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of 2006. Heidi and I met Father Jim Short at St Johns
Episcopal Church in Monterey, CA. Jim was saying
mass that day, and I think it was Ash Wednesday. Jim
lives with his wife Philista, in Masindi, a community in
Central Uganda. His mother lives in the Monterey area,
and Jim was here visiting her. We didn't really talk
about missionary work that day, but we did get Jim's
phone number. The wheels really started turning that
day for Heidi and I. We started talking to each other
about going to Africa. We were both interested in doing
some sort of work there. Jim Short seemed like the
person who could help us get started. We had some
meetings with Jim and Philista at our home in Monterey
over the next couple of weeks. Soon after that, we
were buying our plane tickets. The months went by. Jim
had thought that the Diocese of Masindi might have a
project that we could help with, but the timing didn't
work out. We thought that we would try to find and
sponsor our own project. Jim and Philista arranged a
meeting with Dr Francis Nyakoojo, the medical director
for the Bulisa District of Uganda. We met with him at
Jim and Philista's house in Masindi. Dr Francis talked
to us about the medical facility in Bulisa, about 100
miles northwest of Masindi. He said that it was a
functioning medical facility in need of some major
repairs. We decided that we should visit this facility.
Two days later Jim, Philista, Heidi and I headed for
Bulisa. On the way, we stopped at Murchison Falls
National Park to see some wildlife. And then we were
back on the road to Bulisa........
the map above, about half way up the continent
and to the east, bordered by Kenya and
Tanzania. That big blue lake is Lake Victoria!
Bulisa is, very close to Lake Albert. Bulisa is a very small village,
and the medical clinic is very important. We arrived there in the
afternoon, and toured the grounds. Once we got a look at the
place, we thought that this would be a project that we could
handle. We met the 16 member staff, and they all told us what
their jobs were there. After talking with the staff, Dr. Nyakoojo,
Father Jim Short, and his wife Philista, we started to make a game
plan. Everyone agreed that the priority would be to make the
buildings structurally sound, first and foremost. The biggest issue
right now are the roofs. The roof joists have been eaten by
termites, and the roof is ready to collapse in places. On our next
trip, we will repair the roofs. The second priority will be to make
the facility more sanitary than it is now, and also more efficient.
The clinic has no running water. They rely on rain water, but it's
not practical. Also, there is a delapidated solar system there that
could be modernized so that the clinic could have electricity.
These are our short term goals for the Bulisa Clinic. PLEASE GO
TO THE CHRONOLOGY PAGE TO CHECK OUR PROGRESS!