Transitions

My room at the guest house in Niamey

Well I have arrived safely in Galmi and it has not been too eventful.  The only part of the trip I find I worry about is after I have gone through the customs at the Niamey Airport and I am wondering who is going to drive me to the Guest House.  Fortunately, this time James and Deborah Knight who I had met last year were there to greet me which was a relief.  The Guest House was as I remembered it, and we went out for a nice dinner of brochettes cooked over a wooden fire by the roadside.  It also came with fried onions, French fries and some (really really) hot sauce.  Then off to bed as the pilot arrives at 0715 to head out to the airport.  There is no internet at the guest house which is part of why I have not posted until now.  Actually, as I type the power is out in Galmi, so I am not sure when this will get posted either.

My Ride to Galmi

              As promised Kevin the pilot (again who I met last year) arrived at 0715 and we headed out to the airport.  They do check the car several times and want to see inside the glove box in case you are carrying weapons.  Kevin has been through this countless time and usually they are pretty relaxed about it, but apparently there was an inspection at the Airport today, so the guards had to be following the rules to the letter.  It made for a little extra driving but Kevin was very laid back about it and it all worked out fine.  I shared the plane trip with a native Nigerien who is translating the bible in to one of the local dialects.  He has been on the project for a couple of years now.  

              Kevin had an interesting story to tell about one of the other pilots, Joe, getting stuck half way back from Galmi on a trip earlier this summer.  One of the parts failed and he had to stay out in the desert overnight until Kevin could drive out the next day.  Kevin took the part off the plane that was still working and brought it out so that the plane could get back to the hanger.  It is all in pieces right now and they are going to have to import some parts from the states.

View from the back seat

              Galmi hasn’t changed too much.  I had lunch with the Megills (who I met last year) and then a quick orientation by Anne-Sophie (who is not only in charge of Maternity, but is now the Medical lead for the hospital).  She says she doesn’t have enough time for both jobs so she is happy to have me here.  I did my first clinic this afternoon and saw 3 people that had to go to the OR (one of them right away) so it looks like I might be busy while I am here.  Hopefully I will still be able to blog every day.  John. 

The triangle is the Hospital compound.  The city sprawls out to the east (right)

Phil. 4:13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.