Overdue Update

So many things have happened since I last blogged! Just a few are bringing Asher to tlc, another bazar selling trip (just with Jorge and I this time, it was super fun!), renewing my visa, lots of soccer with the Gustafson's and the neighborhood kids, visits to the baby home and seven births plus two transports. A few weeks ago we also had to say goodbye to Lauren which was really sad! She was so sweet in writing letters to all of us and giving the midwives, their ya yas (nannys), and Jeri and Sara goodbye gifts. Throughout our time together I really enjoyed talking and living with Lauren. We also really challenged each other. I know we had times where we were both irritating to each other and I think we both learned a lot by living together. I LOVED talking with her about my family and I loved hearing about hers. Both of us have big families (with lots of girls and one boy!) and our families are really important to both of us. I really enjoyed confiding in Lauren, She is a very compassionate, understanding, and sweet listener. She also has a hilarious and sarcastic sense of humor, which was really fun to have around! I am grateful for all she taught me about midwifery, filipino culture, and living with peers away from one's home and family. She had really great relationships with the midwives and it was really cool to see those relationships develop even more over the time that I was here. Lauren had to leave for her flight at 2:45 am, so we all just stayed up all night with her at Jeri's house! We ordered pizza for dinner, watched Leverage (tv show), and had Lauren do henna on all of us. It was great to share that time with her. Kim also left the saturday right after Lauren. It was hard for all of us to say good bye. Kim was a really fun and energetic person to have around the birthing home! She's also really sweet and caring. Kim has a great sense of humor and is really personable. I got to talk about my baby fetish with her and it was nice because she liked to talk about how cute the midwives kids and babies were too. Seeing both of them leave was sad but it also prepared me for when I'll have to leave the Philippines. It was good to see all of their preparations and to think for myself all the mental and physical preparations I will have to make when I have to leave.

Soccer has been so fun lately! Besides just playing games on thursdays and saturdays Darren has started taking us all out to the basket ball court in the neighborhood and playing soccer games that help us get better at traping and passing. It's humbling but also super fun! I'm learning to laugh at myself more, to appreciate how great these kids are at soccer, and to encourage them as they continue to beat me all the time! Playing soccer with them has been huge for me, sports are an area of life that I thought I would never be a part of and would never enjoy at all! Darren and all of these kids have completely changed that in me and have really empowered me and given me confidence to enjoy working hard and challenging myself in this way! I am so appreciative of the freedom they have given me, they have opened me up to something I thought I could never possibly do! The kids are all so sweet and encouraging (most of the time) and will tell me that I'm "so strong" and I'm "getting so much better". I love them so much! Darren dedicates so much time and effort to all of these kids, he's an amazing encourager, mentor and father figure to all of them. This has been and will continue to be a beautiful blessing to me during my time here.

Just a quick note: the other day I got to see and hold a six week old baby who I had assisted in the delivery of! It was so cool and exciting, I couldn't believe how fast he had grown!

A month or so ago, I went to a women's retreat with the church I'm attending here. It was a totally different experience for me since I've only previously (before coming to the Philippines) participated in youth group, not with women's or young adult groups. It was also a really good experience, the speaker was very genuine and open, she really shared her heart with us which was a big blessing. She shared the tenderness and pain of what she had been through in her life, which was very powerful. It was really refreshing to be there, to have great quiet times, and to participate in beautiful, spirit filled worship services. I enjoyed getting to know more of the women of the church and talking to them about midwifery. The retreat was in Tagaytay and it was absolutely gorgeous! I again got to pass by the Taal volcano which was awesome! The venue was called Hacienda Isabella and it was amazing! The landscaping, decorating and gardens were incredible! Every little nicknack and detail was well planned out and unique. Each room looked different and felt welcoming and fresh. This retreat was a beautiful and refreshing break for me which I really enjoyed!