I don't even know what to write! I feel like I've been here for a very long time, but today is only the second day! The flight went extremely well with no major hiccups! It was really tiring and long but I was able to get some good sleep on the planes. In Korea and at RDU they opened my bag but only in Korea were they really asking what the heck is this stuff?? After I told them medical supplies everything was fine. On the Philippines side I got waved right through customs and and immigration! After waiting for my bags for what seemed like an extremely long time, I was off! It was such a relief to see Jeri and Darren and Lauren and to hand my bags off! I'm staying at Jeri's house for a week before moving over to the birthing home. Her home is absolutely gorgeous! In the Philippines you are always surrounded by noises, people and smells! Even if you have some trees around your house you have neighbors on every side! Because the houses are so open, it seems like you can hear everything! Jeri has a beautiful garden out back that I love sitting in! I don't even feel that my body has struggled to adjust, surprisingly I've welcomed the heat with open arms, it is nice and breezy and feels so good here! Being here I've started thinking a lot more about everything that I consume, food, toilet paper, water, soap, and dishes, I'm so aware of it all now much more than before. Somehow it seems much easier to go without certain things, I love taking bucket showers, I don't mind being a little warm and I love being around this new culture! Being surrounded by a jungle and seeing high hills covered in trees off in the distance is amazing! I stayed up pretty late my first night since my flight got in around 11:30. The next morning (yesterday) I woke up at 6 because it gets so bright here so early! At 8:30 we headed off to the birthing home! I was able to see a birth! I loved holding the mother's hand and giving her water, it was amazing to be able to hold her tiny baby and hand him over to her! I have to observe 10 births before I can start doing more hands on things. After the birth I was able to watch and help with prenatals! I measured the baby, felt for the position and listened to the heart beat. I haven't brought over the medical supplies yet (to the birthing home) but I know they will love them! They have only two dopplers, both pretty old and one even falling apart! I also got to visit the children's home just for a few minutes yesterday afternoon. I hope to be able to spend a lot more time there! Although I was tired and out of it yesterday my jet lag has not been bad at all! I made it until 8 or 9 last night and then woke up at 10 today. Today has been so lovely, it's been a resting day and I've been spending time in the garden, reading books, journaling, and catching up on email. I'm so ready to get back to work tomorrow! I can't wait to work more with the Filipino midwives who were all so wonderful and welcoming yesterday, and with the Filipino women who are so strong and beautiful. I'm longing so much to learn more of the language, I want to be able to communicate with the women at the birthing home! I am really loving it but still not believing that I'll actually be here for five months! That every morning I'll wake up and still be in the philippines! I'm praying that the transition from Jeri's house to the birthing home will be really smooth! It will be very different living there! It's much more open and smaller, and there are always people coming in and out, privacy will be out the window! But I'm so excited to be that close to the births and the midwives! I have so much peace here, my heart feels very content and happy and so close to God here! i love the weather, I love the people and I can't wait to be involved in more births!!! On a side note, if anyone I am not already updating would like to receive email updates please let me know and email your addresses to marlihivers@gmail.com
Jeremy (& Mommy & Daddy & Benjamin) says Hi! He says "Thank you for sending all of the pictures! I love you. Come back soon. What's the puppy's name? And I want to know what the baby's name is too?" (He just told me that sentence needs a question mark because that's how it tells people that you want to know something. LOL! LW) Have a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteHi Marli --
ReplyDeleteAunt Martha here. I love the pix!!! Are those mountains you're flying over (if so, where), or clouds? The circle one (the last one) is very cool too -- intriguing -- takes a minute to figure it out.
It looks lovely and lush, like I remember it. Watch out for infected mosquito bites, etc. I still have scars from picking at them. Enjoy yourself! We keep you in our prayers.
(Baboy means pig. Tanga -- swallow the g -- means stupid. Ikau means you. I only learned minor insults when I was there. Hopefully you will acquire a more useful vocabulary.) :o)
Love, Aunt M (& Uncle T)
Ha ha! Linda that is awesome! What wonderful questions!! The puppy's name is Paco! And he is so sweet! The baby who I saw delivered, (as far as I understood the mom) his name is Travis. I made sure to ask her! Tell Jeremy I love him too and hope to take him to the pool this summer!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Aunt Martha (& Uncle Tom)!!! I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures! Yes, those are mountains and they were amazing to fly over! I believe they were in Siberia! Unfortunately I didn't take the time before I left to figure out really where exactly my plane route was going to go over. I saw a lot of canada and Siberia and I'm not sure what else! :) I was just thinking the same thing about the circle one! it is the dinning room table, the floors are the blue tile and the circle thing is the mirror on the ceiling! Jeri says it's how they tell if there's anything left in the bowls of food! lol!
it is definitely extremely lush, jungle-like and gorgeous! I have also been informed my my mother about the infectious mosquito bites and the scars, I'm trying very hard not to itch! Despite my best efforts, on skype this morning my mom caught me doing it! Thank you for the interesting vocabulary! I have yet to be called out at or spoken about rudely (to my knowledge anyway :D Just smilies and raised eye brows! :) Hopefully I'll learn things more along the lines of "relax" or "breath" or "it's a boy!" or "you're going to have your baby very soon!!!" ha ha!
much love,
~M
Marli, I am so, so excited for you! The feelings you are discribing are exactly what I feel every time I'm on the mission field. You definitely need to learn the word for pain and push!!!!! I can't wait to hear more of what God is doing. I'll be praying for you daily. Love in Christ, Kathi Evans
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the prayers! I always need and appreciate them so much!!! Isn't it so amazing?!??! I feel like a different person! I feel whole and fulfilled and so free! the Father is so good and I feel so close to him here! Thank you for the sweet comment and again for the daily prayers, they are so precious to me!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's my method for NOT scratching mosquito bites (developed in the Philippines, after multiple infected bites):
ReplyDeleteWhen you discover a bite and are tempted to scratch it, use your fingernail to press an "x" right over the actual entry point of the bite. Press hard! This will hurt just enough to make it stop itching.
Okay, that's the extent of what I learned there. I am glad that you are spending your time more purposefully. Isn't God good to give you such an opportunity? :o)
Love, Auntie M
Hi Marli,
ReplyDeleteThe blog with your pics and descriptions are wonderful. I can hear your voice telling us everything. it is so exciting. it feels like you are close. Love you so much. Love, Jean
Auntie M,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the no itch mosquito bite method! Yes God is good to have brought me here! and continues to be good and faithful as I learn and change and grow here! I also got some anti-itch stuff which works ok if I apply it consistently.
love,
M
Jean, I'm glad that it feels like I'm close! You are so sweet and encouraging! I miss you so much! love you to pieces!!! ~M