May Update

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.

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.   

The past 6 weeks of living in Olongapo have clipped along very quickly as I have been occupied with various organizational tasks and activities at the clinic. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday morning, we have a prenatal clinic and an average of twenty women come in on each of those days for their checkup. Laboring women come in at all hours, as we are open 24/7 as a birthing center. The numbers vary, but we have had an average of twenty births a month. Following delivery and discharge, each woman receives several postpartum visits either in their home or at the clinic. We also have regular  outreach to the local landfill, slum, or village and hand out prenatal vitamins and offer transportation to the pregnant women for prenatal visits. 

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! 

Today! (Saturday, March 22)

• 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. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! I know I am not very good with updates yet, but it is important to me that you know what your investment is doing in and through me. Pray that I become skilled at being able to easily and freely express what I need to! Thank you!

Labor of Love from Join the Lights on Vimeo.

Morning Commute

Got in a bit of a traffic jam on my work this morning...

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…

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.

With Love and Thankfulness, 

Jenny

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...

Pictures are worth a thousand words...

These before and after photos are taken from the Dulag Facebook page here

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…

Mercy In Action base camp at San Jose Elementary school in Dulag, Phillipines

"For Such a Time as This"

I finished the midwifery program that I have been attending for the past three months! It has been an intense time of studying and living in community with aspiring midwives from various backgrounds. Over the past twelve weeks of study, I experienced a new depth of compassion from the heart of the Lord toward women and their newborns, particularly those who are living and giving birth in compromised situations. The World Health Organization identifies that 99% of maternal mortality occurs in the developing world and that about 4 million newborns die in the first 4 weeks of life, both primarily from preventable causes.

On that note, Mercy in Action has invited me to join them as a volunteer nurse at their birthing center in Olongapo, Philippines. I will be trained to assist in their service and outreach to the mothers and children living in poverty and extreme vulnerability. I am not certain what this will actually look like, but I have a deep sense of peace and purpose that the Lord is leading me this direction and has orchestrated this opportunity to come along side the people I have come to deeply admire, respect and love.

I was originally going to leave in January and be there for a year. However, Typhoon Yolanda has wrecked havoc in the Philippine nation, displacing millions of people including approximately 235,000 pregnant women and 130,00 nursing mothers according to the United Nations. The UNFPA reports that the disaster area is currently experiencing between 750-900 births a day, many of which are premature and occurring in make shift facilities at best. Mercy In Action has prayerfully decided to respond to the crisis in Tacloban by setting up and staffing a tent birth center to give women a safe place to birth their babies. They asked me to consider departing as soon as possible and join their team in this response.

I prayerfully considered this request and have a clear sense and anticipation that I am here for “such a time as this”. I am flying out November 30^th and plan to be there for a year, as the Lord leads. I know this is a serious and urgent need and haven’t made this decision lightly. I invite you to join me in the journey with continued prayer and support as I step forward in faith and move to the Philippines, especially on such short notice. 

I can’t express how thankful I am for your prayers, friendship and support; I would not be here or be able to move forward without you. I will be sending out updates as I can. 

This is a video capturing the essence of Mercy in Action.

Labor of Love from Join the Lights on Vimeo.

John Piper Quote - Divine Discontent

"But if the discontent with your present situation is deep, recurrent, and lasting, and if that discontent grows in Bible-saturated soil, God may be calling you to a new work. If, in your discontent, you long to be holy, to walk pleasing to the Lord, and to magnify Christ with your one, brief life, then God may indeed be loosening your roots in order to transplant you to a place and a ministry where the deep spiritual ambitions of your soul can be satisfied. It is true that God can be known and enjoyed in every vocation; but when he deploys you from one place to the next, he offers fresh and deeper drinking at the fountain of his fellowship. God seldom calls us to an easier life, but always calls us to know more of him and drink more deeply of his sustaining grace. "

- John Piper

The Next Step

                                                                                                                        February 26, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

As most of you know, I have recently completed the process of nursing school, passed the NCLEX and now have my Registered Nurse license! I feel so humbled and blessed that the Lord has brought me through this journey and want to thank you for your support and prayers. Nearly twelve years ago, I felt inclined to pursue nursing as a skill that would open many doors of opportunity in the future. I have found that providing health care is a practical way to be engaged in people’s lives, even in the midst of some of their most vulnerable times.

With that in mind, I have decided to take the opportunity to travel to the Philippines for a two week training course focusing on the healthcare needs specific to the maternal / child population in developing nations. In addition, the course will cover disaster preparedness - both in how to survive and offer aid in natural disaster situations. The time will be divided between an intensive classroom lecture phase the first week and then practicum in a local village/garbage dump settlement, a refugee camp, government hospital, etc the following week. I believe this will be invaluable and strategic preparation for the things that I want to pursue in the future.

This course is offered through a nonprofit nondenominational organization called Mercy in Action. You can read more about the ministry at http://www.mercyinaction.com.  My personal expenses for this trip are covered, but Mercy in Action operates a charity birthing center in Olongapo, Philippines, which depends on donated supplies for their outreach and service to the poor. It is in my heart to bless them with some needed equipment; specifically a fetal Doppler and an infant pulse oximeter monitor. If you would like to participate in providing some of these supplies, please let me know.

I will be joining students from the Southwest College of Natural Medicine from April 3^rd through the 11^th for this exciting opportunity. I plan to fly out of Boise on April 1^st and return on April 12^th and covet your prayers for safety, provision and purpose. Thank you for your friendship and prayers.

Blessings,

Jennifer Fluke RN

Big Horn Crags Back Packing Trip

At the Trail Head

Stories of our adventure to come....

Colorado Trip - August 2nd - 5th

Pictures to come....

Palisades Creek Hike - July 29th

Since I hadn't been hiking all summer and I had a 4 day back packing trip coming up, I decided to take a day hike to Palisades Creek and the lower Palisades Lake. I got a late start and didn't hit the trail until 11:30 am. However, it was a great day for a hike and there were not too many people on the trail. I didn't spend much time looking at scenery as I headed up the mountain because I wanted to make good time. I stopped at the lake, ate a quick snack and headed back down the trail. All in all, I went 9.5 miles in a little over 3 hours...I call it "speed trailing" :)

Blue Angels - July 28

This is Dale's write up about our flight over to Twin Falls for the Blue Angels air show... I will add more later. 

"7-28-12 Jenny Blue Angels

Who will go with me to the airshow at TWF? I planned to go to Hill and that didn’t work, so I don’t want to miss this. Student Jenny jumps at the chance. I get up early, top off the plane, and throw a 2 gallon jug of gas in the back. Off to Blackfoot 0620 and land about 0645. Smoke layer. Jenny is waiting. She hops in and we go. Off before 7 and arrive TWF about 0820. The traffic is light and I am cleared straight in, exiting on 12-30, and parking at the end with local GA pilots. There are fewer planes than I expected and they are all Cessnas. Later there are 2 Pipers and I joking chide the helpers about why they let them into Cessna parking. I dip the tanks to find I am using more fuel than expected. I pour in the 2 gallons and then we wait for tickets to become available. They finally arrive and we look at planes on display until the airshow starts. We walk around looking at planes, getting our exercise and aviation needs fulfilled at the same time, and take advantage of the free water stations. A Chinook chopper looks like it has a hand rail outside? I ask the crew, and it is a radio antenna. Bob Hoff’s planes are there, and I see him at the Reeder office. I buy 3 gallons of fuel from them so I am not nervous on the way home. This is a delicate balance. If I add too much, it will overflow. Not enough and run out. It is embarrassing to buy 3 gallons in front of a well-off pilot like Bob, but more embarrassing to run out of gas. Turns out we didn’t need the 3 gallons, but better safe than sorry or even nervous. Jenny and I tour a KC-135 tanker. It is empty inside; the tank is below deck. I get into the boomer position and talk to the pilot, who lets me sit in his seat and move the manual flight controls.

The air show starts at 11:15. The edges and extras all look alike, but I enjoy Ken Peitsch’s 3 standard routines and Matt Yonkin in his twin Beech. There is steady action with the only break just before the Blue Angels. They put on a great show and then there is a mad dash to depart. The tower is deliberately delaying GA departures. I call ground control anyhow and so I am the first in line to go. I get off just before 5:00 and have Jenny fly GPS straight to Blackfoot, with a slight detour to land at Hazelton because I have never done so before. We have a tailwind and some updrafts and my early start catches up with me so Jenny flies while I take a nap. Landing at Blackfoot is routine and we get fuel from Joel Milloway and wash the bugs off the windshield and wings. I fly home solo to conclude this great adventure"

Spoiled for the Ordinary

I was reading over some of my entries over the years and I found this one that I wrote 4 years ago. Such a good reminder to myself of what really matters:

It is easy to be on an emotional high and graphically describe life when you are in a foreign country for a short period of time. Suddenly life takes on a new fascination, a deeper hue of color is seen from standing at a different angle. Even the dirt and bugs and cold showers come alive with purpose and manifestations of glory. You feel completely awed with the opportunity to experience life. However, once you are home, and the bags are unpacked, and the pictures have been oohhed and ahhed over, and the mundane of the familiar once again glares straight back into your face -the heart tends to make a nosedive unless you have made a proactive decision. I want to live for eternity one day at a time - embracing each moment as a gift from the Lord no matter how mundane and "unspiritual" it may seem. Knowing that if anything matters, everything matters. Living each day before the Lord, to His glory and satisfaction - whether I am holding HIV babies at an orphanage in Africa, or wheeling a patient out to their car, or scrubbing the church toilet for the zillionth time, or even sitting alone on my back porch believing the Lord for the desires He has put in my heart. I want my life to be poured out as worship to Him. I want the eyes to see in faith. I want to live with a fascinated heart, one that embraces life and is spoiled for the ordinary. I recently read a quote that seems to fit here: "When we look with eyes of faith, all the ground we walk on becomes holy ground, all the people and all the common sights and sounds and happenings become miracles." Herbert F. Brokering

Pondering....

"But if the discontent with your present situation is deep, recurrent, and lasting, and if that discontent grows in Bible-saturated soil, God may be calling you to a new work. If, in your discontent, you long to be holy, to walk pleasing to the Lord, and to magnify Christ with your one, brief life, then God may indeed be loosening your roots in order to transplant you to a place and a ministry where the deep spiritual ambitions of your soul can be satisfied. It is true that God can be known and enjoyed in every vocation; but when he deploys you from one place to the next, he offers fresh and deeper drinking at the fountain of his fellowship. God seldom calls us to an easier life, but always calls us to know more of him and drink more deeply of his sustaining grace. "

- John Piper

Pod Picture

My BMC family. So fun to work with :)

A Blurrrr

I’m not sure that this blog will ever be up to date. Sigh. Little blurps here and there just to connect the dots for now.

Made it successfully through the first semester of RN school. Intense. About quit at week 6 but pressed through and my perspectives changed. So much I could have written about but was so mowed over with homework that there were very few moments to blog.

Now I am nearing the last few precious hours of my 4 week break and will hit the books again on Tuesday. One more year and if all goes well I will be able to take the boards in January 2013. Then what? Not entirely sure, but I am excited at the possibilities.

Hopefully my dots will be more closely placed as the year progresses….no guarantees though.