Volume 11

~ News From "Your Birthing Family" ~

Issue 8

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Our Charis Family Madeline French Hello Charis family! My name is Madeline French and I live in the mountains of Tazewell, VA, with my parents, two older brothers, four younger sisters, and my grandmother. Growing up, I had a new little sister born every few years, which is, I think, what originally set the spark of interest in birth in my heart. During high school my interest only grew. I took a Human Anatomy and Physiology class during my senior year which set the spark on fire. Almost all of my spare time was spent reading birth books and researching the birth worker world. I quickly realized that this was the field I wanted to be in. At first I was not sure if I wanted to be a midwife or a doula. I began talking with student midwives about the different methods of certification and was eventually given the email address of one of the Charis student midwives, Bethany Stricker. We began exchanging emails and she sent me a list she had compiled of training programs for midwives and doulas. I researched every single one, but it quickly became clear that the Charis Doula/CE program was the one for me. I wanted a Christian program and Charis was clearly that. I could also tell through my research that the Charis program was much more thorough than the other programs I looked at. I began the Charis Doula/CE program in October 2015. I feel so blessed to be learning with these precious students and under the guidance of our amazing teachers. My coach, Rachel Thompson, is such a blessing in my life and I always look forward to our calls. The mentorship aspect of the program is one of my favorite parts. It is so helpful to have someone to not only answer questions, but encourage me when I'm feeling overwhelmed, remind me to set goals, and even suggest taking a break when that is needed. I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am to have Rachel in my life. Throughout my journey, the Lord has truly shown Himself faithful. It is only by His grace that I have made it this far. This program is not for the faint of heart. You have to be relying on Jesus to get you through. Finding a doula to work with was a bit of a challenge because there are not many near me. After talking with Susan Oshel, I found a precious Christian doula who lives about an hour and a half from me. I attended my first birth with her in February and it was truly a "this is where I belong" moment. While there are challenges involved in the distance between us, it is completely worth it to me. She is a blessing to be around and a truly skilled doula. I am looking forward to taking her birth class later this year, Lord willing. In addition to my birth studies, I fill my time working on CLEP tests toward a college degree in Communications, practicing piano for church, cooking, and fellowshipping with my family and friends. My family and friends are like my cheerleading squad and are always so supportive of me. I am especially appreciative of them when I am on school overload or running on little sleep after a birth and they are there to offer a word of encouragement. I do not know what I would do without them. I pray that the Lord will bless each of you in whatever He has before you right now. Keep trusting Him and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:6). Blessings in Christ Jesus, Madeline French  'Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth,  Among  them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and The one who labors with child,  together,  A great throng shall return there...And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD.'  Jeremiah 31:8, 14 ~~~ ©2016 Charis Childbirth Services, All Rights Reserved Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends in its entirety, leaving all attribution intact. August 2016