Jn Louis started working in the CTC in January 2016 as a gate security guard and all-around helper at the CTC.  He is 32 years old and is married.  They have five children from ages 8 to two years, 4 girls and 1 boy.  Three of the kids are in school.  They live in a room of a friend’s house that is made of block and cement with a tin roof.  They have an outhouse and kitchen.  The piped water is only about a 5-minute walk away and they bathe in the river.

His mother is 60 years old and sells things in local markets.  His dad is 61 years old and he is a farmer of plantains, bean, and corn.  He also raises cows and goats.  He has 2 brothers and 2 sisters.  One of the brothers works in a juice factory in the capital and the other 3 are still in school. 

He likes the work that he does because he is able to care for his family.  His pay helps to provide them food, clothing, and education.  He also likes when he can make the CTC yard look beautiful with flowers and landscaping.  He is always amazed at the difference the patients have from when they first come to when they are discharged.  He likes seeing the patients get well and heal.  The one thing the he does not like about the job is walking home in the dark and the one thing that he would change is the work times.

The one story from the CTC that he will always remember is a sad one.  Another employee was washing clothes one day and she did not feel well (heartburn).  She finished with the help of other staff and then went home a little early to rest.  Later that night, she died.  Jn Louis and the CTC staff were so incredibly sad to lose a friend and co-worker.

The CTC staff work 12 hour shifts 6-6 and rotate days and nights.  During a typical day, Jn Louis comes in and dumps and washes the waste buckets.  He fills handwashing stations with water and makes sure that the other staff have all the water they need. He cleans the yard and sweeps.  Usually around 8-8:30a, the nurse will send him down to the clinic with a list of needed items.  This is about a one-mile walk.  Sometimes he takes a motorcycle taxi and other times he might get a ride with the mission truck, but he usually walks.  He takes the items back to the nurse.  He continues to clean and weed the yard.  There is one area each day of the month that needs to be cleaned or maintained so he usually focuses on that during the late morning.  He takes a break and eats around noon.  The sun is the hottest from noon until about 4 so he tries to stay inside or under shade during that time.  He helps the other staff with anything that they might need.  He carries patients that are too weak to walk.  He opens the gate for patients and family coming and going.  When the sun starts going down around 4 or 5, he will return to the yard work if there is more to be done.  During night shift, he would clean at the beginning and end of the shift, but most of the time he would be in a security role and watching out for the whole facility.

He thinks that his job helps others for a few reasons.  He is the first one to greet each patient and family, so he tries to greet them with respect and kindness.  Worried and nervous patients seem to calm down when he explains and encourages them.  He can show the family members where to get water, bathe, etc.  He answers questions and tells families what to expect in the center.  Also, he is also the one that sprays down the floors and people with the bleach solution to kill the cholera bacteria, so he knows he is stopping the spread of the disease.

He was born in Cazale and has always lived here.  He enjoys living here in the village because it is calm and tranquil.  It does not have that rushed city vibe.  People are more relaxed and friendly.  He hopes that Cazale one day has a paved road, electricity, and more development.

He says that RHFH helps the area in many ways.  He thinks that many more people would have died without the mission work.  RHFH works towards good health for all.  The mission helps many people with going to other hospitals to get surgeries and treatment not available in Cazale.  Many families receive food that helps them not starve.  There are many good things that the mission does that help the area and the people living around Cazale.  He would like everyone to know that the CTC has saved many lives.  He has seen thousand of people recover and is thankful for their recovery.

He enjoys singing at the Nazarene church that he and his family attend.  He asks for prayer for blessings for his family, that there would be no anger in the home, and that one day they could buy some land and build a house.