I can't believe it, but I have now been in Bangladesh for over 6 months! I have learned so much about the Bangladeshi culture and am starting to pick up more of the language. I've had to learn so much about practicing medicine in a limited resource area. It's difficult as an OB/Gyn to see babies that would survive in a NICU in the US, die because we just don't have the necessary supplies and personnel. Also, I've learned a lot about myself. I've been reading Helen Roseveare's book "Living Sacrifice". In the forward she says, "In comparison with the immeasurable sacrifices made by the Lord, anything that I may be asked to give up or do without seems infinitesimally small and not worthy of the name "sacrifice" at all!" Instead we can come to see God's call as a privilege, even though others may call it a sacrifice. If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend it.
At the hospital, we've been really busy. Yesterday, I got to tell a young woman, "wait here's another baby," as she proceeded to deliver surprise twins! Also, I just finished teaching my first set of midwife continuing education classes. We focused on shoulder dystocias (when the shoulders get stuck during delivery). It was so fun to see them learning and running drills with mannequins. Hopefully this will be the first of many more training sessions that we can do to further their midwifery skills.
In June I'm hoping to go with one of the nurses to teach some training sessions with traditional birth attendants up in the hills. The traditional birth attendants are the lay midwives that live in the villages and help with home births. Only a small percentage of women in Bangladesh deliver in hospitals, so it is so important that there be trained birth attendants in the villages to help them out. Please pray that we would be able to do this training next month and that the rains would hold off so we can get to them.
Life at home is going pretty well! I love my little apartment and it's starting to feel more like home. I have a house helper named Ajoy, who helps me out around the house while I'm at the hospital all day. He has been such a huge blessing since basic housework takes ten times as much time here. Unfortunately, he is terrified of snakes (I'm not a huge fan either!). Last week, one of the guards killed a 4 foot snake out behind my apartment. Now Ajoy (who is not a Christian) is absolutely terrified. Please pray that I would be able to share with him that only God can give us peace and help us not to be afraid.
Here's a picture of the snake:
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement over the last 6 months and please continue!
Once again here are some prayer requests:
1. Tradition birth attendant class in the hills- June 10th.
2. Ajoy- to find the only One who can calm his fears.
3. My continued Bangla language study
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