Adoniah.

Today was kind of an off day for me. I was very busy assisting with three deliveries and doing one myself with a student nurse. I delivered three placentas and out of those two of them had retained fragments/membranes. I spent a lot of the late afternoon walking through the management of all deliveries and in the end just had to give it all to God. I did what I could and managed each case with confidence and to the best of my ability. It was just strange times in the labour ward.
Baby Adoniah was born today at 3:15pm and weighed 3.25kgs. I delivered him with a student nurse. It was her second delivery, so I did a hand over hand delivery while talking her through what was happening. It was actually a rather enjoyable experience working with her. She was very grateful for my assistance and the things that I taught her. His head came with the cord around the neck, so we clamped and cut the cord and then delivered the rest of his body. He didn't give a good cry and so we sent him for resuscitation and oxygen. He was able to cry later and was doing well when we left. The mom was one of the ones who had retained fragments which was rather frightening, but we were able to safely remove the fragments and clots with the doctors help.

Plow.

The question I have continually asked myself over the course of this last year is, how do you forgive someone who hasn’t asked for it or even understands the extent in which they have wronged you? I think of a particular situation in my life that this applies to and I am at a loss for what to do or how to think. The worse part is no one can really give me a good enough answer and when I seek an answer from God I feel as though God has turned His ear away and has grown tired of my supplication. I feel defeated.

I will be returning to the states in a little more than a month. Although the longing to see my family is great, the realities that I must face upon returning are sometimes too painful to bear when I start to think about it. The place I called home is no longer there. The only thing left is the distant memory of the heart of the man that once occupied the land and pumped it full of life. I will be returning to something entirely unfamiliar. Uncertain. Despite it all, I will plow forward.

“The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” Psalm 28:8-9

Easter.

Me and Bupe looking through the treasures from the Easter egg hunt at Indira Park.

Hosea

Born April 22nd at 2:55pm weighing 2.8kg.
Mum was 19 and knew how to scream. Her mum was there for the delivery to support her. Not typically allowed in the hospital here to have an attendant, but the doctors allowed it if it meant calming and quieting the screaming. She was able to hold her down, but not quiet her, so before the delivery I finally figured out a way to make the screaming stop. Before a contraction I put a wad of her clothing in her mouth and told her to bite down when it hurt. Worked like a charm. I did have to cut an episiotomy to get him out, but was able to suture her pretty quickly soon after he came. Baby Hosea made his appearance and when laid on mums tummy he gave a good cry.
The most precious moment that I have experienced at the hospital here would be before Hosea's mum started to push her mum was talking her through a contraction and tenderly kissed her on the curve between cheek and nose. I will never forget that moment.

Slumdog.

Get me into the villages, get me into the slums and I am content. Life is raw there. Nothing is hidden. I like to see things exposed. See things for what they really are. Beautiful.
Pictures from last Thursday. Health care teachings in the slums.

Nireekshana.

Today instead of going to the hospital those of us that were to be in ANC and Admissions went to an AIDS clinic here in Hyderabad. It was pretty incredible. The couple that started the clinic started it in their home because they couldn't find a place that would rent them space to have the clinic to treat people with HIV/AIDS. Once the number of patients that they were treating in their home reached 700, they decided that it was time to find a new location. Now, I think 7 years later, they have 5,000 patients that they are treating and counseling through the disease. All of their supplies mainly the medications they receive are from Operation Blessing, a ministry from the 700 Club and Pat Robertson ministries. They said that they have been in partner with Operation Blessing from the beginning. All of the care that the patients are given is free.
I was really encouraged today spending time with the staff and mainly just observing how they run things. The doctors genuinely care for their patients and take time to thoroughly explain the medications that the patients are prescribed and why they are taking them. After their consultation the doctors then pray with them. It was awesome to see the level of care and standard of care so high.
In the morning, Joy and I spent time in the Children's area playing with the kids, building houses and random objects out of Lego's and blocks, colouring, etc. It was pretty fun. One of the little girls really captured my heart. So cute and just the most adorable smile.
Thursday, we will be going back to do some teachings on hand washing and basic hygiene. It should be good. I am looking forward to it and being able to have some diversity in what we do throughout the week.
After last week in the labour room and different things that I experienced, being in the hospital a couple of days less this week will actually probably be pretty helpful and will give me the chance to maybe do some processing and divert my focus to something else for just the right amount of time. To work in the hospital requires a lot of emotional investment. At least for me. It is hard to separate myself from the patients that I care for. I get so involved. It is hard not to.

A view from my window...