I arrived back to my apartment on Tuesday night. Friday night we were up all night with a young first time mom who had some difficulty. Here is an email and update I sent out to some people in my last days...
Well the storybook missionary update might have been different, but I trust God will still be glorified in this birth. We transported her late this morning to the nearest hospital with capabilities to perform a cesarean. This hospital is about 2 1/2 hours away through windy
roads. The "ambulance" is a pickup the metal shell over the top. Shelly (my midwife friend) was vomiting almost the whole way there due to motion sickeness. I thought it was horrible and I was not the one in end stages of labor.
As I lay on the other stretcher next to the mom exhausted and nauseas I was just reminded of the realities of midwifery in the 3rd world. In this culture this girl (not even 18) would have been out in the forest by herself for days with this hard constant labor. All through the night her mom and sister got to minister to her. This Christian family was breaking through huge cultural taboos of touch and speaking kind
words.
She was loved and valued throughout the night and I pray that continues to minister to her. Sure we'd have liked a nice calm midwife birth...but this is reality and women need midwives who can get them to more skilled medical care when necessary.
You can still pray for her now. We were not allowed back in the labor area and we have no cell reception here so we'll just wait and see. I'm going on 36 hours awake and glad for a long ride to the border tomorrow.
My trip was definitely different than I expected. The first birth occurred about 24 hours after I left. I had three great weeks of God working on my heart and letting it break again for the women around the world in these little villages who have no skilled care in labor. I was reminded again how hard it is to pioneer a new work and this is going to be a long process with this people group to gain trust.
It was very hard to leave (even thought my view of missions has changed and is not so glorious as I once imagined). I wanted to stay and help, but know the last thing God lead me to do was go to nursing school. So, I'm there and leave the rest in his hands.
Well the storybook missionary update might have been different, but I trust God will still be glorified in this birth. We transported her late this morning to the nearest hospital with capabilities to perform a cesarean. This hospital is about 2 1/2 hours away through windy
roads. The "ambulance" is a pickup the metal shell over the top. Shelly (my midwife friend) was vomiting almost the whole way there due to motion sickeness. I thought it was horrible and I was not the one in end stages of labor.
As I lay on the other stretcher next to the mom exhausted and nauseas I was just reminded of the realities of midwifery in the 3rd world. In this culture this girl (not even 18) would have been out in the forest by herself for days with this hard constant labor. All through the night her mom and sister got to minister to her. This Christian family was breaking through huge cultural taboos of touch and speaking kind
words.
She was loved and valued throughout the night and I pray that continues to minister to her. Sure we'd have liked a nice calm midwife birth...but this is reality and women need midwives who can get them to more skilled medical care when necessary.
You can still pray for her now. We were not allowed back in the labor area and we have no cell reception here so we'll just wait and see. I'm going on 36 hours awake and glad for a long ride to the border tomorrow.
My trip was definitely different than I expected. The first birth occurred about 24 hours after I left. I had three great weeks of God working on my heart and letting it break again for the women around the world in these little villages who have no skilled care in labor. I was reminded again how hard it is to pioneer a new work and this is going to be a long process with this people group to gain trust.
It was very hard to leave (even thought my view of missions has changed and is not so glorious as I once imagined). I wanted to stay and help, but know the last thing God lead me to do was go to nursing school. So, I'm there and leave the rest in his hands.
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