Back to Bocachica

Jorge was super happy to return to Bocachica on February 16.

(I will be joining him in a few months.)

 Jorge and his little helper, Moises (Samy and Marley's little boy).

Together again at our weekly staff meeting.

Elisabeth (our Norwegian staff doctor) and Laura (our Brazilian staff nurse) working at the clinic. 

Elisabeth attending to a patient at the clinic.

Meanwhile in Bocachica...

PL Staff:  Blanca, Erika, Marley, Samy and Moises.

YWAM Cartagena hosted a staff retreat for the staff of all the different ministries based out of Cartagena.

 

Roberto leading a media and film seminar.



 

Miscellaneous visitors, volunteers, workshops and projects... see more photos HERE! 

 

 

Interceding for the African continent.

 

 

Evangelistic Outreach

 

Hosting DTS outreach team in Bocachica.

Bocachica

Meanwhile... back in Bocachica... Our staff are holding down the fort:

Samy, Moises, Marley, Erika, Blanca, Alexandra, and Yolanda.

Little Moises is almost 6 months old already!

 

 

 

Korean DTS performs a cultural dance for the elderly.

Special dinner to close the school year for our sponsorship program.

Samy, Marley & Moises attended our annual YWAM staff conference.

Blanca Rosa attended a leadership course at YWAM Cartagena.

Samy participates on the worship team at the Foursquare church in Bocachica.

As always, we need and appreciate your prayers and support for the ongoing challenges of ministry!

Look Who's Here!!

MOISES DAVID CRUZATE REYES

 
Samy and Marley had their baby on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7:50 am!  Marley was just starting her 37th week of pregnancy so we weren't expecting him for another 2 to 3 weeks yet and his early arrival caught us all by SURPRISE!!  But it was a wonderful and welcome surprise indeed!!  Marley had a really great birth experience and we could see God's favor shown to us in so many small details!  We are so thankful and feeling very blessed!!

It all started on Tuesday at 2:00 am when Marley was feeling some strong contractions.  Once she realized they were coming steadily she had Samy time them and they were every 5 minutes with each contraction lasting about 1 minute.  This went on for the next 2 hours and at 4:00 am they decided to wake us up.  We heard Samy at our window and when he told us about the contractions our first reaction was that it was probably a false alarm.  But once I heard that this had been going on for 2 hours already I quickly got up and brushed my teeth and got dressed to go upstairs to see how Marley was doing.  We all just giggled with excitement and amazement because we couldn't believe this was happening so soon!!  So we decided to get the first boat that leaves Bocachica each morning around 5:30 am.  The timing of Marley's labor was just so perfect because we didn't have to run around in the middle of the night trying to find a boat and we didn't have to go in the middle of the day when the heat is unbearable.

We woke up Blanca and Alexandra to let them know what was going on and we all 6 huddled in a circle and prayed as a family together before heading out.  Jorge and I left the mission with Samy and Marley and walked to the dock. Bocachica was silent and I could still see the stars in the sky and there was lightening off in the distance lighting up the clouds.  Marley was very calm and she handled the situation like a pro!  We got to the dock at 5:15 am and we had to wait about 20 minutes for the boat to fill up with passengers and then we took off for Cartagena.

Once we arrived to the city there were no taxis around so we had to walk about 4 blocks before we were finally able to find one.  As we got in the taxi the Colombian national anthem was playing on the radio so we new it was 6:00 am on the dot (the national anthem plays every day at 6am and 6pm).  We heard the first verse which says something like, "Oh unfading glory! Oh immortal joy!  In furrows of pain... goodness germinates now!"  We just looked at each other and laughed at how appropriate the lyrics were for that moment! 

So we got to the hospital and were put in a room at 6:30 am where they checked her vital signs and got a brief history.  At this point we were thinking that they might send us home to come back in a few hours or something like that but we at least wanted to get her checked first.  Then they took her to another room where the doctor would examine her.  The first time that they checked her was at around 6:50 am and she was already 7 cm. dilated!  They put in an I.V. and told us they would take her upstairs.  Samy was in the waiting room with Jorge and I was with Marley.  They said that I could be with her until the moment that they took her into the delivery room.  We were thinking that we might be there a couple of hours or so until she fully dilated.  But we were in for another surprise!  The wheeled her up to the 2nd floor and I was tagging behind, trying to keep up and then they went through a set of double doors and the man held up his hand and told me, "this is as far as you can go!" and they zipped into the delivery room and left me outside practically with my mouth open, wondering what had just happened!

I found out later that as soon as she went in they checked her again and she was already 9 cm dilated!  Then a couple of minutes later she was 9+ cm.!  So the doctor got her ready to deliver and after only 5 pushes the baby was born at 7:50 am!!  (The total process lasted less than 6 hours!)  I was out in the waiting room trying to get some things that the nurse had asked me for... clothes for the baby and a diaper and some other things and once I got everything I sat down to wait, thinking I'd be there for a few hours at least.  I heard the baby's first cry but I didn't think it was him.  I assumed that there were other women in the room giving birth and that Marley still had a few hours to go.  I never dreamed that it would happen so fast!  Just a few minutes before 8 am I went to the nurses desk and asked them if they were going to be able to give me some reports every now and then to know how she was progressing.  The nurse said to me, "Oh, are you with the girl who just went in?... well she already had her baby."  I couldn't believe it!!  So, I could go on and on telling about it but I'll stop here and just say that God showed us much grace and favor, Marley did a great job, and Moises was born strong and healthy weighing 6.6 pounds and 19.6 in. long.  He is so adorable and we are all so happy and thankful and are reveling in this joyous occasion!

YOU CAN SEE PHOTOS OF ALL THE FUN HERE!

So precious!

PS:  I just wanted to share, for those of you who don't know this, we were asking God to bring little Moises a little early so that we could have time to enjoy him before we have to leave on sabbatical on Oct. 12.  We were hoping for a week or maybe 2 weeks if we were really fortunate.  But God in his generous mercy and grace has given us a whole month to enjoy this precious little gift!  We are so thankful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 

Proyecto Libertad

This is a short video that our friend, Sarah Costello, made for a ministry presentation last month. 

Catching Up...Medical Brigade

Last month we had the privilege of hosting a medical team from North Heights Lutheran Church from Arden Hills, MN.  This was their second year to come and a lot of the original team members were able to return.  We had an awesome time with the team and were blessed in many, many ways by their presence!  Here are a few photos from the week:

 Dr. Jack

 Anita checking in a patient.

 Dan entertaining the kids while they wait for their parents to be seen by the doctor.

 Translating for Edi as she gives a talk on pregnancy and childbirth to a group of pregnant women.

 Jessica, Mandy and Sue

 Dr. Jim at work.

 Dr. Jim and Yolanda looking for just the right medicine.

 Praying for a patient after his appointment.

 Maryjo with one of her surgery patients...a growth removed.

 Leni taking a patient history at check-in.

Guillermo!

With Erika and Pili!

(PHOTOS BY PILI BUNSTER)

Germans Going & Coming

I can´t believe it has been a whole month since I updated this blog the last time! Sorry for the lull! (Sorry Uncle Bill!)



So, there has been a lot going on...but for now I´ll just give you the scoop on our German Invasion! :)

We were sad to see Thomas and Anais leave us after spending a year with Proyecto Libertad in Bocachica! They were such a blessing to have and we miss them already! During their time with us Thomas worked with construction and maintenance and Anais worked with our Children´s Ministries. They are both back home in Germany now getting ready for University. Thomas will be studying film and movie making and Anais will be finishing her studies to be a teacher.

Just a few days after they left our new group of Germans from the Weltwarts program arrived for the Sept. 2010/2011 year! Here they are:

Anita who just graduated from nursing school and will be working in our Infirmary.

Madeleine who is a pediatric nurse and will be also be working in the Infirmary.

Katrin who just graduated from high school and will be working in Hospitality and Children´s Ministries.

Christian who will be working in our Finance and Administration areas.

They are just finishing up their first week in Bocachica so keep them in your prayers as they adapt to so many new things! We pray that they will be able to pick up Spanish very quickly and make theirselves at home in the Colombia and Bocachica culture and lifestyle!

And speaking of Germans...



...we also have enjoyed a visit from Karoline who worked with us 2 years ago. Since she left us, Karoline got married and is now living in Miami! It was great seeing her again and she just happened to come at the perfect time to be able to help us with translations and orientation for the new German gang! Karoline also came prepared to do a couple of crafts projects with women and kids and they really loved it! Thanks so much for coming back Karo...we love you!!

Congratulations Josefina & Gabriel!

It´s not everyday that we get to celebrate a marriage among our staff! But, on March 29th we had the honor of being witnesses at the civil wedding ceremony for Josefina and Gabriel. Josefina is from Tijuana, Mexico and she has been on staff with us for 3 years. During that time she met, fell in love and got engaged to Gabriel, a Bocachica native! It has been a joy to watch their relationship unfold and see the journey that God has taken them on up until now. As I write, Josefina is now at home in Tijuana busy making wedding plans and tomorrow Gabriel is flying to meet her and her family there where they will have their church wedding ceremony next month. We are super excited for them and wanted to let everyone know that Josefina will be coming back to Bocachica a married woman! Here are a few photos of their civil ceremony:

With the judge, making it legal!

The rings!

Aaaawwww, so sweet!

In Parque Bolivar after the ceremony.

With Gabriel´s pastors.

With Gabriel´s mom.

And, of course, with Jorge and I. (What was I thinking? I should have worn white!)

With Yolanda and Erika.

We all went to Crepes and Waffles for icecream afterwards.

Cartagena carriage rides...

On the historical city wall with Bocagrande in the background.

Strolling through historical downtown Cartagena.