Another lengthy post... So sorry!!!

Okay, I need to bring you up to date. I can't believe I've been here for more than a week. I've seen and done so much, so I have a lot to tell you! I'm feeling a lot more comfortable getting around the city now, via taxi, tricie or motorbike. I'm always with someone who knows where we're going, so that helps for sure.

I didn't actually go anywhere today because I have a pretty bad sunburn. Shame on me for waiting too long to put sunscreen on when Heather and I went swimming at the Marco Polo Hotel. The entire experience was so worth the pain of a sunburn though. Marco Polo is a five star hotel, and we only had to pay 150 pesos (equal to $3 US) to swim. The water was cool, but so comfortable on a hot day! I think we're going to go once a week!!!

I worked Prenatal Clinic on Tuesday, and loved every minute of it. The language barrier is a challenge, but you work around it the best you can. We (the midwives) arrive at the clinic around 7:45am for devotions and prayer. Then we sing worship songs with the mamas and pray with them for about 15-20 minutes. While the midwives go set up the prenatal room, one team of midwives (we rotate) gives a health teaching to the women. Then we get started on a stack of charts (anywhere from 40-70 women), calling the mamas back one by one. I'm looking forward to starting continuities (clients I will do every prenatal with, and be at their birth), so I can establish a relationship with the mamas I see. For right now, we just see whoever comes through our door. I have to admit my favorite part of prenatals isn't checking fetal heart tones or palpating a pregnant belly to see what position the baby is in. It's when we pray over the mama and her baby, for protection, health, safety, their future, and that they would draw close to their creator. I can't even describe to you how powerful and moving it is to be apart of this ministry.

I had my first 12-hour day shift on Wednesday. I honestly didn't know what to expect, so I went with an open mind and heart, ready to learn!!! I guess the clinic has been pretty slow lately, only averaging around 1 birth per shift, which is highly unusual. So, you can imagine my excitement at getting to see three births on my very first shift!!! They were all beautiful births, beautiful mamas, and beautiful babies. I was so honored to have been there for these momentous occasions. I'm not doing a whole lot yet, but I did check fetal heart tones, take a blood pressure, take a temperature, and rode along in our clinic ambulance to transport and client with lack of progress and border-line hypertension. My first trip to Davao Medical Center was the most eye-opening experience of my life. I can't even describe it to you because it defies words. The conditions are pretty bad and there are people everywhere. I'm still in shock...

I had my first 12-hour night shift on Friday night starting at 7:45pm. We got there and things were completely crazy. The day shift had to call in extra help because three mama's decided they needed to push at the same time. By the time we started, things were pretty under control, but it was super intense! Our only baby of the night was born at 8:25pm, again another beautiful birth. I got to check fetal heart tones again, and realized that I am starting to feel more comfortable with the flow of how the midwives do things here. We actually ended up sleeping until 6:30am, when our next laboring mama came in. She didn't have her baby by the time we left at 7:45am, but that's okay.

I'm working a lot this week! Monday and Tuesday I have prenatal clinic, Wednesday day shift, Thursday night shift, Friday off, Saturday day shift, and Sunday night shift. There's a good possibility that I'll start assisting in the next couple of weeks, so I'm pretty excited about that.

I still really can't believe I'm here in Davao doing what I've been dreaming of doing for so long. I really love it, and am enjoying getting to know my housemates!!! They've made me feel so welcome, and so we I've decided they will be my Davao family away from home. I miss you all terribly and love you more than I can express. Thank you for your continued prayer support. I promise to keep this blog fairly up-to-date, and would love to hear from you. I also promise to return your emails, although you may not hear from me right away. I only get to be on the internet at home, since we don't have wireless at work! Much love to ya from the other side of the world!

Love,

Briana