Mali Children's Hospital Challange

The Great Need in Mali

Mali, West Africa, has recently drawn attention because of the desperate status of health care. The WHO (World Health Organization) recently listed it as one of the most needy countries in this regard. Women often die in childbirth, and and children aren't expected to live past age 5. Mali is considered one of the worst places to be an expectant mother, but all of this is changing thanks in a great part to the Koutiala Women and Children's Hospital (Hospital Femmes Et Enfants).

Over the past 50 years, 6 clinics have been established in Mali, however the medical staff were repeatedly frustrated in trying to get adequate specialized care for patients. The closest hospitals were all in Bamako, Mali's capital, several hours away from any of the clinics.

A Major Step in the Right Direction

In response, the Christian & Missionary Alliance and National C&MA church have partnered to create a hospital for women and children in Koutiala. The hospital doesn't have enough labor and delivery rooms - in fact, it's not unusual for several women to share a delivery room. There are only 17 beds in the whole hospital, so women also end up giving birth on the floor.

The construction of a new wing is scheduled to begin next summer. Naturally, equipment will be needed for each of the delivery and surgical rooms. There are many other needs that this new hospital has to better care for the patients it seeks to treat.
The Koutiala Hospital is making a big difference and is greatly appreciated by the people of Mali. Its presence is also creating a bridge to people who have little exposure to the love of Jesus and little access to information about Him. The hospital is being used to show the love of Jesus through a very practical and vital need the people have for proper medical care. In a land almost twice the size of Texas, it's easy to understand how badly this hospital is needed.

Why it Matters

The hospital provides aid to any women and children, regardless of belief. We regard life to be a precious gift, but even more so is the eternal life offered to us by God through His Son Jesus. One of the ways Jesus reached out to people was by healing them of their physical struggles. By showing His love in this way, He was able to demonstrate to them the love of the Father, and show them the way to that eternal life.
We believe that this hospital is a way to do a similar thing. We believe that by helping people with their physical struggles, we can demonstrate to them the love of Christ, and eventually show them the way to the Father and eternal salvation.
You can also have that same eternal life that God offers to everyone. All that's required of you is to:

1. Admit that, just like all humans, you have sinned (done wrong things) and need forgiveness from God.
2. Accept and believe that Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, was born to live as a sinless man on this earth, was killed on the cross as a perfect sacrifice, bearing all the sins of all mankind, making it possible for us to have a relationship with God the Father.
3. Accept and believe that Jesus then rose from the grave three days later to show that God's power and love can conquer sin and death, and that He reigns now with the Father in Heaven and that He will one day return to rule on earth.

If you can believe these things, which can all be found in the Bible, and pray a prayer - nothing fancy, just something to the effect of "Dear God, I'm sorry for the wrong things I've done in my life. I admit that I need you in my life, and I'd like to ask your Son Jesus into my heart. Thank you for loving me enough to send Him to die for me and that I can have the forgiveness I need. Please help me to live for You, and teach me to do things for You and for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen."
It doesn't have to be that long, it doesn't have to be worded like that. But we're told that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord who died and rose again, then we will have that eternal life.

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