Mountain Outreach

November has already come to a close, but I think winter has forgotten about us here in the Philippines… It’s weird to think of people back home bundled up in their sweaters as I sit here in front of a fan seeking relief from the heat that persists all year round here. Oh I miss the snow and cold! :)
As many of you may already know, this past week I took an outreach trip up into the mountains a few hours away. What a wonderful experience, and in many ways if felt like I was stepping into my favorite missionary book! We (myself and four other girls) left Monday morning and took a 1 ½ hour bus ride to outside the city, where we caught a jeepney that took us another hour out to other town where we met Mary-Jane (a midwife for a large area in the mountains). We then took two motorbikes up to the little village where Mary-Jane and her husband Juene live…It was my first glimpse of the country-side and wow was I in a different world! It was pouring rain as we spend along on the motorbikes through groves of banana trees, rice fields, passing water buffalos, chickens and random pigs. When we got to their little village, it really was a true village you would picture in your head with small tribal huts/shacks. We ate lunch there and headed out again on the motorbikes to her health center that was around another 1-2 hours up in the mountains where we spent two nights. Thankfully our two motorist where excellent drivers, as the paths through the mountains would get sometimes crazy! The scenery was beautiful with valleys and moutains of palm trees, and we traveled through many tiny villages along the way. I don’t think we got through too many villages without hearing people yell “gwapa (beautiful) Americans” or “hi Joe!”:) That night we slept at the health center. It was amazing being in a world where people still cook on fires, pump their water, sleep under mosquito nets on mats on the floor, take bucket showers, and eat rice every meal (that's their diet in the city as well)! The next day we headed out again to another village where we set up in the village center to do prenatals and general physical exams (one of the students is a nurse). It didn’t take long for nearly the whole village to gather around. We started off with a nutrition teaching that Mary-Jane interpreted. We than began to do the check ups, and after all the prenatals were done I began taking peoples blood-pressure (they love getting their BP taken!) I think by the time the day was over I had taken the entire village’s blood pressure- haha! They were so great though and kept feeding us all day with different fruits, rice and fish! I had brought some bubbles for the kids and it was so funny to watch them go wild trying to catch them! When it was time to leave, we had nearly the whole village waving us goodbye! What an experience! The next day we packed up early and traveled back down to Mary Jane’s house. We then picked up three kids and with the eleven of us (six on the motorbike I was on and five on the other one) took another two-hour trip to a beautiful waterfall where we relaxed for the day! It was amazing- nonetheless we where pretty sore after our 2 hour trip back. The next day (Thursday) we stayed at the house and a number of pregnant women came for prenatals as well as other people for general check-ups. We left Friday morning to come back to the city, but had to stop first in the town to pay a courtesy call at the mayor’s office. The chief police also wanted us to come to the station, which we where actually suppose go when we first arrived. The just wanted our identification I guess for our protection
So that was my little trip away from the city! I was so thankful that we were able to enjoy some rest and fresh-mountain air! God is good…and I only pray that we were able to be at least somewhat of a help and encouragement there!
I’ll try to post some pictures ASAP… Things are a little crazy now! I’m very behind in my studies, and would greatly appreciate your prayers for strength and diligence to finish everything on time! And that I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed and stressed in the meantime!
Must be off… Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers!!

Sarah

Quick update on the craziness :)

Hi everyone- This post will have to be quick as it's getting pretty late!
I just wanted everyone to know that I've haven't forgotten you all! It's just been a crazy crazy week! I'm finding myself very behind on things- but that's okay... Somehow, this too shall pass! :)
I wanted to let you know as well that I'll be leaving tomorrow on a 5 day outreach up in the mountains! I'm very excited, and can't wait to tell you about it all when I come back!!
Better be off to bed! We (me and three other girls- Beth, Bea, Janelle, and a midwife from here in Davao ) will be leaving at 6:00am. :0)

So I'm sorry to all those that I haven't been able to get back to! I haven't forgotten any of you!!!

Take care!! and God bless!

-Sarah

Nov 13- My first handle!!! =)

Wow! Yesterday was the day I've been dreaming about, but never thought would actually come. I caught my first baby!! It was beautiful...amazing...unforgettable!
When I walked into clinic at 2:00 pm for my shift I knew I was in for a crazy one! Four births had just taken place within 5 hours and six other women were in labor! After endorsements I was handed a chart- ahhh...my first handle! I had completed all my assists and was ready to start handling. Things were so chaotic I didn't have time to second guess myself! My patients name was Bing (her nickname-real name is too hard to pronounce!:)) who was 35 years old, fourth child. She was such a cute woman, and I was really blessed to have her for my first handle. She did really well, except for having bad back labor! Her husband was great, and he and I took turns massaging her back. I also got her to try different positions which seemed to help somewhat. Because it was so crazy at the clinic I ended up assisting and charting for two other births in between time. At 5:59 she starting pushing, and thankfully I had my gloves on as the baby came out at 6:27. It all seemed so unreal yet so normal as I grasped the little slippery baby into my hands. At first she didn't breath but after some suctioning she gave our her first little cry. Praise the Lord she made it into this world safe and sound! Afterwards I was kept busy doing frequent vital checks on the mother, filling out the paperwork, completing the baby bath and exam, and moving them to the postpartum room before my sift ended at 10:00. I love that I get to see them again as I am responsible for doing the baby check-ups during the next six weeks!
So there ya have it! My first handle experience in a nut shell- What an amazing birth and experience! I just feels so good to actually get to this stage... I love being a midwife! :) I just can't believe I already get to handle (under supervision of course!:)) God is good!
I couldn't wait to tell you all about it- definitely a milestone of my training here!So I'm sorry I didn't have time to write it all out in a good story form! :P

Well I think I'm going to head off to bed soon. I'm a little brain dead as I work again today and wrote another exam this afternoon! Phew... But I do get tomorrow off! So excited!
Good night all!!
Sarah
"An official baby-catcher!" :)

Picture I took tonight of our street in the rain

The top picture I caught during a flash of lightning

Injection class a few weeks back

-Click on Photo

No-name title :)

Wow! Has it already been a week since I last wrote in here?!! I guess times flies when you're fighting for it! :)It's definitely been one of those weeks... Tomorrow is my A&P exam, so if ya think of it please pray it will go well! :P

This weekend was All Saints Day-a very busy holiday here! But they really have their own twist to how they celebrate it. Starting yesterday (Saturday) the graveyards get decorated with flowers, balloons etc, and everyone flocks to the cemeteries and spends all weekend (including the night) holding a big festival there with their dead. It's definitely a different way of having All Saints Day!! Yet it brings out two very integrated parts of the Filipino culture. Firstly their love to celebrate and hold festivals, and secondly their concept of death- a very normal part of life!

Well, I've been sitting here now for a few minutes trying to think of what else I could write that would be of any interest....Sorry, nothing is coming to mind. So I guess I'll just sign off and catch you another time! Just to let you know I'm still alive and doing well! Thank you to all who keep me posted!! =)
Thinking about you all...
And quoting my dear brother Ben,
"Cheers!" :)
p.s. Time doesn't change here, so now I'm 13 hours ahead