Well actually it's more like a plane - errr, I mean 3 planes. It takes 3 flights to get to Chiang Mai. Even though it's only a total of 5 hours of flying time, it still equals a whole day of travel to get to Chiang Mai from Cebu. Thankfully we made it here without any problems. I left Andrey in Bangkok. He's meeting his boss there and they have 6 meetings to attend in 2 days. He'll join me in Chiang Mai Tuesday night.
We're here for the annual IJM Southeast Asia regional retreat. It's where the directors and their spouses of the southeast asian countries come together for a few days in the mountains. This will be the 4th one we've attended. In past years we've been living here so haven't needed to travel much. This year, now that we're in Cebu it feels like more a big deal to get to come here for it. I ALWAYS welcome a trip to Chiang Mai! It's the perfect situation really. We get to visit a highly desirable tourist destination and we can speak enough of the language to get around easily and we know our way around and we have really good friends here and oh yeah the food is DELICIOUS...and cheap!!! It's a great place to visit. We've extended the trip for a weekend after the retreat so we can spend some time with our friends here.
It's funny how I don't feel so "achey" coming here. Yeah, sure there are things I miss about Chiang Mai but despite that, I don't have the strong feelings of wishing I still lived here. I think that's because life is really good in Cebu. And that is all because God has mercifully blessed us there.
So while I'm extremely thankful to get to be here this week, I'm actually looking forward to being in Cebu once this period of frequent travel is over. I have a midwifery degree to accomplish! :)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
We Found a House!
For those of you who don't know, the place we've been living in is only temporary and we knew that when we moved in last June. We've been house-sitting for an American missionary couple who have been in the U.S. since April last year. They are coming back in the next few months, so that's why Andrey and I started looking for a house to rent a few months ago.
We are so happy to have found a place to live! We didn't expect it to be so difficult to find a place in Cebu but when we started looking we realized that good, affordable homes for rent were not nearly as ubiquitous is they were in Chiang Mai.
There were 4 main things were really wanted in a home: 1. Location - we hoped to find something near to where we are now. 2. Furnishings - we just can't afford to furnish an entire house, nor is it worth it since we may only be here for 2-3 more years. 3. A good place for guests - we want our visitors to be comfortable when they come to stay with us. And 4. A decent kitchen - I cook a lot so having a more modern-style kitchen with an oven and a moderate amount of counter space is a must.
How does the house measure up? 1. It's in a neighborhood right down the street from our current place which is so perfect for many reasons. 2. The house is almost completely furnished. There are a few things we'll need to buy but it has almost all the needed appliances and furniture. There are beds and A/C in all 3 bedrooms, couches, tables, a fridge, a stove, etc... 3. The house is BIG! (bigger than we need actually) which will be perfect for when we have guests (NERDFEST 2009!!). The living room/dining room area is massive and there's another living space just off of the main area (the office?). All 3 bedrooms are spacious as well with built in closets and plenty of storage. 4. The kitchen has lots of counter space, cabinets and a pantry. Plus there's a maid's room (more storage!) with an adjoining extra bathroom plus a laundry area. It's an older house made of painted brick which I believe helps to keep things cool in the heat of the day. (Dana & Andrew: it actually is reminiscent of your house in Torreon, isn't that fun?)
We were recently encouraged/reminded by our pastor that it is God who prepares and provides a place for his children to live. With that, we prayed that God would bless us with the right house. Since we first heard about this place I had a good feeling about it. We just saw it last night and today we told the owner, "We'll take it!"
I really believe God arranged it for us because the owner of the house actually had another couple who was interested and who offered to pay more than she was asking. Andrey's co-worker & his wife live next door to the owner (that's how we heard about the house) and because this woman liked them (our friends and soon to be neighbors) so much, she told them she'd give us first priority! Last night when we went to see the house, the owner had us over to here place which is across the street (in fact she owns all 8 homes in the small subdivision) and we stayed and chatted for over an hour.
We weren't actually wanting to move until March at the earliest but in order to rent this house, we'll have to move sometime next month, which is fine with me. We could move as early as this Friday if we wanted. We'll probably have to pay for both places in February and therefore we'll be able to just move in slowly throughout February and be fully moved in by the end of the month. Praise God!!! I'll post pics when we get moved in.
We are so happy to have found a place to live! We didn't expect it to be so difficult to find a place in Cebu but when we started looking we realized that good, affordable homes for rent were not nearly as ubiquitous is they were in Chiang Mai.
There were 4 main things were really wanted in a home: 1. Location - we hoped to find something near to where we are now. 2. Furnishings - we just can't afford to furnish an entire house, nor is it worth it since we may only be here for 2-3 more years. 3. A good place for guests - we want our visitors to be comfortable when they come to stay with us. And 4. A decent kitchen - I cook a lot so having a more modern-style kitchen with an oven and a moderate amount of counter space is a must.
How does the house measure up? 1. It's in a neighborhood right down the street from our current place which is so perfect for many reasons. 2. The house is almost completely furnished. There are a few things we'll need to buy but it has almost all the needed appliances and furniture. There are beds and A/C in all 3 bedrooms, couches, tables, a fridge, a stove, etc... 3. The house is BIG! (bigger than we need actually) which will be perfect for when we have guests (NERDFEST 2009!!). The living room/dining room area is massive and there's another living space just off of the main area (the office?). All 3 bedrooms are spacious as well with built in closets and plenty of storage. 4. The kitchen has lots of counter space, cabinets and a pantry. Plus there's a maid's room (more storage!) with an adjoining extra bathroom plus a laundry area. It's an older house made of painted brick which I believe helps to keep things cool in the heat of the day. (Dana & Andrew: it actually is reminiscent of your house in Torreon, isn't that fun?)
We were recently encouraged/reminded by our pastor that it is God who prepares and provides a place for his children to live. With that, we prayed that God would bless us with the right house. Since we first heard about this place I had a good feeling about it. We just saw it last night and today we told the owner, "We'll take it!"
I really believe God arranged it for us because the owner of the house actually had another couple who was interested and who offered to pay more than she was asking. Andrey's co-worker & his wife live next door to the owner (that's how we heard about the house) and because this woman liked them (our friends and soon to be neighbors) so much, she told them she'd give us first priority! Last night when we went to see the house, the owner had us over to here place which is across the street (in fact she owns all 8 homes in the small subdivision) and we stayed and chatted for over an hour.
We weren't actually wanting to move until March at the earliest but in order to rent this house, we'll have to move sometime next month, which is fine with me. We could move as early as this Friday if we wanted. We'll probably have to pay for both places in February and therefore we'll be able to just move in slowly throughout February and be fully moved in by the end of the month. Praise God!!! I'll post pics when we get moved in.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Adoption Update
Last week we got word that Holt finally received our application in the mail. Whew! We were beginning to worry that it got lost in the mail because we mailed it over a month ago. Thankfully it did arrive and we have been officially welcomed into the Philippines program at Holt. Yippee! Now it's time to get busy compiling a group of documents called a "dossier" and scheduling our first home study.
Our home study will be done by Holt's partner agency in Manila, Kaisabuhay Foundation. A social worker will have to travel to Cebu in order to complete each of our home studies. Once our home study is completed and our dossier is ready, then those things will be submitted to the Philippines government. Also at that time we will submit an "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition" to the United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS). We will have to travel to the American Embassy in Manila to do that.
So the ball is rolling! Now every time I see a Filipino infant or toddler (which is every day)I think to myself, Our future child may look like that. We have begun praying for that child who likely has not been born or even conceived yet. We are also praying for the mother and father of that child who will no doubt, in the least be thought of for the rest of our lives.
Something tells me this whole experience is going to be surreal; as I figure it must be for every person who becomes a parent - however it is accomplished.
Our home study will be done by Holt's partner agency in Manila, Kaisabuhay Foundation. A social worker will have to travel to Cebu in order to complete each of our home studies. Once our home study is completed and our dossier is ready, then those things will be submitted to the Philippines government. Also at that time we will submit an "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition" to the United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS). We will have to travel to the American Embassy in Manila to do that.
So the ball is rolling! Now every time I see a Filipino infant or toddler (which is every day)I think to myself, Our future child may look like that. We have begun praying for that child who likely has not been born or even conceived yet. We are also praying for the mother and father of that child who will no doubt, in the least be thought of for the rest of our lives.
Something tells me this whole experience is going to be surreal; as I figure it must be for every person who becomes a parent - however it is accomplished.
We're back from Mexico
Glory Reborn Staff (most of us)We made it back to Cebu safely on Sunday. Thankfully the trip went well and all our bags arrived intact. That's always a relief. We were happy that the authentic, solid wood (heavy!)tortilla press and kilo of corn flour made it intact, in addition to other goodies like Mexican vanilla, Canadian maple syrup (from Mom & Dad), coffee, and canned chipotle peppers.
While we had a FABULOUS time with all the nerds in Mexico (details of the trip to come in another post), I was actually feeling quite happy about coming back to Cebu. This was a happy feeling because even though we've left many times since we moved here, this was the first time I actually felt like it was good to be back "home." Even the fact that I could say I was ready to go "home" and being able to use that term to now refer to Cebu is significant. It means I feel settled here and that I have a life and community and work that I enjoy. At the thought of this, I am filled with gratitude. Only God could have set things up so perfectly for us here in such a short time. I really missed my work at the clinic and look foward to diving back in and learning all I can.
In fact I was at the clinic this morning for our weekly staff meeting. It surprises me every time when the midwives I work with greet me with such enthusiasm and seem happy to have me back.
Usually, our weekly meetings consist of announcements, perhaps a short teaching, and a time of worship. Today was a little different. After reading in Hebrews 10:24-25 about encouraging one another, we all drew names and then blessed the person whose name we drew by encouraging them in some way - like pointing out good qualities we see in them or something that we appreciate about them, etc. It was a really nice time and confirms the idea that Glory Reborn Clinic is not just a clinic but it's a community of women working together to glorify God by encouraging one another and by serving and blessing the women who come to us for care.
One such woman is Janice. Something else that we did today at the meeting was to pray for Janice. Janice is 24 weeks pregnant with her 2nd child. She came to Glory Reborn yesterday saying she hadn't felt her baby move since Saturday. Investigation into the status of the baby revealed that her baby had died sometime within the past week. Since receiving the news, her labor has been stimulated and she is now about 5 centimeters dilated and waiting to give birth to her stillborn baby. After Hilary explained to those of us who have yet to deliver a stillborn on what to expect and how to deliver a stillborn in a sensitive and appropriate manner, Janice came downstairs to be prayed for. We all gathered around her - about 15 of us - placing our hands on her back, shoulders, arms and knees and we prayed. We prayed for comfort and for a gentle and smooth delivery, and she cried quietly. We prayed that she would sense the presence of God with her and that she would know Jesus intimately.
During the prayer time I opened my eyes so that I could see with my eyes this picture of a woman being ministered to by many other women. The scene of this young woman being surrounded, prayed for and blessed is a beautiful one. It is a common picture in our clinic of midwives. So often the birthing woman is literally surrounded by caretakers. Some are the Glory Reborn staff; some are family members of the woman in labor. Family members of women who give birth in a hospital in the Philippines are not allowed in the delivery room. In our little clinic, the woman can have present whomever she chooses. Sometimes there are no family members, only us.
So many times I have reveled in this picture of a woman being surrounded with love and care. Many times a midwife must withstand the weight of a woman that leans on the midwife's shoulders for support while she squats to push her baby out. In this case the midwife and the birthing mother's foreheads are pressed together, sweat mingling. Another midwife may be wiping the mother's face or getting her hair out of the way. It's a lovely picture and I believe it is more than what it seems - it is through the care given through touch and the encouragement given through words that Jesus ministers. It is Jesus who is present and working in the lives of these women. We are just blessed to take part in what He is doing for them.
Tomorrow I'll be back on duty and hopefully I'll get to assist at another miraculous birth.
While we had a FABULOUS time with all the nerds in Mexico (details of the trip to come in another post), I was actually feeling quite happy about coming back to Cebu. This was a happy feeling because even though we've left many times since we moved here, this was the first time I actually felt like it was good to be back "home." Even the fact that I could say I was ready to go "home" and being able to use that term to now refer to Cebu is significant. It means I feel settled here and that I have a life and community and work that I enjoy. At the thought of this, I am filled with gratitude. Only God could have set things up so perfectly for us here in such a short time. I really missed my work at the clinic and look foward to diving back in and learning all I can.
In fact I was at the clinic this morning for our weekly staff meeting. It surprises me every time when the midwives I work with greet me with such enthusiasm and seem happy to have me back.
Usually, our weekly meetings consist of announcements, perhaps a short teaching, and a time of worship. Today was a little different. After reading in Hebrews 10:24-25 about encouraging one another, we all drew names and then blessed the person whose name we drew by encouraging them in some way - like pointing out good qualities we see in them or something that we appreciate about them, etc. It was a really nice time and confirms the idea that Glory Reborn Clinic is not just a clinic but it's a community of women working together to glorify God by encouraging one another and by serving and blessing the women who come to us for care.
One such woman is Janice. Something else that we did today at the meeting was to pray for Janice. Janice is 24 weeks pregnant with her 2nd child. She came to Glory Reborn yesterday saying she hadn't felt her baby move since Saturday. Investigation into the status of the baby revealed that her baby had died sometime within the past week. Since receiving the news, her labor has been stimulated and she is now about 5 centimeters dilated and waiting to give birth to her stillborn baby. After Hilary explained to those of us who have yet to deliver a stillborn on what to expect and how to deliver a stillborn in a sensitive and appropriate manner, Janice came downstairs to be prayed for. We all gathered around her - about 15 of us - placing our hands on her back, shoulders, arms and knees and we prayed. We prayed for comfort and for a gentle and smooth delivery, and she cried quietly. We prayed that she would sense the presence of God with her and that she would know Jesus intimately.
During the prayer time I opened my eyes so that I could see with my eyes this picture of a woman being ministered to by many other women. The scene of this young woman being surrounded, prayed for and blessed is a beautiful one. It is a common picture in our clinic of midwives. So often the birthing woman is literally surrounded by caretakers. Some are the Glory Reborn staff; some are family members of the woman in labor. Family members of women who give birth in a hospital in the Philippines are not allowed in the delivery room. In our little clinic, the woman can have present whomever she chooses. Sometimes there are no family members, only us.
So many times I have reveled in this picture of a woman being surrounded with love and care. Many times a midwife must withstand the weight of a woman that leans on the midwife's shoulders for support while she squats to push her baby out. In this case the midwife and the birthing mother's foreheads are pressed together, sweat mingling. Another midwife may be wiping the mother's face or getting her hair out of the way. It's a lovely picture and I believe it is more than what it seems - it is through the care given through touch and the encouragement given through words that Jesus ministers. It is Jesus who is present and working in the lives of these women. We are just blessed to take part in what He is doing for them.
Tomorrow I'll be back on duty and hopefully I'll get to assist at another miraculous birth.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Nerdfest in Mexico
"Nerdfest"- A gathering of old friends that occurs on average every 18-24 months in various locations around the world. Originally started by Andrey and his college buddies years ago and now involves friends, spouses, kids, parents and grandparents.
Nerdfest this year is happening right now in Mexico and is therefore called Nerdfiesta. Since our last gathering in Thailand 2 years ago, we've been planning this trip to Mexico to visit our friends who live here.
On Dec 23 Andrey and I showed up in Torreon where our friends live. We spent Christmas with them, their children, and their parents who are also visiting. We all just relaxed for several days and spent at least some time every day on the trampoline in the back yard. On Dec 27 10 more adults and 2 kids showed up for the official kick off of Nerdfiesta. Since then we've taken a bus tour together from Torreon to a colonial city called Zacatecas where we stayed 1 night before continuing on to where we are now, San Miguel de Allende. We've been here for 2 nights already.
Tomorrow we leave for Guadalajara. We'll stay there 2 nights before traveling to Puerto Vallarta for the warm beach portion of the vacation. Andrey's parents will join the madness and we'll enjoy the beach for a week before heading back to the Philippines.
We are having a FANTASTIC time! More details to follow. This is just something to get the blog kick started again. Enjoy the photos.
Andrey and Andrew happy to be reunited- just after our arrival in Torreon:
View of Torreon:
The "giant Jesus" monument:
Dana's mom, Andrey, Dana, Andrew & little ones:
Bill (Dana's dad), Andrew & Andrey with new Mexican soccer jerseys on Christmas day: 
View of Zacatecas:
Sam, Torie & Bennett:
Aquaduct in Zacatecas:
Bullring turned hotel in Zacatecas:
San Miguel de Allende Cathedral at night:
more San Miguel de Allande... 
more San Miguel de Allande... Jen, Sheri & Torie with 3 delicious margaritas:
"Nerda?"
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