Let me tell you all the ways God met me today, on this regular old Wednesday….
This morning while working at the birthing clinic I met several women and got to love on them by helping with their prenatal care. I took their blood pressure and pulse. After I had written down all those numbers for all the ladies, I shadowed Natalie and she explained the information she finds concerning the baby. Quick prayer request from the birthing clinic: they applied for a license to do births at the clinic and are waiting for the Department of Health to give them permission to go ahead. Currently they do births in the homes, but they would like to be able to do it at the actual clinic. Also they are in need of a Doppler and would love to have an ultra sound. Women here are lucky if they even get one ultra sound. If you know any doctors or organizations who could help, please pass this on and email me if you want more information about them ([email protected]). The ladies at the birthing clinic want the women they serve to be whole women. They do devotions, snack, and then a prenatal checkup Tuesday through Thursday and serve 100 women at a time.
In between the clinic and lunch I had time to skype with my best friend Jeni. We talked about life, shared our hearts, and giggled about future plans. She even offered me a place to stay when I get home in the fall. It would be a blast and so healthy to live with Jen! I also got to message my love Matthew for a little bit! Just in case you forgot what they look like…
When I arrived at the house for lunch I had a treat from my besite Ash! She had gotten me a White Chocolate Mocha Frap! My favorite!!! And I had been craving one! Not to mention that she got me a Christmas lid for my cup! (It busted on a bus back in China)
After lunch, my teammate Lauren and I decided to walk through the slum areas and met people and kids. First we played basketball with these four little boys. You probably would have laughed at us if you would have seen us trying to keep up with them. We had a lot of locals laughing. We let the boys do their thing and continued on down a random road, cutting into the slums.
I came upon a lady who looked really familiar and asked her if I knew her. As she was answering I remembered and blurted out, “You’re the sister of the lady we took to the hospital!” Let me back track to Monday for you. Monday, my off day, I was sitting in a main lounging area and a lady came in asking for help to get a pregnant woman, who was in labor, to the hospital. Of course we didn’t want her having her baby in the drive way so we rushed off to the hospital. We dropped her off in the emergency room and I didn’t think I would ever see her again. Low and behold, only a day and a half later I find her sister who brings me to see the woman and her baby. (When I say the woman, she was actually only 21 years old.) But anyways, I got to hold her one and a half day old precious baby! I can’t believe God would do such a thing for me, but then again I can because He is awesome! He led me right to her and I didn’t even have to ask, He just knew it would bless my heart.
Lauren and I also sat down with a grandma, her daughter, the daughter’s son, and the daughter’s friend, only to find out that they had no food in the house. Lauren remembered that if we met a family without food we could get some rice and protein packets from YMC base. We told our new friends we would come back later. We went back grabbed a few packets and snacks and returned immediately to make sure the two year old would get fed. I guess last November 18 her baby boy died because she didn’t have any milk or enough money for milk for the baby. We couldn’t let her loose another son.
I spontaneously hopped in the vehicle to go to the four o’clock feeding and I am so glad I did. After dishing out the protein packed rice meals I got all up in the nurse’s business because I wanted to see who they were taking care of today. This one little girl had sores of some sort all over her head and my heart just ached for her. As I prayed I began to ask questions to the nurses to see if they knew why she had the sores of if we could help prevent her from getting any more. They thought it was possibly a food allergy to fish like things and possibly eggs. I asked where her mother was and didn’t seem to get a response. However, I found her brother and he ran off to get the mom. We weren’t sure if the mother would come back with him because it is abnormal for the adults to show their faces at the feedings for fear of embarrassment. The boy came running back with his mother not far behind him. I wanted the nurse to talk to the mother, Filipino to Filipino, about why her daughter was breaking out in sores. I was so glad to see the mother and nurse talking! I felt like a social worker, doing her job to connect people hehe.
Now I am sitting on the third floor of a building and looking at the city skyline of Manila while the sun is going down behind it.
To end the night, Lauren and I are going to a birthday party for seven year old Beyonce! She is the daughter of the lady I buy airtime from. I love the friendly people in the Philippines.
I am so thankful for all the ways God met me and blessed me today. Love you Jesus.