Giving birth in the jungle......

This is a portion of an update from missionaries I grew up praying for. The Jennings have worked long term (27 years) with the Higaunon people translating the bible, establishing a church and training and discipling converts/teachers to work with their own people. They serve with New Tribes Mission.

Read more about the Higaunon people

Dear Friends in Christ,


... We had an interesting night a few nights ago. We were woken up around 2am with someone outside calling us. This hasn't happened in a long while and the first thing we both thought was, "Oh no, a possible political problem" because we had heard that there had been some problems in an area about 10km from here with some killings. I think the guy outside must have realized that was our first thought, because once he knew Ron was on the other side of the door and hesitating to open it, he proceeded to tell us that his wife was having her baby (her 8th!) and there was a problem with the birth.

So Ron opened up and he told us what was going on. It seemed like although the head was present the baby just wouldn't deliver. The midwife helping with the delivery has delivered a number of babies here, so I guess what she was experiencing concerned her and thought we might have some advice.

Now childbirth is something I usually don't get involved in having only delivered one baby since we have been here. The midwives here seem to do a pretty good job considering their circumstances. We have been here 27 years and only know of one death of the mother during childbirth and very few babies dying at the time of birth. I really didn't know what help I could be other than moral support but we went over anyway. Thankfully they live close by so getting there wasn't a problem.

After talking to the midwife, it was clear that she was really concerned that things were not progressing as they should be. For the past two hours or more she had been trying to deliver the baby to no avail. She had physically tried to get the baby out but it seemed stuck fast. I felt like I was somewhat thrown in the deep end and needed to try and help too. So for the next 2 hours, with each contraction we both tried to get the baby out. There definitely seemed something wrong and an obstruction preventing the head from coming out. Eventually we encouraged them to consider taking her out to the hospital on the coast. Calling in the plane did not seem a good option as it would still be a number of hours before it was light enough to call in the plane and plus there was also the possibility that it wouldn't make it in here anyway due to a current typhoon off of the coast that had been getting worse. So rather than wait, they organized some guys to help carry her out in hammock and sent someone on ahead to try and organize a vehicle once they got her to the top of the mountain.

I was reminded once again after that experience how much we have to be thankful for with the medical help we have in Aussie. Here I was in a small wooden hut with no light other than our spotlight and their tribal lamp which is just some diesel in a bottle with some cardboard as a wick, so every few minutes it needed to be turned upside down to re-wet the cardboard which rejuvenates the flame after initially giving off black bellowing smoke. At one point I nearly got burned by the oil lamp. I only realized that I was standing right over it when I felt the heat.
The mother, Yom-pot, was laying on the grubby wooden floor on a sheet of plastic with her husband Bah-lat, at her head trying to encourage her. All they had to use was a bowl of warm water and some old rags. The whole situation was as far from sterile as you could possibly imagine and basically I had nothing to add to their conclusions about the problem. Behind us were their other 7 children all huddled together on a sleeping mat, half a dozen people were hanging in the open window and different ones were coming in and out seeing what was going on. The Lord gave strength though, especially to Yom-pot who amazed me how well she was doing in spite of the pain she was in and the pain I am sure we were inflicting on her as well in our trying to help.

It was also encouraging to hear the discussion that went back and forth about the Lord being in control and the exhortations from the elderly folks to not be afraid but trust the Lord. Before the Gospel came here they would have been pushing on the mothers stomach to try and push the baby out and sacrificing chickens to their ancestral spirits and wiping the blood on the woman’s stomach, but now they are depending on the Lord and eager to follow His leading.

By 4.30am they had everything organized and ready to hike her out up the mountain. When they left I felt so helpless, wishing we could have done more, but realizing that there really wasn't anything more we could do. My prayer was that she would have the baby on the way so that she wouldn't have to make that horrible trip for hours over the unbelievably bumpy mountain roads out to the coast.

Four hours later I heard that that is indeed what happened. When they reached the closest village along the road to here, there was a trained government midwife there who apparently was able to help her deliver the baby. Thank you Lord!!

The following day I felt like I had been run over by a truck. Every muscle in my body ached, due to the fact that I had to get into positions that I haven't been in for a long time and with the problem I have with my back, it was just made worse. Oh well, at least I know this will wear off in a few days.

I guess that even though we were unable to help physically, we were able to observe something far more important than our physical help and that was their faith in Christ in the midst of a real life trial. That is something we can rejoice in having had a part in delivering to them that which will carry them through every trial no matter how much we lack the ability to help them physically.

As you know we are looking forward to a translation check beginning on the 17th July. Ron is finishing up a 'guest room' that we have put together so that Ginny (our checker) can have a bit of privacy whilst here. We used to have a small spare room next to our bedroom but decided a little while ago to just pull down the dividing wall to make our bedroom a bit bigger to fit in our exercise bike.

This left us with no where to put any visitors other than just setting up a mattress in our living area. The 'guest room' is just outside of the main house but shares the same roof area. It is something we have been wanting to do for ages but just never got around to it. I guess the need pushed us to get on with it. So if you come visit us, you can stay in the white house. Were calling it that because we painted it white inside and it is the only place in our house that is actually painted. Additional features are 24/7 WiFi and bug proofing. No gaps and holes for the bugs to get through.

Well, this is getting long so will close for now. Once again we want to thank you for your partnership with us in prayer. What an encouragement it is to us to know that so many are praying for us and the work. We trust that as we keep you updated, you too are encouraged to hear what the Lord is doing amongst your Higaunon brothers and sisters.

With Christian love
Ron and Michelle