Merry Christmas!

Many of you know that I am not a big fan of Christmas, so being in Africa away from my family makes the holiday a little more miserable. The thing that makes it worth while is that I have some pretty spectacular friends here who have in many ways become my family.
This morning as a team we had a tea time and white elephant gift exchange and after Beth and I joined Jenny and Orlando in their room for another little morning tea time Christmas celebration. Despite being so far away from my real family I didn't have the longing to be with them at home that I have had the last several days. I have come to the conclusion that no matter where you are in the world on Christmas, as long as you are with people you love and who love you back nothing else really matters.
There has been a lot that has happened here in Tanzania since I last blogged. Our quarter ended on the 19th of December and the staff switch over happens next week. We as a team are anticipating their arrival and hopefully with them will come a new restored hope in the school and the vision of why we are really here.
I cannot tell you that the last 12 weeks have been easy or incredible all the time. I would be lying if I said that. We have experienced many heartaches, discouragements and at times I am sure all of us at one point have questioned going home. We lost one. Ash decided to leave the school and go home to Australia. She left only a couple of days ago and already she is deeply missed. An incredible woman of God and I am certain that what she does next will richly bless the lives of those around her. There is no doubt that she has made my life a little more richer.
It is my love for God and my love for Africa that keeps me here. There are so many things that are calling me home, but there is no doubt in my mind that I am meant to be here. I am pretty sure that my future is here in Africa as well. As each day goes by the more that I am convinced that this is where I want to spend the majority of the rest of my days.

On Thursday, Joy and I went to Mkuranga Hospital to give them a thank you gift and Christmas blessing. The staff there (one sister in particular) were very helpful a month ago when Joy, Amy W and I went to ask some questions about the hospital and the local community for our Community Profile project. Anyways, while Joy and I were there this last week I asked if there was a Cesarean section happening while we were there. The sister told us that one was just about to start and that we would be able to go if we wanted to. It was pretty amazing. We were able to talk to the woman before operation and was able to witness it from start to finish. It was incredible. To be in the operation room and so close to the patient really was amazing. Joy worked as a surgical nurse in Singapore and talked me through the whole procedure. I learned so much and really feel like this is an area I really want to work in. I really just wanted to get my hands in there. Its a boy! He was really big. Long. When the doctor began suturing the mother up I went out and prayed over the little guy. I love babies. Holding a baby makes everything bad in the world disappear. There really is nothing better than a baby in my arms. I love it. I wish I had a picture of him to show you, but neither Joy or I had our camera. Bummer. So that was definitely one of the highlights of the last couple weeks.
We had some time off from the 14th-19th. It was a much needed time for all of us to go away and process the last 12 weeks as well as prepare for the coming 12 weeks. I spent the first night with Ash and we met up with Celia who was staying with her sister who had come to Dar for work. We had a lot of fun... we'll just leave it at that. The next night Beth, Jen and a couple of others met up with us. The remainder of the days off Beth, Ash, Jen and I spent at the beach. What a perfect way to get the much need relaxation time in. It was wonderful. We stayed in tents that resembled military tents right on the beach. The first thing you see as you step out of the tent in the morning are the ocean waves crashing into the sandy shore. Perfection.

I hope that you all are doing well and have a Merry Christmas! May the joy of the Lord fill your hearts this Christmas and New Year. Many blessings to you and your families! God Bless you!

I have tried to upload pictures several times. I will continue to try over the next couple days. Please be patient. Pictures will come.

A bomb went off in the labour room...

Yesterday I delivered a little baby boy at 10:39am. Wt: 2.75kg. In memory of my grandfather who passed away 2 years ago I named the new little one Dale. He was perfect. Mama did well. No tearing and perfect delivery of the placenta. Her name is Fatuma and she is 18 years old.
Today we arrived at the hospital just before 9am and quickly got to work. I assisted Louise with her first delivery. A little boy born at 10:39am. It was a rather good delivery, but just before leaving today the mother fell and lost a lot of blood. As one of the nurses was pulling out clots of blood I was standing over the mother praying and trying to comfort her in the midst of weakness and severe pain. Please continue to pray for her. Just before 11 am a jet flew over the hospital. It was so close to the ground that I thought that a bomb was about to go off and we were all going to die. It was so scary. I was convinced that I would soon witness the second coming. Chaos in the labour room soon followed. A labouring bomb went off. All of a sudden I was doing a delivery, Ash was bringing in a woman from antenatal who delivered on the floor beside me, Amy and Emily were doing a delivery, Celia was delivering a baby all by herself and it happened to be a baby with the cord around his neck (Noah), and there was a delivery happening in the other side of the ward. It was crazy. The baby I delivered was a little girl. She weighed 2.7kg and I named her Emma. She was born at 11:25 am. She was pretty adorable. Every baby I see I want to take home. They are just too precious.
I feel like I am really in my element here. Not only do I feel like I am in my element in the hospital, but also here in Tanzania. Africa has become home.
I will post pictures on Saturday as well as any other updates.