A Whirlwind Week in Niger

Connectivity was not good last week and the schedule was so packed that I got nothing posted then. I've been swamped since I've been home, so nothing yet. I will try now.

I was invited to join a team going to Niamey from CURE International to begin the process of building a small pediatric orthopedic surgical training hospital there. The goals for the week were to enlarge and strengthen CURE's network of contacts there in government, medicine and the faith community, advance the process of CURE's recognition by the government as an NGO, try to locate land, and interview candidates to serve as a temporary part-time agent there. We made great progress on all fronts.

In the process I met many, many new friends, including these young ladies:



They need the kind of help that CURE provides:



There are many more like them. May the hospital be up and running quickly!