Our Nerd Guests

Yeah, Isn't it great!? Even Sheri didn't know she was coming so that's why we couldn't say anything. All she knew was she was going to Hong Kong with Kevin. She didn't really get what was going on until they checked in for the flight to Cebu. Kevin pulled off a great surprise. So fun! Our first Nerd visit!!

They arrived yesterday and will be in Cebu till Monday. We have a few fun things planned including watching the Cebu Provincial Prisoners perform on Saturday. If you're not sure what I'm talking about watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H6mmTvDUdA

Nerd Alert!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everybody!

I really want to apologize for having fallen off the blogosphere this past month or so. I've been crazy out of my mind and so the blogging has suffered. I just quickly want to post so people know we're alive and well. There is much to share from the past weeks including lots of parties and events, numerous clinic shifts, and cramming in 2 modules-worth of midwifery assignments that must be completed by mid Jan along with tests on all of them and paper work of my clinical experience. That's a big part of the being overwhelmed lately.

I regret that this has happened around Christmas (which contributes to the busyness, of course) as it takes away from being really present during this special holiday. I regret that I haven't taken time to think and be silent, to reflect on the year, to be thankful for God's gracious gift of Jesus. Of course, these thoughts and quick prayers happen but I've not made it the priority and given it the attention it deserves. There may be some belated Christmas thoughts forthcoming in future posts.

For now, the thing at hand is to pack for a weekend trip that we are taking with Lou & Marilyn (A's parents) tomorrow. They have been here for 2 weeks already and will stay with us until early February. It is a rich blessing to have them here with us in Cebu these days. We'll be staying on Camotes island for two nights, then back to Cebu for 2 nights, then we'll go to another island nearby, Negros, for 5 nights. It's our big vacation time together as a family during their visit. They have been such troopers so far, remaining very flexible and laid-back, cooking, cleaning and shopping for us, encouraging us and coming along to all of the various event and social involvements that demand our time lately (including a Christmas event today that our church put on for 900 people!, yes, 900!). Quite impressive actually how they just dive in and experience what there is to experience here.

So once I get these assignments done and tests taken and holidays done with, and I get caught up on some much-needed sleep, I'll be much more present. I'm looking forward to a break. Much love and blessings!!

Here are a few photos from our church's Christmas event today in a gym at a local elementary school. All 900 people were fed lunch and juice, received gifts, heard about God's gift and were given the opportunity to receive it freely. They also got family photos taken and the kids got their faces painted, balloons, and ice cream. It was wild!

The 'rents have gone :-(

My parents left yesterday. It was strange waking up and coming into the living room and not finding my Dad watching CNN and offering to make me some fresh coffee. I felt a tinge of sadness this morning at their absence.

Let me tell you about my Mom & Dad. First of all, I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful parents. I took them for granted in my younger years but as the years go on I appreciate them more and more. I'd say my relationship with them today is the best it's ever been. Here are some of the things that I observed during our time together and some of the things I love about them.

• We laugh a lot together
• We can make fun of each other and have fun doing it without offending
• They are some of the most friendly people I have ever known. Wherever we took them in Cebu or elsewhere they engaged with the people around them. They smiled and said hi to nearly everyone they met and struck up conversations with many strangers. They looked for ways to bless and encourage people, telling them they appreciated them.
  
• They are laid back, flexible and willing to try new things
• They are generous, compassionate, and quick to serve others
  
• They are cheerful and happy and fun to be around
• They love people and make them feel at ease
• They value people - regardless of race, gender, economic status; They believe everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with respect. This belief is evident in how they treat others. This quality is so lacking in our world.
• They are a great encouragement to Andrey and I, regularly saying things that build us up and make us feel good. They are supportive of everything that we do.
  

If you have known my family in the past you know the challenges we've faced and endured, by God's grace. Our family hasn't always enjoyed harmonious relationships as many of us (I can speak for myself) experienced brokenness on many levels. But as a direct result of our hope and trust in a God who IS LOVE and offers transforming forgiveness that leads to healing, we are experiencing his joy and peace and life and healthy relationships with one another. I just want to give God all the glory for it truly is miraculous what he has done in our lives.

Thank you, Mom & Dad for your sacrifice in coming to visit us in Cebu. I know it wasn't easy to get here but you did it and I am so blessed and so happy to have gotten to share our life in Asia with you.

Back from the Beach, Last 2 days in Cebu for Mom & Dad

It's Friday morning. We got back to Cebu Wednesday afternoon. We had a wonderful time spending quality time with my parents. The weather was fantastic, the water perfect and the snorkeling, some of the best ever. I'll post pics later. We've been busy since we got back so I haven't had time to update the blog yet.

Yesterday Mom did a bit more ultrasound work at the clinic while Dad and I painted the new home-made shelves he made last week for the labor room. Today we're joining Andrey at work for prayer time and lunch. Tonight we have reservations at my favorite restaurant, The Gustavian for dinner.

Mom and Dad leave tomorrow. I'm sad to see them go but I know it won't be long before we see them again since we are heading to North America on the 19th. We'll spend the last 11 days of our month-long furlough in Alabama with all of my family members.

Ultrasound Training

Hope Imagining trainers & the GRC staff trainees

The first week my parents were in Cebu, my mom was busy with an ultrasound training at Glory Reborn. In fact that was what solidified their plans in coming to Cebu. It seemed to be a divinely-appointed connection when I first moved to Cebu and became involved in the clinic and Hilary told me that she had just bought an ultrasound machine. She really wanted to train her staff but didn't yet have anyone to train them. Naturally, I spoke up and said, "Well that's exactly what my mom does!"

About a year and a half ago my mom started working for a great organization called Sonography Now. She travels all around the US and trains nurses to do limited ultrasounds in pregnancy crisis centers that reach out to abortion-minded women. My mom says she has found her calling. To say that she loves her work is an understatement. And I can say from seeing her work that she is excellent at it.

Sonography Now has an international arm called Hope Imaging which does similar work in developing countries. They set up trainings that are individually catered to the needs of the particular clinic they are serving. That's exactly what they did for Glory Reborn.

Hope Imagining sent 3 trainers (including my mom) and together they trained 6 midwives and 2 nurses at GRC during a week-long training. The GRC staff loved learning ultrasound and my mom and the other trainers loved teaching. In the process, lots of GRC moms got free ultrasounds and had the privilege of seeing their babies in the womb.

Here's what mom says about the training, "It was a wonderful opportunity to share our love of ultrasound to the staff at Glory Reborn. I'm looking forward to hearing the stories of how God continues to bless the moms who deliver at Glory Reborn. I can't wait to come back!"

While mom was busy training, dad and I painted the midwives room at the clinic and dad built a set of shelves for our delivery room. Now that we've kept them both busy working the past week and a half, we are all looking forward to an up-coming beach trip to Bohol tomorrow. We'll be there for 5 nights. Yeah! Vacation!

So Excited!

In less than an hour I am leaving for the airport to pick up my parents.
AND... Andrey will get on a plane tonight in Thailand and make his way back to Cebu by tomorrow morning. He's been gone for 11 days and I MISS HIM!

My Parents are En-Route to Asia

I'm so excited. My parents are just beginning their first journey to Asia - to Cebu to be exact. They are set to arrive here Saturday morning. They will arrive with 3 ultrasound trainers. The 4 trainers, including my mom will be training the Glory Reborn staff in ultrasound during the first week of their trip. It's going to be a busy week. But then my parents will stay for 2 more weeks after the training and after the other guests go back. We'll hang out here in the city for the first part, then we're taking them to the beach for 5 days at the end of their trip. We are all really looking forward to it (that's an understatement). I can't wait to share our lives in Asia with my parents. Finally they can see first-hand what it's like here and meet the people I tell them about. No doubt some photos are forth-coming.