Gayla's Magazine

The Birthing of a Midwife in Malawi

My niece - Summer Joy is a real Role Model  and I thought you would like to read one excerpt in her journal about her life. I am very proud of all she does in the earth.  Meet Summer....

A brief Bio...
Just a little about me…I come from an international family.  My father and his family were missionaries to Liberia in the 1960's and served as resident missionaries in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in the 1970's.  My father married a native Zimbabwean and I was conceived in the Summer in Zimbabwe and born in the Summer in Texas, hence the name…Summer. My family continues to have a vested interest in the continent of Africa and I have had the opportunity to serve in a variety of ways on different occasions in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Malawi and Mozambique.  I am currently in the first Nurse-Midwife/Doctorate in Nursing Practice program at Baylor University and I will graduate in May 2010.  This past Spring I had the opportunity to travel with my Graduate Colleagues and Faculty to Ethiopia and Malawi to serve the indigenous people groups in these developing nations.  My life was forever changed....My primary purpose for choosing to become a Nurse-Midwife, is to help decrease maternal and infant mortality rates in developing countries. 

 

So here we are, back at the Baptist clinic (Senga Bay, Malawi) at night, I sprinted into the Labor Ward and found a laboring woman! WOOHOO! She was 19years old, first pregnancy (Gravida 1 Para 0) and Grace (the midwife) and Chelles (the patient attendant) were with her.  Grace said to me, "Yes, we have been managing her labor until you arrived, she is yours now." Oh my heart was full of excitement, FINALLY a woman in labor J!!  I ran to the midwife cottage and told the others (Dr. Mary Ann Faucher, Stephanie and Delaine).  They came over and we discovered a multiparous woman in early latent phase of labor in the maternity ward.  She was resting on a bed under a blue mosquito net with a family member at her side (it will be a while before she delivers).  The Labor room was hot and humid with various bugs and creatures clinging to the ceiling fan, fluorescent lights and blinds AHHH!! The stark reality of the situation….here I am in Africa with my first labor patient, sweating, bugs falling on me and I'm trying to keep my cool.  Mary Ann said jokingly, "Well, Summer you should be use to this by now!"hahaha

My patient's name is Aina and she was lying on a labor bed with a bright-colored cloth wrapped around her waist…she is so tiny.  She was dilated to 7-8cm/100%effaced/+1 station upon my initial exam @ 2150.  Contractions were coming 3 in 10minutes, lasting 40-50 seconds and palpating moderate.  Her body is beautiful as she moves with each contraction.  I am learning important phrases in Chichewa (native language in Malawi) i.e. Dulusomepwayah which means "breathe out" and Ubaysabueno which means "good job."  At first, I could tell Aina was anxious and scared especially with all of the "Mazungus" aka White People in the room.  Nevertheless, as her labor progressed I continued to remain a constant labor support at the bedside.  Her pelvis was small and she began to writhe in pain while lying on top of a trash bag.  Her body was drenched in sweat and the trash bag clung to her every move.  I fanned her during contractions and she turned onto her tummy. I was shocked, I had never seen someone labor in a prone position. 

While she was lying in this position, I was able to massage her lower back and promote counter pressure to her iliac crests in efforts to increase the AP (anterior-posterior) diameter so the baby would descend easier. As I laid my hands on her, they swallowed her hips and I was praying for safe passage and delivery.  It was at this moment during the arduous labor, sweat soaking through my scrubs, beads of perspiration running down my face and flies swarming around us, that something significant happened…. The patient was lying on her tummy and she reached around with her left arm and put it around my waist.  This was the most powerful and beautiful experience I have ever encountered during labor.  This was a huge breakthrough, not just for the labor management process, but this was when the trust-bond was established between Aina and I.  I got chills when this occurred, and despite the language barrier, cultural differences and the hot insect-infested environment, I felt the presence of God so strongly….for it was at this moment a midwife was birthed!

I realized that God had totally orchestrated this moment, for nothing comes without a price. True joy…for it was the joy that was set before Him that He endured the cross.  I felt that I was in a labor process….as I had anticipated, longed for and desired birthing new life....I was born.  The birthing of a midwife took place on the very continent where I was created.  Oh Father, You saw my unformed body, all of my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. Now was the time!  I held back the tears as Aina clung to me.  I could feel the pleasure of God as I stepped into my true identity as a midwife. WOW!! There are no words to adequately portray the emotions that I felt or the birthing process that took place inside of me.  For it was at this very moment, I knew…this is what I was created to do!  Here in Malawi (which means Flames of Fire) I was birthed. 

As Mary Ann and Stephanie looked on, they witnessed this significant event.  Later Mary Ann told me she was glad that I insisted we spend the night again (although she was exhausted) she was glad I pushed her J She said, "Summer, tonight I witnessed the birth of a midwife." WOW! I was overwhelmed for this is exactly what happened….

During the labor, it was as if I was one with my patient and I could feel exactly what she needed this was the Holy Spirit guiding my hands, as I truly embraced the heart of midwifery by being "with women."  When Aina became complete (10cm dilated) @ 0205 we were all a little concerned if she would be able to deliver vaginally.  There was fetal caput/molding felt on my exam.  She began to push with all of her might!  No meds, all natural, the veins in her face and chest were popping out!  I've never seen someone push like she did.  Grace was still skeptical and went to get Aina's family.  All of the sudden we heard loud shouting outside of the labor room and Aina, stopped pushing in order to listen.  I was alarmed by this yelling and asked Grace what was going on.  She replied, "Oh, Summer, you see Aina's family is telling her to push this baby out or the baby will be born dead."  I was shocked! Shortly after the berating screams, Aina delivered a beautiful baby girl at 0305 weighing 3000grams with lots of caput/molding. I was able to catch this beautiful Malawian baby and I was so ECSTATIC!! This was my first "catch" in Africa, what a life-changing monumental experience and Aina didn't tear, Praise the Lord!!

As I held this gorgeous African daughter in my hands, I spoke blessings over her life.  Shortly thereafter, the other patient delivered and I was able to catch her baby at 0355, the birth of another precious baby girl J  Delaine and Stephanie did a wonderful job tending to the babies, while Mary Ann and I finished caring for the mothers.

Once we got the mothers settled under their blue mosquito nets and the babies nestled at their breasts, we called it a night.  I expressed my deep gratitude to Grace for being such an amazing midwife and for allowing me to have this opportunity.  We all went to bed at 0500… God you are so faithful!

Moms Against Hunger Zimbabwe Shipment

I have been intensely focused upon my Moms Against Hunger food shipment for Zimbabwe.  Everyday ....prayer all day long, every single day my attention has been on pulling the money together for this shipment - producing it straight out of nothing.  I have had my total mind upon speaking this into existence.  That early morning 1 month ago I arose with an overwhelming urgency in my spirit to reach out and find a way to ship.  Moms Against Hunger already had shipments going, so this was in addition to what we were already doing.  So to find the extra money was going to take a miracle.  God came through for me and here's the rest of the story!

I am happy today to tell you that the shipping portion of the money needed has been raised.  A special thank you to all of my compassionate supporters who joined with me to make this happen.   The day after the rest of the funds came in,  a container was ordered and we prepared to ship!!! 
Yesterday was my husband's birthday and we spent his special day pouring out for the needs of others.  (Today we will  celebrate his birthday!)

 

It's 107 degrees here when the container arrived.  Already I am sweated down, but excited.

 

The container smells! So a layer of absorbent product is put down first to absorb all smells. A closed in place for a month can get overwhelming - so it's important to take care of this first.

 

My husband oversees the guys loading.  Every inch of this container is to be jam-packed, and he is a professional making every inch count.Look how sweated down the guys are getting already.  We only have 2 hours to load this container so it's fast and hot work!

 

Angela meticulously counts the boxes for our paperwork for the load.

 

It's so tightly packed that he gets on the forklift himself and pushes and pushes to make sure it's going to not have any 'air' between pallets.

 

It takes many hands to actually do this work, I am so thankful for every staff member who jumped on board to help complete this.

 

 

Just one more box! 

 

I know what will happen the day this container gets reopened.  There will be laughter, and joy and bouncing around.  Africans will all joyfully come to lay their hands on it and help carry boxes.  Pastor Clyde Bismark will be so thankful.  So from my hands to yours my African family..... here is aid with love.  I know this will be a help and an encouragement to you that your American Christian family cares and sends aid at this most desperate  hour in your country.

 

My husband and I pray over this load, for all sorts of good to come from it.  I am thankful it's done. 

I feel exhausted, and drained.  Going away to rest now.

 

Letter to my Father

My week is going to be a good week. I have decided that this week will see completion in some important ministry issues that I take care of.  I love my job but to have a successful week requires a few things to get started. Here is what I do when I have a full plate to start my week with.  First and foremost is prayer. Period. Nothing will be completed without the help of the Lord in my life.

My Dear Lord
I am writing because I need a supernatural week.  And I don't have  much time to complete the needs at hand.  Please come and work beside me each day this week.  I need each day to count as if they were 3 days. Send your angels to provide the extra hands I need.  Fill me with the Holy Spirit so I stay full of You and away from stress. I need uncommon favor Jesus in these areas.

Help me to complete the Moms Against Hunger Zimbabwe Crisis Shipment this week.   Send me financial aid to do this. Open the hearts of people and put compassion upon them to want to help me with this shipment. Give me ideas who to contact about helping with this.

Bless the Role Models of America store this week and help me to complete the Christmas stock area upstairs and get everything put into place so that our staff can manage it for the next 5 months smoothly.  This big 2 week job needs to turn into 1 day Lord. Send me strong  CS help to complete this job with me.

Help me with our Community Bible Chapel details and the mail that is pouring in.  Bless every student that we have and send your blessing to our technical teams to work out the details now so we can start using the system we envision to do THIS WEEK.  I want to see real progression now in our systems that are being built. Help us to complete our formatting this week for the last 3 books of the currant curriculum.

Direct my thoughts for the Fall RMA events.  I need to encourage our women to grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Give me clear understanding of the plan Lord for my coming meeting with all of them.

Thank you for the joy of 3 puppies and the homes each of them will have.  Please help them to completely wean THIS WEEK.  Help me to  get this done.

Bless our staff with communication and coordination skills this week.  Help me to be an encouragement to each one of them. And to be a strong support for the many projects around the world that my husband the Bishop is doing.

I need a week of uncommon favor Lord. 

Thank you for it Jesus
I love you with my life

signed

your predestined daughter

The Dream Backyard

Susan took me to meet a friend of hers one morning, and I am so glad she did!

This lady has been inspiring to meet here in Los Banos California.  Sandy is such a joy to been with, and it seems like time just few by when we were at her home.  She has Proverbs 31 working in her life right now!  Wait till I show you what all she does.

She said that she quit the corporate world and she and her husband decided to raise their  children with a lasting legacy of a true mom and dad. So she is a stay at home mom, with an incredible talent unfolding. Not only is she home for their children, but she also has found ways to make their budget work wonders right in their own backyard. 

This is her backyard..... ok.... you say looks like a regular kind of a yard.  But what is happening here is a dream.  She is raising all kinds of fruit trees and  nut trees. Planted all around the sides carefully tended and properly with a real gardeners eye. How does she know what to do or plant? She reads books and asks other gardeners questions.  She started this in earnest to help feed their family and what has happened is wonderful and I knew you would want to see this! 

 

She has pomegranates, plums, oranges, lemons, limes to name a few.

Her apricot tree is loaded with fruit.

 

The pear tree is producing nicely too.

 

THIS IS AN OLIVE TREE!!!

 

She gave me a peach from her tree.  (We ate it later that day - was so full of flavor)

 

Just look at this fruit!

This is one of the two tiny greenhouses that is also in the backyard. She grows all her own veggies and herbs from seeds - then plants them in beds along the sides of the house. Check this out!

 

She has peppers, of all kinds, several kinds of beans.....onions, garlic and more I can't remember.

 

There are strawberries planted all along the fronts of the beds - see the strawberry?

 

Look at these grapes!  Her grapevines are full of fruit.  I am in awe of her skills.

 

Her herb gardens are full - she gives me hope to keep working on mine!

 

The tomato beds are full of plants - it's going to be a bumper crop this year she thinks. So think about this..... instead of all the grass that does nothing but grows, gets cut, grows and gets cut - her yard is producing food! She took all the empty areas - sides, corners, fences lines and turned them into blessings for her family.

What does she do with all this food from her own backyard?  She makes jellies, jams, cans and freezes them for her family to eat year long.

 

And she also has built a business from her hands now.  She has a thriving business selling her homemade treats at bake sales and now she is getting so well known that people are coming to her front door to buy! Sandy's Jam n Desserts is alive and well.

Then we get to taste test the fruits of her labors, and my oh my what a treat it was! She has a orange jelly like none else, also orange marmalade and strawberry jalapeno, hot jalapeno jelly and a blueberry banana that is fabulous!  We kept on and on because each one was more amazing than the last! 

She told us laughing that she is trying to get ready for a bake sale, but can't because people keep coming to the door to buy! Like us - there is no way we are leaving her home without some of her goodies.  So Susan and I both left with 3 jars each!

Sandy I am amazed and can't wait for others to see you and what you are doing in your own home.  I love you and I just met you - keep going you are a inspiration to thousands of others now!   

Too Busy to Write!

We have been soooo busy here in Los Banos California with Pastors Doug and Susan  getting ready to get their building project going.  It's been from early morning to late everyday with city issues, paperwork and miles of travel to and fro gathering information, equipment and a team to get it all going.

The Pastors certainly have their hands full with a growing bi-lingual congregation and a complete rebuilding of their burned church. New visitors, and class growth, church family counseling issues and trying to juggle enough classroom space, office spaces and keeping up with moving the entire church to a rental place has been an adjustment they  faithfully do week by week with a smile on.

Now..... when a church is built from the ground up it's one set of problems to deal with.  But when a church has to be rebuilt it's quite enough story!  There are a host of issues starting with the insurance process, paperwork paperwork and paperwork!  Insurance Adjusters and various fee assessors, contents loss management and replacement costs, and complete inventories of all departments of the church. Just to name a few to get started.  All that has been done with the careful attention of the Bishop, special thanks to Bill M. and now it's off to the big stuff!

Like creating drawings that fit their vision and building. Like adequate money from the insurance company! Each one has been a trial to get completed to say the least, I will spare you the details.

The Bishop guides them toward the entire picture of drawings, electrical plans, plumbing, wall replacements, office restructuring, classrooms, bathrooms, platform, side rooms and a dozen other details that have been taking shape all week long.

A big thank you to Role Models of America and Role Model Deborah Ruppert for her expertise in helping to get the fine lines drawn and the final decisions made!  Everyone is happy with the completed plans now.

 

 

 

Deborah you outdid yourself!  We are so thankful for the team God has given to us to help other churches in their time of need. Our ministry is far reaching because of the team!

Now..... Bishop starts the next process of getting them their General Contractor license, and the troops of different sub-contractors start lining up to get schedules started. 

Then it's demolition time! Schedule teams to take off the air conditioners from the roof, then take the roof off, then getting replacement tresses built, brought and hung! Lists.... and decisions and choices are made and settled peace comes to the Pastors as they get ready for the next week of action!  

Now you understand what's been going on? The Bishop is in the House and things are starting to move now! He is a Pastor's best ally in time of need. And this Pastor's wife gets a front row seat in this whole drama unfolding.

 

The Community Bible Chapel Prison Ministry

I have been telling you about the BIG things that God is  doing in a tiny quiet town in West Texas.  And I have told you about their world wide internet radio ministry.  That's just one facet here.  Here is another one. 

Dr Ned Hicks - for many years has a Correspondence Bible School for prisoners across America.  Alone and by himself he has written an entire curriculum that has been sharing the Gospel of Jesus in prisons across America for years. Without any fanfare, no one watching, or public honors or encouragement, he has been silently shouting the Gospel into the darkness with the written page. He is one of God's partners in the earth.

Now in his years of warring faith his health has become a struggle to maintain amidst the hundreds and hundreds of souls he carries.  So the Lord has sent a fresh change and a fresh breath of Heaven to him in his burden. The Bishop.

Joe - Dr Hick's assistant  has been working  with the flood of inmate letters and exams day by day. And this ministry has increased 100 fold over time. 

It's loads of paperwork, copies and files that keeps growing year by year!

Dr Hicks begins to show me letters and letters and letters from inmates searching for God's help in their lives. My heart is so touched by seeing all of this.  This ministry now is  over 5,600 people strong and in 43 states and British Columbia.  Dr Hicks has honored us by asking us to take on  this tremendous ministry.

I am thrilled beyond words!!!

I can see how he needs help..... can we do it? YES WE CAN.

Taking notes, and details of what the day to day schedule is, I am literally handling souls that are finding their way to God every day here.

The Bishop and I are honored to get to be a part of this great man of God's vision! I know New Life will also be happy as they have a heart for missions.

Ok... so heres just PART of what is going on!

Here is the great secret happening here. It just goes to show every pastor and his wife, that it does not matter who is setting in the pews at church, or how many are there, or if you are planted in the smallest berg in the world.  A person with God's call on their heart WILL find a way to reach out to people across this world!  No excuses needed - just an idea from God to be a huge ministry in the earth.

The faithful gather for their world wide internet radio program.

 

The Bishop stands with the Radio Engineer and prepares for his part in today's radio show.

 

These senors with a big vision look over their song sheets and prepare to be the 'choir' singing their hearts out ACROSS THE WORLD!

 

And the pianist starts  up .... 

 

We will be singing two songs in this broadcast - one is called 'Bringing in the Sheaves' and as we sang I can help but think this tiny congregation is doing more (just as they are without any extra fanfare) than most!!

 

Dr Ned Hicks rolls in and we begin a session of recording and lifting the Name of Jesus across the airwaves and around the entire globe!

How do I know this?  Because the emails start rolling in ....

Saudi Arabia ...

Jordan....

England....

Tomorrow I will play a video of the singing. You gotta here this!! 

While others set and wait on equipment, professional voices, and smooth operations - this church has jumped out and went to the lost regardless of what they didn't have.  And God is using them to reach souls!!!

This reminds me so much of when my husband and I were younger and we wanted to go outside of America and minister. While our friends waited on 'money to be given to them, others to approve, timing, family support, professional image and packaging of who we were, oh... and did I mention someone to bankroll us?  We just ignored all of the excuses and went anyway - on faith, on little abilities, without any one's support, we just jumped on planes, trains, buses, hitchhiked and boats and followed God's urging in our hearts.  We saw God multiply our efforts a thousand fold - and anoint our humble efforts a million times!  

And our 'friends' sat and watched ... in fact I think some may still be waiting on the cameras, lights and action before they do!  Ha!!

Bless the Community Bible Chapel of Spur Texas for not waiting, but going to the harvest fields!! Your rewards will be many!! 

Ok... so what can you be doing, right now, without anyone else, not what COULD you be doing, but rather what  CAN you do right now!! Lose the excuses and go in faith -what you don't have, God makes up for!! You are just one part of the equation, God is the other gigantic  part!!

Why I started the Tea

I began the Role Models of America annual Tea years ago, because I felt it was important for women and girls to understand etiquette and perfect lady manners.  Being feminine is almost a lost art these days!  It's a wonderful way to help females grow into ladies.  Make no mistake all ladies are women, but not all women are ladies.
So I began the Tea to encourage genteel behavior and educate the next generation on the arts of womanhood.  To be cultured and well mannered requires self discipline and focus.  And also in this fast paced world of me me me ...... someone needs to speak up and remind women and girls we have a higher place to dwell in.  Not in the dregs of society with the rude and uncaring, but rather to attain to a place of honor and respect.

So the Tea was born....  

Dr Ned Hicks

What a wonderful day this has been, although jam packed from the moment I got up this morning till I will fall in the bed after tickets are printed, packing gets done and all details are ready for tomorrow's trip to Toronto Canada. 

Today we have been so honored to have a very special guest with us - Dr Hicks from Spur Texas, The Community Bible Chapel. This is one of God's Hero's on the earth.

Spending time sharing hearts and vision for the future we all were inspired with God's plans ahead.

Dr Hicks has a powerful Bible School for prisoners serving time.  There are over 5,360  inmates currently involved in this intensive Bible School in State, Federal and private prisons in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

We are honored to help in his mission by providing goods for the Bible School and it's students in need. Every time the inmates mail back their tests, he sends something back to encourage them along with their next studies.  Today we  will send  goods to be a blessing to those enrolled.  Go and see for yourself what is happening!!

www.communitybiblechapelofspur.org

Then it was time to load up the blessings and send Dr Hicks out fully loaded.

Dr Hicks has another awesome ministry that really touches my heart.  They are completing a Hospice House for terminally ill inmates dying of cancer.  How sad it is to think of people that are in their last few days of life struggling alone in prison without family or anyone to compassionately care for them. Can you imagine dying with only a prison guard watching your life fade away.  It makes me shudder just to think of this.

So Dr Hicks and his church are remodeling  a home just for this purpose.  Did you know that in the state of Texas alone there are around 500 terminally ill inmates?  What a humane ministry!

We were able to pack them with blankets, a washer and dryer, all sorts of building supplies from light fixtures to sheet rock, tile, windows and more.... I am so happy we get to be a part of this!

Lots of things to help the Hospice.

 

I was able to spend a little time visiting with him about Bible studies and his expertise in the Word. The time was too short!

 

Dr Hicks thank you for loving the unlovable and caring for those that are forgotten and ignored in their dark sin.  Thank you for being Jesus to so many people.  Only eternity will tell the whole story of how many souls you saved.  Thank you.

 

The Lamb

The Lamb our multi-media worship experience was so awesome!  It was majestic, powerful and full of the anointing of the Lord.

The stage was set, the mountain of sin from the beginning of time represented, the Word of God read and a clear understanding of the Pass Over Lamb in place. 

The 'Behold the Lamb' song, takes center stage as they take down the doorway and turn it into the Cross in the interpretive dance.

Taking the words of the songs, 'Worthy is the Lamb' and making it personal becomes the role that I play.

 

'One Drop of Blood' is portrayed by the accuser of the brethren and the redeemed of the Lord.

 

Beautiful scenes and pictures of meaning for each song, plus words so the entire congregation could clearly understand the words, videos and sound effects all added to the message of the Cross and the Blood of the Lamb. I think this Drama had close to 75 slides at last count!! There are so many hours involved here that I can't even begin to tell you how long it has taken me to build this - weeks on end, even while traveling I have been working on it. But this Bishop's wife loves it!!

 

More songs - but I can't show you because my photographer was too overcome to remember to take the pictures!  But this is when Jesus reaches down through time into our personal lives and sees us through the Blood. Not what we are, but what He could be in us!  And when the Blood touches the mountain of sin in our lives, it is collapsed and instantly removed from our lives! 

 

The Revelation Song is so powerful and we sing with joy and love!

 

'When I Think About the Lord' brings another layer of worship.  I turn the cross into the present doorway  of 'NOW' and what it means today.  Standing in the doorway and knocking on the hearts is Jesus reaching for the souls of mankind.  Open today and let Jesus come in!

 

We begin the testimonies of our personal lives and it was so incredible to see!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so many many many more that I just don't have space to share with you!

 

It was a wonderful drama with more parts, but this just gives you an idea of our special Easter Sunday this year.

 

Happy Resurrection Morning to all my readers around the world!!! He is Risen!!