New blog

I accidentally got logged out of my other blog on my computer and for the life of me, can't remember my log in information. It is really hard to type messages on my iPod so I have created a new blog. It is called "What? Next Chapter in 'The Adventures'"

Natashasadventures.blogspot.com

Thanks

Sick

Please pray!! I have been throwing up and diarrhea for the last 19hrs. Not quite sure what it is. Thinking it could be food poisoning.

Oh my goodness!!

You will never believe how Jesus has answered my prayer. So last night a friend told me that every 59 days you have tore new my visa. I am not sure why I got a year long visa if I still have renew it every 59 days. Well any ways, I had my friend look at my passport and she notices that when I entered the country, they only stamped it for 21 days. Which meant I was pass due by 15 days. Huge fees!!!! Plus I found out I needed to get tickets for the ferry to the orphanage on Sunday night and we were leaving today. (today is Monday)

I wanted so much to start stressing. Here I was having to figure out tickets and my visa and thing in the Philippines move slowly. But I felt Jesus was saying, "I got ya. Trust me." I have been memorizing Proverbs 3 and verse 5 says to trust God with all my heart and He will
Make my paths straight. It is easier to read about trusting, but harder to put it into practice.

My prayer was that I would not have to pay any late fees. I heard I could pay up to 9,000 Passos ($215) in late fees. Wow!!! After getting tickets for the ferry, off to the immigration. They though were on lunch break. I had to waited 30min. I explained the situation . He didn't know an sent me to some one. He said that I needed to go back to the airport to get them to change the 21days to 59days so off to the airport.

When I arrived, I went to a security guard and explained. To be able to enter area, I would need a pass. To get a pass, I had to find the ID building and then wait my turn. After 45min, I was awarded a pass. Off to the arrival and them waiting another 30mim to get the visa explained an processed.

Finally after 6hrs (starting at 8am), I got my visa 21 days changed to 59 AND did not pay a cent expect $10 in taxi transportation from play to place. Praise God!!!!!! He taught me to trust him and not get anxious....even though I really wanted to.

He answers prayer!!!!

Quick Up Date

I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to post a quick up date.

1) thank you... Thank you a thousand times for all the amazing things and notes. I can't believe the generosity. I can't wait to see how I will get to use each item. I have to say that I am saving each note to read when every I miss home. Thank you for the encouraging words.

2) I leave tomorrow for 6 days to volunteer with a missionary at an orphanage called Christian's Haven. I will be taking some of the supplies you sent. Will keep you posted on what I get to do. And Cayla is coming too.

3) praise Jesus for the gal I am living with to tell me about the visa. Apparently you have to, even though I have a year long visa, check in and pay a fee every 59 days. Good thing my 59 days aren't until next Wednesday.

4) I was able to attend the baby party at Glory Reborn. It is a party that has all the moms who delivered in the month to come and celebrate their little one . It was really great see moms that I got deliver their babies and those I helped through their postpartum stage. It was rewarding to see and hear from them.

5) I am blessed to be able to spend Mother's Day with my mom. Can you believe the love I have from my mom that she would come here? My m is truly one of a kind.

6) hmmm...I think that is it for now. Lol!! Will post more next week. Thanks for all your love, support, and amazon prayer. It means a whole lot.

Photos

Hey Guys,

So I posted a whole bunch of pictures via Facebook. It took too long to down load all 130 photos to the blog and was easier to just put them all in an album.

Just wanted you all to know.

Laughter Helps the Medicine to go Down!

I can't tell you how much fun this last week has been. I had a moment last Wednesday where I was really missing family and thinking how am I going to make it a whole year. It is amazing when you cry out to Jesus for help how he brings it to you. Some times it is in ways you never expected. Mine was through two sisters from Colorado who were visiting and through several laughing moments. Let me explain.

The one sister is a midwife and in her 30s and the other is about to start nursing school and in her early 20s. The older sister had come to the Philippines years ago to complete her midwifery courses. She was here 1.5years with no family. She said it was really hard, but God provided people in her life that really were there for her. She was able to understand what I was feeling which really allowed me to show what how I was feeling. The other sister is so close to my age that it has been like having a cousin around. I love it. She has pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed for heart to heart conversations. These sisters have been a blessing in my life. Thank you , Jesus!

Now for the laughter moments. LOL!! I am laughing as I write things : ) Well the other night several of us nurses where sitting in the nurses rooms talking about a delivers when all of a sudden a black thing scurried across the bed. Eeeekk!! We all scream and jumped up. It looked like a mouse. We stood there for a minute listening. Then we heard the little feet scurrying behind the bed. We quickly ran out of the room and called the men on duty (the guard and driver) to come save us. They quickly ran up the stairs to the room. They went through the room look for the mouse. They were soo courageous. They were on their hands and knees. I would not have been able to do that. After 5ish minutes, they got it.

Need items by Tuesday

Hey all,

Sorry for the short notice, but I just found out that the clinic I am working at, does not take expired equipment so my mom and sis's bags are like empty. I would like to fill them with things for the orphanages. The only thing is that they need it by this Tuesday sense they leave early Wednesday.

I have listed a few things that I could think of, but if you think other things, feel free to see if that item could be of use. Thank you for your assistants. I am excited to see what is next on this adventure.

Items

Soccer ball with pump
Crayons (I want to do crayon melts)
Deck of cards (would lots of these. Can play all kind of games)
Card games
Soft baby carrier (I don't know why, but I keep thinking I may this)
Stickers
Bandanas
Wedding size bubbles (smaller the better because I can give them to mor kids)
Books with morals
Bible school teaching supplies
Pencil sharpener
Lolly pops
Games with words cards like gestures, imagine if, apples to apples
Small things that I can give as gifts to kids
Scissors
Gloves (for first aid and for fun)
Balloons
Book with ideas of games

Items I would personally like
Chocolate, coco, cheese, almonds, walnuts, Davis Drug book, reading book, magazines with articles

Thanks

9 Girls + 2 Adults = Changing 1 Life at a Time

Sunday, April 22, 2012

MayMay and I had the opportunity to take 9 girls out to lunch to celebrate passing and moving onto the next grade. These girls were so excited that they walked from their home in the dump site the main road where we were traveling on. From a distance, I could see them jumping up and down as we approached. Their squeals of delight and excitement where followed with lots of hugs and expression of how they have been looking forward to this day.

They had washed, combed their hair, and dressed in their best closes. Their faces where shining not only with cleanness, but also with the joy of being able to go Jalabee. Jalabee is a fast food restaurant similar to McDonald. 

Some of the girls had never been to this Jalabee or even had chicken. After lunch, we got them ice cream. Quite a few had never even had ice cream. Wow!! It was cute too see how they try to eat the it as it melted down their arms. I try to teach them how to lick around the cone to keep it from dripping.

Watching them, opened my eyes at how I have gotten use to having these things so available. Some of the girls, saved part of their lunch to take back home. Others where so full that their stomachs hurt. The amount they ate, was only a piece of fried chicken, 1/2 cup of rice, couple of bites of spaghetti, and a small glass of coke. And they were full!! Wow!!

Afterwards, we walked over to the arcades. Here is a video  of a ride they took.

 My prayer for these girls is that they know Jesus and rise above prostitution and drugs. I would love to see them get an education and receive a respectable job. Please pray with me for these girls and the girls of Cebu.

Praise!!!

Date written: Saturday April 21

Dear Family & Friends,

My heart is bursting with praise for the Lord Jesus!! Your prayers were answered. My sinuses have been healed and I can breath freely. Thanks to Jesus and to the amazing herbals that Dorece donated, I don't have pressure and my throat is no longer sore.

I also want to praise Jesus for the work He is doing in my heart. Oh so much has happened in these last two weeks that I can't believe the growth He is doing in my heart. I get soooo excited just thinking about it.

One of the things that I have been dealing with is fear of the future and anxiety of not knowing. I didn't realize that these are emotions of not trusting Christ full. I am challenged that now is the time to stop  and surrender it all to Him. I was freed. I can't believe how living in His will and trusting Him with everything is a weight off. I love it!!!! Why didn't I do this sooner?

Today I had the opportunity to join MayMay and the HR staff at a counseling conference. Wow!! I didn't realize the simple act of listening and not assuming has such an impact on a person. Listening is key. I need to try and not intergect with my experience and thoughts. I need to help the person to come to a solution while directing them to Jesus. I now understand a little more what James was trying to say when he said, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." (James1:19-20)

I was able to go to the dump site this last Thursday! Wow!! These people live on the dump and have made their own community. There are houses, streets, animals, and food shops. I thought is was going to be unorganized and shelters that would be dirty. The area may be, but these people make the best of what they have.. It felt like this was home for them. Seeing those children, opened my eyes to why prostitution, drug use, and stealing is so high. When a people have nothing, how can they grow?  How can you break this cycle?

When we got there, the children lined up to get their biscuit.

This baby was with her under sister who was like 6yrs. Mom no where to be seen.

MayMay's daughters and sense MayMay is my sister (can't you see the resemblance), they were my nieces. 

Where they hang their laundry to dry

Father Hines. He started this ministry by living with these people for 2months so he could get an idea of how it was. He would have stayed longer, but he got really sick. He has a heart for these people. He will working to relocate by creating a community where they can live in better conditions. There are pictures of this below.

This structure behind me is a house. It was cleaner inside than I expected. My concern is that it is leaning. Not sure how the structure is.

Ok. This is the relocation area. Father Hines has created a program where the families have to help build their apartment so that they take pride in what they have accomplished.

They have fresh clean water!!

Please be praying for these people that they able to rise above this.

Prayer

Please be praying that my sinuses and throat are better. I think the dust, smoke, and dry a/c have finally caught up with my allergies. Thank you!

Philippine Hospital vs USA Hospital vs Glory Reborn

The longer I am here, the more my eyes are opened to how good I have it in the USA. Take the hospitals. In America, most rooms have only 1-4 patients and each having their own bed. The nurses are assigned to 1-8 patients depending on the severity of their condition. The rooms are designed to be feel warm and friendly and to categorize to your every need. There is a supplies, pharmacy, and staff readily available. The technology is always improving.

Below are some pictures of an American Hospital rooms 

The Philippine Hospital are so different. 

They have a 1-4 patients to a bed. The rooms are filled with rows of beds that are filled with to over flowing with patients. The rooms are crowed with families, medical staff, and patients. The ratio of nurses to patients is like 1 to 30. One nurse told me that at one point she was responsible for 90 patients. Yikes!! The patents don't have the room service or supplies like the America offers. They are responsible for buying their supplies and bringing them in. So the medicines, dressing changing, and even at times their food.


What really hit hard was how lacking in technology. They do not have the life saving ventilator that we have in our ICU.












Some one, friend or family member, must sit there and bag the patient. This is so hard to do sense they may not give enough air or they may give too much. We all get tired. Just think how tiring this would be.











This experience to witness these conditions, has left me grateful for what is available in the USA, but also ashamed of the complaining I have done that they don't treat their staff well. When I look at the staff in the Philippines, it leaves me no room for complaining.


Glory Reborn

So how does Gory reborn fit into this? They have a vision to be more than a clinic. To be able to offer a place that they can take care of the critical ill moms and babies. To offer an environment where it is safe to have babies and to be treated with respect.

The clinic is a blessing to these it sees. They strive to educate, encourage, share Jesus, and listen. It is a place that I only wish that the American maternity units could be like. Jesus fills this place to over flowing with his presents. I have been blessed and encouraged by just being apart of the staff.

It is amazing how far our American money will go in a country that has none. $40 us will supply all the needs of a mom and baby through pre to post pregnancy. This allows them to offer free services to the patients with them only have to pay for supplies which at times only cost a few dollars. I pray, that God leading, that you will consider a donation. The more donations, the more the clinic can grow.

Thank you!!!

See Them For Who They Are

I have learned so much sense being here. One of the days I had the opportunity to accompany the social worker MayMay. She wanted to see if this pt story was correct. Pt stated that she lived in a community home with her boyfriend. She is only 16 years old. Her parents died last year and her siblings were adopted out. She reverted to working in a bar to pay the bills. In the Philippines, this is looked upon very negativity. Pt told MayMay that she didn't know of Jesus could love her. MayMay was able to share with her Jesus' love.

This young lady is so beautiful. She is the one next to me with the very pregnant belly. This is the outside of where she lives.

When you first walk in, you see the kitchen. Dirty dishes, stove that does not work, and dirt floors. To the left is the where they sleep. Not much room. Behind the kitchen, is an open area where they go to the bathroom. No out house.

This little girl is one of the people that live here. She is standing at the entrance of the bedroom. Is she not soooo cute?

I learned that I have it soooo good. I have never really seen poverty up close until now. I can't imagine living in these conditions. I left that place with a broken heart and love for these people. I learned a lesson on gratefulness.