It's a No-Go

I applied for an internship in Davao, Philippines but they didn't have any openings left for this year. The director encouraged me to re-apply in the new year for a place next summer.

Am I sad about it? Yes, I guess so. Like I wrote in my last post, I was trying not to get my hopes up. There's really not much point in being sad, anyway, since that won't do me much good. I may as well just get on with it and put my energies toward another project.

If there is anything I've learned thus far, it's that stuff happens for a reason. Good stuff, bad stuff...it all fits into the master plan. I'll look back on this in a couple years and go, "Ah! That's why I couldn't go to Davao!"

Kind of like the time when I was in college and I couldn't find an apartment to save my life. It was to the point where I was about to quit my job (you kind of need a place to live in the same city you're working at) when I was offered free room and board with an old lady who just wanted company! She and her multitude of cats were such a blessing to me....excluding the cat hair all over everything and the never-cleaned litter boxes and the cat dishes on the kitchen counter (think about it...the cats walk all over the litter and then climb up on the kitchen counter to eat. yum!). I ate out a lot that summer.

Or the time my long-time boyfriend dumped me and I cried for months and months. Oh, the angst! If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have moved to New Brunswick and met Richard, and had 3 pretty stinkin' cute kids and been married to a guy who isn't emotionally challenged. It's nice not to have to wonder what pole the hubby is at today. :)

Anyway - all things happen for the good, right? Now, bring on the good!

Who Died Yesterday?

Okay, show of hands. How many of you change the channel when you stumble onto a World Vision special? Do the images of the bloated bellies and swarming flies give you that unpleasant guilty feeling? Got better things to watch (Seinfeld reruns?)?

Last Monday, the hit TLC show Jon and Kate plus Eight drew an audience of 10.6 million. They were announcing their divorce (no surprise there). Sky News reported that it had 735 000 viewings when it was reported that Micheal Jackson died.

Everyday, 16 000 children around the world die of hunger related causes. Every 3 seconds, a child in Africa dies of AIDS. Every day, over 4000 babies are aborted in the USA (only 4% of those because of rape/incest or severe health problems).

Where is our perspective?

African Birth Collective Update #3

I feel like crap. Not physically (although this nagging summer cold is the pits). I got semi-accepted for the African Birth Collective trip in February and...I turned it down. I e-mailed the director with my decline, and now I feel a curious mix of relief, disappointment and "que sera sera". Here's an excerpt from the e-mail I sent her:

"I've given a lot of thought to the African Birth Collective trip, and the interview with Kristi gave me a lot of insight. My husband and I have thought and prayed about it, and I am sad to say that I believe it would be best for me to pass.

This trip would be amazing, and such an educational experience for me, but with my level of experience, I do not think that I would be the right kind of help for you. I think it would be better for everyone if I gain more experience before participating in such an intense program.

Please accept my sincere apologies for having to turn down the trip. I'd like to apply again in a few years when my comfort level and experience can help me be a better help to you and the team."

So, there you have it. I just couldn't shake the little nagging feeling in the back of my mind saying that this wasn't right for me. Although it is still a trip I'd like to take, I know that the timing isn't quite right given my level of experience.

When we talked about it, my mom said that I was still very young and had plenty of time to get to the level I need. Frankly, some days I feel like a dinosaur.

I have another trip up my sleeve, but I won't write about it yet. Perhaps that one will work out?

African Birth Collective Update

I had my interview with the African Birth Collective (ABC for short, because it's crazy long to type!) yesterday. I guess it went well! It was less of an interview than a chat about what to expect from the trip, from them and from me. From what I understand, it's not a leisure trip! That's fine with me, I'm not looking for a vacation. I guess I'm looking for something that will bring perspective to my birthing/life philosophy, make an impression on me, grow me up, and wake up the senses. I think ABC will do that.

I haven't "officially" been accepted, since my references are still being checked out. However, now that things are getting a move on, I'm getting nervous! When I applied, I did my best to just forget it. I figured that it was best not to get my hopes up. Now that I've passed through the first 2 obstacles, the experience seems so much more real!

The cost of the trip is affordable in relation to other humanitarian trips (I estimate at about $5000 for 1 month), but a huge stumble in relation to our family finances. I've been saving up since I sent in the application, but there's still quite a ways to go.

So, any tips, ideas and/or encouragement will be accepted!

African Birth Collective

I'm very excited! I'm applying to go on a short-term trip to volunteer at a birth clinic in Sénégal. The organization is called the African Birth Collective. They are a non-profit organization that sends midwives and doulas to Sénégal to exchange midwifery skills and learn from each other. The participants bring over much needed medical supplies, equipment and funds to the clinic. They try to mesh the best of the traditional art of midwifery with the best of modern western medicine.

I am only in the first stage of this project. Once I apply, the application will need to be accepted, I'll have to pass a phone interview, other applications, get the support and set everything up... but, it's still a step forward for me.

I am not a very experienced doula, yet. That will probably work against me. I do have some things working for me though - namely, being fluent in French, and a willingness to work hard and learn tonnes!

You all know that midwifery is something near and dear to my heart, especially third-world midwifery. I would be honoured to be a part of something so basic, yet so incredibly important! Tough, tiring and taxing wouldn't begin to describe this trip, but here's how I look at it: If you never leave your comfort zone, your comfort zone will never get any bigger. Rather it will shrink and your world with it.

So, keep me in prayer for this, 'k? I'll update when there is anything new!