PUSH! PUSH!

Cultural Differences (PART 2)

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3

Leading up to the delivery of our first child in the Philippines, where we served, our team leader and his wife, came to the house with doctor and nursing outfits on, ready to teach us the Lamaze method of child delivery. Natural childbirth classes were underway. What a great evening sitting around laughing and learning together.

The week before, the doctor and the hospital let me go into the delivery room to put up a mirror so I could see the baby delivered. That was what they were doing in the States. Why should I miss out on anything just because I decided to heed the call to go to the Philippines?  Oh, the passion of youth! The maintenance man helped me figure out where to put the mirror.  

Two weeks after the due date I woke up in the middle of the night on Oct. 11th, 1983 with contractions telling me it was time for this little one to come.  Jim and I, like little kids, giggled. The long awaited time had come. We were finally going to be parents. Will it be a girl or a boy? It was a special bonding moment between the two of us. Until my water popped.

I told Jim he better go get the vehicle, the jeepney. Since we didn’t have phone reception in our homes at that time or a car to use, one of our co-workers said anytime, night or day, we could come get their jeepney to use. It was a mile down the road. Jim had to walk to get there. When we first decided to use their car it seemed like a good idea, and boy were we wrong. What were we thinking? 

While Jim was gone my contractions started to get closer and closer. I became a little uncomfortable even. It seemed forever to me until Jim got back. I began to get a little nervous.

When he came back he was still happy remembering how he had left me earlier. “I got the jeepney. I will take a shower, get our things and then we will go?  How are you?” The minute he looked at me he knew it wasn’t fun and games any more.  I was serious, doing my Lamaze breathing, and scared all at the same time. “What took you so long?  You can’t take a shower, we have to go now!”  

“When I went to get the jeepney it wouldn’t start. I had to jump start it. It is running outside now so we can make sure it can still run when we get out there.”  

“Will we make it to the hospital?” Really getting anxious now. “I hope so,” he said.  Making me feel reassured!  But there was nothing we could do but proceed. We had made it this far by faith.  

We finally made it to the hospital. The doctor was not there, of course. What else could go wrong! But it was in the middle of the night. 

Not knowing this was proper procedure. This sweet midwife nurse on duty wanted to ask us what seemed like a thousand questions. Don’t they see we are having a baby!  We were trying to be polite and not be the stereotypical pushy Americans, but it sure was hard. This was our first baby, not to mention we were in a culture still new to us. We didn’t know any better. 

Eventually the doctor walked in and I thought an angel had come. Peace came over both Jim and me and we relaxed as she took over.  Relaxed?  Well, you know what I mean?

The Filipina nurses were quite surprised I wasn’t screaming. The doctor rubbed my stomach in such a soothing way when my contractions came; something Jim didn’t know how to do. She was impressed with how I was using the Lamaze method to get me through it all. She wasn’t just a doctor to me anymore, she became like a surrogate mom too.

Once it was time to go into the delivery room we must have had about 10 people in there. We found out later there were only supposed to be 3, but the off duty nurses wanted to see this “American” having her baby.  This was history for them.  Now I know this sounds a little intrusive, but by this time I didn’t care and having a cheerleading squad to cheer me on was so encouraging, especially since I pushed for over 2 hours to get Kelli out of me.

Push, push” they all screamed with delight. “There’s the baby, I see the baby!”  “Sterling look up in the mirror or you will miss it.”  

The doctor said many times, “Push, Push. Almost there.” But after two hours she was becoming more and more serious. “I want this baby out now or I will have to do a c-section.  Do you hear me!  Come on Sterling you can do it.  Push, one more time.  Yes, Yes!  There’s the baby!  You did it Sterling. It’s a …. girl! She is beautiful!”

Wow! Not only did the baby cry but Jim and I both started crying at the sound of Kelli A. O’Neill, who entered this world on Oct.12th, 1983

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We were known all over town for having our baby in their city. The silly Americans who put up a mirror to see it all happen, trusted us enough to have their baby here instead of going to the next big city or even back to the states. Filipino’s love children. Something was happening: the beginning of some neat relationships that would be forged in the days to come.  

Personal Reflection: What personal experience has God used to mesh your heart with the people you are serving, such as giving birth? How might kids be an open door into a community for the Gospel? Would love to hear your birth story or experience(s) in the comment section “PUSH PUSH!”

From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,

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Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

“Teaming up with God to  empower a movement of mission focused women so that they will see God in their story, bringing hope, in developing more clarity for life and ministry”

 

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