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.

Video Test

This video was in the middle of the night so you can kind of hear it raining really hard. It is of the entrance of the clinic. The red doors is the entrance. The desk is where the pt come and wait to be seen.

Picture Test

Here are a few pictures. I want to see if they will down load.

This is one of the amazing meals I have been able to eat. It was clam and rice. Rice with almost every meal...depending on who is cooking (me or the cook) : )

My room before I had completely unpacked. I moved my bed to the upper bunk sense that I where I will be sleeping when all the visitors come. I also was getting really cold sleeping under the a/c. It is really nice. This is a few from the door.

This is the view from the window.

What is up?

So for some reason no computer will allow me to get into my blog to update. I went ahead and used face book for the first post so this post will be a little more direct and to the point. Lol!

So I arrived Friday at 12am and was greeted by the heat and aroma of Cebu. I for got just how humid it is. I was excited to hear that they are in their hot months and it doesn't get much hotter than this. Yippy!! Any hotter and I think I would melt away.

The clinic is so cute and cozy. They have done a great job on the decorating. From the sheets to the wall hangings, the it has an inviting feeling.

The staff have been a real encouragement. They have a real heart for Jesus and to know Him more. Hearing their stories has open my eyes to see that people deal with similar problems I do and that Jesus is present across the world. It is easy for me to be inner focused and forget this.

No deliveries yet, but I have been able to help with some postpartum and visit the local hospital. Wow! We have it good in America. I will complain. There are 2-3 people to a bed in a room filled with rows after row of beds. There is so many patients to one nurse that it is like impossible to give good care.

One thing that really stood out at the hospital is that they do not have ventilator machines so the family has to sit there and bag. No kidding!! Young and old. Just think of those preemie babies. There is no guarantee that you are giving enough air and at the right at the right speed.

I went to Hilary and David's church called City church. Wow!! Can they worship. I felt I was in youth camp. Jumping, shouting, raising hands, shouting amen, responding to the preacher's questions and loud. It was really cool to be able to worship like that. I guess that most Christian churches in the Philippines are like that.

The best comment the pastor gave was "being single means that you get to spend more to with Jesus." Amen!!

Thank you for following my journey.i could use prayer for:

To keep Jesus Center of all
To not get Dingy Fever
To have boldness
For Hilary and David to find rest
To see a labor and delivery.


Praise
BM are getting back to normal
Getting more of a restful night of sleep
No dingy fever, enough though I have 6 bites on right leg and 2 on left. I guess the right leg tastes better
The social worker had safe travels to family

Let me know how I can pray for you. Have an amazing day!!

Chapter 2: traveling to Philippines

I am leaving!!! I was praying that they would not fuss over a few pounds over. Well they only had me pull one thing out and allowed it to still be over! Praise God!

I am sitting waiting for my flight which leaves at 2pm and thinking "the day has arrived! The adventure begins"

I can't tell you how lived, supported, and prayed up than what you guys have given me!! Thank you!

Ok signing off for now. Will keep you posted.