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.
3 comments:
jen, i'm excited for you to be back, i've been waiting to hear that. i'm so glad for you that it was a homecoming!
and the clinic sounds so good, the way we got to, (get to), care for the patients is a really beautiful thing! i really miss that.
hey it's sinulog time isn't it, you celebrating? this more like an email than a comment, whoops.
i need you to send me your address, mid February i have plans to mail a little something-something, so let me know.
love you, Miss your (as always you=mo)great company! -K
Your entry had me in tears. I grieve for that woman and her stillborn baby, but I rejoice in how you and the other midwives minister to her. And in how Jesus ministers to you through the women and the clinic. Praise Him!
Wow! I am in tears. Incredible the blessing you must be to these women and the blessings you receive! I love you heaps and heaps and miss you like crazy.
D1
ps: i updated my blog with a ton of pictures!
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