The Hospital Bags

In the beginning of 2020, we found out that we were expecting. A couple months later the world shut down. I was a mess. I was worried about getting sick, giving birth, finding things that I and my baby would need, etc. Then the Lord laid on my heart other expecting moms and how they were struggling during such a crazy time. So I had the idea of making kits of basic necesities that I could donate to other expecting moms. I tried to do 10 a month. They didn’t contain much, but it was something.

One of the reasons I wanted to make these kits is because the hospitals here in Panama do not provide any of the basic necesities a woman or her baby needs after birth. No diapers, no menstral pads, not even soap to shower with or bathe your baby with. These were some of the things I included in the kits.

In August of 2020, our son was born and I was able to get a better understanding of what women really need when they give birth here. Also our son had to stay an extra night for jaundice treatment, so I was able to learn what a mom would need in that situation as well. The Lord definitely had a plan and was teaching me. Panama is very big on encouraging nursing if you are able, so when your baby has to stay in the hospital they have you come every 3 hours to nurse your baby and pump. You are required to have your own breast pump and milk storage bags. You also have to leave diapers and wipes for your baby.

In 2021, I decided to start an instagram store selling our clothes that we didn’t use anymore as well as some make up and skin care products that I never opened. My goal was to be able to fund the hosptial kits and provide some extra income for our family. The Lord blessed my little store and I was able to provide hospital bags for a few months. I haven’t done any in a while, but had saved money from my store to start the sewing ministry at church which is still going on.

I hope to start the hospital kits again soon and make improvements to them. My mother-in-law and I have been hoping to get the ladies in the sewing ministry involved and make some little baby outfits or something for the kits.

I’m excited for all the things the Lord has instore. There are many things that I feel He has laid on my heart and I’m just really excited that He is using me. I hope to honor and glorify Him in everything I do. Please be in prayer as I have been struggling with what exactly I should be doing or preparing for. I was hoping to study here in Panama to gain more knowledge as well as learn Spanish better, but nothing has worked out yet. Spanish is one of my main priorities right now so please be in prayer for me as I learn. Spanish has been a big struggle for me and I am frustrated that I’ve lived in Panama for so long and I still often find myslef unable to understand conversations or be able to say the things I want to say. If you have experience learning a language, please feel free to leave me some tips in the comments!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your prayers!

Stacey