We just came back from the hospital about two hours ago. The hospital was built by the Chinese and now has a cooperation with the German government who has funded training and some equipment (like a fancy new ultrasound machine which we have tested ourselves). So far, every visit there has been an experience - the rooms are dirty, the toilets stink, cockroaches run around everywhere, the family has to supply all the food and medicine and all in all you just REALLY hope to never have to go there for an emergency because you'll probably come out sicker...And this is the best hospital in this province, and maybe even in the entire North.
A friend called us asking if we could go as his sister-in-law had gone into early labor. He himself was out of town and had received a very distressed phone call from his wife, who was in tears and could not fully explain what had happened. He asked if we would go and see them and maybe pray for them, too.
When we got there, they had already lost the Baby. She had gone into early labor at 7 months (about as far along as I am) and they tried to deliver the Baby but it must have been in the wrong position as the hands came out instead of the head. So the doctor's performed a c - section but could not safe the Baby.
The couple just got married in May (I didn't realize she was pregnant when we attended the wedding ceremony) and the young husband sat there while his wife was still sleeping due to the anaesthesia. It's so hard to know what to do and say, especially when our language skills are still so limited but David did pray for him. And I'm thankful that that is something we can always offer to do for people here.
It's hard to imagine the night they will have - her waking up with a flat belly, him having to tell her that their Baby has died. Having to deal with this loss and having the physical pain of an incision to constantly remind her of this loss for the next few days and weeks. And at the same time my Baby is kicking away and is healthy and well.
It makes me feel so helpless knowing that in almost every other country a Baby born at around 30 weeks would have a pretty good chance of surviving. But here, due to a lack of knowledge and equipment and maybe just plain concern for the individual life this Baby did not make it. And I shudder to think of how often this must be the case, not only here in town where there is a hospital but even more so in the villages where the closest medical center usually is at least a day's march away...
It makes me grateful for my life - the excellent medical care I am able to enjoy and which I take for granted, the education I have had the privilege of receiving that has taught me certain common sense life skills that make it easier for me to stay healthy in the first place, and mostly a relationship with my Creator which affects every area of my life and Who promises to give me hope and a future - no matter what the circumstances might be. So that I can be comforted and be at peace.
And so we will continue to pray for this couple - for physical and emotional healing. But mostly for them to eventually find comfort and peace in the One who can give them hope and a future.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I shall not want...
After a few more mornings of Dylan procrastinating at the school gate and not wanting to go in and a few mornings on which he just refused to stay at school we made the decision to keep Dylan home next year. I went right to work researching various Pre School homeschooling curriculums and have now ordered a bunch of stuff which I am looking forward to receiving and unpacking once we get to Germany! :)
I feel at peace and relieved to have finally made this decision and look forward to this new role!
For Dylan and Elliot to continue to learn the local language I hope to be more free again to have our neighbor kids come over and play. We have neglected them somewhat these last few months due to busy schedules and sheer exhaustion but they are on my heart and we are often asked when they can come and play again.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to our two Germans who spent 10 months working with us. They should have arrived in Germany by now and I hope that all the things they experienced here will be a blessing to them for many years to come.
In 10 days we say good bye to two more people and then head into our final weeks preparing for our trip to Germany.
These last few weeks have been busy with a short term team, lots of things happening at the Day Care Center, and the emotional stress that I have experienced and so we are really ready for a break and looking forward to Germany. Although I suspect our time there will be busy, too. But the change of scenery will be refreshing, I am sure of that!
I have been encouraged and reminded over and over again these last few days that I do not have to be perfect - neither as a mom nor as anybody else. God alone is perfect and I am his beloved daughter and he is fully able to redeem all my mistakes and make good to come out of it all.
And so I am feeling more at peace and more hopeful than I have these last few weeks and am thankful for all that our Father gives so that we shall not want!
I feel at peace and relieved to have finally made this decision and look forward to this new role!
For Dylan and Elliot to continue to learn the local language I hope to be more free again to have our neighbor kids come over and play. We have neglected them somewhat these last few months due to busy schedules and sheer exhaustion but they are on my heart and we are often asked when they can come and play again.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to our two Germans who spent 10 months working with us. They should have arrived in Germany by now and I hope that all the things they experienced here will be a blessing to them for many years to come.
In 10 days we say good bye to two more people and then head into our final weeks preparing for our trip to Germany.
These last few weeks have been busy with a short term team, lots of things happening at the Day Care Center, and the emotional stress that I have experienced and so we are really ready for a break and looking forward to Germany. Although I suspect our time there will be busy, too. But the change of scenery will be refreshing, I am sure of that!
I have been encouraged and reminded over and over again these last few days that I do not have to be perfect - neither as a mom nor as anybody else. God alone is perfect and I am his beloved daughter and he is fully able to redeem all my mistakes and make good to come out of it all.
And so I am feeling more at peace and more hopeful than I have these last few weeks and am thankful for all that our Father gives so that we shall not want!
Monday, July 6, 2009
things to love
There are a number of things I love about this country:
1. Addressing others as big sister, big brother, little brother, little sister, aunt or uncle. To me it creates a sense of belonging and familiarity even with strangers. And it's fun to see how it's the normal way of calling someone, even if that someone is your customer in the bank.
2. Seeing people wear pyjamas and fuzzy bunny slippers as their regular clothes and shoes.
3. The sense of community and the important role that the extended family plays. This has some downsides of course and many small family units are really struggling and are not healthy but falling apart but still I enjoy seeing the many rich relationships that people here have with neighbors and family members.
4. The beauty of nature and the abundance and diversity of fresh tropical fruits.
5. The smiles on people's faces.
6. Their enjoyment of simple things like just sitting in front of their houses for hours watching life pass by or joking around with their friends or the amusement it gives them to see us drive through a neighborhood with all four of us on a motorbike.
7. The way they are not shy about asking questions that might seem a bit personal to us coming from the West. E.g. Do you breastfeed? (Sometimes touching me right there for confirmation) Do you have a boyfriend? Did you deliver naturally? How long did you wait before you got pregnant with your second Baby? Just to mention a few...
There is a lot that is frustrating and annoying, too, but I want to leave this on a positive note. :)
In just 6 weeks we are heading to Germany and I'm very much looking forward to a change of scenery and food and people. And to meeting this little guy (yes, it's another guy! :)) who is very active and loves to kick and move around inside me.
Dylan has been doing better with Pre School but we are still so undecided about what to do next year, if it would be better to keep him home or not. Elliot would be able to join him at Pre School in May and it's so hard to know what the right decision is. But I am thankful that he is enjoying his mornings again. Still, the whole issue of friends seems to be on his mind a lot as he has been asking about some of the other families who have left or live in other parts of the country and it's hard to see how much he would like to see them at times. Having said this one of his friends is coming to see him in just a couple of weeks for just two short days. And as much as I look forward to this visit I am dreading it at the same time as it will be another goodbye for him and us to deal with.
But I guess this is just the way it is and will be for most of our lives. One reason I look forward to eternity! No more goodbyes...
On that positive note, I am thankful for a number of people who have joined us for the summer and are an encouragement and support to us. And I'm all the more thankful for four people who will come to work with us in September for 6 months to 2 years! How exciting! We will sadly miss their arrival here as we don't get back till the end of October but I'm sure they will be o.k. and coming back will be even better because of them.
So I'm thankful to be here in spite of everything that makes life here difficult.
1. Addressing others as big sister, big brother, little brother, little sister, aunt or uncle. To me it creates a sense of belonging and familiarity even with strangers. And it's fun to see how it's the normal way of calling someone, even if that someone is your customer in the bank.
2. Seeing people wear pyjamas and fuzzy bunny slippers as their regular clothes and shoes.
3. The sense of community and the important role that the extended family plays. This has some downsides of course and many small family units are really struggling and are not healthy but falling apart but still I enjoy seeing the many rich relationships that people here have with neighbors and family members.
4. The beauty of nature and the abundance and diversity of fresh tropical fruits.
5. The smiles on people's faces.
6. Their enjoyment of simple things like just sitting in front of their houses for hours watching life pass by or joking around with their friends or the amusement it gives them to see us drive through a neighborhood with all four of us on a motorbike.
7. The way they are not shy about asking questions that might seem a bit personal to us coming from the West. E.g. Do you breastfeed? (Sometimes touching me right there for confirmation) Do you have a boyfriend? Did you deliver naturally? How long did you wait before you got pregnant with your second Baby? Just to mention a few...
There is a lot that is frustrating and annoying, too, but I want to leave this on a positive note. :)
In just 6 weeks we are heading to Germany and I'm very much looking forward to a change of scenery and food and people. And to meeting this little guy (yes, it's another guy! :)) who is very active and loves to kick and move around inside me.
Dylan has been doing better with Pre School but we are still so undecided about what to do next year, if it would be better to keep him home or not. Elliot would be able to join him at Pre School in May and it's so hard to know what the right decision is. But I am thankful that he is enjoying his mornings again. Still, the whole issue of friends seems to be on his mind a lot as he has been asking about some of the other families who have left or live in other parts of the country and it's hard to see how much he would like to see them at times. Having said this one of his friends is coming to see him in just a couple of weeks for just two short days. And as much as I look forward to this visit I am dreading it at the same time as it will be another goodbye for him and us to deal with.
But I guess this is just the way it is and will be for most of our lives. One reason I look forward to eternity! No more goodbyes...
On that positive note, I am thankful for a number of people who have joined us for the summer and are an encouragement and support to us. And I'm all the more thankful for four people who will come to work with us in September for 6 months to 2 years! How exciting! We will sadly miss their arrival here as we don't get back till the end of October but I'm sure they will be o.k. and coming back will be even better because of them.
So I'm thankful to be here in spite of everything that makes life here difficult.
Friday, July 3, 2009
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