On Call

Last night, Greg was on call. Aren't we taking a break from training programs with call for this year???

Our housekeeper, Patricia, is 30 something weeks pregnant (Her latest ultrasound last week called her 33 weeks +/- 3 weeks pregnant...welcome to the developing world). She was at our house last night watching Luke while we went to an English church service downtown. We knew that she had started to feel some cramps and contractions over the weekend and told her to call us during church if she needed ANYTHING. When we got back to the house, Luke was asleep and her 20 month old, Zair, was playing in the living room. Patty was looking pretty uncomfortable. She had some contractions about 10 minutes apart for about an hour while we were gone. We decided that she should go home and rest. Greg walked her to the bottom of our hill to buy her a phone card for her cell phone so that she could call us if she needed us. We kept Zair at our house for the night (we have been planning for a while to keep him when she has the baby as Patty doesn't have any family).

At 2:30 in the morning my cell phone rang. Yes...it was Patty. Greg was on call...OB call. She was having stronger contractions and some bleeding. I handed the phone to Greg to get more details. We decided that she should head to Regional Hospital in Cusco right away. Greg called the other Greg from our team (who has a truck) to come get him and Patty. We do not have a car and there are no taxis or buses that run during the night. Greg was at our house in 5 minutes and they were off to the hospital.

The doctors at Regional believe that Patty was in early labor. They decided to give her medicine to stop her contractions. Greg and Greg had to go out and buy the medicines, along with gloves, a thermometer, and a urine cup and take them back to the hospital...again, welcome to the developing world. As of this morning, Patty's contractions had stopped and she was resting comfortably in the hospital. The doctors would like to wait at least another 2 weeks to schedule her C-section (she had one with Zair). Looks like she'll be on bedrest for a while and in the hospital at least for the next few days.

Please pray for Patty. Pray that she and the baby would have great protection and health. Pray that she would really turn to the Lord for strength and peace in this tough time. Pray the the nurses from the clinic and our missionary community would show Christ's love to her faithfully. Pray for Zair as he is away from his mom (he is too young to visit the hospital) and in our home. Pray for us as we now have two toddlers!!

We'll keep you posted...

Patty's baby shower a few weeks ago...Patty is in the front with the black turtleneck and buttondown on and yes, I am the tall, white one in the back.

A cute towel for the baby to come!!