Sunday, February 26, 2006
On the Road Again...
After 4 days with my parents, it's time to be on the road again. (I believe I've flown 9 times in a matter of two weeks this month). A road trip should be fun, though I'm still not used to being without an Asian caravan. (After my MP3 rant my cd player bit the dust, so I may be stuck listening to NPR the whole way. It IS a conspiracy!)
Saturday, February 25, 2006
From the Dark Corners of My Memory
While looking in a box for some old school records I ran across a floppy disk (remember those?) with some photos...it's funny what you can forget when you haven't looked a pictures for a while.
This is Teen Missions boot camp 2000. I believe the song to go with this was "Poncho, poncho man, I wanna be a poncho man." Yes, this has made me into the missionary I am today...(and NO stories from the peanut gallery in Manila)
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Durian: The fruit that smells like garabage (at least to Americans)
1. Recently returned friend decides to invite her friends into the wild world of Asian delicacies...this time it's durian candy.2. They ask, "What's that smell? Not so sure what to think at first.
3. A can't handle it and spits it out.
4. N can't get the taste out of her teeth.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
DFW: Gateway To The Next Adventure In Life
DFW has become somewhat of a gateway leading to major events in my life. The last time I flew out of this airport I had been to NM and was pretty certain after that semester I'd be leaving my other school and heading towards my missionary midwife school. It was the start of a big change...moving out of the house...branching out on my own...finally going oversees for more than a few months.
In '01 I was in this airport on my way to a conference that launched me into my first midwife program. December 30, 1999 I left the AA terminal in the hype of millennium’s eve. Summer '95 Charity and I cam through on the same flight as I returned from my first big mission trip. (And I couldn't leave out driving BY the airport in '97 when we moved across the country)
So here I am again...sitting in the DFW airport on the verge of the next phase of life. (trying to decide if I should stay here for a bit or go back overseas ASAP) For the first time the world seems like a HUGE open door. I've learned in the last two years that God and his plan may not be in the little box I imagined.
So how is Melissa 2006 different? (Pardon me for a bit as I sound like Bob Dole and use the 3rd person narrative) Perhaps Melissa '06 has realized that she can't conquer the world by herself and that might not even be what she wants. She's realized she needs and values relationships and that God is not slow. Sometimes it may feel like He's taking the long route, but that's because there is so much along the way.
And this time the Melissa leaving DFW is NOT crying...she's smiling and singing knowing that even though this past year has been sooo hard and tested her to her core she can sing...
Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up lift up your head...
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
God will lift up your head
Soon end in joy (3 Times)
God will lift up your head
God will lift your head (3 times)
(Jars of Clay Redemption Songs)
In '01 I was in this airport on my way to a conference that launched me into my first midwife program. December 30, 1999 I left the AA terminal in the hype of millennium’s eve. Summer '95 Charity and I cam through on the same flight as I returned from my first big mission trip. (And I couldn't leave out driving BY the airport in '97 when we moved across the country)
So here I am again...sitting in the DFW airport on the verge of the next phase of life. (trying to decide if I should stay here for a bit or go back overseas ASAP) For the first time the world seems like a HUGE open door. I've learned in the last two years that God and his plan may not be in the little box I imagined.
So how is Melissa 2006 different? (Pardon me for a bit as I sound like Bob Dole and use the 3rd person narrative) Perhaps Melissa '06 has realized that she can't conquer the world by herself and that might not even be what she wants. She's realized she needs and values relationships and that God is not slow. Sometimes it may feel like He's taking the long route, but that's because there is so much along the way.
And this time the Melissa leaving DFW is NOT crying...she's smiling and singing knowing that even though this past year has been sooo hard and tested her to her core she can sing...
Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up lift up your head...
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
God will lift up your head
Soon end in joy (3 Times)
God will lift up your head
God will lift your head (3 times)
(Jars of Clay Redemption Songs)
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Making a Difference One MB at a Time
Rest is good...but a nagging urge to go back to work continues to tap on my shoulder. I may not be able to help welcome new life into the world anytime soon, but I can rest knowing that today I have helped 2 friends create blogs. I have been there to witness new web page life coming into the world... Less mess, fewer hours, and more sleep.
(ummm...it isn't the same)
(ummm...it isn't the same)
Monday, February 20, 2006
Some Good BBQ
Our first big BBQ on our Wild West trip. Nothing like a big serving of BEEF. For some reason I'm having flashbacks of Wayne and Charity arguing over the best BBQ.Miss California...orange really does accentuate your nose hairs.
Snow Down South
"Miss California, get up on the bull!" Yes that's right folks, that's snow fall'n down in the big D. Miss CA shows off her newly aquired winter scarf and mittens.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
The Inevitable WalMart Trip
It's inevitable...you come back from overseas and have your first Walmart trip. Having lived in a big city this last year it wasn't that massive store that shocked me...it was the decisions. We have 15 choices for just about EVERYTHING. Not only do they have cottage cheese here, you have small curd, large curd, light fat, 1/% fat. My friends had to help me as I stood there almost unable to make a choice.
Over there I feel like a foreigner and here I feel out of the loop again. I know that this is a good reminder for me that this isn't HOME. My true home is in heaven and for this life I'm just passing through. It's not a bad thing. And the Lord knew what I'd need this year. (Some good TMI buddies making me laugh could help me transition back into the US.)
Over there I feel like a foreigner and here I feel out of the loop again. I know that this is a good reminder for me that this isn't HOME. My true home is in heaven and for this life I'm just passing through. It's not a bad thing. And the Lord knew what I'd need this year. (Some good TMI buddies making me laugh could help me transition back into the US.)
The first mini-TMI reunion
Catching up with old Teen Missions friends way out west (Is is supposed to be 27 degrees?!?) This is the first time I think we've seen each other so clean.
Looking into the Eyes...
From my most recent update:
When I started my training with this ministry I was moved by the realization that 40,000 children die every day from complications of malnutrition and 32,000 die of preventable diseases. I knew those numbers had faces all around the world and wanted to go myself to the area of most need.
Fast forward to 2006 - almost 3 years later. I stare down at a hospital bed containing a 15 month old whose body is burning with fever. She’s on a ventilator and her blood gases show us she’s still in respiratory acidosis. Just months early she was diagnosed with primary complex tuberculosis and the doctors say she has early signs of asthma. Her x-rays show her lungs are full of fluid from pneumonia. [We rented the ventilator from a private company since the family was sitting up having to manually ventilate…such a different world.]
I was the first one to look into her eyes when she came into the world. As her mom’s midwife I got to be the first one to hold her. Throughout her little life so far I’ve visited the family in their little squatter “house” in the damp alley crawling with worms. We’ve tried to do what we can to help the parents find work, get rice, help facilitate obtaining a floor. Still there are cycles of injustices and hardship that make things difficult.
So as I stand at the bed and the doctor reminds me this is one of the leading causes of death in kids around here I realize I’m looking into the eyes of one of those 32,000- 40,000 children. Suddenly the answers don’t seem so clear and that little question “why” tries to pop up again. Should she walk through this, what will be next? Will she be able to fight off future infections, or will this just be a cycle. Will her dad break the cycle of alcohol addiction? [Baby Cassandra was recently released from the hospital, but has recently been readmitted to the top government pediatric hospital for respiratory problems again].
When I started my training with this ministry I was moved by the realization that 40,000 children die every day from complications of malnutrition and 32,000 die of preventable diseases. I knew those numbers had faces all around the world and wanted to go myself to the area of most need.
Fast forward to 2006 - almost 3 years later. I stare down at a hospital bed containing a 15 month old whose body is burning with fever. She’s on a ventilator and her blood gases show us she’s still in respiratory acidosis. Just months early she was diagnosed with primary complex tuberculosis and the doctors say she has early signs of asthma. Her x-rays show her lungs are full of fluid from pneumonia. [We rented the ventilator from a private company since the family was sitting up having to manually ventilate…such a different world.]
I was the first one to look into her eyes when she came into the world. As her mom’s midwife I got to be the first one to hold her. Throughout her little life so far I’ve visited the family in their little squatter “house” in the damp alley crawling with worms. We’ve tried to do what we can to help the parents find work, get rice, help facilitate obtaining a floor. Still there are cycles of injustices and hardship that make things difficult.
So as I stand at the bed and the doctor reminds me this is one of the leading causes of death in kids around here I realize I’m looking into the eyes of one of those 32,000- 40,000 children. Suddenly the answers don’t seem so clear and that little question “why” tries to pop up again. Should she walk through this, what will be next? Will she be able to fight off future infections, or will this just be a cycle. Will her dad break the cycle of alcohol addiction? [Baby Cassandra was recently released from the hospital, but has recently been readmitted to the top government pediatric hospital for respiratory problems again].
A Fish Out of Water
I'm back in my native country...and it feels so weird. I can't believe how quiet it is here or how people stay in there houses (where are the masses out on the street?) My only outing so far (besides the airport) has been to Sonic for a cherry lime slush. (ah, the REAL reason I came back). I'm with very supportive friends right now and start my intensive debrief on the 27th. Please keep me in your prayers.
How Do You Say Thank You?
Some of the midwives who helped train me when I first arrived. They have been such a special part of my life. We enjoyed some time out in the southern city. It was hard to say goodbye again.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Hate Goodbyes
The clinic hosted an appreciation dinner for 3 of us who are leaving. Here G and I show off our participation in the "Country Night" theme.
Monday, February 06, 2006
"Lost?"
The view from the boat as we pulled up to a secluded island about 10 minutes away from the beach.
Not your average jeep ride...
Yes, that is a REAL tiger at the window of a jeep. (as if I didn't get enough of an adrenaline rush as a midwife). This was taken at a nature park. They wave a live chicken out the window to attract them. Jeff got blood on his arm and shirt...ewwww
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Girl Musings
There are days this country and all it's crazy public transportation drives me CRAZY. But then as I prepare to leave in about 2 weeks I think, man I'm going to miss so many little things...like the assurance that there will always be a peanut vendor on every corner...that you CAN get everywhere on foot or public transit...or that I can fly in a full run down a busy road and it's ok since I'm white, no one bats an eye. And the people...how can you replace them? So friendly and in everyone's business?
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