Bethany International Outfitting for Missions

Back to Home Page

College Of Missions

Alumni Stories

Jenny - Missionary Midwife

Hi! My name is Jenny and I graduated from Bethany College of Missions in May 2005. After graduation, God led me to the Philippines to serve as a missionary midwife. I was born and raised in the Philippines until the age of 13; but I live and minister in the opposite end of the country and in a different language group.

I arrived in Davao City on the island of Mindanao in September of 2006, and have been here for training to become a midwife, which as most of you know is a medical professional who specializes in the care of pregnant women and the delivery of babies. I also serve as a missionary. Newlife, accredited in the USA, is an amazing training program that allows me to learn the art of midwifery while simultaneously serving as a missionary at Mercy Maternity Center, a charity clinic that serves the poor in this city of one million at rates that are close to “free of charge”.

Most midwives studying in the USA don’t attend a delivery, much less deliver a baby until their 2nd year of training, but this program is very hands-on; I delivered my first baby in December of 2006 after studying only 4 months! I work 30 hours a week in the clinic and hit the books after hours to further advance my knowledge in midwifery.

The women we serve and their families would not have a safe, sanitary place to have their babies and would have little if any prenatal care to speak of if it wasn’t for Newlife. They also wouldn’t hear the gospel throughout their pregnancies without Mercy Maternity Center. I have built many strong friendships with my patients over my time in the Philippines, and delivered 92 babies in all.

8-12-08 Update: Jenny recently returned to the states; she’ll be mentoring Bethany students who are training to be missionaries, and hopes to start her own midwifery clinic wherever the Lord directs her.