Two Deliveries - Life in Africa

I just realized that I didn't send this note to you. I do deliveries on the side - love to help out and pray for the Lord to bless in the delivery and use it to help the family closer to Him.

Okay, finally on here to write a bit. If you don't want details of deliveries - just delete. Two deliveries came my way in three days - was fun, stressful, and gives glory to God.
She, our neighbor, knocked on our gate around 9:30 PM Sunday in labor. I went over there, watched a few contractions and figured it wasn't going to be long ---got my stuff together. It was handy that it was right across the street. Things progressed slowly --I had on mosquito repellent - doing a deliver by flashlight out on their porch - very nice cool breeze going. (I had collected some of those disposable plastic table-clothes from American get togethers; I like to use for deliveries.) So, she delivered at 11:10 and then started bleeding and bleeding. I was waiting for the placenta --too much blood. Got the placenta out and did uterine massage ---for an hour, meanwhile taking quick breaks to try to find my oxytocin. I had the sister looking through my bags with my flashlight and "please shine it here so I can see if the bleeding has let up." So, as long as I was holding the uterus, the bleeding let up. Finally I ran back to the house - praying the whole time that I would fine the pit. Didn't find it there - had to be with me as it should have been. Got back - there it was - gave the shot - massaged uterus - bleeding stopped. Now it was 12:30. I even thought about the hospital (very unusual for me - praying so much of course all the time. ---and what could the hospital do? find blood for a transfusion? - not. take a long time and she'd end up dead.) So, after all that the Lord stopped the bleeding. I had her lying there for a while --told the sister "she's going to be dizzy if she gets up" --up for a bath is the idea. So, after a while - up she got - cleaned up - almost passed out and not making it, throwing up and looking to go into shock. "Let's get her back lying down fast!" - got a mattress out there and there she lay down ---a bit better after that. Anything here to drink? juice of any sort? --not a chance. Uterus was doing fine - I ran home for barley life, apple juice and bread and butter. I never feel like eating much after my deliveries. Well, when I got back - hadn't been long, she liked all that and was ready for a meal ---back to make egg sandwiches and tea. Their culture is so different than ours ---after deliveries it is almost prescribed ---get some coffee, and theirs is strong and black --maybe think the caffeine will get the woman going again. Anyway, she ate all that and I checked on her the next few days and did baby care ---all is good with them.

The next case was a lady on her 10th month!! She had a carnet (little record book) that showed when they first heard the heartbeat. Still not going into labor. (This one is really a great miracle story.) I was getting concerned - being a midwife; though not lined up to do her delivery (I wasn't lined up to do either of them), neither a member of our church - how much of my nose do I put in? Still preg. on Sun., Mon. is always very hectic, Tues. morning our phone rang at 6 AM. - no one there. It rang again - no one there. Now you see, we usually leave the phone downstairs so it won't wake us or Gideon up --it was in our bathroom. Since I was up, I figured it might be from God that I go over there and check on her and talk a bit before I had to start school --so off I went. She was already dressed and ready to go to the hospital as if she were expecting me ---though no one had called - wow. She just wanted to be dropped off - which I did; then went and taught school. When I picked her up I wanted to give her a shot of oxy. myself ---I probably should have and probably would next time, wasn't thinking that early in the morning ----like, "go to the hospital as a very last resort and I know the person needs a C sec. I had listened to the heart-rate, good. But ---it would have meant my whole day gone (selfish) and staying at their hut --not good for a delivery --no water or electricity ---our house full and jamming during the day. So when I dropped her off, I was thinking it was all out of my hands. Around lunch they got a prescription to induce labor, (I had to go to four pharmacies before I found some pit to buy though I have some at the house.) then at 3:30 PM they (the man and a friend of hers) came back to my house with a prescription for medicines for a C-sec. I borrowed $100 from Momma and off we went. They said the baby was going to be too big - failure to progress. If you know midwives ---we do not like that diagnosis at all - never seen it in all of my time as a midwife.
Back we went to the hospital ---she was having some strong labor - no progress. I'm saying - move around a bit....she is saying, "I'm tired." okay, off we go for the supplies. Out here --you pay for it, you've got it --no returns at all, ever. (I'm thinking that she can have this baby and I will be stuck with all this medicine.) Out here if you are going to have any procedure or anything - off you go to the pharmacies to fine the supplies. At the pharmacy the medicine came up to over $200!! I said, "Look, I have this $100 --just get me the medicine and I'll owe you the rest." not going to happen right then. "Okay, take off what you can, give us what we need to get started and get it down to $100." So, that is what they did. Back to the hospital (I have my delivery bag with me all this time). The woman is in serious labor and the woman in charge said the baby had moved down a little to an 8 cm. I am telling the woman --you can do this. Just a little bit more. Well, the midwife on shift was very nice --we hit it off right away, was also busy with the other people and staying at her desk and was also tired with our lady who had been there since early morning and not doing much. I had all my stuff with me and got to do the delivery in the hospital right there on the FLOOR (I figured, okay, they have people here to clean up this mess -smile) - the other midwife still over at her desk. Our woman had to push every bit out - big baby, shoulder dystocia, lot of work. I was pulling and cork-screwing the baby out being very careful for the head and neck and was glad I was there to help - praying the whole while - lot of meconium in the fluid, tired baby, but came around fast. I had a blanket with me to hold the baby in so it wouldn't be on the hard, cold floor--she had the baby at 4:45 PM - nice big 9 1/4 lb. baby girl --she and baby all fine. God took care of that one ---is He wanting me to do this more? Pray for me. Next great miracle ---another woman in serious condition - seizures and eclampsia - needed surgery, and that family was able to buy all that medicine from me ---saved them some run around and got our money back. Our woman was discharged at 6:30 PM - eating, drinking and everything fine. I've also been checking up on them --all fine, no complications at all. Praise the Lord. We have been praising Him for His mercies and power in all of this and shouting hallelujah and glory to God.
Okay, off I go again. Praise God for new life. Pray that we use these contacts to help people get saved and walk with God. That is our goal. We are reading a good book --biographies of great saints ---They Found the Secret. --Hudson Taylor, John Bunyan, Oswald Chambers, Amy Carmichael,....Abide IN HIm, the great Exchange, PRAY. We sure don't pray enough.
Love,
Joan

a note - skim, PRAY and delete

I know the girls have not had time to write for a while --they are super busy. I thought I would send a note from them to me (shortened - an inside edition) to those interested in their lives in the Philippines. Thanks for praying for them.

This is from Hannah:
Hi there! We just had Care Group -where we get together and sing and have a snack and sometimes have a message or read verses and pray. Well, before we used to lead them. Our classes would take turns being in charge of the program. It was a little bit stressful. But now Joy talked to Krys and they changed the program--smile. Joy is so nice. So now the men are in charge of the care groups. Because we have 3 married students and Manny and Matt. So there are 5 guys and they are leading Care group now. It was really fun. Matt is so funny. He likes to talk. And he talks quite slow :) The big thing that he likes to say everytime we're all together is about how much he likes midwives and how he thinks that they are going to be in high demand once mission boards realize how effective they are. Because midwives are welcome in almost every country of the world and they can pass through all barriers. Anyway, he likes to say that over and over. And it's so true. It just made me want to be there now. I want to be working as a midwife now. There! Now! :) So I'm on a mission. Rather than just getting through this school, I'm on a mission to get there! I didn't used to know which country I wanted to go to, but I think I now know. I want to be there! Unless something changes. Anyway, just thought I would let you know :)
I finished my Well Woman assignment last night. I went and printed this morning. I was going to take the test today, but now I'm going to take it tomorrow. So that's nice. It gives me a little more time to study. And I'll be more relaxed because I won't be rushing around trying to go take a test right after printing. So I'm going to work on my midterm and make those corrections tonight so I can turn that in tomorrow too. Then I'll be all caught up. :) Oh, and I went for a walk today. So I feel good. Life is good. I'm happy!
Love you guys! Hope you are doing well.
Love,
Hannah

(from Ruth)
Dear Mommy and Daddy and family,
I just want to talk to you. I miss you. I am starting to enjoy shift more and like to catch babies. I have caught 45 babies now. I can suture, insert IVs, do newborn screening, pap smears (I am not so confident on this one), stay awake all night, and do assignments.

It started with night shift. When I arrived I got a patient. She was in strong labor and I stayed up all night with her. She did not deliver till 6:54 am. Shift ends at 6 am, but I stayed with my patient because if I didn't she probably would have gotten transported to the hospital and also I liked her. As soon as the new supervisor arrived on shift (she is also one of my favorites) she wanted to transport. Heather (the supervisor from night shift. An American) stayed over just to be there for my patient. It was special. She helped coach my patient to push. You should have seen her. She was SO exhausted and had NO energy. Her husband was taller than me and super sweet. He did not want to have to go to the hospital. The patient was sobbing because she was so happy after the baby came out. Heather was also teary eyed.
So.... I got home at 10:30 am from staying awake all night. I went straight to bed and got up at 3 pm because I had a baby check-up. After I did two baby checks, my continuity (personal client that you are to deliver) came to the clinic -- that was at 4 pm. I then stayed for all of swing and stayed awake all night again. My continuity delivered at 3:19, plus another of my continuities came in and delivered at 2:12 am. I delivered two babies only 1 hour and 7 minutes apart!! And I delivered 3 babies in 24 hours. I came home and slept from 10am to 7 pm.
The one continuity really has a sad story. She is only 17 years old and was raised by her grandmother. She is not grown up. She really is a baby herself. Labor was very painful for her and, on top of that, it was really long. She would say, "Ruth, help me. Ruth, help me." Then she would have a contraction. She was pleading with me, but there really was nothing I could do. She had to be the one to deliver her baby. Afterwards she said, "I am never having another baby." She had a baby boy that was 8 lb. 4 oz!!
The other continuity was SO funny. She just made funny comments. She was 2-3 cm at 12:30 am and delivered her baby at 2:12 am!!

Yesterday I printed my assignment and cooked dinner for our house. I made chili, cornbread, salad and rice. It was delicious. We have a cook that cooks on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is SO great even though it is not exactly what we would like (she uses things like pig fat and corn starch and MSG, but she does not use them all the time). It takes off a large burden to have her come and she is so sweet and really wants to help us. Sometimes she doesn't cook enough food, but I made lots of chili. Ate Maricelle (the cook) needs to watch me cook so she can see what cooking a lot really means.
It rained earlier, Hannah and I played in the rain. We got soaked. It was lots of fun. I was hot and sweaty. Well, I am going to go to bed now. I love you all.

Ruth

P.S. The new girls are interesting. Some of them are a little bit irritating and some of them are great. Some of them just need a little more attention. Smile. I do my best to understand them and love on them.

July letter

Finally, I can get on the computer to write a letter. We had a super time with Ruth and Hannah. (They were just here from the Philippines for their one-month break.) It sure did fly by. There we were trying to get the tickets and visas, and now the break is over. We did some health stuff, a delivery, baby check-ups, a health class, ate lots of yummy food, visited a clinic to see how theirs was set up, went through the water off and then on again, went on lots of walks, did projects—sewing cushion covers for the living room throw pillows and other clothes projects. Hannah made a verse pack organizer like Ruth's. They made a composter out of a drum—very nice to make black dirt to use among all this red clay. Also, we went to the beach every Monday—one time which we had a picnic and made yummy Lebanese food, potato salad, and s'mores with a bonfire. The next Monday, we had another bonfire and s'mores, but this time took rice and sauce and did fireworks for July 4th. It was all fun. Andy wanted to do the fireworks at the beach, so the city would not think we were starting a war or something. Then the time was over. We did not get to do our camping trip because this is rainy season, so the kids dragged all the mattresses to the patio, and we all slept out there two nights. The kids continued for another night—lots of fun. With all that, the normal stuff went on—church, ladies' meetings, kids classes, preaching, visitation, etc. The more you pack into your days, the more they fly by. "The days are long, but the years are fast." This is a quote by Dr. Stephen Davey. He is a really good preacher to whom we listen on the Internet.

That was another great thing we did together—listen to messages for Bible class. Dan downloads messages to an MP-3, and we listen to one every day. There are so many great things available to English-speaking people. Growth takes time; time goes fast, so you just have to program it into your day. I can give you names of some really great preachers.

And what came of all that?? Ruth wants to BE HERE. She and Hannah would love to start a maternity clinic. They would like to use their skills and French for the Lord; the clinics here do some bad things. Ruth went to agricultural class and learned how to raise goats. I saw again how much medical missions draws people to us, and therefore, to Christ as we get the opportunity to witness to them and help them in their physical needs. We are looking for land to do all this—house, clinic, farm, church, garden. So, that is what we have been doing over the past month. We also did lots of puzzles while we watched Daniel Boone and played lots of games.

We've been hearing that it is hot in the US—enjoy. It is actually cold here—so nice as well. African cold is refreshing, not bone freezing. The ocean water is quite chilly for our African blood.

The country is returning to normal after the war. We now have gas for the stove, water, and electricity. There is a rumor that a company has been given the contract to fix the road between here and Abidjan. If they fix that, my vote will be all for them. I wish they would fix the road between my house and Lac. Okay, we cannot have everything. I'll just keep enjoying the water. There have been quite a lot of armed robberies. But "the new forces do not play with robbers." That is the new statement. If you are caught stealing, it does not go easy with you.

Calie, the girl who helped me with school this year, left on the same flight with our girls. It was nice that they were able to fly together for the first part of their trip. I will be very busy with school next year—two in Algebra I, all the way down to first grade. I thank the Lord that two courses (science and health) I read on a recorder, so I can use that this year. If you are interested in learning lots of patience - smile - just come over and help me teach.

We are encouraged with the church. Not only are the numbers going up, but the people seem to be growing as well. We were having ladies' class every other week, and THEY have requested that we do it every week - super. Also the youth have class every week, and we are helping the teacher to teach. People continue to get saved every week, and we DON'T preach, "Get saved, God has an easy plan for your life." No, "You are lost in sin, the law condemns you; and you are on your way to hell. Jesus is the only help you can get. Come to Him, repent of your sin, and ask Him to save you." Sometimes I get discouraged that the numbers do not go up faster; God is in charge of the increase. He wants us to be faithful, plant and water, and He will give the increase.

Ruth and Hannah are starting their second year of training as midwives. They want to be here already. I told Ruth, "You can't start and be a missionary until you have finished the training. God wants you where you are - you have to finish." They are both so talented—missionary kids, easily adapt, know the language. They are planning to go to Ambassador Baptist College after they are finished in the Philippines. They are anxious to get on the field.

The town is growing out toward the check point. There are lots of villages and people—no clinics, no churches at all, land is CHEAP - $60 per lot. Our house is about three lots worth. Imagine if we could get six lots and plan for the future—church, clinic, house, farm, goats, garden, etc. Actually, we are trying to get a cell group going there right now, which is why Dan has been investigating the land. Wow, it sure sounds super; we pray a lot for God's direction and will in it all as we wait on Him. We can buy the land with the vision in mind, start the cell group, and see what God has for our kids. We know lots can change.

Seth continues to preach every Sunday and goes out witnessing about every day. So many have gotten saved—my evangelist son. I love him so much. It is hard when you are in such a hurry, to stop and talk to the crowds of people who are everywhere and WILLING TO LISTEN. I had said, "We need a young man who can go out full-time, who knows the language, to go out witnessing for 2-3 hours every day. That would be YOU, Seth." He plays the piano, guitar, and accordion so well. As of now, he is planning to go to Ambassador Baptist College when he leaves here—not for a year at least; he is only 18. I would say, "He is such a great help in the ministry." He has a ministry of his own—a missionary still in school.

We know the story about Elijah and the widow lady—give me the cake first. It is hard scraping the barrel and having faith that God will put some there for you when you need it. My dad was my super example of faith. He never worried at all. "Be anxious for nothing but in everything…" (Phil 4:4-9). I hear that four times a day as the little kids say their verses to me. They have learned that one well now. Most times kids can find jobs while in school. Since Ruth and Hannah are in the Philippines, they can't do that, and we are scraping the barrel over and over. God continues to take care of us by meeting all our needs.

Pray for us all—health and safety. Pray for our girls to be wise in the Philippines and for God to bless them. Pray for us to find land. Pray for the churches to grow—both spiritually and numerically. Pray with thanksgiving for all His wonderful blessings given to us daily. May God bless you as you serve Him.

With lots of love,

Dan and Joan

Ruth and Hannah (in the Philippines), Seth, Lydia, Susanna, Isaiah, Stephen, Rebekah, Josiah, Joseph, Esther, and Gideon

The ocean, a reflection of the sky, was so dark blue today - Wow! As I walked the beach I felt a letter coming on. Whenever you see an awesome sight like the ocean, man cannot mess that up, or when you see a flower, just think that it is God saying, "I love you, and I have given you all this to enjoy." It was a day after a night of rain, when we were able to catch two drums of water, not so hot and just right.

You are probably tired of hearing about the water situation. At least now we have a good system going on. The water has been off so long and we have been praying for water. Well, it rained hard last night - straight from God, right? So, up we went to catch it in drums. I was able to do four loads - catch the wash water with which to wash floors and flush toilets; catch the rinse water with which to do the next load of wash. We have the dirty drum of water, but lots of nice soap, to the rinse water, to the clean water. Anyway, it is lots better – the house is clean. Who knows, we might even keep this system of recycling water. I don't know if I want to tolerate two drums in the laundry room non-stop.

The situation here in San Pedro is calm --- we just came through a civil war. The former president is in custody, and the new president has the hard job of uniting the country, restoring order, keeping the soldiers under control, and trying to get the economy back on its feet. Gas is in town; taxis were lined up. It costs $10.50 a gallon, so think of that the next time you fill your tank. We are thankful that we have a diesel Land Cruiser. The market and supermarket are open again, and today while we were at the beach, we saw two ships - one pulling away full of containers, probably cocoa, and one arriving for pick-up.

During this period of unrest we heard gunshots. Twice, young men with guns, I don't know whose side they were on, came and tried to steal the cars - ours and Andy and Becky's. In God's provision, neither car was working at the time, and after that Dan and Andy deflated some tires to make sure they would not go. So many had their cars stolen. One of our neighbors had both cars stolen and another neighbor had one stolen. The guys that stole his couldn't even drive -- hit that man's big iron gate on the way out - oh well. So, God has been protecting us and providing for us at the same time.

Meanwhile, since we had to "lay low," we did not go out in the evenings and did not take the car out for about a month. I was thinking of Jesus saying, "Come apart and be ye separate for a while." They needed a rest. I felt in need of a rest. I sometimes do not look forward to Sunday - so, I am honest: lots of kids, it is always hot and tiring, I have my own baby to think of, lots to teach, get home late -- 8:30 to 12:30 or later, and usually a house full of kids from church to feed, and no water for the clean up. This has actually been a great month for me. On top of that, Andy and Becky's (my sister) family had moved in with us just before all the trouble started. Their house had been sprayed with an insecticide that was causing Andy to have severe headaches. While they were staying with us, they had friends completely scrub down all the walls and screens and then even paint most of the house. By the time the main unrest was over, the house was livable again. So, we had the added joy of all being together and not having to wonder how it was with them.

If to love God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind is the greatest commandment; what would be the greatest sin? Right, to NOT love God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. Aren't we all guilty of that? Even the most self-righteous sinner is guilty of breaking the law and needs Jesus to save him.

Happy Easter! (late) Such a small phrase to cover such a huge event.

With lots of love,

Dan and Joan

Ruth and Hannah (in the Philippines), Seth, Lydia, Susanna, Isaiah, Stephen, Rebekah, Josiah, Joseph, Esther, and Gideon

PS. Our water came on. Never feel sorry for us - just be thankful. It is not at all unusual to hear our kids pray, "Thank you for the electricity and water being on." After a hot, sleepless night we are extra thankful for electricity; and after almost running out of clothes we are extra thankful for water.