
Care: 1,532
- Total Breastfeeding women
fed in ongoing feeding program: 648
- Total pregnant women
examined and fed in ongoing prenatal care: 367
- Total Documented Medical Encounters: 3,616 patients in 65 days!
I
am now in Olongapo, Philippines as a volunteer nurse with Mercy In Action. I
love it and my heart is at home here. I am so grateful for the blessing of being
able to serve during this season. I have been involved with Mercy In Action at
various levels since just before my initial trip to the Philippines last April
and I have been so blessed by their heart and ministry. I have personally witnessed
them walk through various situations with genuine grace, love and integrity. I
am so happy to work along side of these people as they operate as the hands and
feet of Jesus to the poorest of the poor in this area, making this verse a reality: “Open your mouth for
those who are unable to speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are
left desolate and defenseless. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and
administer justice for the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
My life here is very simple,
although I have been keeping busy and always have something to do. I have my own
living space, known as “Sky Lodge” on Mercy Land. After six months of community
living and 2 months of camping, Sky Lodge has been a place of
recharge for me. The Mercy In Action clinic is less than a mile away and I love
the walk to work. People are so friendly and converse readily. I have been
trying to learn Tagalog by practicing a new word or phrase everyday, although
most everyone also speaks English so I tend to default to the familiar. I am
learning how to get around on the local transportation – tricies and jeepnies. I
took a bus to Manila recently to learn the routine of picking up interns. We
always have between two to four interns living at the clinic and they rotate
through every few weeks. The clinic is home to several Mercy In Action Filipina
midwives. I have a lot of fun hanging out and working with both the midwives
and the interns. I have also been deeply blessed with the friendship and family
that I have found with the Penwells and the community that exists here – meek
people walking in radical simple obedience.
I
am reading a book by Brennan Manning called “Ruthless Trust”. I love his description
of becoming a trusting disciple. “The way of trust is a movement into
obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined,
clearly delineated plan for the future…the life of a pilgrim leaves what is
nailed down, obvious, and secure and walks into the unknown without any
rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why?
Because God has signaled the movement and offered it His presence and promise.”
I launched out on this road with some trepidation and anticipation of many unknowns but with personal
instruction from the Lord to “Do it afraid”. It is not always an easy path, but
He has proven His faithfulness over and over again and I am so grateful.
Thank
you for investing in my journey and into the lives of the people I touch. I am
doing this with you and know that I am praying for your personal journey as well. Now that I have internet, I will occasionally post pictures and updates at www.hereandnow79.blogspot.com.
Jenny
Monday, February 3, 2014
Mercy Land
Captured this photo just out my front window this morning. I realize that I am in the honeymoon phase of living in a different country and culture, but I really do love it here. So, so grateful for moments like these...
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Yolanda Disaster Response - Post #1
Typhoon Yolanda. The most powerful storm to make landfall in recorded
history. Sustained winds of 167 mph and gusts of up to 193 mph bending steel
frames as if they were made of wire and snapping palm trees in half like
toothpicks. Storm surge as high as 21 feet for several miles inland, washing
cars up into the trees. Category 3-disaster zone (the most severe rating). 6,201 confirmed deaths, 1,785
still missing. 1,140,332 homes destroyed or partially destroyed. 235,000
pregnant and 170,000 lactating women. Average of 800 births a day in the
affected regions, most considered high risk and without access to a midwife or skilled birth attendant. Mercy In Action responds. A damaged
elementary school conference hall turned 24/7 Delivery Clinic and primary health care
center, serving the people of Dulag in the hardest hit province of Leyte,
Philippines. Eight weeks. 339 pregnant women identified in the immediate surrounding areas. 95 deliveries
in 60 days. 1,307 primary healthcare visits. Over 3,217 individual encounters
and lives touched by individual personalized prayer. Local Filapina midwives and nurses hired, trained, equipped and empowered to
carry on the services long after Mercy In Action leaves the area.
The opportunity to serve in the disaster zone as a volunteer
nurse came the day after my final academic intensive midwifery exam. The resounding "yes" in
my heart to respond to the invitation was confirmed many times over through
the immense support of individuals. My family supported my decision with
blessings even as the holiday season was upon us. Within 10 days, I had
finished school, sold my car and bought a ticket and was on my way to Tacloban,
Philippines to join Mercy In Action in their response to the massive disaster
that had swept through the province just 3 weeks prior.
I had never been part of a disaster response team before. I had many feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty and unpreparedness. However, I
did know that the Lord had told me to “do it afraid” and that word gave me a
supernatural empowerment to move forward beyond my natural understanding and
comfort level. There were no false reassurances from Him that I would avoid
difficulty and trials. In fact, I knew that I had no guarantee of anything. The Lord
seldom calls us to a life of comfort and safety, but more often to one of risk
and vulnerability as we step out beyond ourselves in to the things that He has already exhorted us to pursue.
And so my story of living and serving in the disaster zone…
First of all, I owe an apology. I have been living in a very different world for the past two months and have had very little time or
opportunity to connect with the outside world. Other than a supply run, a hot
shower and a quick internet blurp from Manila right before Christmas, I have had
very limited ability to send out thorough updates and communication with home. I understand
this may have caused varying levels of distress and concern. However, your prayers have
carried us through some difficult weeks, and although I was not able to
communicate directly, I trust that the Lord gave you reassurance of our
well-being and direction on how to pray. I know that many things were diverted through your faithfulness in
prayer and intercession on our behalf. As I said earlier, there is never an absolute guarantee
of anything especially in these types of situations but I felt that the
parameters of our camp and even the town we were residing in had a wall of
protection around it and other than experiencing the inconveniences and discomforts of an extended camping adventure, we all stayed healthy with limited episodes of emotional breakdowns, which we all had in turn but tried not to have simutaneously! :)
It will take me a few days to catch up on the past 2 months. Rather than writing one long update, I will post several over the next week or so.
To be continued…
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| Mercy In Action base camp at San Jose Elementary school in Dulag, Phillipines |
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