USEC Bazaar

Two times a year we have the entirely delightful opportunity to not only make a little money through the sale of Carmencita Cards and the items we've developed, but importantly, to share our passion for what we do with a whole host of people. Saturday was the bazaar.

This year, we added stick horses! We'd talked of doing them for a long time, remembering the fun the kids had with their stick horses when they were younger. Sara drew the pattern, we all shopped for fabric, and the horses were made for us by Norma and Carding, an older couple who live in the First Avenue Barrio. Norma sews the bags and aprons as well. While Norma does the horse heads, Carding peels, sands, and varnishes the bamboo used for the stick.

We had an outstanding day!

Moving Forward

Once the immediate emergency of the floodwaters had subsided, the next question was, "Where do we go from here?" The "where we went", was back into the community with whole new sets of questions. The faster families can regain some sense of normalcy, some sense of being together as a family, the better. So the question was, "Ok", what does that take. What it took was providing things to cook with (rice being already provided by World Vision). The happy fellow you see is holding a kalan a small charcoal cooker, and a bag of uling (charcoal). It also took providing woven sleeping mats called banigs and temporary beds of marine plywood and five hollow blocks. We'd given out blankets sheets and towels earlier just so people could keep warm.

Next was getting kids back to school. School uniforms and shoes, book bags and notebooks had been either washed away or ruined beyond redemption. It is just this sort of interruption that can curtail a child's education forever. The need was urgent. A number of incredible donor volunteers rose to the task. Back into the community. What school needs did you lose?" "What do you need so your kids can go back to school?" The result was more than 70 new uniforms, book bags and pairs of shoes along with countless notebooks. Each child needs at least 8 notebooks starting from pre-school on up. We're not done yet, but well on the way to getting everyone back into school.


Yesterday was witness to the fruit of a five -year partnership between Shiphrah Birthing Home and Family Planning of the Philippines (FPOP). Partnering with the UN FPOP brought out more than 200 buckets filled with very smart supplies for our pregnant moms. Each bucket contained a towel, a flashlight, personal hygiene and laundry supplies, flip-flops, several pairs of new underwear, a duster (our moms most often wear a loose garment like this when giving birth), and a tabo (dipper). We had taken names during our classes so knew exactly who needed the supplies. Yesterday was the great giveaway. It turned into an all-day event lasting into the late afternoon.

The motto for Shiphrah Birthing Home is from the story of Moses. The heroic midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who defied the edict of the Pharaoh, 'saved the children alive' (Exodus 1:18).




Our situation is different, of course; but we've thought a lot about the story of Moses in the floodwater this week. Saving children and whole families from the river is not the typical job of a midwife, but our staff have shown a hebrewesque resilience in the face of disaster.

When the river just down the road from our birthing home

This is raw, but we'll try to get it edited throughout the day as we have time and internet.


Here's the video of a woman describing their improbable escape:

Tuesdays mornings at the birthing home are busy. We start the morning with loud music coming from the back patio where 35 pregnant women are doing exercises. These exercises strengthen and stretch their bodies for labor.

Laughter and singing join the sound of the rain falling outside. Next the midwives prepare for a
skit on child labor. On a previous Tuesday the women met in groups and dialogued about questions they had about this season of their lives.

Each class addresses the questions on topics like nutrition, breastfeeding, and childbirth. I play the role of the father in the skit. The women watch as their fears and questions are addressed. One midwife plays the role of the 'mother in law' who has a strong opinion and holds strongly to her traditional beliefs about labor. It is a fun time where walls are broken down and the women are strengthened in their role.

Next the women wait to be called for their pre-natal check ups. I was invited right away to take measure- ments and help the mom listen to the baby's heart beat. The midwives take time with each woman to talk about what they have been eating and if they have been doing their exercises.

I really appreciate the emphasis on the activities and eating habits of the mom in the belief that they directly affect the health and position of the baby. The women leave the clinic with a sense of dignity and responsibility. They know that they play a huge role in this process and the choices they make affect themselves and their baby. They know that if they do these, they will have a great labor. So awesome! Wednesday and Thursday are the same schedule. 30 to 40 women in the mornings for class and check ups. The afternoons are open for baby check ups and women in labor.

I helped with three labors just last week! The first labor I played the role as the 'husband' because the husband was occupied with another child. The most popular position at the birthing home is to sit on a birthing stool just a half foot off the ground. Then the woman leans back between the legs of her husband or friend, in this case it was me. I was so honored to be the encourager, to wipe the sweat from her brow, and keep her hair back. I was the one who got to feel the strength of her contractions and feel her body relax after each one. I got to be the one to remind her to breathe. I got to be the one to see her baby enter the world from the same view that she did, and to see the tears come down her face. I got to be the one to wipe her tears of joy and exhaustion. It was so amazing.

The two other births were just as inspiring. The women are graceful and strong. The midwives
believe in women and believe in birth. They believe that God made the woman's body to do what it needs to do. The midwives believe that if they walk along side the woman in labor, her body will naturally do what it needs to do.

To see a woman give birth in freedom is one of the greatest joys to see. One woman chose a different position then the others. The midwives regroup and do what they need to do to be in a position to catch. The position that the mother chose facilitated an easier birth for her 8 pound baby. She just listened to her body! In all three births there were no episiotomies and no tares! Amazing! In between contractions we encourage the moms to stand up and dance: move their hips in a circle. It is always helps the labor proceed.

Two Australian doctors (students in their 5th year) came and stayed at the birthing home the other night because they had never seen a natural birth and they were amazed. Can you imagine that? They had never seen the female human body give birth without intervention. I am learning a lot by observation and hands on practice. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. The nights at the birthing home have been good. The facility is very simple with no flushing toilets, no closed doors or lights in the bathroom, and no shower. But it is great community with the families of 4 midwives and a lady from Myanmar all residing together. Quite the experience! Holly Tonnesen

On Friday morning we got a call from the Department of Social Welfare in Angono. They had rescued a little girl and asked, ‘Can we admit her to the little children’s home?’

‘Yes, of course.’ But we were not prepared for what we saw when they brought little Cindy to the home. She is three months old, and when she arrived she was caked in filth. Three baths later we were still loosening the grime around her tender eye sockets.

She is malnourished to the point that she feels like a premature baby in your arms—only 4# 9 oz. Her eyes stare blankly, but she is responsive and feeding well.

Her mom is a minor who is mentally challenged. She was just not able to care for an infant. Cindy’s Lolo (grandpa) cradled her in his arms and was in shock with all that had changed in his world that day. He obviously cared for her and seemed happy that someone was going to provide for his precious bundle.

We are now contacting all the breast- feeding mothers we know because Cindy needs the best milk in the world — Mom’s milk.

We don’t know what health challenges she will face, but she needs our prayers as she is by no means clear of danger.

We have found that the best way to support the children in our home is to establish a fund in their name for the expenses during their stay at the little children’s home. If you would like to contribute to Cindy’s care, please contact us at afterthales@yahoo.ca

Senon is a miracle baby. Four years ago he was born extremely premature. When he was brought to the little children's home he spent the first two months with us snuggled kangaroo-style, skin to skin, one-on-one, with a careworker.

He has Cerebral Palsy and some develop- mental diffi- culties, but today he is a very bright and happy little boy.











The twins, Dennis and Jay, will turn four soon as well. The three of them together started kinder- garten this year, generously donated by a volunteer who has been involved with the home for years.

Join us in prayer for the right forever family for Senon. The Lord takes orphaned and abandoned children for his own, placing them in families, and caring for them with his own hands.

These two moms have a lot to celebrate today. They brought their newborns to the graduation ceremony for all the women who have gone through the prenatal seminar at Shiphrah Bahay Paanakan (Birthing Home).








They are proudly hoisting the gift we give to each graduating mom, this time provided by DiAnn.




For all of us--moms (and dads), midwives, and volun- teers--this is a great day.






I count 36 in the picture today, and there will be similar groups graduating tomorrow and Thursday as well.