True North

Home is just on the horizon. No more goats or chickens or lizards or fish parts. I can't believe my time in Ghana is up. It seems like we just landed and now that we're good an settled, the trip home is in progress.

I suppose I thought that this small blog would represent mainly my experiences in Ghana.  I realize that I haven't revealed many specific stories.  But I didn't expect to feel the kind of loyalty that comes with being here.  Where I have permission to share photos and stories, I will do so but likely when I get home where the wifi hums along at a faster rate.  I thought I might reflect back to my first, short clinical experience in Utah and keep this blog up as I continue to navigate the process of completing the program bridging north and south. Allow me to keep writing it where there is time and read if you are interested.  I love your comments.

I want to tell you about the people I now call my Sisters and Brothers and for whom I am now their Canadian Sister, Mother or Aunty because the people are just so cool that I want to share them with you.
Probably one of the most interesting personal parts of this trip would be how much the people care for each other, how they go out of their way to welcome you and how they just speak their mind and work to build authentic relationship with each other.  I will be working to be more well rounded in this department.

Yesterday, I celebrated International Day of the Midwife surrounded by midwives from across Ghana who really know how to celebrate. I'll post some photos and such as I reflect.  But for now, I just wanna concentrate on getting home to my geese.

Thanks for reading along, for your prayers and energy while I've been away.  Believe me, there have been so many moments when I've thought of my peeps at home and felt lifted even when my wings hurt so badly I just wanted to quit.  This time has brought me so very much closer to completion. And for those Doula Mama's coming up over the next 6 months, I believe this experience will contribute to your births as well.

I think the processing I have to do isn't going to be easy and I feel a mix of emotion and physical reaction to leaving Ghana.  Stick with me my friends - someday, I'll be able to hold a conversation that doesn't include the words placenta or uterus or maybe even the word birth?  Well.... lets not get too hopeful about that.

“Promise me you'll always remember: 

You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."     ~A. A. Milne

Hey Karen, Safe travels partner and Happy International Day of the Midwife eh!

Anyone who works with you as you journey forward can consider themselves blessed

Twi! 

 Karen style (yes, I am teasing you)

"There is no try... only Do"   ~Yoda

Did this place really exist? 

Nya Akoma = Have Heart ~ Be Patient 

Note from Ohui (First Born Daughter)

"Mom! Please eat some wachee (pronounced whachey) for me! The best stuff is a little booth (seriously, booth) halfway down the main road outside Salvation Army heading towards the bank. Try it with spagetti and egg and pepe.  Also, try 'egg on head' = woman with a platter of hard boiled eggs on her head - make sure you take the onion and pepe."

Thank You Aryn, for taking care of my little place so I could be here, for helping with the "littles" and for just giving me those little injections of prayer and love and understanding. From that first phone call resulting in me being a puddle on the floor to the latest time in Ada where I got to learn so much about what others see in you. I loved hearing people "OHUI MOMMY!" from places in the village and from people I had't even met yet.  

Joseph says "Dorniky Ohui, I miss you and we all love you"

Ghana Greets You!

There is a place where the river meets the sea and you cannot be sure where the next big wave will come from. When the waves are big enough to knock over the biggest of fish, sometimes it's just better to sit a few out rather than try to swim over them.  In this moment, I was thinking about how blessed I am to have had this time to think and learn and walk through more of the steps in birthing my inner midwife. 

As we were busy experiencing birth and death in Ghana, one of our most prized young teachers and one of the finest Midwives in the world, was taken too soon to even believe. Briana, Thank You for giving inspiration to so many of your sisters in birth and in your death, may those who loved you and where loved by you find some sort of peace. I hope to be the kind of Midwife you would be proud of. 

That the river and the sea fight until they come together, so do the heart and hands of a baby midwife and as we gain and lose may we all be able to experience peace at the estuary.

Today, I am heartsickeningly homesick for my children. I miss you all my loves... make room on your foreheads. Mama goose will be home soon