Next Up...

ZAMBIA + MALAWI

March 17 i'll be joining the Birth Attendant School in Zambia for 2 months, and then we'll hop over to Malawi for the final month of their training.  So soon I will be in Zambia, my home away from home! During this visit we'll have so many opportunities:

> to volunteer in a large hospital that we're connected with; doing antenatal and postnatal care, deliveries, newborn care

> connect with a local non profit that seeks to fill the gap between hospital and home for preemie babies

> run community healthcare teachings

Thats just scratching the surface!

Remaining need: $5200 $2700!

If you'd like to be a part of seeing this trip fully funded, just jump over to to the button on the right. Thanks friends!

Recap 2016

2016 was a great year. Here are a few highlights of the year:

Got to start 2016 off right with celebrating Australia day. best.fireworks.ever.

Then before i knew it... back to Africa! Had a great time serving with the birth attendant school for the last couple months of their practical training. 

Got to catch this little one on May 12

Totally surprised my momma when I came home for a visit in August. You should watch the video; and pay special attention to my sister's creepy dance. Watch it here!

Got to meet my niece Aria for the first time! We hit it off pretty well.

I also started leading in the Hospitality crew. So when i'm not catching babies, i'm volunteering with youth with a mission in Perth. 

Delivery #29

This is the story of the 29th child I delivered. It's not a happy one, so if you're looking for a tale of a bouncing baby, this isn't it.

 

This is my second year as an instructor on the Birth Attendant school. Currently we're doing our practical training in Zambia, Africa. It's not ever my hope to take a delivery, because we have many students and I want to ensure they get all the experience that they can, but on occasion it just happens and I get to catch a baby. 

About a week and a half ago, we did a week of night shifts at the hospital we volunteer with. I met this mama on our last night, she came in from the admissions room and settled on a bed. None of my students were monitoring her, so I walked by her several times and I didnt really know what her case was. One particular time I walked by, she yelled out to me "Nursie! Nursie!" I stopped and could tell that her baby would probably be coming soon. I quickly read over her paperwork and saw that she was HIV positive and in labour about 2 months early, and then my heart dropped into my stomach when I read that her baby was possibly dead. The doctors in admissions had been unable to find a heartbeat, but the mama said that she had been feeling the baby move. We were hopeful that the baby would be alive and so we prepared for a live baby. The little one came quickly and he had indeed died in the womb. We had to tell the mama that her baby wasn't alive, and showed her the gender of the baby: a little boy. She was heartbroken. She already had a girl at home, so a little boy would have been a very exciting moment for her family. Together we packed up her things so that she could go the post delivery ward to rest. My heart broke as I saw that when she arrived she had set up all her baby clothes and blankets and towels ready to recieve a healthy baby, but had to put them unused back into her bag. I helped her to a place to rest and then I lost it. I was a sobbing mess I tell you. I was sitting there crying and praying, and God reminded me that his mercy is new every morning. 

When we deliver babies we welcome them in Jesus name and pray over each one and ask God for a name for them, so I prayed over this little guy whose life was cut short and felt that God gave him the name Matthew (which means gift of Yahweh) One of the students was able to tell the mama that it wasn't her fault that her baby died, and prayed with her. God reminded me why he's called me here. Why I see things that are difficult, why I'm a midwife, why I'm a missionary. People need love, people need hope, people need Jesus. 

year one

Amazing how a year flies! I didn't really know what I was getting into when I joined staff with YWAM Perth last year, but God has taken me on this epic journey, and there's no where I'd rather be! Here are some thoughts and picture highlights of the year.

....

 I left my family and friends in the states, and landed in Aus ready to get settled in my new home, meet new friends, and get aquainted with the city of Perth. 

....

Shortly after I arrived, the Birth Attendant school 2013 began, and I dived into the crazy/sweet life of staffing a school

....

Never thought I would be much of a beach person, but alas when there are beaches this pretty so close by...  

....

After living in Perth for only 3 1/2 months I left with the Birth Attendant School for their field assignment. So, even though I would say that I've lived the last year in Perth Australia, I actually only lived in Perth for about 8 months. The rest of the time was spent: 2 months Zambia, 1 month Hyderabad India, 1 month Kolkata India. 

....

I'm so blessed/honoured/flabbergasted that i get to be apart of something i love to do, and train others also. Being Jesus' hands to mamas and babies is worth more than any paycheck.

....

It's a joy to be here, especially in that pic! Those are some of the girls from my class BAS 2011.

....

What's next? In many ways it's the same. In many ways it's different. God has taught me so much this year, that it can't be exactly the same. It's always getting better...

Love, Meg

Kolkata

I'm so excited to tell you about this new adventure! In a few short days, I will be hopping across the ocean back over to India. This time I'm not going to Hyderabad, this time I'm going to Kolkata. Following in the great footsteps of missionaries like Mother Theresa and William Carey. I'll be joining the Birth Attendant School there for a month. We will be working with a ministry called Megacities. Here, watch this epic video:  http://youtu.be/HA8KbdvfDy4

Yep, hoping to see an entire city transformed. I am so thrilled to see how God uses our humble team of midwives. Ready or not Kolkata, here we come. 

I am still needing some $ for this trip, if you would like to donate, click on the button on the right sidebar. Over there --->

Much love,

Meghann

Glimpses

Outreach with the Birth Attendant school was over in a flash! I was traveling with these marvelous midwives for 3 months. And so many exciting things happened! I want to share some glimpses of this outreach. Enjoy!

..............

This is the hospital we serve at in Zambia. 

One of the students delivered this baby in Zambia. what a cutie.

Giving Blood! So many hospitals have a severe shortage of blood, and people go without the necessary treatment because of that. We have seen cases where there have been complications with a delivery, and having good blood in the blood bank has saved the mom's life. 

Oh look it's my blanket! When Mamas come to the labour ward here in Zambia,  they come with loads of warm blankies. They wrap up those babies nice and warm beacuase even in Africa babies can get too cold. 

INDIA!!

The Birth Attendants School have had the priviledge of working in this hospital for the past 10 years. I was working in this hospital 2 years ago when I was a student on this school. The top two floors are recent renovations! This hospital serves some of the poorest women in the community, and there is never a dull moment.

We had a very Merry- saree wearing- Christmas in Hyderabad! 

Just a slice of life.

25th Birthday!

On my birthday weekend me and most of the team took a 7+ hours bus trip down to Livingstone, Zambia. Home to Victoria Falls one of the 7wonders of the world! It's dry season right now so the falls weren't very powerful, but they were still so cool! I can imagine how majestic they would be during rainy season!

In this picture, i'm standing in Zambia, but those falls are in Zimbabwe. 

Normally all of those cliffs would actually be falls...

there were loads of baboon families, we actually got chased by a baboon daddy. Don't mess.

In the afternoon, one of the guides showed us how to get to the top of the falls. We got to go up and stand on the top of the cliffs, where there is normally torrents of rushing water. It was so awesome. This is a little natural jacuzzi according to the guide. It's basically just a trickle of water thats still flowing over the falls. So yes, that is the edge of the largest curtain of water in the world. 

The coolest part to me is that the day that we saw Victoria Falls was the same day that David Livingstone first saw the falls also, only 158years later =D He was a  medical missionary from Scotland that commited his life to Africa. Livingstone is named for him. Such a cool story. 

Well you would think that was enough fun fow one day... but no, it did not end there! We ended the day with a spectacular dinner cruise on the Zambezi river. We saw tons of Hippos, crocs, and even an elephant! All as we ate our delicous BBQ dinner.

Thank you so much Momma for raising money for me to be able to go. I had such an incredible time!

Much love, Meghann