Malipayon Pasko!

The past few weeks have been very busy.  Here is a quick recap.

Above: A few of the great midwives I work with - and my kids enjoying a new baby. The lady in blue is my supervisor - Ate Stef (Ate - pronounced ahhh-tay - is a term of respect in the Philippines). She is a fabulous midwife!

I am busier than ever at the clinic.  I love working with the midwives, missionaries, and mamas there.  At home, the kids have been winding up school for this semester and have also been busy making paper snowflakes - we're making our own white Christmas.  We've participated in a couple different outreaches to bless some local Filipinos.  Take a look below at what we've been up too.

December 7, 2011
The Tuesday night shift at the clinic has a semi-regular team of awesome midwives and missionaries.  December 7th wasn't crazy busy - but it was steady.  About 1:30 a.m. a gal walked in looking like she was about ready to have a baby.  And sure enough, she was.  It didn't take long - and with lots of coaching, encouraging, sweat, adrenaline, sweat, and a big sigh of relief - I caught my first baby here in the Philippines.  Oh, maybe you thought I was talking about the mom - no, she made it look easy.  So with a heartfelt thank you to the great Tuesday night shift gals - especially Ate Stef, my amazing Filipina supervisor and top-notch midwife - and blessings for a long, happy life to this sweet baby....allow me to introduce baby Justin born on December 7, 2011 (which, in a completely unrelated - but equally momentous way - also happens to be 70 years to the day after my grandad proposed to my granny just after the news of Pearl Harbor was announced.)

As if we needed more to do on the 7th - this intense bowling game with some of our missionary friends also made for a fun outing - Isaac came out on top that day.  Have you ever bowled in flip-flops or barefoot?

December 11, 2011
We helped out with an outreach that ministered to 300+ Filipino children.  We played games, had several dramatic gospel presentations, fed the kids, and sent them home with plenty of good food for their families.

December 15, 2011
Salem and the team at Mercy welcome baby Mildred.  Sweet girl is a redemption baby - after her big sister died from prematurity a year ago.  (No picture, sorry)

December 16, 2011
Nolan and Salem celebrated 11 years of marriage!
 
December 17, 2011
Philippine disaster strikes - more than 1000+ dead and tens of thousands left homeless -  after a typhoon caused flash flooding on the north side of our island. We were not affected - but it was devastating for those who were! Please pray for them - as some people lost their entire families, homes and livelihoods! Here is a LINK for more information.

Island hopping. Lots of the Mercy girls/families rented a big boat and went snorkeling.

December 20, 2011
Christmas Food Bags: Last week we bagged more than 400 food bags for the women who would come for prenatal appointments at Mercy this week.  It was great fun - today (Dec 20) Salem got the chance to give some of those bags away while working in the prenatal room - lots of SMILES and Malipayon Pasko (Happy Christmas) filled the air!

December 23, 2011
Remi is coming!  Our sweet friend from Perryton is coming for a visit.  She arrives this Friday - please pray for safe travel and a blessed time here.  She will be joining Salem at Mercy for several events.

December 25, 2011 - Our first Christmas in the Philippines.  We will be enjoying the tropical climate - but missing family and friends.  Still...the greatest joy is upon us as we remember the birth of our Savior!

*A couple of side-notes: (1) Nolan is working on a Philippine culture blog - if you have anything you've been wondering about that has to do with life here, please let us know and he'll try to answer it!  (2) I just noticed that I am wearing the same scrubs in every picture I posted on this page.  Believe it or not I do have several pairs of scrubs - and all these photos were taken on different days.  :)        MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL!  or in Visayan...MALIPAYON PASKO!