Shift!!!

Had a super awesome shift at the clinic this afternoon!!!
There ended up only being one birth, but the baby was adorable, and the momma was amazing!!! She couldn't have been sweeter or cuter!!

 I had the pleasure of working with Gabriella, who is an amazing midwife, and lots of fun to work with!

I also learned how to properly fold gauze, and package it in its little sterile paper. Yes, there is an art to it, but I think I've got it down pat! :)

A couple of updates:

- We only have two weeks of language classes left!! We are very excited to be finished, although it was a wonderful experience. Sadly, we are not fluent, as in, at all!!

- We had our interview this past week, part of the processing of our missionary visas, and it went very well!! If all goes well now, we should get our visas approved in the next couple months.

- We still don't know many details about our trip into the province, but we do know that we will be doing the first week on Samal, the little island in the bay under Davao City. Then we will be going (we think! :)) to Butuan, where the 'A'  is on the map. It is pronounced 'Butwan'. We will be there for two weeks, really getting immersed in the language, learning evangelism training, and learning the culture of life outside the city. After those two weeks, we will go back to Samal for a few days debriefing. That will all happen in November. If you would like to read up a little more on the organization we are going with it is called Nehemiah Teams (http://www.nehemiahteams.com/). They usually take groups on two month trips, but we are getting a shorter one, because of how it is integrated with our work here.

 - I also went to 'my' church again this morning. It is the same church I have been attending for the last six (or so) weeks.  I absolutely love it! We sing familiar hymns, use virtually the same order of worship that I am used to, and the people are amazing! Incredibly friendly and welcoming! Occasionally, some or all of the preaching is in Visayan. Although, I obviously can't understand all of it, I can get some, and it makes me happy, when I can still follow along!
 Praise God, that I could find such a wonderful church family!!

The Wharf Again :)

Today, I spent some time at my favorite spot.

{Haha, that would be bed, and I spent some time there too! :) But that’s not what I’m referring to}

Biked down to Santa Ana Wharf, and got some precious alone time! I may have mentioned this before, but despite the dirtiness and the ever-present haze of the city, I love this place!

The waves, the breeze, the smell of saltwater and fish, little kids playing in the waves, dark clouds, the ships in the harbour, the mountains of Samal in the distance, the Badjao homes along the shore; it’s just all incredibly relaxing.

Neighbours of our school house: These two cuties were infatuated with their new puppy!

A few quick updates:

·        - Had my fifth shift last night, from 10 pm until 6 am this morning. It was very quiet, but kind of nice to have a more relaxed shift!

·          - Our language studies are going well. We are really starting to understand things in regular conversation, and can have a simple conversation with someone.

·        - We have three weeks left of language school. After that we will have about a week break, and then we will be spending a month in the Bukid, the rural part of the province, (where there are places that don't have running water, electricity, washrooms, etc :)) where we will really be immersed in the language and learn a lot of the evangelism aspect of our training.

·        - In December, we actually start our work in the clinic full tilt.

·        - Yesterday we spent all day at the Bureau of Immigration working on getting our missionary visas. This is a long process, with a lot of paperwork, but two of us got through it all in one day – what a relief!!

Prayer Requests:

·        - For motivation for the last three weeks of school, and that we will learn a lot even as it comes to an end!

·        - That we will be granted the two year missionary visa. When we apply for our visa we apply for a two-year and pay for a two-year, but the head office in Manila could decide to give us a one-year anyways. If we get the two-year, we will save money, and not have to deal with the hassle of it all so soon!

·        - For each of us, as we start to build deeper relationships and friendships.

 

      **A picture from last week, as we learned how to get at our own coconut juice. A big knife and something to hack at is all it takes to make me happy! :) **

  

Thank you all for your support!!
Miss you all like crazy!
Love, Becca

Beach Day!

Officially finished with four weeks of school, officially half way done!!! Yay!
We were studying up till now with two fun girls from Germany. They were only doing one month, so yesterday was their last day. To celebrate that they finished, and to say goodbye, our teachers gave us the day off school and planned a trip the nearby island of Samal, where the nicer beaches are.
A 10 peso ferry ride (25 cents :))....

This housing belongs to a people group known as the Badjoa. The Badjoa are very poor, often don't speak good Visayan (and thus even the Filipino midwives have trouble communicating with them), don't have a clear concept of time; in other words, they won't know their birthday, how old they are, or their due date. Generally in society, they are very looked down on. The midwives at the clinic treat them very well, and sometimes even refer to them as 'Goodjoa' as a way of reversing the stereotypes about them.

Two of our teachers, Ma'am Melit and Ma'am Gigi :)

Filipinos love little games that are awkward or embarrassing, and so much fun!

Sharing game prizes with little Badjao boys

Coconut trees!!

 And true Filipino style, some karaoke!

Emily and Elizabeth giving food to a Badjao father and son, and checking out the trinkets they were selling.

And one of the four babies born on my shift at the clinic today!!