gthemidwife

I admit that these HOT summer days have drained all of my energy and drive to get things done. As I drive my car to the clinic I pass by my neighbours working in their yards, doing their laundry, drying rice on the road … I know they must feel the heat too, but they keep going.

I arrive at the clinic and let out a big sigh followed by “It is so hot!!”. To which my Filipino staff reply, “Yes bossing, it is hot.” Meanwhile in the birth room there is a first time mom labouring quietly to bring her baby into the world. Her midwives try to keep the fans going to keep her cool and keep bringing her water to drink so she stays hydrated. She doesn’t complain, she just keeps labouring in earnest. A little while later the clinic is filled with cries of a newborn baby and there is a happy and exhausted mom.

This post is meant as a tribute to the way the locals here in Kalinga just get things done. They don’t stop to complain about how things difficult something is, or how uncomfortable they are, they just get on with it.

I first came to the Philippines over 15 years ago and the more years I spend here the more beauty I see. Of course there are always frustrations and cultural differences that can make me crazy, but these are usually because I am particularly impatient or uncomfortable that day.

Some of my favourite things about the culture here in Kalinga:

• Children are treasured. My kids get loved on and smiled at wherever they go.
• Everyone loves to laugh! Everywhere they go they bring the party 🙂
• There is a great cultural pride for the way things have been done for hundreds of years. A lot of the times, the original ways are the best ways.
• Fathers as well as mothers are great caregivers for their little ones. You will often see dads working around the yard with their babies tied on their backs.
• Sharing is as important a value for adults as it is children. Being told you are generous is one of the highest compliments.

Oh, and the babies here are the absolute cutest! I will leave you here with a picture of one of our sweet babies born at the clinic.

The village of Ableg, Pasil.

This April we hosted a group of 19 Canadians from Samaritan’s Purse for a medical mission. This was our 5th Samaritan’s Purse team and we reached out to four new communities and two old ones.

The SP Canada team consisted of three doctors, one Nurse Practitioner, 6 nurses, one EMT and lots of support team members who ran eyeglass clinic, blessed the children in many villages and lead the team.

Lovely translating for Dr. Adel in Pasil.

We went to Malignant and Taga in Pinukpuk, Ableg and Balenciagao in Pasil, and Pakak and Magsaysay in Tabuk City. The Armed Forces of the Philippines joined us again and provided haircuts for kids in all locations. In total, we cared for almost 2000 patients!

The SP Canada team could not have reached as many patients without the help of our big local team of translators, cooks, midwives and helpers.

Me and some of my team heading to the next stop.

Our two weeks together was an example of how two different cultures and backgrounds can work together to bless many more than either could do on their own.

Thank you to our wonderful team of Canadians who gave up time and finances to serve alongside us sharing God’s Love with the Families of Kalinga.

The whole combined Canadian/Filipino team! 

Ken and Ann Hastings, Rian and Zelda Du Plooy, Emily Way, Janelle Jeong, Elaine Wall and Taryn Bender, Len and Shelley Hyatt,  Laurin and Ruby Trudel, Brenda Servold, Annita Doherty, Adel Naude, Rick Campbell, April Belsheim, Annamarie Snyman and Erin Neufeld.

(Not to be forgotten, the three Filipinos from Baguio who also joined for half of the mission: Angela, Jonathan and Dennis!)

Last week we had a super typhoon blow through the Province of Kalinga. Tabuk City, the place where Abundant Grace of God is located, was going to be right in the center of the storm.

We knew the typhoon was coming and I saw posts on Facebook and other social media platforms asking for prayer. Yes, I think I even asked for prayer.

Then I though to myself “What am I actually asking God to do?”

Was I asking Him to send the typhoon in another direction? Honestly I don’t think God really works that way, but even if He did would I really want to ask Him to send the typhoon to other people in other places? That sure didn’t seem right.

Was I asking Him to let the typhoon lose force before it makes landfall? Again, I don’t think God works this way as I am pretty sure typhoons are a part of how the “nature” works.

I guess I can agree with the prayers for safety for all of those in the path. However two years ago when another typhoon blew through Tabuk and levelled almost the whole village of Pakak, through the generosity of Samaritan’s Purse Canada, the families were able to build better, stronger homes.

I settled on praying this prayer “God… be with us. Amen”

He was with us.

He was with us when not one of the new homes in the village of Pakak was destroyed.

He was with us when we had no power or water at the clinic but still helped to welcome five new babies into the world. It seems typhoons bring babies out!

He was with us when a teenage mom came to us in labor with only her little sister to accompany her. He was with us when this teen mom delivered a premature baby who needed help breathing. He was with us as we were able to get him admitted to a private hospital that was able to care for baby until he was able to breath on his own.

The older I get, the less sure I am about the best “way” to pray, but the more sure I am about Who is listening.

“Abundant Grace of God Maternity Center Inc.” turns 10 this year! To commemorate this anniversary, Achao and I took all of our staff and their families to the beach!

AGGMC Staff Picture — with a few extras.

We had two midwives from a busy birth centre in Manila come to cover our clinic while we went to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte for a whole three days!  We spent the time playing and relaxing on the beach.

We also had some team building activities where we learned about our different personality types and how we can work together.

We have so many “Agreeable” personalities in our group!

We ended off our weekend celebrating Ellora and Vienna as they finish off their two and a half years of service with us.

Praying for Ellora and Vienna as the evening closes.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers that help make this retreat a success!