Alicia has worked as a doula for the last 5 years, and has a love for pregnant and birthing women. And now we are moving to Davao Philippines for Alicia to train AND work as a missionary midwife at Mercy Maternity Center. We will be there for 2 – 2 1/2 ½ years. So naturally, this opportunity will be a wonderful use of her God given passion and skill.
The need for skilled midwives is so prevalent worldwide.
In the Philippines, specifically, only 60% of women give birth with the assistance of a trained and qualified birth attendant. The government run hospitals are over full and understaffed and more expensive than many can afford.
On average for every 100,000 births, 200 mothers die as a result – compared to only 20 in developed countries
For every 1000 infants and children under 5 yrs, 33 will die.
There is a 1 in 140 chance of dying as a result of childbirth complications compared to developed nations rating of 1 in 2,800.
These numbers are staggering themselves… but it gets worse.
It is a generous estimate that the percentage of born again Christians in all of the 7000+ islands of the Philippines is – less than 5%.
More than these people need good health care, they need JESUS!!!
A big part of our organization’s vision is to train and equip women to start their own birthing centers in other third-world countries. This midwifery program will provide each volunteer with the necessary skills and knowledge to practice and minister anywhere in the world.
Tell us about your journey up to this point? The journey of being introduced to this organization and how God has brought you to the point where you are today?
Sometimes God has to take away (and take away) to give something greater back – and that He has. Many of you know a little of our
history pertaining to the last few years. We left the Coast Guard six years ago so that we could put down roots and well, that just wouldn’t be so. Pregnancy losses, job losses, job changes, home losses, and move after move… there were
many times we cried out “WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING, LORD???”
Whereas we see now that everything we have experienced along the way has definitely been in preparation for this, we can
distinctly say this process began in earnest just about three years ago. Ben was working at the Youth Ranch. I am a birth doula and pregnancy/birth fanatic and I am usually researching something of the likes. I don’t remember what exactly I
was looking for that night, but the Lord used that opportunity to set His plan for us in motion!
As I began looking through the website, a stirring
grew and grew within me. I knew
then that he Lord was calling us there… I just didn’t know
when.
I showed it to Ben and he was on board, even then, but there wasn’t even a cracked window to break in with, so we concluded that
we’d just do it when our children were grown. Little did we know.
Around that very same time, God also began with his provision of the means for to go in disguise. We bought a run-down piece of property at an unbelieveable price and with much work and sweat and sleepless nights, we made it into a home again. We just sold our sweet farm last month – and where it would have otherwise been impossible for our family of seven to do something of this
magnitude, it is now absolutely possible. You know our God!! He is able – willing – to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ever ask or
dream…
What about your kids? What is life going to look like for them?
Our children are so precious to us. Such is what most parents would say! Nothing is more important to Ben and I than each other and our kids so even now as we are preparing to go, we are concerned with how our children are feeling about this move. We talk of little else anymore, and they are becoming more excited by the day. They know that they will get Daddy everyday
over there and I’m positive that is the one thing that is giving them confidence and even excitement for this new life. They have already been emailing the other midwives children and making friends that way, too. They will continue with
homeschooling as the majority of the other families homeschool. They are already learning some Cebuano phrases and even down to Eligh are speaking it well! Which is another exciting element for them.
We know that no matter how we prepare ourselves and our children, it is going to be a shock when it sinks in that we are not coming home. When birthdays and holidays come and go and our traditions aren’t very traditional and we begin to realize that there is much more that is different than is the same. We have already been talking with them of this, too. That it’s okay to be sad and that when we feel like complaining or saying, “I want to go home…” to try with all we’ve got to find something good to say about our new life. And to
remember that it is just for a time.
It would be so great if any of you would speak to our children about their going, too! that you would try to be as positive as possible. We are trying to build up a positive attitude and outlook on our new chapter so things like, “You are going to experience such wonderful things that most kids never get the chance to.” And, “Send me a picture of you with your new Filipino
friends.” Or “Tell me something in their language!” would be so helpful. You know how effective only hearing things from your parents alone are! So we would REALLY appreciate your help in this area!
How is this a mission?
Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people…
The Lord has laid this heavily on our hearts – and what’s more, He has blown the way wide open. These women and babies are dying… (most of whom don’t know Jesus) and I can help. Right now. We are able to build relationships with those mamas quickly and can share with them Jesus’ love for them in real tangible ways. This is a significant need in the Philippines that we, as
Christian midwives, can help in.
This is a beautiful mission that, year after year, continues to save lives, produce new believers and missionary midwives, and remain a
self-sustaining organization. They have been doing this incredible work for 17 years now and are truly a Christ-centered mission. It was a highly selective application process and new missionaries are not chosen lightly. We are so honored that the Lord would call us to such a unique ministry -- We never dreamed…
Tell us, why you?
Why not us? -- Why not you?
God gave us this verse for Luke when he was born and it applies perfectly here.
For the Lord has commanded us saying, “I have set you as a light
to the Gentiles, that you would bring Salvation to the ends of the Earth.” Acts 13:47
Amen.
But to personally answer that question… I can’t even begin to explain to you my love for childbearing women. I know that’s hard to even grasp… who passionately loves pregnant women? And birth?!??! There is only one possible explanation for such an uncommon passion…Jesus put it there. I just want to be willing to let Him use it for the purpose in which He intended it..
So we will go where He leads. Some missionaries will never leave the town they were born in. Some will.
The need for skilled midwives is so prevalent worldwide.
In the Philippines, specifically, only 60% of women give birth with the assistance of a trained and qualified birth attendant. The government run hospitals are over full and understaffed and more expensive than many can afford.
On average for every 100,000 births, 200 mothers die as a result – compared to only 20 in developed countries
For every 1000 infants and children under 5 yrs, 33 will die.
There is a 1 in 140 chance of dying as a result of childbirth complications compared to developed nations rating of 1 in 2,800.
These numbers are staggering themselves… but it gets worse.
It is a generous estimate that the percentage of born again Christians in all of the 7000+ islands of the Philippines is – less than 5%.
More than these people need good health care, they need JESUS!!!
A big part of our organization’s vision is to train and equip women to start their own birthing centers in other third-world countries. This midwifery program will provide each volunteer with the necessary skills and knowledge to practice and minister anywhere in the world.
Tell us about your journey up to this point? The journey of being introduced to this organization and how God has brought you to the point where you are today?
Sometimes God has to take away (and take away) to give something greater back – and that He has. Many of you know a little of our
history pertaining to the last few years. We left the Coast Guard six years ago so that we could put down roots and well, that just wouldn’t be so. Pregnancy losses, job losses, job changes, home losses, and move after move… there were
many times we cried out “WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING, LORD???”
Whereas we see now that everything we have experienced along the way has definitely been in preparation for this, we can
distinctly say this process began in earnest just about three years ago. Ben was working at the Youth Ranch. I am a birth doula and pregnancy/birth fanatic and I am usually researching something of the likes. I don’t remember what exactly I
was looking for that night, but the Lord used that opportunity to set His plan for us in motion!
As I began looking through the website, a stirring
grew and grew within me. I knew
then that he Lord was calling us there… I just didn’t know
when.
I showed it to Ben and he was on board, even then, but there wasn’t even a cracked window to break in with, so we concluded that
we’d just do it when our children were grown. Little did we know.
Around that very same time, God also began with his provision of the means for to go in disguise. We bought a run-down piece of property at an unbelieveable price and with much work and sweat and sleepless nights, we made it into a home again. We just sold our sweet farm last month – and where it would have otherwise been impossible for our family of seven to do something of this
magnitude, it is now absolutely possible. You know our God!! He is able – willing – to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ever ask or
dream…
What about your kids? What is life going to look like for them?
Our children are so precious to us. Such is what most parents would say! Nothing is more important to Ben and I than each other and our kids so even now as we are preparing to go, we are concerned with how our children are feeling about this move. We talk of little else anymore, and they are becoming more excited by the day. They know that they will get Daddy everyday
over there and I’m positive that is the one thing that is giving them confidence and even excitement for this new life. They have already been emailing the other midwives children and making friends that way, too. They will continue with
homeschooling as the majority of the other families homeschool. They are already learning some Cebuano phrases and even down to Eligh are speaking it well! Which is another exciting element for them.
We know that no matter how we prepare ourselves and our children, it is going to be a shock when it sinks in that we are not coming home. When birthdays and holidays come and go and our traditions aren’t very traditional and we begin to realize that there is much more that is different than is the same. We have already been talking with them of this, too. That it’s okay to be sad and that when we feel like complaining or saying, “I want to go home…” to try with all we’ve got to find something good to say about our new life. And to
remember that it is just for a time.
It would be so great if any of you would speak to our children about their going, too! that you would try to be as positive as possible. We are trying to build up a positive attitude and outlook on our new chapter so things like, “You are going to experience such wonderful things that most kids never get the chance to.” And, “Send me a picture of you with your new Filipino
friends.” Or “Tell me something in their language!” would be so helpful. You know how effective only hearing things from your parents alone are! So we would REALLY appreciate your help in this area!
How is this a mission?
Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people…
The Lord has laid this heavily on our hearts – and what’s more, He has blown the way wide open. These women and babies are dying… (most of whom don’t know Jesus) and I can help. Right now. We are able to build relationships with those mamas quickly and can share with them Jesus’ love for them in real tangible ways. This is a significant need in the Philippines that we, as
Christian midwives, can help in.
This is a beautiful mission that, year after year, continues to save lives, produce new believers and missionary midwives, and remain a
self-sustaining organization. They have been doing this incredible work for 17 years now and are truly a Christ-centered mission. It was a highly selective application process and new missionaries are not chosen lightly. We are so honored that the Lord would call us to such a unique ministry -- We never dreamed…
Tell us, why you?
Why not us? -- Why not you?
God gave us this verse for Luke when he was born and it applies perfectly here.
For the Lord has commanded us saying, “I have set you as a light
to the Gentiles, that you would bring Salvation to the ends of the Earth.” Acts 13:47
Amen.
But to personally answer that question… I can’t even begin to explain to you my love for childbearing women. I know that’s hard to even grasp… who passionately loves pregnant women? And birth?!??! There is only one possible explanation for such an uncommon passion…Jesus put it there. I just want to be willing to let Him use it for the purpose in which He intended it..
So we will go where He leads. Some missionaries will never leave the town they were born in. Some will.
I'll save your eyes from fatigue and your minds from overload at this point and save the rest for a Part II.
Bless you all for your encouragement and support. It is so very appreciated!
Bless you all for your encouragement and support. It is so very appreciated!
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