Shower of a different kind

Last night we had a baby shower for Mandy, our teammate in Ohrid. She is due in late October. The Macedonians don't do baby showers, but typically give gifts 40 days after the baby is born. Those first 40 days are when the baby and mom are expected to stay in the house and have little to no visitors. Culture is interesting!

We were invited to another donut party for a newborn last week and the state hospitals have very strict rules about seeing mom and baby. The dad did not even know that his son was born until about 12 hours later, when the hosital allowed his wife to call him.

Please pray for Mandy and Brian as they prepare to be new parents. Pray that the cultural differences here in raising children (of which there are MANY) would not overwhelm them and that their little one would grow healthy and strong these next two months!