Even though I’m not getting to practice midwifery right now, God is so kind and loving and lately has been making sure I can still reach out and love on expectant and new mommies in other sweet ways - like getting to take meals to two different mamas and their families to have during labor and after the birth of their babies this month.  Or making an emergency trip to the shop for something a new mommy needed while her family was recovering from the beautiful homebirth of their baby girl.  Or going over to her house to do her dishes and laundry and keep her 2 year old busy for a few hours.  Or being a listening ear and prayer partner during times of crisis for a young missionary family in our area.  I’m so thankful for every sweet opportunity.

I also had the precious honor this month of getting to help plan a baby shower for a very dear friend of mine who oversees Mercy House, a ministry that rescues pregnant teens under 17 years old from abject poverty and abusive situations, which needless to say, is very close to my heart!  Believe it or not it was the first African baby shower I’ve ever attended! 

It’s just not a typical cultural practice here, apart from women who have had some “western” influence, which is something most of the women I generally work with have not had, I had the privilege of sharing the devotional at the shower and we had such an amazing and precious time of loving on, pampering, and encouraging the new mama…and in many ways, each other as women and mothers.  During the shower the new mama opened up about how terrified she is of the impending labor and birth of her sweet baby boy.  There were a couple other pregnant mamas there and they shared similar fears.  We had strictly made it known to all the attendees in advance that no horror stories or scary conversation was allowed, so all the other mothers responded to her fears so beautifully, sharing their own experiences in a positive and encouraging way, and we started the beginnings of a spontaneous birth class right then and there! 

The expectant mommies were so totally amazed by the things they were learning that we planned to get together for an actual birth class before any of the mamas have their babies in the next couple months.  I am also hoping that I’ll be able to attend the birth for the friend whose shower it was and be her labor support, but we’ll see what happens.

My new school books also arrived this month and I am diving back in with the Charis Lactation Councilor training.  It feels good to be back to studying, trusting that one day it will be a blessing to countless mamas and their families around the world.