Mercy girls- Update

It just started raining. Something about rain that inspires me to do greater things, like little things one perhaps neglects in the spinning sunshine of life- write. I’m listening to my friend’s piano music and the rain seems to swell behind it somehow and beauty is magnified.
There are a few stories I’d like to share with you, three girls that stand out this time. Lyn, Candy and Eljin, “mercy” girls as we call them; and pray that true mercy does find them.
Lyn I met only two days ago, and 4 hours later- I delivered her baby boy. Lyn is sixteen years old, strong and graceful- labor brought out the woman in her; and also the child. There is something different when you deliver a girl that young, there is a dynamic in you that needs to be strong for her- a pillar- they cling more, and they look into your eyes and are always asking "can I do this? help me. be here." Even more different is the certainty when from somewhere you are given strength enough for that call- that you feel the burden of enough love inside you it could swallow her up and she doesn't even know it :) God is good. What freedom was found in that place! Where I could pray and He could fill her up through the spoken calm of my words!? He is good. Today she came back for her first baby check up and she looked well, her journey with mercy is not over yet. Please pray.
Candy is a sparkle in my eyes. I delivered her little Cerena Janelle about a month ago and have been texting back and forth with her since. This is, they will tell you, the bridge to the Filipino heart- Texting. So despite my technology clumsy fingers I am committed to learnJ I went to visit Candy and her family not too long ago in their home about an hour from Mercy and out of the city. What a special time! Cerena Janelle seemed the least excited about my visit and even she remained an unusually calm baby for the hours I was there. Candy’s mother kept thanking me and exclaiming “tears of joy” as she wiped some salty water from her eyes. I ate with them and plaited the hair of Candy’s sister in law with little African cornrows, which fascinated and amazed themJ. With my fingers tangled in her hair I tried to find the words to answer Candy’s question as her sisters listened on- “Janelle, why did you really decide to become a missionary?” God is good. Words fall short, but it is His Spirit that transforms. I bought a little pink dress for CJ a couple days ago and I hope I can give it to her soon since I am now her “Lola” (godmother.)
I met Eljin today; Sarah (her midwife and my crazy friend), Holly and I took her to the pool as a surprise. She has 36 and 5/7th’s week bump under her shirt that says “VIP” in huge black letters and hair almost as crazy as Sarah’s- they make a good pair. Sarah wanted to spend time cheering her up as her “bana” is seaman and just left for a year of service. The Filipino culture is very romantic, and with Eljin’s impressive English vocabulary we were left to no doubt about the great extent to which she misses him already. She sat on the edge of the pool and we made small chat, midwife small chat that is- which replaces the pregnancy for the weather as default and results in such questions as “Have you been drinking enough water? Do you want a boy or a girl? When do you think you will give birth? and are you afraid?” “Are you afraid?” We got stuck on that question. Eljin said “yes I’m afraid, you know; I am actually afraid of dying.” We started to chuckle a bit to put away her fears, but someone piped up “Are you afraid of dying in labor- or of death in general?” “Dying, I’ve always been afraid of dying. I don’t know why- my bana says it is silly, everyone has to die. But I don’t want to, I am afraid.” God is good. Once again we speak in clumsy words and pray for His Spirit to move. Jesus has conquered the grave, and He is life. O Lord hit Eljin with life!
These are my stories for today, simple stories of real loved women. Our hands are short, but His reach is infinite. Please pray that His perfect plans for them will be brought to completion. Hope in Christ.