WORLD OF NEED

We're having our first team meeting for the trip to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this weekend.
We'll start to solidify the team, the dates, and what needs to be done to prepare for the trip.  I had Dr. Fletcher on the phone earlier this week to ask about the political strife that we all hear so much about throughout Africa.  Of course, it's like hearing of strife in the USA.  Some areas are much worse than others and it can't all be lumped into one. Several times I've had people look shocked that we would even consider going there because of the danger.  It was reassuring to talk to Dr. Fletcher who has lived there most of the last 20 years.  He said the political unrest is far from where we'll be and he and his wife travel freely without fear in their region.  They do not need razor wire around their compound (or station as he calls it).  However there is a fence around the hospital.  He says we'll be able to take a day and travel to one of the outlying hospitals so we can see the area and smaller communities.  We may do clinic there.

I'm excited about the possibility of teaching there.  Dr. Fletcher seems as interested in using all of the team to teach whatever we can.  They have 2 nursing schools, medical students and residents.  He's trying to improve the medical education as much as possible so they can provide better care for themselves and in the far distant future become self sustaining.  This is the poorest country in the world, ranked 187 out of 187 (USA is 4th).   NN