As I always do–I post our news after I have returned from the mission in Niger. (security reasons) I am sitting in the Paris airport for a few hours so I might as well get started.
After the same looooonnnnnngggg trip from LA to Agadez that I have done for 25 years I arrived at my house in Agadez where Djado greeted me with delight–I don’t know how he remembers me when I’m only at the house a few weeks a year, but he seems to.
I start to prepare for the arrival of Dr. Becky, her mid wife sister Pat and a new volunteer this year—Alissa Everett, a photographer, living in Nairobi who will be an interpreter. So many languages are spoken in our program and no one but me has known both English and French. This will take a big job off my hands leaving me free to do the things I had previously done—often in the middle of the night to handle the logistical stuff—making sure everything and everyone is there—buying supplies, arranging and paying salaries, per diems, military and other security, dealing with personnel and always listening to all the new project proposals that come in every year.
We had no lost bags, no late or cancelled flights and most amazingly no trouble at customs. We have learned that in spite of all the authorization letters we have, one is never assured of a smooth entry with customs officials depending so often on bribes. We bring in medicine donated by Direct Relief International, Medicine Shoppe in Ojai and many supplies purchased by the Nomad Foundation thanks to you–our supporters.
The United Nations flight to Agadez went as scheduled even though it often does not. We bought our tickets three weeks before the flights, the next week the schedule completely changed which made our return for our International departure flights uncertain…so what else is new. As soon as they arrived via the UN flight we headed out to Tamesna–center for nomadic life where phase one of the matrone training takes place.
Leave a Reply