Tuesday 26 February 2013

Twists and Turns


I have a good life. I have an easy life. I've had my share of 
ups and downs, but in reality - it's still been an easy life. I've always had people around me who care, I've always had somewhere to live and food on the table and clothes in my cupboard. I have a good job. I've never really lacked for anything. I'm fortunate that I have all this and still, can see that I am fortunate. I thank my parents and God for giving me a social conscience, and I think that is why I still have this need to go to Africa. I believe that I have something to contribute.

Things have changed since I last wrote. That happens. There have been some changes to my  travel plans. It seems that our government has changed it's travel advice for westerners living and working in Somaliland to 'Do Not Travel'. After talking it over with my very supportive better half, we thought it best to look elsewhere to see how I can continue the pursuit of my dream and still work as a midwife in a 3rd world country.

After looking at many options I have now arranged to work with Moffat and Fred at FreMo Medical Clinic and Birthing Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Midwives that I work with have visited the clinic in their travels and there is also a midwife here in Queensland who also supports this clinic. Reading her blog makes me realise that I can also work there and have the type of experience I am open to - one of learning and sharing. Talking with Moffat via email gives glimpses of his passion to bring good health care to his community. I am looking forward to going now.

Because FreMo is located in a slum, and they are doing the very best they can under extremely difficult circumstances I have decided to fund-raise in an effort to help FreMo. Their new project is the setting up of a second birthing room, which is appropriate for I will possibly be working in this room. To that end, I am raffling off one of my patchwork quilts.

This is a new quilt and pieced by myself from fabrics that I have hand dyed and hand painted. My friend Jane R. did the most wonderful quilting which really sets off the quite simple medallion style of the quilt. You can join in this raffle by sending moeny directly to Moffat's PayPal account (moffat2002US@yahoo.com). For every $5 donation I will allocate 3 raffle tickets to you. Simply post the receipt in the comments box below and I will allocate your tickets.  











My leaving date is still the end of May. My current employers are still very supportive of my endeavours and have gone so far as to put together a mission box of equipment for me to take. Hiccoughs aside - the 5 year plan is progressing well.




Henry David Thoreau,  "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."