The Privilege of Peeing in a Cup

I usually think of peeing in a cup (at the doctor’s office, of course!) as a necessity, or as a shameful task (who wants to put a cup full of pee with your name on it on a counter where everyone can see it?), or as a risky challenge (will it really all go in the cup?  what else might get in the line of fire?), but today for the first time, I realized that peeing in a cup is also a privilege. 

After my regular Wednesday Pregnancy Support Group and Childbirth Class, 16-year-old Maria pulled me aside.  She explained to me that while she was almost 5 months pregnant, she still had not gone to see a doctor.  I could tell she was a little ashamed to admit this, because every week, no matter what the topic, I reinforce the importance of regular prenatal care.  She wanted to know what she had to do to start receiving prenatal care at the clinic where our group meets.  I very naively told her “Oh, you just have to schedule an appointment with the receptionist,” thinking that I had fully answered her question and taken care of her needs. 

“But what do I need to bring?” I didn’t understand her question at first… Yourself? Your baby in your womb? A full bladder? Then I noticed she was looking at the prices listed in the clinic, and I realized what she was really asking was “How much is this going to cost me?”

I brought her over to Dra. Sonia to better answer her question.  She first told her the price of each doctor’s visit--$5.  Then she listed the prices of each lab test that needs to be done throughout pregnancy, a list of about 10 exams, ranging in price from $2-$10 each.  And then on top of that the price of an ultrasound.  With each number stated, I saw in Maria’s face the likelihood of her actually receiving prenatal care go down.  She took the list of prices with her, but I did not see her going to the receptionist to set up an appointment like I had originally suggested. 

After she left, Dra. Sonia and I chatted for a while about this conundrum—we acknowledged the extreme importance of these women receiving prenatal care, but we also acknowledged the barrier of the high price tag associated with it.  It may not seem like a lot to you and me, but the cost of a regular visit and a routine urine exam (about $7.50 total) is what many Nicaraguans make in a full day of work.  Dra. Sonia said that she always gives the women the order for the $2.50 urine exam but many end up leaving without doing it because they can’t afford the added expense.

I left the clinic today feeling guilty (I’ve never had to worry about how I’m going to pay for a routine medical exam), disgusted at the injustice of our world (why should Maria have to worry about the cost when so many others don’t have to?), sad (thinking about how many problems past and future could have been or would be avoided if women had access to the care they needed), and motivated (I see the need for change and want so badly to do something about it).

I don’t know what will come of it, but Dra. Sonia and I ended our conversation dreaming about a sponsorship program that would allow donors to sponsor a pregnant woman in my group, providing them with the medical care they need throughout their pregnancy.  My hope is that in time, I will be writing another blog post asking you to consider sponsoring one of these women who are so dear to me. Stay tuned!

Last year's group picture

Koinonia Groups

One of my "extra" involvements at Nicaragua Christian Academy outside of the SOAAR classroom is assisting with the preschool chapel (which is actually for children in PreK1-2nd grade). I've been involved mostly because of my love for music and worship and singing. . .singing with a big group of enthusiastic kids is one way I truly experience God's power!

This year, a few of us created a small-group model to be used on occasion during our Wednesday chapel times called "Koinonia Groups," referring to the greek word referring to Christian fellowship (also the name of the Project Neighborhood house that Ruth lived in during her sophomore year at Calvin). Our chapel theme this year is the Book of Acts, which lends itself perfectly to the idea of meeting together, sharing together, praying together, studying the word together--all in community, together! Our theme verses for the groups come from Acts 2 regarding the early Christians:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

The students come into the Eagle Center wearing colored head bands, and after we sing together and do a short lesson, students divide into multi-aged groups of 5-7 students, led by teachers and assistants holding a group flag of matching fabric (yes, if you have done Group VBS, you know where we borrowed this idea from!).

Each group is named after one of the early churches--Corinth, Rome, Galatia, etc. We spend about 15-20 minutes in these group--praying together, completing a hands-on activity related to the theme, eating a snack together, etc. The topics of the group time has ranged from today's persecuted church, identifying idolatry, and "going" to tell share the Gospel.

I'm thankful for the growing opportunity this is giving our youngest students at NCA--to realize that they are indeed part of a larger community of believers!

Beauty and the Beast

This last weekend, I had the privilege to play piano for the NCA drama department's production of Beauty of the Beast. Beauty and the Beast was my very first Disney "cassette tape," and my 5th grade-self had every song memorized once upon a time. . .so it was fun to relive some of my earliest musical memories now as an adult!

I had envisioned that the music wouldn't be TOO difficult, being from a kid's movie and all, but it was. And it was long. I began practicing in December, and met with the student performers once a week during January and then about 3 times a week in February, many days until 5:00pm. The show was about 2 and 1/2 hours long, and I had to play 337 pages of music for each of the three performances. This, for me, was all about focus and mental energy. . .no matter how much I practiced, I never felt totally prepared for the marathons of playing for so long without a mental break. It was also a challenge to keep my back from seizing up from the stress of it all!

I was so thankful to have another keyboard player by my side each night. Jackie Sjoberg, the one-and-only NCA library volunteer, played all of the "extra" orchestral parts on a second keyboard, which added a lot to the music AND made me feel a little better about life in general. She had the show down to a science. I also enlisted three different page-turners, one for each night, which really saved me!

This was my fourth year as the pianist for the annual show, and this, by far, was the best (though the most work)! I'm thankful for the opportunity to use my piano skills in this way each year at NCA. I'm also excited for life-beyond-the-musical, and I know Ruth is, too! We're already doing things, now, like organizing the house and jigsaw puzzles again!