Coming into full-time ministry, I had dreams of being very involved in teaching and discipling, but as a mom one of my biggest ministries is taking care of our two little treasures so John is free to minister. It's a bit different of a picture than what I had pictured being in full-time ministry, but a necessity and truly a joy. But it often means I don't get to build relationships with many of the kids or the conversations I may begin get interrupted as I chase a rambunctious two-year old around the building or soothe a crying baby.
This past week, we helped run a mission, which is similar to Vacation Bible School, at one of local churches. We work at this church every Thursday, helping with their Kid's Club, so we do know a lot of the kids. So we got to go nightly and help! This week I was prepared - three cheers for Veggie Tales and a Baby Bjorn! I could mostly help armed with those two key items! One of my prayers for the week had been to have a chance to talk to one special little girl. She had made a comment about not wanting to hear about God the very first day that just broke my heart and I wanted so badly to share God's love with her. To be honest, I didn't really expect an answer to my prayer, I just couldn't see how I'd have the time to talk to her about the Lord and watch the kids. Oh ME of little faith!
Thursday night she was one of the kids who responded to the gospel, and I was able to share with her about the Lord. The Lord truly blessed me beyond my expectations. I got to talk to her one on one, as well as two other little girls. After that, her cousin started asking me all sorts of questions about God. I was able to talk to him about the Lord and share truth with him. My heart broke when all four told me that they have no Bibles at home.
I share this with you not to boast of myself. The opportunity presented itself easily and while I had been looking for an opportunity to talk especially to this one little girl, I really wasn't fully expecting God's answer - to my shame! But, I'm so humbled that God did allow me to share His amazing love with these kids. I'm so thankful for an opportunity to work at this mission! And I'm so blessed that He does indeed answer prayer! And I'm praising Him that those kids heard the gospel Thursday night!
Showing posts with label Life in the UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life in the UK. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, October 28, 2010
A baby, Midwives, OB's, OH MY!
One of the first things I had to do in moving to the UK is figure out the healthcare system here and find a doctor, seeing as I was 25 weeks pregnant when we moved here. No big deal, right? Well, we have learned rather quickly that things work a bit differently here...
- We were taken to the local surgery. As we drove up to the small office, I was envisioning delivering our child in one of the tiny examining rooms with whatever general practitioner was available, right alongside any other minor surgeries they would encounter that day. We soon learned that a surgery was a doctor's clinic, NOT where they operate!
- Midwives - In the states whenever I mentioned midwives were frequently used here, people immediately asked if I was having a home birth. This is most certainly NOT the case, not that home births are bad, I'm just rather partial to hospitals and especially nurses to take care of my every need! Yes, I realize I am not very pioneering. I cried when we left the hospital with Tan Man because I loved my nurses so much. The midwives rotate on shifts at the hospital and doctor's office, so you see a lot of different ones, but then one will stay with you during the entire labor process. They call in an OB if there is any kind of concern
- C-sections vs. Natural deliveries - Thankfully, they are very favorable of natural births here in the UK. I had a c-section with our first, but they were very happy to let me try to have this one naturally if I chose, in fact they encourage it! They do however, make sure I am hooked to an IV, being monitored, and do not labor too long. And they sent me to the hospital to see the OB just to make sure.
- The Theater! We were ecstatic to learn that they have a theater in the maternity ward (John was especially happy about this!). I know all of you moms would have loved to be lulled by the Big Screen during labor - doesn't that sound posh! Our hopes were crushed, however, when we learned the theater was the name of the operating room! Darn! And I had been planning on what movies to watch!
- Epidurals - Now, just as a disclaimer, I went into my pregnancy with Tan Man saying I would take one if I needed it, but after 3 days of back labor, I walked in asking for one...this is my excuse for having an epidural (I'm sure it couldn't be that I'm a big baby!) The other part of this disclaimer is that I know some of you are amazing ladies and faced labor all on your own - you are my heroes! Well, here they are not big fans of the epidural. The first midwife's words were something like: "That is not natural labor. Lying down is the worst position and just not natural." I did have to bite my tongue to not ask, "And when have you been in labor?" (She hasn't had any kids yet, I checked) I wanted to say, that I rather enjoyed not having any pain, not knowing when contractions were coming, and lying down...somehow I didn't think it would go over so well, so I kept my mouth shut!
- Inducing - Um yeah...so they induce only when you are 15 days late (yes, I said 15!) In fact, when I met with the OB she told me my next appointment would be on Dec. 23 (My due date is the 15th) if I hadn't had the baby yet! I think I just kind of stared at her with my mouth slightly gaping! I'm all about going into labor naturally, I'm just really hoping this is before I'm two weeks late and into Christmas!
And this isn't even to mention all the different names (dummys, pushchairs, nappies, just to name a few) I have to say, after hearing about giving birth in the Philippines and in Korea, I'm thankful that these are the ones we've encountered, and none of them are bad! I'm still a little bummed about not getting to watch movies...
- We were taken to the local surgery. As we drove up to the small office, I was envisioning delivering our child in one of the tiny examining rooms with whatever general practitioner was available, right alongside any other minor surgeries they would encounter that day. We soon learned that a surgery was a doctor's clinic, NOT where they operate!
- Midwives - In the states whenever I mentioned midwives were frequently used here, people immediately asked if I was having a home birth. This is most certainly NOT the case, not that home births are bad, I'm just rather partial to hospitals and especially nurses to take care of my every need! Yes, I realize I am not very pioneering. I cried when we left the hospital with Tan Man because I loved my nurses so much. The midwives rotate on shifts at the hospital and doctor's office, so you see a lot of different ones, but then one will stay with you during the entire labor process. They call in an OB if there is any kind of concern
- C-sections vs. Natural deliveries - Thankfully, they are very favorable of natural births here in the UK. I had a c-section with our first, but they were very happy to let me try to have this one naturally if I chose, in fact they encourage it! They do however, make sure I am hooked to an IV, being monitored, and do not labor too long. And they sent me to the hospital to see the OB just to make sure.
- The Theater! We were ecstatic to learn that they have a theater in the maternity ward (John was especially happy about this!). I know all of you moms would have loved to be lulled by the Big Screen during labor - doesn't that sound posh! Our hopes were crushed, however, when we learned the theater was the name of the operating room! Darn! And I had been planning on what movies to watch!
- Epidurals - Now, just as a disclaimer, I went into my pregnancy with Tan Man saying I would take one if I needed it, but after 3 days of back labor, I walked in asking for one...this is my excuse for having an epidural (I'm sure it couldn't be that I'm a big baby!) The other part of this disclaimer is that I know some of you are amazing ladies and faced labor all on your own - you are my heroes! Well, here they are not big fans of the epidural. The first midwife's words were something like: "That is not natural labor. Lying down is the worst position and just not natural." I did have to bite my tongue to not ask, "And when have you been in labor?" (She hasn't had any kids yet, I checked) I wanted to say, that I rather enjoyed not having any pain, not knowing when contractions were coming, and lying down...somehow I didn't think it would go over so well, so I kept my mouth shut!
- Inducing - Um yeah...so they induce only when you are 15 days late (yes, I said 15!) In fact, when I met with the OB she told me my next appointment would be on Dec. 23 (My due date is the 15th) if I hadn't had the baby yet! I think I just kind of stared at her with my mouth slightly gaping! I'm all about going into labor naturally, I'm just really hoping this is before I'm two weeks late and into Christmas!
And this isn't even to mention all the different names (dummys, pushchairs, nappies, just to name a few) I have to say, after hearing about giving birth in the Philippines and in Korea, I'm thankful that these are the ones we've encountered, and none of them are bad! I'm still a little bummed about not getting to watch movies...
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