Imagine yourself all alone, in a hospital, giving birth. You don’t have a single peso with you, and no way to even tell your loved ones where you are. That was Sarabell’s situation last night. She has delivered at Shiphrah Paanakan (Exodus 1 Birthing Home) twice before and this was her 5th child.

She told her husband the day before that she was going into labor, but she hasn’t seen him since. He might be at work, but she doesn’t have any way of contacting him there; can’t even direct us where to go to find him.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to birth at the birthing home, so we had to take her in to the hospital at about 11 o’clock last night. She was turned away from the first hospital we went to because they didn’t have room. And at the second hospital they were still putting an I.V. into her arm at the front desk when the head of the baby started to come out and they had to run her down the hallway on a gurney to the delivery room.

One of our midwives, Floribel, was with me, and we waited to find out if the baby was ok. The norm here is that a ‘kasama’ (companion) will ‘bantay’ (take care of) their own patient in the hospital, bringing them the medicine, food and clothes they need. So we stayed to help take care of her.

I have to admit that, besides praying for her and being happy that we were able to be there to support someone else through a difficult hospitalization right after we’ve had so much wonderful support in our own difficult situation, I was also watching the hours disappear before I had to pick up Jeri and Sara to take them to the airport at four. I ended up getting just a little more than an hour’s sleep, but mom and the baby are ok. Jeri and Sara made it safely to the airport, and then flew out after they had some problems with the plane and were delayed several hours. Please remember them in your prayers as they travel. For good rest and health.

Today was Pentecost Sunday, and we remember the way the Holy Spirit came to be our guide and comfort. Our advocate.