My first repeat patients!

I am very excited to announce that two of my previous patients are expecting again (not sure what this says about my ability to teach family planning) and both should deliver before I return to America. I find it ironic that both of these babies happen to have Jane in their name. 

Eliza Jane was only my third catch as a midwife. It was her mom Rhea's first baby and at just 17 years old she did a great job! Eliza's daddy first wanted to call her Bikini - I suggested if he really wanted to he could nickname her that :) Rhea is now due sometime in July (she is having an ultrasound to determine the due date). I really enjoyed this young couple and am really looking forward to being her midwife again and this time also doing her prenatal care. 

Christine Jane was my sixth catch and was lucky enough to be born on New Years day. This baby will be Rose's third baby (she is going to have her hands full!) and is due the end of March. Christine Jane's birth was a bit rough and I am praying her mom has a easier time for baby #3 and praying that she has a baby boy this time :) 

Thankful Thursday

Thank you Lord for the simple things of today, like goose bumps and the wind in my hair! 

"I am a hunter of beauty and I move slowly and I keep the eyes wide, every fiber of every muscle sensing all wonder and this is the thrill of the hunt and I could be an expert on the life full, the beauty meat that lurks at every moment. 

I hunger to taste life. 

God." 

-One Thousand Gifts 

Love

Love is essential for life. Love. We all long for a deep & lasting love. One that can fill us completely, fully & forever.  A love that is not based on what we do or don't do. We search for this love, for something to fill that hole in our hearts. Love. Where can a love like this be found?

  True, real, lasting & forever love can be found in only one place. 

It is only in Him that you will find a love that fills you fully, completely & forever. A love that takes you as you are right here right now. A love that loves you even if you don't love back in return. In Jesus is where true love is found. He loves you right now. He fights for you. He is calling you by name to come, come to Him and bask in His great love.

Happy Valentines Day!

   

What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering

What does love look like? 

What does love look like? is the question Ive been asking of You 

Once believed that love was romance, just a chance 

I even thought that love was for the lucky and the beautiful 

I once believed that love was a momentary bliss, but love is more than this 

All You ever wanted was my attention 

All You ever wanted was love from me

All You ever wanted was my affections to sit here at Your feet and tell me 

What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering

What does love look like? If all of life comes down to love then tell me 

What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering

What does love look like?

Then I sat down a little frustrated and confused 

Your fire of life comes down to love. And love has to be more than sentiment,

More than selfishness and selfish gain 

Then I saw Him there

Hanging on a tree, looking at me 

I saw Him there

Hanging on a tree, looking at me

He was looking at me looking at Him, staring through me

I could not escape those beautiful eyes 

And I began to weep and weep 

He had arms wide open, heart exposed

Arms wide open, He was bleeding, bleeding. 

Arms wide open, heart exposed

Arms wide open, He was bleeding, bleeding

Loves definition 

Loves definition, was looking at me 

Looking at Him. Hanging on a tree

I began to weep and weep and weep and weep

This is how I know what love is.

And as I sat there, weeping, crying, those beautiful eyes 

Full of desire and love. And He said to me

You shall love Me..You shall love Me.

With arms wide open, heart exposed

With arms wide open, bleeding, sometimes bleeding

You shall love Me.. You shall love Me..

If anybodys looking for love in all the wrong places 

If youve been searching for love, come to Me. Come to me. 

Take up your cross. Deny yourself. 

Forget your fathers house and run. Run with Me. 

Cause you were made for abandon your heart and listen

Cause you were made for Someone greater, Someone bigger, so follow Me. 

And youll come alive when you learn to die.

And He said to me

You shall love Me. You shall love Me

With arms wide open, heart exposed

With arms wide open, bleeding, sometimes bleeding

Beauty & Adventure

The sky was a beautiful blue with big puffy clouds when my friend Emily and I rode on top of the bus to the village of Bugnay. Emily and I met on my first trip to Africa when I was 19 and because internet we have been able to stay in touch these past ten years. A few months ago Emily asked me if she could come for a short visit during her winter break from teaching english in China. It was wonderful to see Emily again and take her on a short adventure up in the Kalinga mountains. In the back of my mind I had something in my mind that would make this trip extra special for me. 

The road to bugnay is very beautiful!

We got the front seats sitting on top of rice bags and holding on tightly as we cruised around corners & over bumps. 

Emily got to soak in the beautiful mountain views 

A very typical sight along they way 

Once in Bugnay, we took a short drive & then a hike further up in the mountains to the village of Buscalan. Every since arriving in Tabuk I had heard about an old woman who was the last Kalinga tattoo artist. I was adamant that I would never get one, however, as I have lived here and saw the beauty of the place and the people, I softened to the idea. 

Brenda, our guide and midwife at the Bugnay Maternity clinic

The hike there was beautiful and difficult with steep stairs to climb

Once arriving we met Whang Od the famous kalinga tattoo artist. At 93 years old she had wrinkles to match her age, but was strikingly beautiful. I felt comfortable with her and knew that I wanted to have a piece of her art work. I felt it would be an honor to be apart of this ancient tradition.

I picked out a picture of one I liked and she drew part of it on. Before I knew it she was starting to tap. There was no going back at that point.

When I told her where I wanted it, she warned me that the side of the foot is very painful. She was not lying! 

At the top of the foot I could hand the pain and even took a few pictures.  

As she rounded the corner it became much more painful. It was hard to focus or watch. 

The pain just increased until I couldn't look at all. If I would have kept looking I might have moved my foot away without thinking. 

The taping had a definite rhythm and at the top kind of felt like bee stings. I can't really describe the pain on the sides. 

I am happy to say that during the whole process I didn't shed one tear. It was quite fascinating. The whole tattoo took about an hour to complete. She used a thorn and ash for ink. 

The finished work directly after she was done. I love it! 

Whang Od and myself after she finished. 

The sun was setting as we hiked out. I couldn't put my shoes on, so I had to make the hike barefoot.  But the pain didn't set in until a little bit later so the hike wasn't so bad. 

Getting a tattoo is something I never thought I would do. But things change, people change and I change. I think I will always view this tattoo as a sign that change is OK and something that God allows for. I love the beauty, adventure & remembrance that is wrapped up in this tattoo and some day when I am old and it is faded I know I will still remember this time and this place. I am sure my grandkids will enjoy my tales of adventure as well :)