The Ring

This little ring symbolized much to me these days. Being here, like being anywhere in this world laden with sin, there are times of great blessings, and times of unfounded discouragement. It is in a place of discouragement that I have found myself these past few weeks.
God has been faithfully seeking me out, reminding me that all of my questions and concerns are answered as I seek Him, in His perfect timing.
I had an amazing experience last week at a birth. It was my 2nd handle, and the lady was a Badjao woman (Muslim tribe of people here who are dirt poor and live over the ocean in shacks build on stilts). It has been a rough start to the day, and when this woman came in, and she was my labour, I knew I would need God's grace to get me through.
So quickly the Lord changed my heart and my attitude with a simple prayer.
We have a policy to pray with our patients when they first come in, and when Jenn (my supervisor) told me to go pray for this particular woman I hesitated slightly. You see, another thing about the Badjao is that they rarely go to school, so they don't learn English... and I was having one of those days when I just didn't want to not understand, and not be understood.
I went into the room, and asked if I could pray for her. Sitting on the bed beside her I began to pray, and so did she. I had heard before that no Badjao ever prays alone, but I have never experienced this before. There I was praying for her, and she is fervently praying for me at the same time. It was a beautiful moment. God used it to break me, and remind me of why I am hear... to serve His people, in the ways He has pre-established, and in His timing and strength.
The rest of the labour and birth were pure joy. Martina even asked me to name her son, and as a gift to us her husband gave Jenn and I both a ring... the one in the picture.
So many things were cool about the birth... she bled bad, but never quit praying. When her husband arrived her wouldn't stop praying either! They prayed for each other, prayed God would stop her bleeding, and just prayed unceasingly, calling out to the God who met them in a very hopeless place, and called them to His loving arms. Beautiful. I could do that every day... but then I guess I would cease to recognize His hand. I do that all to easily. I am thankful He used this birth to remind me so clearly of Himself. What a wonderful Savior.