Written Saturday, June 14th, 2008
Dear Ones,
Thanks for bearing with me as I figure this "Blogging Thing" out!
The electricity is up today, so I am publishing everything so far, and will send out an email to those of you who have expressed an interest in following my Adventures With Jesus. You may also comment on any of my entries, and I have started my own webpage with my pictures in case you are interested in more than those I will publish on the blog. You can just go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gotmercy
The pics above are of Aninuan Beach (5 minute walk), the main Mercy In Action community house I live in, and Maia and her doll Poppy. There are more on the picasa webpage of the ferry ride over and some house pictures. As you can see, I am in a beautiful spot. I will be getting some more pics of the town, which has it's beautiful areas and blight too. I am also getting the Grammi privilege of babysitting and taking Maia for walks and swims, so you know I am pretty happy.
Births and power notwithstanding, I am going to try and publish every Sunday. We have a church service here at the house, sometimes followed by another service at Pastor Toto's church in our barangay (village area). Then we Eat (!) and have some leisure time (notwithstanding births....). So I will try and keep you up to date on the Ministry at least once a week.
I am on call as of today for births, prenatal exams, and postpartum visits, to work toward completing my training as a doula. Doula means "servant, as to women" in Greek, and is used for birth attendants who giving knowledgeable loving care to women in labor. I will be getting plenty of practice assisting the midwives! I am also humbled and pleased that I have been asked to minister the love of Christ especially to them at this momentous time of their lives. I will have stories, I am sure. Just this last week at the White Beach clinic there were two normal births, one to a 16 year old rape victim. We prayed with them and are providing follow-up care and prayer. There was also a woman who came and stayed a couple of nights in "false" labor (really practice labor...), and another baby with a cleft palate. We are taking him to Calapan on Monday to have a special plate fitted until he is old enough to have surgery. All of these and others were helped and prayed with here. For strength, for forgiveness, for Love. Please pray with me for them and for the other little Mercy boy who did have his surgery yesterday with Operation Smile in Manila. He is being cared for, but it was too much for his original family and he is awaiting an adoptive home.
There are not only births, there are deaths. Our neighbors have just finished a 3 day wake for a beloved maiden aunt. There were many people talking and laughing and crying and gambling and eating and visiting. Vicki and Scott paid their respects and brought food, and today there was a huge funeral procession of at least 25-30 jeepneys and tricy's and motorcycles. Like I said, there is much to love about this culture, but there is much that is tragic and sad as well.
Oh yes, I promised a picture of a tricy..... try to be patient, they go really fast and all my pictures of them are a blur (just kidding).
I am thinking of you at home in the States too, and would love return email with your news too!
http://picasaweb.google.com/gotmercy
The pics above are of Aninuan Beach (5 minute walk), the main Mercy In Action community house I live in, and Maia and her doll Poppy. There are more on the picasa webpage of the ferry ride over and some house pictures. As you can see, I am in a beautiful spot. I will be getting some more pics of the town, which has it's beautiful areas and blight too. I am also getting the Grammi privilege of babysitting and taking Maia for walks and swims, so you know I am pretty happy.
Births and power notwithstanding, I am going to try and publish every Sunday. We have a church service here at the house, sometimes followed by another service at Pastor Toto's church in our barangay (village area). Then we Eat (!) and have some leisure time (notwithstanding births....). So I will try and keep you up to date on the Ministry at least once a week.
I am on call as of today for births, prenatal exams, and postpartum visits, to work toward completing my training as a doula. Doula means "servant, as to women" in Greek, and is used for birth attendants who giving knowledgeable loving care to women in labor. I will be getting plenty of practice assisting the midwives! I am also humbled and pleased that I have been asked to minister the love of Christ especially to them at this momentous time of their lives. I will have stories, I am sure. Just this last week at the White Beach clinic there were two normal births, one to a 16 year old rape victim. We prayed with them and are providing follow-up care and prayer. There was also a woman who came and stayed a couple of nights in "false" labor (really practice labor...), and another baby with a cleft palate. We are taking him to Calapan on Monday to have a special plate fitted until he is old enough to have surgery. All of these and others were helped and prayed with here. For strength, for forgiveness, for Love. Please pray with me for them and for the other little Mercy boy who did have his surgery yesterday with Operation Smile in Manila. He is being cared for, but it was too much for his original family and he is awaiting an adoptive home.
There are not only births, there are deaths. Our neighbors have just finished a 3 day wake for a beloved maiden aunt. There were many people talking and laughing and crying and gambling and eating and visiting. Vicki and Scott paid their respects and brought food, and today there was a huge funeral procession of at least 25-30 jeepneys and tricy's and motorcycles. Like I said, there is much to love about this culture, but there is much that is tragic and sad as well.
Oh yes, I promised a picture of a tricy..... try to be patient, they go really fast and all my pictures of them are a blur (just kidding).
I am thinking of you at home in the States too, and would love return email with your news too!
Blessings,
Terri
1 comment:
Awesome. It is amazing what happens when you close your eyes and extend your hand upward. The Lord will grab it only He knows where you will be led. All we really have to do is believe and place our trust in His wisedom.
While the poverty and pain are plentiful, the beauty and reward are all around as well.
May God continue to lead you in love, mercy and happiness as you serve the people so far away from SLO County.
God bless. Gary Hoving
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