People

There are lots of different people in Galmi.  There are the health care professionals of course, but there are also all the people that help to keep the place running.  There are the support staff for the hospital, the maintenance people, the administrative people. And the list goes on.  The people here are pretty happy for the most part.  They all have jobs and feel like they are contributing to the community.  Even the babies are happy (maybe especially the babies are happy).

I found out a little more about the visits we have had recently when we had the team meeting yesterday.  The health minister for Niger is more or less trying to get all of Niger to follow WHO guidelines.  Which is mostly a good thing.  There are some times when one could question how well those guidelines fit our circumstances, but none the less, it is good to have standards to live up to, or at least strive for.  Things like not using outdated medicine, and warming blood before it is given as a transfusion.

Most of the houses have house help.  It is nice to have people help with the washing and cleaning, and it is also a source of income for the community.  The have bible study in the morning, they work for 2 hours, they have lunch, and then they work for another 2 hours.  The wages aren’t much, but it helps them pay for their necessities.

James 2:14-17 ESV

What good is it my brothers if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that/  So also faith by itself, if it dos not have works, is dead.