Does Jesus care?

Southern Sudan is in the midst of turmoil. Please click here: Does Jesus care? and read about how one missionary is seeing the Lord work during these difficult times.

Happy New year - A short look at 2013

Happy New Year! This year I found myself ringing in the year with my parents, one of my brother's and his family and two friends. It was a fun filled evening and a sharp contrast to last year.

2013 was a full year for me. It was a year of hellos and goodbyes. Of joy and of pain. A year of questions and taking a deeper look at my life's path. In it all one thing remained the same, God's consistent love and guidance. Sometimes life can seem overwhelming and I am thankful that He never changes through it all. Here is a few highlights of my year. Enjoy :)

I "caught" 20 babies. 

                                                     Moved from Asia to North America.

                                       Took the most stressful test of my LIFE and passed! 

                                   

Imported my dog Clover to the States and said goodbye to my old dog Zacchaeus. 

I made a decision to serve in Doro, S. Sudan starting in April 2014.

Was blessed with my first nephew :)

Took a pack trip in the mountains of Wyoming with a good friend. 

Found myself in temperatures ranging from over 100 to -20. 

I turned 30 - the lead up to it was more traumatic then the actual day ;) which I got to spend with my favorite little girls :) 

These are just a few key points. All in all it was a great year full of many blessings. Thank you to everyone who helped me, supported me and prayed for me!

 I hope that your 2013 was a good year and I wish you the best in 2014! 

Under a apple tree

God answered my prayer. 

When I was in the Philippines during one of our devotion times we all drew a picture of something we were asking God for in the coming year on a large sheet of paper. I drew a picture of myself with my six nieces and Clover under an apple tree. 

To many this may seem like a silly prayer request. But for me it had much significance. It signified that:

                I had ended my two years of midwifery training.

                          Clover had actually made it to the USA.

                                All my nieces and I were  together at last. 

                  Joy, peace and laughter were part of my days.

                             I was home, in a place I love, with people I love. 

 Thank you Jesus for answered prayers!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

And she's off!

The last few days spent in Manila with Clover were pretty uneventful. We went on our twice daily walks along the bay and got different reactions from the many people we passed by. My personal favorite was when people would break out in "Teach me how to doggy, teach me, teach me, how to doggy" while doing a little dance.

The last night we even went for a buggy ride through China town and old Manila. It was dusk and raining, but fun. Well fun until we got back and the driver decided to try to guilt me into giving him more money - which actually worked, but not as much as he had planned for. Ah well.

Sunday evening buggy ride

Clover sight seeing on a buggy ride 

Clover had to lay on her bed, while I was adding the lining - too cute

Yesterday when I flagged down a taxi to take Clover to the airport and told him where I wanted to go he said "Oh I don't think they will allow her" pointing at Clover. I convinced him that yes they would :)  On the way he randomly says "why do you want a dog and not a man." In my head I thought "why can't I have a man and a dog?" To the taxi driver I said "Well dogs are loyal, they don't argue and they are always happy to see you" :)

At 3:30pm I left Clover in her crate at the KLM cargo area in Manila, where she would await her 7pm flight. I had a mix of emotions as I left her there: it is really happening, am I crazy, worrying for her during the 30hrs of transient and excitement of actually seeing her in a week at home.

The top of Clover's crate 

Weighing in 

Saying goodbye from afar :( 

I really can't believe Clover is somewhere between America and the Philippines at this very moment! Crazy! Praising God that He cares about the little things that make me happy!

Let the little children come

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them,  for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

Today

“Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.” 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

To market, to market

One of the things I will miss about living here in Tabuk is the lovely market. This one is called the Dagupan market. It has a great selection of fruits and veggies that change with the seasons. It also has imported fruits mostly from China, but I have even seen things from California!

Along with the produce, there is a meat for sale, but I don't like venturing into that part. There is used clothing, new clothing, tons of flip flops and umbrellas and many other household supplies. Enjoy the few pictures below :) 

Shopping 

Yummy fruit juice - my favorite is the white one, can you name that fruit? 

Lovely homemade brooms - they work really well

Pretty straw hats

Transport outside the market waiting to take you home

Entering the market area 

Fried banana anyone? Yes please :) 

Sweet bead lady - her headband is made out of snake bones, so cool

Assorted veggies 

Very hot peppers

Onions, garlic and fresh ginger

Garlic 

Pineapples are in season! 

Making sticky rice, covered with a banana leaf 

The inside portion of the market

Jackfruit - SO tasty! 

Assorted goodies 

Dried fish - there are many different kinds

Home made treats 

The nice woman who we buy fruit from & her granddaughter

The other lady we buy fruit from

I arrived in the Philippines on August 11th, then on September 11th I was leaving the Philippines.
Most people who knew of my plans to return to the States just a month after leaving thought I was crazy.
I began to also contemplate my sanity level as I worked hours everyday to get my first assignment finished on time.  I questioned sanity again as I sat crunched in the small airplane, already 7 hours into my journey; with over 10 hrs more to go. "This is just too soon"  I thought to myself, as I turned in my seat, knees jabbing into the seat in front of me, neck twisted in an odd position, the seat back too low and my back trying to regain feeling as I settled into the new position.
Somethings are worth the pain, money, time and effort.  My cousin and close friend, Candace, is getting married.  We have talked, giggled, planned and dreamed about this moment since I can remember.  It is worth every moment of discomfort to stand beside her as she takes her vows of love and commitment to the man God has brought her.
Candace and her husband-to-be, Riley, picked me up at the airport, where they meet me with flowers in hand as I was coming out of the bathroom,... but whatever.  I had never met Riley before and in my tried jet lagged brain I liked him immediately. This was a great relief, because it saved me the trouble of having to bring sense to Candace and help her make a quick midnight escape.  And believe me, if Riley had been a man of questionable character there would have been a midnight get-away :)  But thankfully Candace's good sense came through even in the mists of being bitten by the love bug.... I'll be sure to fill you about pre-wedding, the wedding and pictures later...

My first month in the Philippines went by quickly.  I settled into my new life with a few tears and a lot of laughter. My roommate Sara and I spent 4 days in a village about 45 minutes from where I live. We stayed with a women named, Linda, her elderly parents and 7yr old daughter, Angle.  I love village life with its slow pace and simple living.  Linda was very accommodating and made sure I had 3 meals a day with chocolate/coffee that was so tasty that even I, as a huge non-coffee drinker looked forward to my daily intake.  We played frisbee with the children, bathed with some little girls who even in the dark could see us enough to exclaim in loud voices "ooooohh the white beauties!!!", visited Linda's school and observed her teaching, then after school played games with the children.  We had a monsoon come through the day after we arrived, so we were stuck inside a fair amount because of the rain and had many fun talks with Linda and other local women, who thankful could speak good English.
I also enjoyed the plethora of pigs that ambled about poking their heads inside in the mornings oinking for their breakfasts.  It was a good experience and much easier then my first home stay in the Didinga Hills.  I slept on a bed (with no mattress, but still...), enjoyed power at night and even watched Jacky Chain movies and TV!  Learning a new culture is always an adventure and because I tend to be on the shy, quiet side and so do the Filipino people we spend a lot of time staring at each other...

Me, planting rice for the first time

Beautiful are the feet... just take a look at mine and it is clear that is's true :)

Sara, planting rice

It's a muddy business 

Linda

With her students

Boys

Boys...

And more boys!

Sara eating at Linda's

The native pigs eating there breakfast

Who's looking at me??? everyone!  Its OK to be stared at, just don't stare back

I am still new at blogging.  If you have any comments on how I can better inform you or any things you would like me to write about, please let me know.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support!