Charis Around the World

Tidbits from Ebony
Elizabeth Carmichael

A very expressive Central Asian woman, with hands decorated using
henna drawing techniques, speaks candidly over a cup of tea.

Mamas Who Are Babies

Greetings Charis Family!! As I've continued to observe for several hours a day at women's clinics around Glory Land, I have gleaned so much helpful insight into the health care situation here, as well as the individual lives of many childbearing women......and, childbearing children.

One of the things that never ceases to disturb me is the very, very young teenage mothers. Their plight is so different than what comes to our mind when we talk about "teenage pregnancy" in the West. These little girls are sold off as property at very young ages to men who are at LEAST ten years older than they are. Often, the men are much, much older.

If you have ever heard of the movie called "Osama", I highly recommend it, although it is quite sad. It shows an interesting perspective of one Central Asian culture and the plight of a young girl like the girls I see so often in the clinics here.

Just this week, I saw one 17 year old who already had 5 children. I also saw a 13 year old who had been married at 9.  She was suffering greatly from a painful bladder infection. I am thankful she had the wisdom to come into the clinic--for her sake and her baby's.

Another 13 year old girl expecting her first child, came for a prenatal exam and was told that she was quite unhealthy and should eat more. Her mother-in-law insisted that they are feeding her well (in this culture, every wife moves in with her husbands WHOLE family after marriage). When the mother-in-law left the room, the girl admitted to the attending midwife that, actually, she cooks all the food for the whole family, but is only given what is left over on their plates after they are full. Weeks later, this girl delivered her child at the clinic, but the poor baby did not live for even one hour.

Another problem I see with the young age of many mothers here, is their mental and emotional ability to provide healthy parenting and protection to their children. At some of the clinics I've been to, I've been allowed to sit in on pediatric exams, even though this is not my specialty. It is very interesting to see the links between some of the very deadly, yet preventable, problems children are facing and the problems their mothers faced before, during and after childbirth.

As you may recall, it is not my ambition to start a new clinic or to even work in a clinic here in Glory Land. I want to work in communities. I hope to somehow help families become empowered to make wise and informed health care decisions during pregnancy, childbirth and infant care. Please continue to lift these things up in prayer as my team and I look ahead for strategy, staff and donors for our community development project.

For this month, I am on a break in a nearby country...the country where I first started my journey into midwifery!! Thank you for your petitions that I will receive rest and restoration in order to press on.

Finally, I just want to mention that several developing nations in Central Asia are attempting democratic elections this summer. Often, there can be very violent reactions to this process. Please research and pray over these countries. If you have been zealous about your own national leadership...if you have cared about your own country's health care reform....please make the effort to care for and pray for the areas of this world that are still very much in turmoil as they try to attain to some of the opportunities and freedoms we have.

In His Love,
Elizabeth Carmichael

A woman making a kind of Central Asian bread.