So this is Christmas...

It’s a cold but sunny mid December day. I am driving on the freeway from Sacramento back to the Bay. I had just submitted some paperwork to the California Secretary of State for yet another medical mission next year in the Philippines. It’s a boring drive and I tune into “the Bay’s Christmas Music Station”. I recognize the voice of John Lennon. He is stating the obvious first: “So this is Christmas…”. Oh yes, John Lennon also had to write a Christmas song. Of course! He goes on: “… and what have you done? Another year over…”.

Uh-oh! There it is: the reminder to reflect on the past year. With Christmas the year is coming to an end triggering such reflections on this past year and hopes for the best in the next.

So this is Christmas - and what have I done? This year full of war, climate catastrophe, “triple” pandemic, inflation… What a crazy year - And what have I done? I quit hospital medicine in the hope I could dedicate myself to making a difference for people who need it the most - with LMI. You know? Reduce maternal mortality by teaching midwives and pregnant ladies using the medical mission concept. That kind of thing. Yet, so many of catastrophes hit home this year: death, dementia, disease, depression, disability - in various forms, some striking at the same time. And what have I done? Tried to deal with all of it as best I could. And God’s wisdom came through yet again: a beautiful spring, summer and fall without fires, the glistening bay shore in front of me, the sun a constant companion, the right people in our organization and LMI’s work sorely needed in a place in the Philippines. We can’t solve every issue, but what we can do is stay focused on the good, the big picture and deal with every other issue that comes up along the way with the tools God has blessed us with. Life is good!

So, off to the Philippines in January 2023. Let us make sure fewer women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy! We will show this with data and hopefully we can convince people like you, as you read this, to join and support us.

Next year when John Lennon will ask us again “and what have you done?” - we can just smile...

All the while, his song is still in the air:
“A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear”