Goodbye Philippines, Salamat Po! Hello Chicago!

Blogging, what a great idea! Stand back a few feet from my own life, take photos, observe and make pithy comments, reflecting wryly through a health and wellness lens.  And then life happens, faster than I can take photos or reflect in witty stories, let alone apply the experiences to health and wellness practices.

After 8 whirlwind months my time living in the Philippines has come to an end!  As I write I am air-bound for Chicago.  So many experiences in such a short time, mining my reflections in the months to come will no doubt yield some posts on healthy living based on my experience of urban living. Manila was quite a shock for this Alaska-raised, former suburban-Chicago baseball mom, and most recently Oregon small-farm girl. Wow! It's a varied life!

While my emotional status is definitely up for discussion I am choosing to focus on my physical health (with serotonin side benefits).  Honestly healthy choices may be all I can control right now.   I’m thinking specifically of my heart health.  Hurling 550 mph on my way to Tokyo, I read the April 24^th Asia version of the Wall Street Journal which ran a great story on heart health by Melinda Beck.  Do you know if I walk just 30 minutes a day I reduce my chances of heart attack by 70%, only 10 minutes a day reduces it by 50%!  

I have been regularly walking on a treadmill while living in Manila, primarily to avoided the heavy pollution, and humid heat while addressing the sedentary nature of my work at the computer. The same article mentioned that spending my work day sitting in front of a computer is the equivalent of being a smoker in regards to my heart’s health, that’s a surprise! The solution is to have regular intervals of moving through out the day.  I guess I could have used the office stairs a few more times a day.

I have had a love-hate relationship with my walking shoes. How many times living in the states I’ve thought, I’m going to start walking regularly, 20 to 30 minutes a day, how hard can that be?  Then the weather changes or the dog has carried off one of my shoes, or the guys in my house have decided to watch my favorite show, or I just don’t feel like walking at the moment, I’ll do it later.  

While I do not like anticipating difficult circumstances, I believe that my daily living choices are an opportunity to practice so, when life is difficult, I have established a pattern.  It seems counter intuitive that when all is disrupted, I am going to walk.  I’ve been “practicing”regular walking in my daily Manila living and now when I need it most, I have the preparation and confidence to carry out daily walking, while readjusting to life in the states.

I have got to walk, for cardiac health.  Okay, mental health too.  Already as I think about where we will be staying when we first arrive in Chicago, I envision myself outdoors walking in the beautiful spring weather, except when it’s cold, blustery and raining sideways.  So, I see myself doing circuits in the nearby mall, that’s if there is no treadmill in sight.

What do we actually DO in the Philippines?

Brad is CEO and leads an amazing international team of 4, 2 Filipinos and 2 Aussies.

One mate (Aussie), Dan is a computer tech CEO who moved his family to Manila the same month we arrived. Not only has he completely revamp the orgs finances, but his most amazing achievement is creating a whole new system for receiving our gifts in kind food packs from the US.  We serve over 1.5 million meals to the malnourished and under nourished  poor.  Dan and his staff have a  tax free avenue for receiving food and medicines into the country!  More importantly this new system fully supports the new Aquino government's corruption free system. Change is happening in the RP!

The second mate, Helen oversees all the orgs operations and is a wealth of knowledge and experience.  She  oversees the Directors of Education, Livelihood, Health (so she is my boss) and Metrics.

Ptr. Herman, Filipino, is a specialist in leadership development and mentoring. He has rolled out mentoring and training for the 3000+ partner pastors who lead  ICM community development.

Mr Louie, joined the team in January and is focused on developing funding sources in and outside of Asia.  He comes with years of fund raising expertise in the Phils.

Brad's life/work experiences, skill set and ministry/business philosophy are very well suited for ICM at this time.  He is in his element working with a high capacity, highly skilled team.  He loves his job.

As for me, what an unexpected adventure.  I am just now finishing  my Public Health Grad. Cert. (one more class this spring) and CAN NOT believe I am in the job I have.  It's more like an internship with an official  title (Dir. of Health).  I work for Helen an ER - mental health trained nurse, who is a hoot and a spitfire!  I am happy to follow her direction and she is comfortable giving me rope to hang myself :D.  Next posting I will share the 4 month Project REFRESH we are implementing in ICM Health Services.

I am nurturing the care clinic staff.  They are nurses, midwives, and volunteer docs who see up to 30 patients a day for common complaints.  What they do really well is screening for major medical cases and then case managing them through the government and private health care system  to get care.  Over the past three months over 50 cleft palate/lip patients have received restoration surgeries through the work of our staff partnering with local and international organizations.

My lack of clinical expertise is not an issue because I work with a national adviser of medicine, Dr Mindy, who oversees all the special medical cases and malnutrition children's program.  My skills and interests in Public Health, group process, coaching, time management, and online education are all being utilized.  My passion to empower and build capacity in the developing Filipino health workforce is realized.  How sa-weeet!

For those who know my son Andy, 15, I am often asked, how is Andy doing?  He is an amazing young man and doing very well.  It was an incredibly challenging fall semester for school.  In hindsight, it would have been better do 1 or 2 online classes to become familiar with the learning system.  We thought he would get into a school here and that has not happened.  It all has to do with timing.  So, he  has just started his second semester of online classes and  is optimistic once again.  He loves his new little dog, Gibson (pronounced by the national tagalog speakers with the emphasis on the "son" and sounds more like "san" think papa-san, we however call him Gibson, like the guitar :D)

It's been almost 7 months since we boarded a plane for our visit in August of which I've only been here for 4.5 month to date.  I will be here through the summer at the least, there are no formal plans for Andy or I to return to the states at this time.  Brad however has board and fundraising responsibilities in the states and will be in Chicago for a week end of March.

Our adult children are all scheduled to come this summer. Two of the boys and their girl friends will come for their college summer break and intern for ICM.  Our married kids will join us for the week of our 25 anniversary in July.  We will have them all here to celebrate on the beautiful Philippine beaches!


We love the Filipino people.  We are inspired by their passion and ability to lead change in the lives of the disenfranchised and marginalized on very limited resources.  It is an honor and privilege to be here.


I have a renewed commitment to the blog and will be posting again in a few weeks with some details and photos of  Operation REFRESH for Health Services, it is after all a wellness blog :)

Be Well
lynn

6 month reflection:

Wait... What happened?

The short story is after 40 resumes sent out last spring/summer the only bonifide job offer Brad got was through an old Wheaton college connection he had renewed when the guy moved to Portland.  Through Dave's contacts we learned of a faith based community development organization in the Philippines that works through the local protestant pastors. ICM is 20 years old, started by local Filipino's, and financed almost exclusively through Hong Kong's wealthy.  There are strong supporters in each of the home countries of the board members, Philippines, US, UK and Aus.

The HK board (specifically the board chair) wanted to find an American style leader to tighten the org up administratively.  The cool thing is those out in the field bases are pastors, so they wanted someone who is specifically suited to shepherd, not just administrate.  Brad is a great match.

Here is a retrospective of events, August to the first of the year, 2012

July
July 20th-ish Brad, "I am considering the job in Manila, You, I and Andy need to travel there in two weeks to candidate."
Great flurry of activity...to include the arrival of my daughter-in-law to be  and her mother on August 1st for an Aug. 21st wedding.


August
Aug 4-16 Brad, Lynn and Andy flying to, around and from the Philippines AMAZING group of people and very exciting work.  The rest of the family was in shock and/or working like dogs prepping for the wedding.

21st Lee and Kit's gorgeous wedding in the orchard and garden of our home

Aug 22nd rest

August-September
Brad flew to HK then Manila to begin work Sept. 1st.

Aug 23-Sept 25 I start packing and did so until the day I flew out.
We reduced 10 years of farm life, 3 buildings down to one double long storage garage, it took a village of friends and family to sort, sell, toss, give away and store 24 years of accumulation.  Thank goodness for the move 10 years earlier or I think I'd still be there...:D


Oct 1st delayed arrival in the Philippines due to back to back typhoons, what a welcome!

Oct 1st -Nov 4th.  two weeks of recovery under the care of a staff of 4 at our host home, starting online schooling for Andy and I (OHSU-PH Cert). During that month I started work, located a new home (bless Daphne) and moved in, our 17 shipped boxes all showed up by moving day.

Nov 4th -25th  3 weeks to settle in to our new home and continue schooling, working and adjusting, make that ADJUSTING.

Thanksgiving Day, flew out to Chicago and spent the weekend with most of our kids (David was still in England studying abroad for the semester)

Nov 30th -Dec 6th  Spent in Washington DC for fundraising events, sightseeing and doing online school for Andy and finishing my final...fun times!

Dec 6-Dec31 Returned to Portland, completely fell apart.  Note to self do not return to previous home for an extended stay only 7 weeks after making an international move. It's too hard on everyone.

9:30pm New Years Eve landed back in Manila! We were home!

We have settled in nicely, it's taken the first two months of 2012 to recover from the first 5 months of this adventure.


Wellness tips for International travelers:

• Sleep 8 hrs at night take naps if needed, 
• eat regular meals & keep hydrated, 
• walk briskly and 
• allow yourself time to grieve change. Even good change is accompanied by loss.  
• Be kind to yourself and others, 
• set boundaries with others who may not relate

1. More to follow on our early work with ICM in 2012.

Filipino Clinicians and Filipino Businesses partner with ICM providing health care for the poor.

Tagbiliran, Bohol.

Minierva Lahaylahay

Yesterday I had the privilege of observing the “brain child” of ICM Program Development leader Minierva Lahaylahay.    A one day, minor surgery medical clinic run by doctors from Cebu City’s Perpetual Succour hospital.Funding was provided through the local Lions club, President George Lim, who coordinated the local businesses including the brand new surgery area in the local hospital Holy Name University Medical Center Foundation.

Surgical Team from Cebu City

       

Having local organizations and regional doctors partner to provide care is one step closer to providing continuity of care for the poorest of the poor.

Head Surgeon

Program Development leader Minierva was responsible for contacting and screening the area’s potential clinic patients through the network of community leaders, the local pastors that ICM supports via training, networking, food and care clinics.   After it was obvious that Minierva’s preplanning and organizational skills had resulted in a smooth running operation, I had time to ask her about her vision and the obvious successful result.  She credited the leadership of ICM Area Head Primo Sistual for allowing her to conceive the idea; foster the community relationships resulting in financial and clinical support from Lion president George Lim and the lead surgeon and work in the pastor network of ICM to identify clinic patients.  Over 500 community members who live in a 3 to 4 hour bus ride were originally identified.  When the scope of the need overwhelmed the resources available Minierva worked with the lead surgeon to focus the purpose of the clinic on minor surgery, requiring only local anesthesia.  The potential patients were told those with cysts and lumps would be prioritized.  She was able to cull the list down to over 100, still a daunting number for a one day clinic.  The lead surgeon came two weeks in advance to prescreen those who requested care to determine if their need fit in the scope of practice for that day, only 15 arrived.  On the day of the clinic when I arrived at 8am at the ICM base, where intake and triage was done, there were already 30+ on the list, which eventually grew to 82.

Intake starting at 8am already a line and a very warm day

The first 15 were sent to the hospital, conveniently located just down the street for the 11am start time.  I joined the staff with the local Lions club members to welcome the surgical staff arriving from their 2 hour ferry ride, as Cebu City is on a different island from Tagbiliran.  We greeted four surgeons; two general, one orthopedic and one vascular along with a surgical intern and surgical resident with 4 assisting nurses. 

All ages were present at the clinic with cysts, lumps and bumps.  Priority was given to those who had a 2 to 4 hour bus ride and would need to be on the return bus late afternoon.  Some were treated and others referred to the lab for X-ray or ultrasound.  Some would have to return when the team scheduled a general surgery clinic requiring general anesthesia. 

Marnett, Jen & Lou, 1/2 the Bohol Health Team

I lost track of the ones I met in the early hours as I had to leave to catch a plane only 3 hours into the clinic, but I was present to hear the sober prognosis of one woman with lymph nodes that where swollen and ulcerated.  She had seen a local doctor; he had diagnosed stage 3 cancer and offered, if she could pay, to remove them.  We are serving the poorest of the poor, so most likely all her resources had been used to get the original diagnosis.  She had shown up that day in hopes of accessing free surgery to remove the lymph nodes.  After one of the attending surgeons assessed her situation it fell to ICM COO Helen Turner, Special Medical Cases leader Lou Cosenas and Minierva to break the somber news.  She had terminal cancer and while a local doctor might be offering surgery that she could not afford, it was recommended that she go home and spend time with her family and allow ICM to help support her with palliative care.  It was a difficult time.  Minierva is a compassionate woman, and this was not what she or any of us would have wished for this woman.

Clinic site

Later in the day as I visited with Bohol Area Head Primo Sistual I reflected on how fantastic it is to see local businesses supporting regional doctors in providing necessary care to the poorest of the Philippines.  It is through local pastors, businesses, and physicians galvanized by International Care Ministries that the generational bondage of poverty can be broken.  A new generation of Filipino leaders like Ms Minierva and Mr Primo, focused on the needs of the most vulnerable have inspired and provided a way for their community to reach out in compassion to provide health care for the poorest members of their community.

Arrived in Manila

My Brain on Sleep Mode

I have arrived in Manila, my new home shared with my husband and 15 yr old for the duration of our ICM assignment.  Five weeks of packing followed by jet lag has been a recipe for brain shutdown, not unlike the sleep mode of my computer.  I have a new awareness of how much we take brain function for granted.  I learned only two weeks into packing that the daily decision making regarding our stuff resulted in my brain “checking out” by 6 at night.  

I re-learned the value to providing it with proper protein, fluids, relaxation and restorative sleep.  Now as I emerge from the fog of jet lag, I look forward to the “normal” demands of adjusting to a new living environment and culture.  I must eat well, drink fluids, exercise and rest if I am to be at the top of my game for the learning curve and new decisions facing me. 

We never know what adventure or surprising turn of events awaits us. Rather than living in consuming anticipation or dread, take the opportunity now to feed and care for your brain, eat well include Omega 3 fatty acids, give it time to rejuvenate with restful play and 8 hours of sleep.

Typhoons! Oh my!

We have arrived right in the middle of typhoon season.  Just as one subsides another system forms off in the Pacific and moves in.  They are devastating but as is typical in the states it is the poor who are most vulnerable to the effects.  The middle class and wealthy typically live on higher ground and are spared any real effects other than the inconvenience of slower travel or at most being confined to home for a day until floods subside.  The poor are regularly evacuated, sheltered and then return home to rebuild.  I would post pictures, but I was confined to the Hong Kong airport for 24 hrs during Nesat and have nothing…

This coming week will be about focusing on school work, looking for apartments and preparing for my first public health team meeting.

Be well…

What we need is sustainability...

Sustainability...a popular term in the green Pacific NW.  Imagine my pleasure when I heard it role off the tongues of Philippine leaders of the island communities participating in ICM Values, Health and Livelihood programs.  The 4 and 6 month  community programs we support are much appreciated. "But what", asked the leaders, "is to be done about sustainability?"  And that is the 40 million Filipino peso ($1 million USD) question.   How is capacity being built into the individuals so that they continue to live out the values, health and livelihood training after the ICM trainers have left?

Before expecting follow through from others a little self reflection is in order here.  How do I sustain healthy living practices?  Three topics come to mind immediately and bear some thought

• Recognizing my value and the worth of my dreams
• having like minded friends and 
• grace for a fresh start each day.

Worth and Vision
When I see myself as an individual of worth and that I have something of value to contribute to my world then choosing healthy practices will support me in my endeavors.

• eating balanced meals using the     My Plate, 
• exercise, "10 minutes at a time is fine"
• regular Rest and Relaxation
• Spiritual renewal and fellowship

Supportive like minded friends always helps

Fresh start each day
Waking with an attitude of thankfulness for a new day, not living for perfection, but enjoying the day and flexibly navigating unexpected events.  Supporting my body, mind and soul with healthy choices of fresh fruits and veggies, positive-supportive thinking and conversations and an attitude of prayer.  It won't change my circumstances, but I can change my outlook and response.

Be Well,

Lynn

Sorting, Storing, Shipping, Selling

We are in the final stages of figuring out what to do with our stuff.  The proverbial light is shining!
Clothes and some personal serving and decorative things are packed to ship Sept. 8th for the Philippines.
We have solved the storage issue and that has made the whole process much easier.  And then there are our dear friends who have stopped by to pack boxes, totes and schlep stuff all over the property.  The repair work has begun around the property and it's looking mighty fine, too bad we can't stay to enjoy it!

Lee and Kit are doing the same thing in Chicago tomorrow moving into their newly wed apartment.  Kit's dad drove their wedding presents to them and will help with the move.

Stephen is a happy freshman at Wheaton enjoying his 4 classes and enthusiastic roommate.

David leaves Thursday morning for London, traveling two days to arrive at Wycliffe College at Oxford to study philosophy for 3 months.

Brad leaves Thursday for Hong Kong and begins an intense 6 week transition time with ICM's current CEO

Andy and I are finishing up preparing the house for renting and starting our respective online schooling programs, my 5th course in the Public Health program at OHSU and his 1st semester sophomore year. We do not have a departure date yet, sometime after September 15th most likely.

Wishing you all well, if you are waiting for a dream to be realized, don't despair when the timing is right and as you are faithful in your current circumstances, it will come together and be SWEET!

Be well!

Dreams do come true!

Last night the board of ICM, International Care Ministries, offered me a position on their public health team!  You could knock me over with a feather!  I went to the Philippines last week to learn about their work and about Manila in preparation for Brad to accept the CEO position.  Yesterday I was offered a job, a dream job in international community public health.  A job I thought impossible considering my late entry into the field of public health.

I will join a very capable public health team;

·        Helen a former psychiatric nurse from Australia passionate about health & wellness promotion in a medical clinic setting. YES! Fist pump!

·        Mindy, a physician from England working with malnourished children, I saw with my own eyes their effective partnership with Feed My Starving Children.

·        Dedicated Filipino nationals, weekly caring for thousands of very poor women and children.

It is a “dream come true!”

A year ago a VP of a major relief and development organization warned me gently that my age and lack of experience in public health made it unlikelihood I could have access to such a role. Thanks be to God he is not bound by limits.

So what is next?  In the weeks ahead I will be doing three things:

1. Preparing Andy to transition to International School as a charity agency in Hong Kong has awarded him with a scholarship.

2. Getting rid of 24 years of household accumulation and renting out the house.

3.  Discovering emotional, prayer and/or financial partners who are passionate about supporting the team and me working to alleviate the physical suffering of the poorest of the poor in The Philippines.

Please don’t pinch me; I don’t want to wake up!

Be well!

Lynn

Click here If you wish to receive email or blog updates regarding the work I will be supporting.

Manila and beyond

We have arrived home from the Philippines and before too much time passes I need to share the final stage of our trip.  We spent the last four days in both Manila and Hong Kong meeting the national staff in Manila and the financing board and support staff in Hong Kong.

An amazingly skilled and passionate group of people.  The Manila staff supports the 5 provincial bases scattered around the islands the Hong Kong staff and board provides the financial backing.

Here is an aerial view of Manila and a modern day Jeepney.  Some of them are REALLY decked out with airbrush portraits and designs outside and padded seats, LED strip lighting and heavy bass booming.  Others, which I intend to frequent more regularly are driven by the older guys with nothing to prove and they use the 20 cents/passenger fee for gas and presumably living expenses.

Hong Kong was amazing, the weather was unseasonable cooler (all relative) the sky was blue (usually smog filled) and the traffic was surprisingly sparse even less than downtown Portland (typical, well developed public transport makes using a car less necessary)

We finished off our trip with a board meeting on the 86ish floor of the tower you see just in the fore ground only 5 floors from the top.    We watch the sun set from the meeting room it was a true pinch me moment.

The islands

We have been traveling in the region of islands referred to as the Visayas were the majority of the 7000 islands are.  Bohol is the resort island with beautiful beaches and warm bathwater swimming.  Negros is a mountain island with the plains growing sugar cane and rice.  The fields were a stunning green as we drove  from Dumaguete to Bacolod visiting rural and smaller town recipients and pastors along the way.  A local pastor is the heart and feet of the community.  He or she is the one who knows who the poorest of the poor are.  They are the ones ICM resources so that the poor receive nutritional support, health education and livelihood training.  When a particularly malnutrition child is identified they come under an intensive feeding program.  We saw a darling little girl named Angel who was born shortly after her older sister and before her mother nutritionally compromised herself could rebound.  Little Angel has never been able to rebound from the nutrient deprivation and now at the age of 3 she looks like a lanky 18 mo old.  Under ICM's malnutrition child operation her hair is filling in and she is gaining weight.  By the time she is an elementary child she will have caught up with her peers.

I have very few pictures of the locals.  It is a bit of a sensitive topic as we listened to a group of pastors conducting their monthly Thrive meeting (ministerial association) share how the poor often feel exploited, believing that we profit from the photographs and they do not.  So, I have wonderful memories and many shots like this one, a rural barangay (neighborhood) path and gate.

Or pictures of us. First Brad geeking out over the vermiculture lab at the local ICM base in Dumaguete or the next one of me reminding the recipients  how important it is to wash hands before cooking and after using the CR (comfort room aka toilet)

Andy had his first motorbike ride to a local animal "zoo" where he saw the tarzier (endangered world's smallest monkey) and pet a python.

Off to visit the urban barangays which have  similar and different challenges than the rural ones

Philippines adventure

I thought for the time being I would post our Philippines adventures here on my wellness blog.  As you will see the trip is related to health and wellness,  but in a very different culture from my own western culture.  As some of you know Brad is considering and being considered as the CEO of International Care Ministries ICM, a faith-based community development organization that works through local churches in impoverished rural towns and slums of the cities.

Brad, Andy and I board Delta for Manila Philippines by way of Tokyo Thursday afternoon for a 15 hour flight that lands in Manila 10pm Friday night, so we loose a day. The following is our 12 day itinerary along with what video and web pages I found by which to share where we are and what we're doing.

We overnight in Manila and then head to the Island Bohol where we will spend our first 3 days meeting the region staff and pastors, visiting the community they serve and learning about the wide range of programs ICM administers.  Sunday (your Saturday night) we'll be attending a slum church. Monday we will be trained in the Values, Health and Livelihood adult curriculum.


Thank You Video from caremin on Vimeo.


The itinerary says we knock off early to help cope with Jet lag, I'm thinking this hammock has my name on it.

Monday evening we head by boat to Dumaguete on the Island of the Province Negros Oriental. This is where our good friends Dave and Rena Larson's twin sons are living.  Dave is responsible for recommending Brad to ICM. After meeting the staff we will visit slum communities and participate in the VHL training that we  learned back at Bohol. Wednesday we will drive 5 hours north to Bacolod in Negros Occidental Province visiting ICM supported communities along the way. 

Thursday we will again meet staff and visit the orphanage in Bacolod. Anyone's head spinning yet??

Friday through Sunday will find us back in Manila learning the area, visiting Faith Academy and you guessed it, meeting the staff :)  Please oh please could I just remember a few of the names when this is over.

After church on Sunday at the local ExPat and then Filippino Churches we fly to Hong Kong to meet the board on Monday.  After this whirlwind experience of a lifetime hopefully we and  ICM will know if we are a match.  Tuesday morning will find us boarding in Hong Kong and the arriving in Portland at 8:30am Tuesday, so we get our lost day back.

I will attempt to post additional blogs from the various hotels we stay in and keep you updated.  Check back or if you are a Facebook fan, I will share my blog updates on my status.

Be well!