Josh standing in front of the hospital
Today we got a tour of the hospital and met a lot of the staff. They are mostly Nigerien, which means Josh got to use his French quite a bit of the day. We had lunch at the hospital and one of the guys we were sitting with told Josh he had lost his accent after Josh told him that he grew up in Togo. Josh was kind of disappointed because he thought he meant that he lost his Togolese accent, but the guy said, “You don’t sound American at all. You sound Togolese.” I think it’s safe to say that this made Josh’s day! That and the hot sauce that we had with our lunch today! We were both very excited about that!
I will be putting up more pictures of the hospital, but for now here are some from the short walk we took around the neighborhood that the hospital is in.
Trash pile right by the hospital
There are only a few main roads that are paved. None of the side streets are paved and there is an abundance of trash, especially plastic bags, and bottles everywhere. The hospital is on one of the main roads (that actually just got paved recently), but we walked one block over and were greeted by lots of happy friendly children who escorted us for the rest of our walk!
These kids were pushing this cart. I asked them if I could take a picture and they all stopped to pose in front of it.
Our guest house is really nice and comfortable, but just 100 meters away, it’s a totally different world. The poverty is overwhelming and it’s easy to feel guilty that we have so much more, but if I focused on that I would just seclude myself from the outside. I feel grateful that I can be here to get to know the people and build relationships. I want to be able to do whatever I can in terms of helping out at the hospital and hopefully soon, doing some art therapy!
The road we walked down
Goats looking for food in the trash
joshjulieblog 
Unbelievable photos! I guess I better stock up on kleenex because I’m just going to be walking around in tears the whole time I’m there!
All I can say is wow!, what a first day. The pictures you sent are quite overwhelming, however I hope they will continue to come. The kids that walked with you seem to be innocent still vs some young people who are quite jaded in their attitudes toward foreigners and life in general.
Was that firewood on the cart in your picture? Just maybe you will be able to promote the idea of a reprocessing plant there for all the plastic bottles laying around or let the Abargil or Aboutbul families here know about the opportunities awaiting them there. Just a poor joke. Seriously, I don’t believe you will run out of ways the Lord might use you to help improve the quality of life there and just generate plain hope for a better future.
Love
Dad
Amazing how tantalizingly vivid and inviting just those few photos are. I’m telling you I want to be there already! Give me that trash-strewn street over a picture perfect cul-de-sac in suburbia any day…
The poor goats in the picture might have a slight advantage over the goats in the Judean wilderness and the Arava. At least there appears to be some greenery here and there. I understand that 2/3 of the country is Saharan desert.
Dad
you know…with a few different shades of brown and green…your photos could be taken from where i live in cambodia…
That’s cool! But don’t you want to come visit so you can compare the colors for yourself? 🙂
So excited for you guys! I’m excited to see where God takes you both. Miss you…
God Bless You guys! I can’t wait to hear the wonderful things that are going to come out this journey you are taking! Keep us updated!! 🙂
Lindsey
I am really excited for you guys! The opportunities for who you are to bless others will be without limit. West Africa is definitely a unique place with much beauty and much which blesses us and teaches us about life. I am proud of you and it is neat to be able to follow your adventure like this.
You are going to do so well, Julie!!! you already have an amazing attitude towards the poverty that you see around you, which can be difficult to deal with. I know you will find really unique and creative ways to help those around you, as it seems you do no matter where you are. i miss you guys so much! thanks for posting pictures. i watched the Cure video and it made me want to come so bad!!! much love, look forward to your next posting!
Jessica, I can just imagine how much you would love doing an internship here… the doctors are so great, so gifted… just really great people. You would just love it! Love you!
NEAT! Makes me miss Africa though.
I am glad to see God using former MKS as adults 🙂 🙂
Thanks Ruthie. You can always come for a visit! We have a guest room!
wow! The children are beautiful… i would love to be there with you lads! i am excited that this blog is a way to be in touch with you and see how your journey comes together. I pray that this journey is both a blessing to those around you, and to you. I look forward to hear how it has impacted you and your perspective, faith and world view.
p.s these pictures reminds me much of… O UGANDA is my motherland!
Shadia, You would love being here! I think you just need to come and see for yourself! The kids would absolutely ADORE you! Love you Shadz!
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