In This Issue

About Babies and Children
    Ear Infections - the Simple Step You Can Take
    by Dr. Kristin Joseph
Our Charis Family
     Lisa Kreinbrook
Charis Cuisine
     Black Bean and Quinoa Burgers
Charis Around the World
    Tidbits From Ebony
    Childbirth in Kenya
     
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Our Director's Heart

“Each One Teach Many”

The idea multiplication is near and dear to my heart.  In my family, church life, midwifery practice, and through Charis, I am devoted to making the biggest possible positive impact on the world during my short time here on the earth.

This principle of multiplication is illustrated beautifully in the true stories of two different missionary doctors.  The first doctor was very devoted to his work and served the people in his community well for many years. He worked alone under difficult circumstances, touched many lives, and overcame many obstacles.

The other doctor, in similar circumstances in another poor village, also diligently cared for the sick. She took on an apprentice and trained her in some nursing sills.  As the assistant learned and was able to take on more of the responsibilities, this freed the doctor to begin training other health care workers to go to other nearby regions to open new clinics where there were no facilities.  All she asked in return for the training was that they would teach others to do the same.

While both missionaries were devoted servants and finished well, the second doctor had a greater impact because she multiplied what the Lord placed in her to many who then did the same for others, and so on.  The impact is immeasurable.

I caught the vision for multiplication many years ago and began to put it into practice on a larger scale at the beginning of 2003 when I founded Charis Childbirth.  My hope is that the ones I train will in turn seek to pass the skills and knowledge they have gained through their relationship with me along to others the Lord chooses to bring into their lives.  If what I do begins to multiply, then the impact I have on the world will be exponentially greater than if I had not sought to work myself out of a job.

“Each one teach one” is a phrase widely used to describe how the art and science of midwifery is passed along from one generation of midwives to another.  Although it is a beautiful thought, if we desire birth outcomes to improve around the world, each one teaching only one will not meet the world’s need for more midwives (and doulas!).  Each one must be willing to teach many.

Someday, perhaps, Susan and I will finally start writing the books we have been asked to write and our book about how to have a successful midwife-apprentice relationship will be on the bookshelves. Until then, we will put some nuggets in our newsletters to benefit our community.

In next month’s Director’s Heart, you can look forward to hearing about my relationship with my own preceptor, Christina Holmes, CPM, LM.  Not only do I appreciate her skill as a midwife, but also the way she is devoted to helping her apprentices become the best midwives they can be.

Blessings,
Kristin Schuchmann, LM
Executive Director, Charis Childbirth

P.S. I have received my FL midwifery license and am awaiting word from NARM that I am a CPM. As soon as I do, I will be submitting my paperwork to receive my VA midwifery license.  Phew! What an adventure!
 

Happy Mother's Day

Look us up

We at Charis are extremely grateful for our wonderful members.  This past year, your dues have made it financially possible for us to creatively correspond with people in areas of the world where internet is spotty at best.  Having all forms of communication available for us is essential if we are going to successfully train birth professionals in the far reaches of the earth.  As our community of members grows, there will be more funds available for even more world-impacting outreach. Thank you!

Membership is due every December 31 for the coming calendar year.  So, if you became a member on or before December 31, 2010, your dues should be mailed by the middle of December, 2011, to be sure it is received in time.  If you became a member sometime in 2011, then your membership is not due until December 31, 2012.

You can send your membership form and $30 dues to:
Charis Childbirth
P.O. Box 6900
North Port, FL 34290

The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of medical care and advice from your health care provider.