Creation Appreciation

April 2008

The day began helping Dr. Alan Barber's team of doctors get to their remote clinic site in Cuatro Cayos. A beautiful launch ride up the Rio Cienega, we had no stress as this was not our clinic. Mike and I were just showing them the way and hauling some tables and chairs in our launch. Our grandson, Oscar, was with us on the bow looking out for navigational hazards and Mike was at the helm. Well, now that I think of it , I had no stress. There was plenty of time for me to enjoy God's beauty and be close to Him. The peace and calm washed over me.

The return trip was everything but peaceful and calm as we transported a woman in labor. Before we left the shore, we asked Dr. Sarah to join us in our launch because, "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies". Just in case, we wanted the mother to be as safe as possible. We were all concerned because her "water" had broken two days before and the baby hadn't been active for four days. And the mother had a fever.

We had called ahead to have an ambulance waiting at Bruno's Marina in Rio Dulce. The normally forty five minute trip seemed like forever as the mother's moans and cries grew stronger. We had to pull over to the riverbank at one point and then (to skip graphic detail), we continued on. Dr. Sarah, thinking of the unsanitary conditions of giving birth in the launch and not having any equipment with us, kept telling the mother not to push. And I dutifully and willingly translated this to the poor woman.

When finally the mother's mother told her to lay down, she had been standing the whole way, Mike said, "It's going to happen in the launch!" Mike kept speeding up and finally we were out of the Rio Cienega and on the Rio Dulce. Praise God for the new launch motor, and we were silently thanking (you know who you are) for buying it. At last we were pulling into Bruno's looking for the ambulance. They had gotten tired of waiting and left.

Just as the bow of the launch tapped the seawall, Dr. Sarah delivered a beautiful healthy baby girl! Mom was ever so relieved and fine. Then another doctor was having his lunch right at the seawall and jumped down into the launch to see if he could be of help. Dr. Sarah let the mother have a rest and then she delivered the placenta.

In the meantime, we had called the ambulance back and the fireman brought the suction bulb, clamp, and he cut the umbilical cord. Good teamwork is always a blessing! Needless to say we will be traveling with a little more equipment in our packs and God willing, a doctor like Sarah. May the Lord bless you and your practice, Dr. Sarah!

And thank YOU LORD for allowing us to enjoy Your creation in the morning and witness Your creation in the evening. It was a day we will not soon forget!

PS: The next day on our way out of the Rio Cienega we passed the water bus heading for Cuatro Cayos. Mom, baby, and grandma were on their way back to their village smiling and waving as we motored past one another. It almost seemed like a dream.