Standing on the promises of God

I won't lie, school is hard for me.  All to often I take me eyes off God and try to find my own path.  This leads me into worrying, fretting, and anxiety.  But today is a new day.  And today I choose to trust the Lord and stand on His Promises.  


" You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.(When I am struggling it is God, who keeps me going.  It is Him, not my circumstances that give me joy)   


With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. (With God I can push forward in my studies.  Not only that I can do them and succeed!)   


 As for God, his ways are perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.His a shield for all who take refuge in him.(He is perfect, He does not make mistakes, I am here because He leas me here.  I can trust in Him and His word!  He is my protection and shelter from all danger and trouble.  Why should I fear?) 


 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? (He is GOD, and my Rock.  I have a firm foundation!)


It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (It is God, not me who gives me strength, so I shouldn't try get through these two years in my own power.  He is taking care of me and He has given me a path that is as good as it gets!)


 He makes my feet like the feet of the deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. (He has given me the strength to run this race and has given me the ability to do it, why should I worry?


  He trains my hands for battle; my arm can bend a bow of bronze. (He is teaching me how to do my assignments and I can conquer these assignments!)  


You give me a shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. (WOW! You have given me victory,You will get me through and through you I am great :) 


  You broaden the path beneath me, so my ankles do not twist." ~ Psalm 18: 30-36  (You have given me what I need so I will not fail, I can trust in you LORD!)

Take a peek at my new home

"Yesterday I got to see a birth!  It is so amazing to get to watch new life enter the world.  It reminded me of why I am doing this - Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Friday August 12th's journal entry 

"Last night I watched birth #2... it is so amazing to see birth!  What a hard job women have... A woman giving birth posses a certain kind of beauty... I tear up every time.  I can't believe that God has called me to do this.  Sometimes I don't think that I'll be able to - yet I know God does not call me to fail." Tuesday August 16th's journal entry

The road view of the clinic

Pretty tropical flower, a reminder to stop and smell the flowers :)

Used Monday-Thursday, my day is Wednesday and at the moment I am just shadowing 

A new mom is required to stay at least 6hrs after delivery
There is a delivery room too, but it was being used when I was taking pictures

The lobby/reception 

 flip flops are the footwear of choice and you should have a pair for inside and a pair for outside 

The balcony/cloths drier 

View from the balcony

My humble abode that I share with two other girls

My little bit of space... tidy? nope not me?  Note my giant stack of textbooks

The view from my room, pretty indeed!

The shower and CR (comfort room aka toilet)

Back view

The kitchen 

Rice, everyday, three times a day!

Fish at least a few times a week, along with chicken, pork, clams, snails, and veggies
(I plan to do a blog about food in the Philippines)

The pretty little spot I normally do my morning devotions 

Hairy :)

The neighbors pigs, I find there are plenty of animals around, which makes me happy

Alice, our wonderful cook and Ba-Lyn, who helps at Georgia's
(more about who I live and work with on a later blog)

10 facts on Midwifery by WHO :

1# Competent midwives decrease the risk of dying during childbirth.

About 1000 women and almost 10 000 newborns die every day due to largely preventable complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period. In addition, every year, nearly 3 million babies are stillborn. Many of these lives could be saved if every birth were attended by a midwife.

A new journey: entering life as a midwife student in the Philippines

second day in the Philippines, we went on a outreach to a neighboring village.  I just watched and held babies :)

A mother with her children listening to the health lesson

Graicia, one of the wonderful midwifes I live and work with

Crystal doing a baby exam 

Sara doing a prenatal exam

Sweet baby :)

rice fields 

Beautiful rice fields and mountains.  My new home for the next 2 years!

"I hold nothing here below: Appoint my journey, and I go...." ~Jeanne Guyon

moments to cherish, changes to come

My heart is thumping, my mind buzzing, I toss restlessly as sleep seems to be evading me.  This was the last two nights, my first nights in my journey with Newlife.  The moment has come, I have taken the first real step and I am nervous.  Or maybe it is the thought of being at a cliff, now I have jumped and I'm at the free falling part and I don't really know what I am about to hit!  The good news is that God knows and He has lead me down this path and I know He will continue to lead me faithfully. somewhere in North Dakota I left my home in Michigan on the morning of July 25th by train.  I arrived in WA the evening of the 27th.  It was a LONG trip, but I met lots of interesting people and got to see lots of my beautiful country as it flew past my window. Flowers in OR Crater Lake, OR I spent a wonderful week visiting friends from my college days at Canyonview Equestrian College (CEC) from '04-'06.  I started in Darrington, WA, where I got to bask in the beauty for the Cascades.  From there it was on to Silverton, OR which rekindled memories of college days, always making them more perfect than they were.  On Sunday it was off to Medford with a stop in Roseburg to see a friend.  Lots of fun memories were made and will be cherished in my heart.  I soaked up friends, horses,  pretty flowers and ice cream. LaDonna, Heidi and I enjoying some ice cream :) MOO Now I am getting to know a few fellow students from Newlife before I fly to the Philippines on Monday.  I am waiting with anticipation to get on that plane.  My prayer is that as I train to be a midwife and serve the people there that I will be filled to overflowing with the love of God and that I will continue to seek Him everyday and long for more and more of HIM in my life. Future midwives Please remember to pray for me.  I will be flying out Monday the 8th at 5:30pm and arriving in Manila on Thursday the 11th at 10:30am.  I will be taking the night bus to Tabuk that evening.  Please pray for safety, health and good transition. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!  God has been very gracious to provide for my needs.   silly squirrel I'ed like to take it for a spin :) I love to get snail mail and you can send me a letters at : Tianne Cole c/o Abundant Grace of God Maternity  Appas Tabuk, Kalinga 3800 Philippines