The Blessing of Youth

This past weekend I had the adventure of a lifetime (or at least it was the adventure of my lifetime here in El Paso). I went camping!
Now, it's not what probably comes to mind. We weren't in tents in the middle of the desert surviving dust storms. We went to a cabin in the middle of a forested mountainous area. It was beautiful. After a year in the desert, you get used to it. Smelling the scent of pines, seeing the sun rise to melt the frost in the morning, and eating off a fire was such a change from the everyday life. What a blessing!
Along with the blessing of being out in nature, there was also the added blessing of the people I was with. You see, I had been invited along on a youth retreat, so I was in the company of a whole bunch of young people. The contrast between my responsibilities as a midwife and my responsibilities on this trip with the youth was so drastic! After a year of midwifery studies, what a much needed reminder of the diversity that can be had in life. What a reminder of life outside of school!
God is good!

Not Alone

I've never lived in a city before without being in a college campus bubble. Living in such a sprawling city is daunting at times, yet exciting, and after having lived here for over a year now, I'd say I know my way around pretty well. I've walked all over the streets of central and downtown El Paso. I know the bus routes to get me to the places I frequent. I've made acquaintances of hotel workers, cashiers, security guards, bus drivers, and neighbours. But even with these people that I know, sometimes I feel alone in the middle of this big city. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I made myself scarce for a while. How long would it take people to realize? I wonder how many others feel the same way. And what can I do to make a difference? How can one person change anything?

Well, I found out the other day. I was on my way to a friend's house, and was waiting by the bus stop. There was still a good 15 minutes time till the next bus came, so I made myself comfortable on the ground a short way from the stop and pulled out my guitar to help the time go faster. As others trickled towards the stop, one man came my way, and using music as a conversation starter, he started asking questions and telling stories about his cat. He seemed content to talk, paying no attention to if I answered his questions or not, so I let him ramble on while I continued to watch the traffic and the people around. As the light turned red, one car pulled up near the bus stop. The woman inside rolled down the window, waved to get my attention, then gave me the 'all clear?' sign, as if asking if I was ok. I quickly affirmed that I was ok, and she drove off to wherever her life was taking her. I don't know her, we never even exchanged words, yet in those five seconds and with that one motion she let me know that she was watching out for me. God reminded me that I was not alone.

That is what I can do to make others know that they are not alone. I can care about the lives of those around me. I can let God's love overflow to touch the people I pass in the streets. I don't need to get to know people in order for them to know they are cared for, I just need to keep my eyes open.

Just Another Day

Today is one of those days: a day busy with appointments, a night long with labour, and a morning filled with baby footprints and fresh biscuits.  It's a day of loss. A day of death. A day of beginnings. A day of life. A day of healing.
For one mother, the loss is that of the freedom that comes before children. For another, it is that of her yet-unborn child. For the other it is the sacrifice of a job and a lifestyle for the return blessing of a growing  family. For one, it is just the beginning of the process of pain and grief. For another, it is the rejoicing of new life, and the healing of old wounds.
And for me, it's just one more day in the life of a midwife.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.

~Romans 12:16-17

The Current Normal

After a year of doing the same thing at clinic every shift, there has been a change. The new students arrived a month ago, and, on the 21st of September, they started work in the clinic. Being new, they have lots of questions, and need quite a bit of help; so keep everyone else from going crazy trying to do their job and help the students acclimatize to life in the clinic, they've asked a couple of us 'older' students to come in on our days of to be there specifically for the new students. This means that I've had the opportunity to come in a couple of times for 12 hour shifts (only 12 hours!!) to help the new students get into the flow of things. It has been such a good change to be in the clinic, to be working, but to be working directly with the students instead of the clients. This experience has reminded me how much I enjoy working with the clients, but it has also given me a chance to better know the new students and influence them, teaching them to work as a team and look out for each other. It has been teaching me the importance of not letting others look down on me because of my age, but to set an example in my speech, my work, my life, my love, and my faith. 

*Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ~1 Timothy 4:12