Hello, Charis Family! If you are reading this on Wednesday, February 15, you may be reading as I take the NARM Exam (the exam administered by the North American Registry of Midwives that is required for one to become a Florida Licensed Midwife and a CPM—Certified Professional Midwife). Once I pass that exam and then finish out this semester in school, I will begin a new phase of my life as a LM and CPM.

When I attended my first birth as a doula in March of 1989, I was unaware of the seed God was planting inside of me. I didn’t know I was embarking on such a long journey towards midwifery. I had no idea that during the journey, Charis would be birthed and that, through Charis, I would get to participate in a small way in what God is doing through the Charis students here in the US and around the world. Had I known, I probably would have thought God was talking about someone else. After all, I was just a single mom barely making ends meet as a dental assistant at the time. How could God use someone like me?

God, obviously, knew something I didn’t know. He showed me small glimpses along the way—just enough to keep me heading in the right direction, but not too much as to overwhelm me. I think He’s still doing that. Just a little bit of the vision at a time is all I need and all I can probably handle. I am so thankful that He sees something of value in this imperfect vessel that I am and that the Holy Spirit chooses to fill and use me over and over again. It will be very interesting to see what the next 10 years holds.

Thank you to our students for allowing me to be part of your lives. You are amazing women and I am richer because I know you. Thank you to the many midwives and OB’s who have taught, encouraged, and challenged me over the years. Your deposit into my life has been invaluable and I hope to make you proud. And, thank you to my family and friends who have been my biggest cheerleaders in this life. The fact that you have always believed in me has given me the confidence and courage to keep going when things got hard.

I hope all of you will join me and my family at the Loft Mountain campground in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park during the week beginning August 12, 2012. It will be a time celebration and sweet fellowship. It is a beautiful campground along the Appalachian Trail where we will enjoy music around the campfire, hiking to waterfalls, great wildlife, and so much more!

Blessings,
Kristin Schuchmann
Executive Director, Charis Childbirth, Inc.

Dear Friends,

We have been extremely blessed over the past months to get to know Sheena VandePanne, Charis midwifery student who has laid her life down to serve the beautiful people of Haiti.  You can read articles from Sheena in the Charis e-newsletters, "Life in the Caribbean".  Sheena is an excellent student with a sweet, tender heart the Lord is using to bless the Haitian people.  Having left her home and the comforts of American life, she relies on her friends and family members to help financially support her missions.  Unfortunately, there has been a decrease in the amount Sheena has been receiving in support and she is finding it difficult to pay her tuition.  We are asking for the Charis family to come together to help Sheena complete her midwifery school and enable her to serve in her community in even greater ways and to participate in training the locals so there are skilled Haitian midwives ready to serve their people.  If you find it in your heart to give a small amount, a large amount, or anything in between, every little bit will be a tremendous blessing to Sheena and the people she serves.  We are confident that Sheena will be an excellent midwife and will use her gifts and talents to bring glory to God and bless people whose needs are great.

You can send any amount toward Sheena’s tuition with “Sheena VandePanne’s Tuition” in the memo line of your check and 100% of it will go toward her tuition. (Send checks to Charis Childbirth, PO Box 6900 North Port, FL 34290.)

With hearts of sincere gratitude,
Kristin Schuchmann and Susan Oshel