And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

in order to keep the base in Australia updated we write several short testimonies each week to send back to them. I thought I would post a few of those testimonies here so you too can read some of the incredible things God is doing in this city!

October 2^nd, 2012 – Bek

            We were helping with a twin delivery, rejoicing as twin one came safely and then quickly saw twin two was in an undeliverable position. The doctors told the mother that she would have to go for c-section and in a whirlwind, preparations were happening for her to get an operation. In that moment we began to ask God for a miracle to turn the baby so that she could deliver right then and there.  As the doctors prepared paperwork for surgery – we notified them that the baby was coming and sure enough God answered us and the little one came right then and there!      

 

OCT. 3, 2012, Christine

            A mother came into the labour ward with her baby in a very difficult position. The mother said she had not felt the baby move since early that morning, causing us to assume the worst. We searched for the baby’s heartbeat, but could not find any sounds of life at all. As we held the listening device in one final position over the mother’s belly, we began to pray, crying out to God to bring life to this baby. In the middle of our prayer, suddenly we heard a strong, quick, steady heartbeat. Thank you jesus!   

 

OCT. 5^th, 2012, Estera

            During worship time I felt that we should ask the staff at the hospital if we can pray for them, I got a picture of this one particular lady. She hasn’t been very friendly to our team and I imagined that she wouldn’t agree to prayer. However, later that morning while at the hospital praying for our day I was reminded of what I had felt earlier, so I told the team. As soon as I was done telling them, the woman in my picture walked up to us and asked for prayer!!! We prayed for her! I was so encouraged to see that God’s heart is not only for the women we serve but also for the staff we work along side! 

Oct. 9, 2012, Corry

            As I was involved in a twin delivery, the first baby was a known stillborn and the second came out very lifeless. When I looked at the second baby, God said “stick with that baby” so I followed the doctor for the resuscitation. I began praying fervently and giving medical care and within minutes she began breathing on her own. With jesus there is always hope! 

October 17, 2012, Briana  

            At the HIV clinic this week a man walked in holding a little boy. With tears running down his face, the man remained standing for all of the worship and devotional time. At the end of the devotional the man came forward with his little boy and said that because he and his wife were both HIV positive it was time for his son to be tested. The community there gathered around him and prayed fervently for this little boy to be negative. Later that afternoon the man came up to me with remnants of tears still in his eyes and a huge smile on his face. He held up the test results, which read negative for HIV! Thank you Jesus for hearing the cry of this man on behalf of his son. 

 

October,16, 2012, Corry

            A premature baby girl was born and declared dead by the doctor. As I was leaving the baby-room the dead baby was brought in for disposal and I knew that Jesus wanted me to begin resuscitation, so I asked the nurses to help. After a little bit of work the little princess was alive and breathing on her own. Jesus raised her from the dead!

 

   

30 October 2012: Laura

A group of us went to do a simple healthcare teaching and antenatal check-ups for a local slum community. When we arrived we met a young man who spoke English very well. He stayed around for our healthcare teaching but he didn’t pay much attention. As we went to do the antenatal checkups I felt a burden to talk to him, even though I wasn’t sure what kind of conversation to have with him.  He invited us to his home for chai after we finished our checkups, and I knew we had to go. As we sat in his home we began to talk about our belief in Jesus. He is a very brilliant young man and although he comes from a Hindu background, he had spent a good portion of time reading through the bible and the qu’ran. He knew scripture very well however he had not been able to connect with the truth of the bible. He shared with us that during the night he had a dream that foreigners would come to him and share with him “matters of God.” Through words of knowledge we were able to talk into drug use and depression in his life. He told us that he had just purchased a large amount of drugs so that he could commit suicide that evening. Through prayer, scriptures, and testimonies we were able to bring truth and revelation into his life. He made a commitment to follow Jesus and he invited the Holy Spirit into his life to help guide him and lead him in the right path.  

 

 

 

in just a moment's time

 I should give you an update.  

We got our permission granted to work in the hospital! (if you hadn’t noticed by the previous posts’ photos.)  God opens doors that no man can close. He made a way for us. He always does. We rejoiced over our victory and then we went to work. It was so good to go through those hospital doors again, even when that putrid smell that I once was revolted by greeted us at the doorway. It gave me an odd sense of ease. I was exactly were I belong. In the midst of life and death and chaos and crowds and women. 

Lots and lots of women.

I started the day off in the labor room. Eight women, bearing down. This time I have an audience. The students will watch me care for the women and conduct the delivery. They will take note of everything I do. Not only do I now need to provide excellent care for the laboring women and the newborns that pop out, but I also need to take the time to explain every step of what I am doing. I need to be deliberate about everything I do. I have to teach.

Teach? Ha, me? Teaching.  

The first woman begins to crown.

Lights, camera, action!

And I take the stage. I only have 3 students watching me at the moment. I can feel my hands tremble slightly as I assist the head out of the birth canal. I normally feel so confident in this position. But it’s one thing to deliver a baby. It’s a whole nother’ ball game to teach someone else to do it. Is this stage fright? Perplexed by my physical reaction but no time to think about it. I've got a baby coming. Every action I take I speak out,

“The head has restituted, great. Now I am checking for cord around the neck. No cord. Great. I am going to help the anterior shoulder out.  Okay mom, push! Great. “

And then- just like that- this little life get’s welcomed into the world.

And just in a moment’s time: 

a young girl becomes a mother for the first time,

a baby takes her first breath; she has just inhaled her life on earth.

3 students are enchanted by the miracle they have just witnessed for the first time; a child welcomed into the world. And in a way, they are more released into their calling than they ever have been before. They too have been welcomed into the reality of their job.

And just in a moment’s time, I finally take ownership of my new role in the hospital, “instructor.”  

Needless to say, it was a packed moment.

Some moments just are.

Since that moment, almost 3 weeks ago, our school has welcomed over 60 babies into India. Many have been beautiful deliveries, healthy babies. Some we have had to fight for. Some we have lost. We have seen miracles. We have seen death. We have seen lots of life. We have laughed. We have sung. We have wept. We have exhausted our selves to the core, giving everything we have to the welfare of the women and the babies we work with. And then we have woke up the next morning to do it all over again.

The students are learning at an impeccable rate. I truly believe it is the anointing of God over our lives. As we serve Him in this capacity, He releases the wisdom and skills we need to provide good healthcare.

little buggy bubba

As an instructor in the hospital my role really is to teach the students how to become God-fearing midwives. How to not only provide good healthcare, but how to stop and pray. How to be sensitive to spiritual warfare. How to love deeply, the way Christ does. How to hold a woman’s hand, clean up after her, and care for her. How to value life. How to fight for it. … and yes, how to deliver babies and claim them for the Kingdom.

And while at times my flesh wants to take the credit for my role as an instructor, I am daily humbled by the revelation that while I am the “actress,” God is the writer, the producer, the director, the orchestrator, and the creator.  Really, He is both the brains and the beauty behind the entire act. He deserves all the glory. I am capable of nothing apart from Him and I am so unbelievably grateful that He uses me, in spite of me. In spite of my weakness and failure and human limitations, the creator of the Universe, the one who knits us together in our mother’s womb, uses us to do His work. It’s simply amazing.

 Thanks for your prayers. More stories to come...

Worked with this mother a year ago. Excited to see babies we've delivered growing up.

the cat, who apparently has a part time job at our hospital

eating each others hands. cause that's what friends are for.

and we're back in action...

pharaoh, pharaoh. oh, baby let my people go

Tuesday, when we finally arrived to the city we would be working in, me and 2 leaders I am staffing this school with changed into our Indian dresses and made our way over to the Director of Medical Education’s head office to get permission to work at the hospital this year.

“piece of cake,” I thought to myself as we made our bumpy rickshaw ride to the office. Last year, the permission was granted immediately. I never even considered there being another way.  Yet to my unpleasant surprise, I was quickly corrected. After a lot of waiting around we were finally ushered into the office of an intimidating looking Indian woman.  She met us with a lot of opposition. She questioned our motives and wanted documentation of the legitimacy of our school.

Often times on the Birth Attendant School we reference Exodus 1 and the God fearing midwives, Shiprah and Puah, who delivered the babies of the Hebrew women against the orders of their king. I guess it should come as no surprise that a Christian midwife school might try and find some parallels in the midwives of the bible who feared God and the modern day work that we are apart of.  Nonetheless, these two golden midwives give us an incredible example of how to live, not just as health care workers but also as disciples in Gods kingdom. These women feared God first, above anyone else, even their king. As a result of being obedient to God, they did not listen to the king’s order to kill the male babies that were born to the Hebrew women.

These midwives took a great risk.

The midwives respected God. They followed a higher authority that wasn’t okay with killing. They weren’t afraid of worldly threats. I once read an insightful commentary that said, “there probably was enough truth in what they were saying to be believable, but they clearly had no intention of honoring the king by participating in murder, and they saw no reason to give the king a straightforward answer.”

They were shrewd.  They did what they had to. They revered God in their practice even when it had to go against the higher governmental authorities. And as a result of their boldness, Hebrew male babies were born. Immediately following this chapter, we see the birth of baby Moses. And we all know what happens once Mo gets on the scene.

And while I am taking the boldness of Shiprah and Puah into great consideration throughout the past few days, it’s Mo that I’ve really been reflecting upon. It was Moses who felt unqualified for the great position God anointed him with.

“Go and bring my people out of captivity.”

God is moved with compassion for the welfare of His people. “I have seen the troubles my people have suffered in Egypt and I have heard their cries… I am concerned about their pain, and I have come down to deliver them.”

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses did everything he could to get out of the position, even to the point of angering God.  Mo asks God, with an honest humility, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  This was a legitimate question.  Moses was not a man of great authority any longer. Not to mention he had a self-admitted poor speaking ability.  I think about what it would be like to be a Hebrew slave in Egypt during that time. If I knew that someone was going to come to set me free I would probably have high expectations of who this deliverer would be.  I can imagine finding out it was some stuttering old Sheppard who didn’t even want the job. I’m sure I would protest, “Please, send anyone else but him! He is definitely not qualified. And he’s definitely not the guy for the job.”

Yet that’s the incredible thing about the God we serve. He is so unconventional.

Once Mo finally came to terms with the position God anointed him with he had to approach Pharaohs throne and stand firm on the reality of what God had called him to do. And yes, there was great opposition he faced every time he went before the throne, but he had to be persistent. And he was.

I look at both of these stories and think about standing firm on the word of the Lord. Sometimes that can put us in direct opposition of kings, pharaohs, or in my case directors of medical education in India.  We can be certain though that we are victorious when we are obedient to what God calls us to do.

It's easier said than done though. Tha's for sure. Which is why I have recentely gained a new found respect for Ol' Moses. 

“What are your qualifications?" the Director asked.

Qualifications. This word.

India is very into its education. They put great value on those who pursue prestigious careers in things like medicine or engineering. If they can afford it, they go to University.  No questions asked. And they study, hard.

But whoa. Never thought this would happen. It’s a developing nation in great need of healthcare workers. and we're here to help. What’s to question?

But the reality of the situation is that this battle is far beyond the physical. We have come to save life. To bring life.  To love women who may never be loved otherwise. To be God hands and feet. To invite his children into His kingdom.

And in the end, it was foolish for me to ever think that there wouldn’t be opposition in challenging the one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy.

What are my qualifications?

Momentarily I allowed the question to bring me to a place of defeat.

Technically, I don’t have any.

I am without a proper Indian degree stating that I have completed proper Midwifery or Medical training. I know if someone without a degree went into a hospital in my country and tried to work they would be laughed at. Scorned at even.

So the question she’s bringing before us is not absurd.  And according to this worldview I can indeed be viewed as "unqualified." And yet, here I am, not just working as a midwife but training and instructing others on how to be midwives.

Who am I? That you have sent me? 

I can try and justify it in my head. And for a moment I did. After all, I am confident that I have been adequately trained. Yet, I know God is teaching me I cannot fall back on the standards the world has set. These aren’t bad standards by any means either. It’s just that I have had to learn that the only concrete standard I can fall back on is the word of the Lord.  Even if that means I don’t have a degree to show for my work.

The God who sends me, qualifies me.

And while I may not be able to rock up into any hospital in any nation to work, I am more than qualified and capable to provide healthcare for the mothers and babies of the nations God calls me to work in.

But just like when Moses approached Pharaoh, the original few responses have been met with great opposition. Needless to say, we are having to jump through some hoops. We have been back to see the medical director 4 times now.  It could feel discouraging. Nerve-wracking even. After all, its not just for my own sake I am getting hospital permission. I have come with a group of 14 eager students who are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to being their practical work. And more importantly than that-there are women and babies who need us. 

They should wait no longer.   

So I find myself being  a spokesperson, a representative so to speak- not just for my own benefit, but for the need of the nation we have come to.

Like Moses, we have come to be deliverers.  And while the actual context of that word may be a bit different, the idea is seeming to be very similar. We must continue to be as shrewd as Shiprah and Puah and as faithful, persistent, and obedient as Moses had to be. It took a little bit of processing for me to get to this place but I feel confident that we will see the permission come in this week.  It is the word of the Lord that brings us to a place of confidence. There has been great breakthrough and movement already in our request for permission. ….And it’s coming.  For:

He has seen the troubles His people have suffered in India and He has heard their cries… He is concerned about their pain, and He has come down to deliver them.

Please join me in prayer as we continue to fight this battle.

“O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? So now go, and I will be your mouth and will teach you what you must say.”

budget airlines, airport floors, late nights, little sleep, bus ride, flat tires, train ride and.... eventually we'll get there

YEP- I'm definitely back on Outreach.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”
But after a 3 day trip to India all I can say is thank God there is a destination!

Our Destination: India.

Purpose: Bring God’s kingdom.  Be His hands and feet. Deliver some babies. Love some mamas. Get His heart for this incredibly diverse culture.

We left Perth at a decent hour. 9:50pm. 16 single girls. A married couple. And two of the greatest kids on the planet.

Budget airlines.

Being a missionary doesn’t always mean that you have to rough it, but in this case we did. A tight squeeze on the airplane but we did our best to rest during our over night flight. We arrived to Singapore in the middle of the night.  Our airline did not provide any food or water so the team was ready to eat.

Greasy noodles and naps on the floor. That’s what our layover looked like.

We arrived in India in the morning. We were greeted by a pastor from Chennai. We stuffed the heaps of luggage we brought with us into two different vehicles and made our way to our accommodation. Someone was supposed to be preparing rooms for us. Once we arrived, though, we realized that the “room” was actually going to be a mat on the concrete floor of this dusty church. It was humid, hot, and there were a lot of church members still around but the team was incredibly gracious. We pulled out some borrowed mats and did our best to sleep with the mosquitoes and stray cats that came and went throughout the night.  

Some luggage to arrive with

Floor sleeps- Take 2

sleeping on the floor/sleeping with some bug friends

Day 2: Travel to new location in order to get to the train in order to get to our destination city. We hopped on a bus that was supposed to take 3 hours. It took 6 and it just so happens that we had a flat tire along the way. There was no air condition on the bus so patience was tested but we had the children with us to help test our attitudes. They were incredible. Never once complaining. And if the 2 year olds not crying then surely I cant be either. Even when we are stopped on the side of a road with a flat tire- in the middle of nowhere, sweating profusely and wondering why we haven’t arrived yet after 5 hours of driving- I still cant cry. I haven’t slept much the night before. My arms are covered with bug bites. But the kids aren't crying and I better not be either.

finding big rocks to help get the bus up to change the tire. And somehow still being playful along the way.

A husband to one of the students. Thank God for husbands.

 Day 3: We finally made it to the train. It was an over night ride, which was to our advantage because we had some sort of 3 story bunk beds that didn’t allow for sitting up, only laying flat. Sleep it is.

 I’ll take it. 

The train ride was well over 13 hours BUT lo' and behold we finally arrived to the city we would be calling home.

The journey was bumpy. And sweaty and hot…. and yet totally worth it.
Thanks for the warm welcome back, India.  No pun intended.

Train! We meet at last

Rice and some other mysteries

Some Muslim friends on the train we shared bunks with.

moving from bed to bed on the train-

Abigail, and the beach ball that says, "warm welcome to the medical team."

INDIA <3

Wild guess on who braided my hair?

‘You said, “Ask and I’ll give the nations to you.” Oh Lord, that’s the cry of my heart.

A few months ago I sat in a classroom in Australia and I found myself having a conversation with the Lord.

After some debating and deep contemplation I concluded that I could never return to work in India again.

It was a strange thought to be having. It was a strange conclusion to come to, especially because while I was in India, I absolutely loved it. It was an amazing experience.  I love India. I love the Indian people and I loved working at the hospital. And in the midst of all that I experienced in that country there was always so much grace to get through it. 

However, in that moment when I found myself sitting in the classroom reflecting back, I couldn’t believe what I had been exposed to. The severity of the conditions for the women. The utter filth that clung to the hospital. The disrespect. The chaos. The death.

I don’t want to wipe cockroaches off a woman in labor ever again.

I don’t want to watch a baby get thrown into a cardboard box because it didn’t survive the birth. Where’s the value in life in that?

I remember every time I delivered a baby girl there was a surge of disappointment that came from the mother. And it’s not just the mother’s fault for being bothered by a female baby- it’s the pressure the society has put on her. She has failed and now she has to not only live with the consequences but pay for it as well.

It hurts to see that.

And I didn’t want my heart to be broken by these things anymore.  

I wasn’t sure I was capable of it.

And in a moment of weakness I allowed myself to think, “if I never go again, maybe I can forget about it.”

But God met me in my weakness. He didn’t let me walk away with that thought in my mind. Immediately He brought me to a place of conviction. He brought understanding. He showed me His heart.

He is so gracious.

It’s like He gently whispered to me, “beloved, this is not my heart either. And its hurting me too. I love my people. I want their circumstances to be different.”

And then He reminded me of the passion He has given me to see things change in government hospitals in the developing nations. If I have a heart for it, why don’t I go where it can be the toughest? Start from the bottom. See the fruit.

And so that’s why it is a great privilege for me to announce that I will be returning to work in India at the end of September.

Donning the traditional clothes, bobbling my head, and sipping on chai- I’m going with a group of incredibly eager and passionate midwife students and we’re going to storm that nation.  We’re going to be God’s hands and feet for the women who are so deserving of it. We are going to welcome life into the world and claim it for the Kingdom. We are going to wipe the cockroaches off and clean the beds and we’re going to do it, not by our own strength, but with the joy and the strength of the Lord.

Give us India, Lord. We're asking for this nation. 

In order to go, I will be needing to raise $5,000 by the end of this month. That’s a lot of money. I know I serve a God that holds all the money in the world. It’s nothing for Him. And I believe He is going to provide for me. So I’m pressing into Him to a release of it. Would you join me in prayer as I seek breakthrough in the area of finances?

If you are able to financially contribute, in any way- even a small donation makes a big difference, you can do that through the secure donate button on my page or you can email me and I can give you some more options at laurae.brager@gmail.com

Right now I am really trusting for some fundraising strategies. If you, or anyone you know can help with fundraising please let me know.

I look forward to being back on the field and sharing my stories with you.

Bless you!