I’m Back!

So I have been back for about 10 days. This post has been on the forefront of my mind the entire time. I wanted to give it the attention it deserves. My trip to the Philippines fulfilled more than just my midwifery requirements. It fulfilled a much needed rest from daily stresses, it met my needs both spiritually and emotionally.

¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

EPHESIANS 3

I was able to get acclimated watching another intern during the first week who would be leaving. There was a second intern there who was long term. Her and I would be alternating births. At this point in time I calculated we would need 14 births for me to complete my requirements so if I got a portion of that I would be happy. The only issue with this is they had reported much less volume than this and expected even less for the month of January. The current climate was sit and wait and see who comes in to birth. With my extended downtime, I took their prenatal book and made a list of all the clients due in January. After taking out all the first time and fifth time moms the center was no longer allowed to care for, there was a total of 23 due plus 33 clients listed without due dates. This was marvelously hopeful although some will have already delivered, get risked out, not deliver at the center or, well, it is unknown what may happen to them. My God is bigger.

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

psalm 75:1

During this time the Holy Spirit was strong with me. I had no worries. No concerns. I felt His presence and enjoyed the fellowship. I prayed daily and this month also became a time of fasting. Not so much by deliberate intention, it just was. It was a time to rid my life of all the hustle and bustle so I did so with food as well. I lived on eggs, pineapple and three occasions of refried beans and three occasions of tuna. Those were at least my staple. And the most AMAZING coconut water; Merci Bocu. I enjoyed some Aloe water with wheat grass too. Yum! I thought I would spend a bulk of time studying but instead I enjoyed three midwife novels and the book of Romans for devotion. I am currently sitting here watching the snow flurries as I remember my time in the Philippines with the high humidity and all the fans blowing and lull of sleep coming on and the standard daytime naps for everyone. Such a wonderful pace of life.

Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

psalm 106:1

This beautiful intern I shared living space with made such an impact on my spiritual life as well. A breath of fresh air. Youth at work. We were able to share in a lot of conversation over the month and her perceptions always based on bibilical principle and shared in gentleness and love were so inspirational. Pray for her. Pray for her calling to reach an unreached group of people. https://jessiinthephilippines.wordpress.com/ This is her heart; that she saw how close I was to being done with my requirements and weighing in the fact of such a low volume of births, she stepped back and allowed me to have all the births that came in. If there are any apprentices reading this, you know just what a sacrifice this was. I am forever grateful. My God is big!

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Psalm 30:12

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15

So time passed. I observed four births and then was allowed to catch as primary midwife. I caught one, then two and soon four needing only 3 more. Births seem to come in spurts over a two day time then 4-5 days of nothing. Tuesdays through Thursdays were prenatal days and really only Tuesdays were busy. The babies seemed to know to come Friday thru Monday. With less than four days to go I was down to only one birth to go. I was already ecstatic. One of the midwives sat down with me and went through the skills sets that I still needed and we got those completed. The midwives were so attentive to what my final needs were that they would call me when I was not at the center if someone came in for well woman care qualifying for one of the clinicals I needed. I was more than satisfied with all of this and even considered taking the last days to travel and see some of the beauty of the Philippines. But prompted by the Holy Spirit, I waiting. My God is bigger.

O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

psalm 108:1

In the wee hours the day before departure I was blessed with catching not one, but two babies that birthed that day. Two laboring women came in during the night and delivered enough apart that I was able to attend both. He provides exceedingly abundantly more than we ask. My Father loves to provide. This sweet fellowship that I was able to experience is so precious. I am very grateful. I have so much to be grateful for. This became my theme verse for the experience in the Philippines:

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

psalm 40:3