Christ Church Loves Mengo : The First 30 Years

Friends of Mengo USA 1 The Reverend Mark Anschutz, It was one of those TA DA! moments former Rector of Christ Church who for me. It was nothing less then an encouraged the formation of a mission encounter with the Holy Spirit in my committee specifically to aid Mengo saying to myself and pledging to God Hospital, has remained supportive of in prayer that for the rest of my life Friends of Mengo to this day: I would be involved directly in some ach of my four visits to Mengo has ministry in that part of the world and 2 Ebeen filled with vivid and, in a few in the lives of children. instances, life changing memories. I like to think that I have maintained The most profound was standing alone that covenant and I know that it outside the walls of Namirembe Cathe- has enriched my life beyond my dral on a Sunday afternoon, the last wildest imaginings. I know also that full day of my first visit. Throughout my life has been deeply changed that first trip, the signs of poverty and and enriched, my understanding of conflict had been vivid, shocking and the Christian faith deepened and deeply troubling. The Amin/Obote re- enlivened, by the example of those gimes had only been gone from the city I met on that first visit . . . the David some nine months and, thus, fear and and Beas and so many others. uncertainty were palpable. We have so much more to accomplish As I stood above the sloping hill in building God’s Kingdom here on surrounding the Cathedral I saw a earth. Let us rejoice in what we have number of children playing on the achieved thus far and thank God grass. They had no shoes and their every day for the privilege and ability t-shirts were torn. Still, they were to keep on caring and building that bright eyed, full of life and hope. Kingdom. ka ye g ru bbs PHOTO Mark Anschutz, Carole Hunter, Debi McClary, Peggy Anschutz, Bob Hunter, JT Grubbs on an early mission trip. Cover: Above, Witney Schneidman and JT Grubbs present banner at dental clinic dedication ceremony and below, Brand new dental clinic, 2005. Bob Pringle Photos Publication designed by Craig Keith. 2 Every person’s mission trip The rector, a tall handsome young is different, as this account woman named Lovely, escorted me to by the Reverend Pierce the reception. Except for the beans, I Klemmt, Rector of Christ couldn’t identify anything on the table Church, clearly shows. but was asked to try a bit of everything. Later, I was told that goat’s gonads y first visit to were a specialty for honored guests. Moccurred in 1996 at the invitation of the Mengo Committee. I traveled The next day, I visited the hospital with three other missionaries from wards. In much of , if you’re in the church and we stayed at the the hospital, your entire family camps guesthouse in outside and doesn’t leave you for a . second. We visited people with AIDS and tropical diseases, the likes of which On Saturday afternoon, I wandered I had never seen before. The trip was over to Archbishop Livingstone eye opening in many ways. First, to Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo’s offfice to let witness the depth of their prayer life. him know I was in his diocese. To my Second, to observe their dedication to delight, he was in and we were able to relationships and not things. Third, I talk. He asked me if I would join him was taken aback by their interest in our for services on Sunday. I agreed and own families and churches back home. asked how I could help. He said, “I’d like you to preach our confirmation The work of the Mengo Committee service.” When I asked how many continues in the style of mission work would be at the service, he replied, at Christ Church. We get connected “Sometimes as many as 2,000.” I spent with people, usually by responding to the better part of the night planning a crisis or chronic need. Following our the sermon. first emergency response, we stay on the ground and build greater capacity In the morning, the crowd was so large to care for people—their lives and their it couldn’t fit in the church. But the future. Mengo wrote the playbook for new church didn’t have a roof yet, so this, and each of our missions since has everybody was outside, including me, followed in its footsteps, shaping our the preacher. After the sermon, the faithfulness and care for those we have Archbishop asked if I minded him been called to serve. doing a quick homily. I of course deferred. Immediately, he had the entire congregation on their feet, swaying with hands raised, singing and chanting. This went on for 45 minutes. Some BOB P R INGL E PHOTO homily! Namirembe Cathedral

3 Mengo Hospital in Kampala, engo Hospital today spreads Macross 22 acres on the side of and consists of about 40 buildings, including the 100-year- old building where the founder of 4 the hospital, Sir Albert Cook, had his office. The main hospital building, built more than 30 years ago, contains the surgical operating theaters, wards with 300 beds, and some clinics. PHOTO CO UR T E S Y OF b OB H U NT ER Dental, HIV/AIDS, and eye clinics David Komunda, hospital administrator, now operate in separate, purpose- introduces Bob Hunter and Charlie built facilities. During 2011, Friends Glendinning to Sir Albert Cook. of Mengo UK helped renovate the operating theaters, and Christ Church helped fund the shipment of supplies for the updated facility. Friends of Mengo Canada has recently begun an ongoing project to refurbish and modernize the in-patient wards. Today’s Mengo Hospital is a far cry from the thatch-roofed hut with twelve wooden beds that was the first hospital of young Dr. Albert Cook, who responded to a Church Missionary Society call and set out for Uganda in a medical school near their hospital, 1896. After a three-month, 1,360 mile did research on tropical diseases, trek in from Mombasa on the African and traveled throughout the region coast, he and his party reached the healing the sick. kingdom of the Kabaka of , In 1900, Dr. Cook married Katharine, who had asked for missionaries who a nurse in the original group of could teach the Christian faith and missionaries with him. They spent the also cure the sick. MAP C o ur t e s y Edith N am u l ma rest of their lives in Kampala, rearing Three days after arrival, Dr. Cook a family of three children there. had set up his clinic under a tree. By Katharine, for her part, founded a 1899, when his older brother John, maternity training school and became also a medical doctor, joined him, Matron (i.e., head of the nurses) at his hospital, named Mengo after the the hospital. Both she and Albert are Kabaka’s royal enclosure, had grown buried there and are revered and to 40 beds. The doctors Cook founded respected until today.

4 Bob Hunter Remembers the Beginning scheduled to speak at the Adult of Christ Church’s Mission to Mengo Forum did not turn up. I] suggested Hospital to the Rector that Gwen speak, and she did. Afterward, Gwen was sad he origin of Christ Church’s that the Lord had not used her, she mission to Mengo Hospital is T had no photos and thought she found in a retreat attended by Bob had done poorly. Was she proved Hunter in 1978. A group decided to wrong! continue to gather and pray for Africa and its overwhelming needs. A few Shortly thereafter, charged with days later, they met in a restaurant finding a way to help Mengo Hospital, and, as Bob recorded in his diary at Bob went to a prayer breakfast. There the time: he met another guest, a man from Uganda. His diary continues: A CMS [Church Mission Society] missionary nurse, not even with His wife worked at Mengo. He the group, came to pray. She agreed to come to [a Christ Church] was from Kampala! Her name was mission committee meeting that Gwen Whitaker and she served at evening! The man spoke eloquently Mengo Hospital. on the great work of Mengo and the critical needs there. Instead I invited Gwen to stay with me and of a one-time gift of about $1000 my wife, Carole. . . . We took her that was being considered, the to Christ Church that Sunday. It committee was so impressed with turned out to be Mission Sunday Gwen and this man that they voted and a missionary [who was to start an on-going relationship with the hospital, with an initial annual budget of $5,000. It is interesting to note that I never saw the man who came to the mission meeting again and could not find his wife at Mengo when I got there. Could this have been an angel? Whether an angel or a coincidence, the early efforts of the Mengo Committee were blessed with several more such supporters. The leader of Hope International, an NGO contacted

C ha r li e G l ndinning PHOTO for fund-raising help, turned out to Nurse Gwen Whitaker, returning have been born not only in Uganda, from leave, with suitcases of medicines but at Mengo Hospital. He raised and medical supplies, is met at about a quarter-million dollars to help Entebbe airport by hospital personnel. the hospital.

5 The situation at Mengo Hospital when There was, however, also a young Christ Church began its mission was dental missionary from the U.S. difficult. Uganda was in the middle of Campus Crusade for Christ, who civil war, and the hospital and church would become very important in the property locked its gates at night, Christ Church/Mengo story, who had while gunshots popped in the streets recently begun his work at Mengo. outside. During his first visit in 1983, 6 Bob Hunter recorded in his diary: We stayed at the Guest House. No water. No closet. No toilet. One bare light on the wall. But great fruit. The hospital had the same problems,

but probably not the fruit. Bob b OB H U NT ER PHOTO remembers that Nurse Gwen’s two- Dr. Ken Chapman looking for furnishings room apartment did not even have for his first dental office. painted walls. She took him to meet Bob noted another major problem, Dr. Donald Brownlee, his wife Una and and pondered a solution: children Susan and Peter. . . . There is no water in the hospital. Dr. Brownlee is an exhausted Dr. Brownlee says [the water system Irishman who shares some of his is an old well at the bottom of a frustrations. He says the surgeon hill]. A system to pump the water and internist are leaving next week up the hill will cost about $150,000. and there are no replacements. He Many of us at Christ Church could is already doing 17 hours a day and get together and pay for that. 1,500 now will have no expert help. He is commitments of $100 each would frightened, I think . . . . do it. . . . Jesus said, “What you have done for the least of these you have done for me.” The result, recorded in 1985, was where there used to be a mud hole with a spring, there is now a controlled place with steps . . . and a great, fenced in, guarded pump

C ha r li e G l ndinning PHOTO pumping water up to Mengo. . . . To see how God has honored dear Mud puddle around spring that supplied Dr. Brownlee’s dream and prayer water for hospital use before pump was was most rewarding. installed. Note family members of patients filling jerry cans with water to take water This was the first major project which up hill to hospital, as partial payment of Christ Church completed at the patient fees. hospital.

6 Merrill Blevins Puts the Mengo Committee on a Strong Footing any people have contributed to our successful relationship with MMengo Hospital, but surely in the early years the most influential was Merrill Blevins. A retired Foreign Service officer who later worked for the United Nations, he was recruited by the rector to join the nascent Mengo committee the first day he came to Christ Church. He volunteered to join our informal committee and turned a rather amorphous situation into a consistent professional relationship. He advised us not to get too committed until someone clearly representing Christ Church had visited the hospital. In 1984, while the Ugandan civil war was still raging, he made that visit, which would be the first of many Friends of Mengo USA mission trips. We began to send small shipments of medicines. Under Merrill’s leadership, we connected with Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA). It provided free containers and low-cost shipment, which allowed us to send large items, many of which were contributed gratis by their manufacturers. Merrill had all sorts of contacts, and he used them freely and graciously. Over the years, besides medicines, he organized shipment of dental supplies, hospital beds, surgical instruments, linens—including lightly used sheets and towels from Marriott hotels, with a big M monogram—and even an entire military field hospital. We estimate that the street value of all the medicine and material we sent this way was over two million U.S. dollars. C ha r li e G l ndinning PHOTO Student nurses wash, dry, and powder theoretically disposable surgical gloves for reuse; this illustrates

PHOTO C o ur t e s y M a ry A nn Be ck er the type of medical supplies greatly needed and Merrill Blevins subsequently sent through Merrill’s efforts.

7 David and Bea Milton-Thompson, Who Dedicated their Lives Completely to Others mong the close friends we made at Mengo Ain those early years, a remarkable couple is worthy of special mention: David and Bea Milton-Thompson. They had been through the 8 A nsch u t z. M a r k R e v . Communist takeover of China and the Mau-Mau uprising. After having been Church Mission Society missionaries for decades, they retired and went home to a small flat and C o ur t e s y P hoto pension in . Bea and David Milton- Thompson in retirement, But they were asked to come to Mengo so with the Rev. Mark Anschutz. David could be the Medical Supervisor, called because hospital staff was plagued by low moral standards and gross inefficiency. They gave up their flat and pension with no promises of later getting them back. They came to Mengo when David was 73 and Bea 76. Their routine at Mengo: up at 4:30 am; one-hour Old Testament lesson together; breakfast; rounds until 7:30 pm; dinner and then a one-hour New Testament Bible study before bed at 9:30. When they left Mengo almost ten years later, they left with Mengo restored to spiritual health and two suitcases containing all their worldly possessions. The Milton-Thompsons visited Christ Church on their way home to London and an unknown future. It was winter and the rector asked for warm clothes for the homeless. David and Bea, that afternoon, came down with a pile of clothes to offer for the poor. It was at least a quarter of all they owned in the world. When told not to do that Bea said, “But we must; the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none.’”(Luke 3:11) We know David, Bea and many other true Saints through Mengo.

Older hospital buildings which are gradually

BOB P R INGL E PHOTO being updated.

8 Remembering Mission Trips ith the arrival of Merrill Blevins Wand the keen interest of the rector, Mark Anschutz, after his first trip to Uganda, Friends of Mengo USA became Christ Church’s first overseas mission in recent times. Through the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s mission trip followed mission trip, including committee members, interested parishioners, clergy, and church staff.

Below are four reminiscences by P hoto C o ur t e s y Edith N am u l ma participants in these trips: Many AIDS patients suffer at home, and outreach is an important part of Mengo 1994 Hospital’s AIDS clinic services. Five Christ Church parishioners took two 70-lb bags each of medical and who depended on their families instruments and supplies to Uganda for their meals. AIDS was already in April 1994. Our first day at Mengo devastating the country. During Hospital, we met the staff. Then we our two weeks there, we went with watched a doctor performing cataract nurses on home visits and saw first surgery the old fashioned way— hand families who had lost father cutting the eye open with a scalpel or mother, or both; children left to using magnification, and in a room be raised by grandparents, aunts, with its windows wide open. Two of us uncles, brothers, sisters, if they were were allowed to enter the operating lucky enough to have someone to room wearing our street clothes and take them. We also visited a local donning only a mask and tall rubber orphanage with many children who boots. In Uganda, cataracts can blind had no relatives to care for them. We a person by age 50 as Kampala is close were sobered and sad. to the equator, and at the time few people wore sunglasses. But it was an uplifting trip as well. Many people had little in the way We also visited the place where of material things, but they had small glass bottles were recycled— resilience, each other, and deep faith. cleaned by hand, sterilized and I remember that we went to help refilled with medication to prevent Mengo Hospital, but through their river blindness. The bottles were spirit and kindness, the Ugandan staff distributed widely throughout and patients helped us grow much Kampala and Uganda. We toured the more than anything we did for them. hospital campus and visited patients, who had brought their own bedding —Melanie Reed

9 10 JT g ru bbs PHOTO C ha r li e G l ndinning PHOTO Hospital staff member happy with mission Ken and Lynn Chapman ceremonially dig trip t-shirt. first dirt for dental clinic construction. 1997 commitments to fulfill. A group of us The relationship between Christ attended the centenary celebrations Church and Mengo Hospital was of Mengo Hospital in 1997 where one reason I became a member of we got to know the grandchildren the parish 25 years ago. I had been of Sir Albert and Lady Cook and in Uganda when came to learned about their incredible lives power in a coup d’etat in 1971, and the and accomplishments. On that visit, Mengo Committee provided a way to we had the privilege to convey the support people in need and maintain greetings of Christ Church to the contact with a country in which I Kabaka, the King of the Buganda had an abiding interest. The Mengo people, and to hear the Nurses Choir Committee also was a point of entry sing about their love for Christ into the very busy family that is Christ Church. Providing support to the Church. HIV/AIDS clinic and to Dr. Edith, Over the years, for me, Mengo has a woman of remarkable grace and been about friendships, spiritual energy, is an honor and inspiration. awakenings, and sharing. Merrill For my 25 years at Christ Church, the Blevins always urged us to invest as Mengo committee has met regularly, much as we could in Mengo. There deliberated and bonded, not only with was a time that we met in the rector each other, but with an unbridled Mark Anschutz’s office and, after he purpose, sharing and faith. For that left, we met in the basement of the opportunity, I am most grateful. parish hall. It didn’t matter, we had —Witney Schneidman

10 them had died. I am thankful that Mengo Hospital now has a greatly expanded HIV/AIDS clinic, and that anti-retrovirals are now keeping the disease at bay for so many. —Jim Cannon

BOB P R INGL E PHOTO 2005 In cooperation with the Boys’ Home in Mengo Hospital shares the Covington, VA, a beautiful quilt was characteristics of many others in raffled to help raise money for medicine Africa—outdated facilities stressed by and medical supply shipments. overcrowding and lack of money for repairs; overworked and underpaid staff; patients who cannot afford the medicines prescribed for them, and on and on. But Mengo Hospital has one great advantage—dedicated supporters in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada. We saw the results when we

BOB P R INGL E PHOTO visited Kampala on a mission trip in Carole Hunter and Betsy Thompson peddle 2005. Not only was the brand-new chances for tickets to the Redskins-Dallas dental clinic on which Friends of game, initially donated by Mark Anschutz Mengo USA worked so hard being and thereafter by Randy Teague, an inaugurated, but the commitment and annual raffle which has raised over $20,000 happiness of all the hospital staff was for Mengo Hospital. fully in evidence. Today, when we consider the 2001 dedication of those who actually work I was part of the 2001 Christ Church at the hospital, like Dr. Ken Chapman mission trip to Mengo Hospital. One who has propelled the dental clinic day Cynthia Darling and I visited into a financially self-sustaining the then tiny HIV/AIDS clinic at the unit, and Dr. Edith Namulema, who is hospital and joined the clinic team committing her life to the hospital’s and Lynn Chapman in making home ever-expanding HIV/AIDS clinic, visits to six of the AIDS patients. what Friends of Mengo do may seem No treatment with anti-retroviral minimal. Yet, our funds are enabling— medications was available in those rather like the loaves and fishes—and days, and the nurse could give only we have cause for joy each time we palliative care during our visits. The read about another patient helped or patients impressed me with their improvement to the hospital made faith and fortitude in the face of with our contributions. great suffering. Sadly, within nine —Bob and Barbara Pringle months of our visit, each one of

11 Friends of Mengo USA Grubbs’ friendship with the leader of FOM Canada led to the new dental Constructs a House clinic. The Rector and others went to for Jjaajja Gwen and meetings in London of FOM UK, and Contributes to Finishing joint projects followed. the Chapel Missionaries and medical personnel from overseas had long perceived a 12 need for a small chapel on the hospital grounds, where staff, patients and their families, and visitors could go for quiet time and prayer. As a gift to the hospital for the 100th anniversary in 1997, Friends of Mengo UK planned to build such a chapel. As time drew near for the dedication, there was a shortage of funds for the finishing JT g ru bbs PHOTO Jjaajja Gwen’s house, shortly after it was built, with her assistant in front.

n 1990, Gwen Whitaker, the British Inurse who brought Christ Church to Mengo, was about to retire after having spent most of her adult life at the hospital. Affectionately called Jjaajja (Grandma) Gwen, she wanted to remain in Uganda in retirement. The hospital granted her a small plot of

land, but there was no structure on it. BOB P R INGL E PHOTO The Rev. Anschutz raised the money Chapel at Mengo Hospital; Christ Church to build one, and a small but pleasant helped by installing windows and pews. brick house was constructed, in which touches. Learning of the need she lived until she passed away. It during a visit to England, Friends of is now used to accommodate short- Mengo USA agreed to help with the term volunteers who come to serve at window framing and the pews. The Mengo. Gwen is buried on Mengo Hill, chapel was completed in time, and overlooking the hospital and the city. it was dedicated at the centenary During this time, Friends of Mengo celebration. Today it is used not only USA was building relationships with as intended, but also for Sunday Friends of Mengo in the United worship services led by the hospital Kingdom, and later in Canada. JT chaplain.

12 The Dental Clinic Project the project cost was U.S. $100,000. This was to be, without doubt, the r. Ken Chapman, the American most extensive undertaking we had Dmissionary dentist who had ever attempted at Mengo Hospital. served Mengo Hospital for more than a decade, practiced under Just as we started fund raising, the severe conditions with antiquated project got even bigger. Dr. Chapman equipment. Early in the 1990s, after met and married a lovely American Bible study with several hospital staff woman. Because of his long years in members, Gwen Whitaker informed Africa, FOM USA decided to include a him that she had had a vision during proper house for the director of the the closing prayer. She had seen a dental clinic in its building plans. The new, free-standing dental clinic with hospital generously donated a lot on all new furnishings. Feeling almost its grounds. The house, brick with a compelled to make Gwen’s vision a tile roof, is patterned after the older reality, Ken asked Friends of Mengo style buildings at Mengo, and is now, USA and Friends of Mengo Canada for almost a decade later, surrounded by help. foliage and flowers. We accepted the challenge! It was Meanwhile, fund raising went on for decided that FOM USA would provide several years. We started with getting the building and FOM Canada would the monies from special collections at supply all new modern dental Christmas and Easter. We saved our equipment. The initial estimate for regular budget funds to use for future construction expenses. We received some outstanding gifts b OB H U NT ER PHOTO b OB H U NT ER PHOTO The Chapman family in front of the nearly The Chapmans’ daughter Sophia working completed house for the director of the compost in the lovely garden that dental clinic. surrounds the house today.

13 from individuals. We were fortunate percent of the funds raised had gone to receive a large contribution from a for the project. In a situation that foundation. However, we also found required transferring funds abroad out that charitable organizations and discussing construction issues do not like to be part of bricks and by phone or correspondence, there mortar projects—especially if these were zero administrative costs and projects are outside the United States. very little had fallen off the back of We persevered. the truck. We are also pleased that 14 Complicating matters as the years went the dental clinic has become self- by, the estimated costs rose rather sustaining, with fees levied according dramatically. When the clinic officially to ability to pay sufficient to provide opened in 2005, expenses, including for staff salaries and operational and equipment, totaled U.S. $600,000. We maintenance costs. were most proud of the fact that 100 Dr. Ken Chapman in front of Dental Clinic in 2007. b e ts y thompson PHOTO

ne longtime member of Friends For leading Oof Mengo USA observed: the fund- “I am convinced that, after the raising effort amazing relationships which led to and spending b OB H U NT ER PHOTO miraculous events showing God’s years working powerful hand in all this, the key long-distance event was the construction of the with the dental clinic. construction It was an ambitious and risky task, crew in which took a huge effort, and the Kampala, JT and results have been fantastic, not Kaye Grubbs, seen here en route only in all the people helped, but in to Mengo Hospital in 1988, have the fact that it demonstrates what’s earned the gratitude of their fellow possible at Mengo: creating a really members on the Mengo committee, first-world operation that more as well as thousands of dental than breaks even. patients in Uganda.

14 Dedication of A permanent brass plaque on the front of the dental clinic building the Dental Clinic reads: he dental clinic dedication was Tthe occasion for an international celebration. Attending was a large delegation from Christ Church. Several committee members brought their sons or daughters, indicating that Friends of Mengo USA had become an intergenerational group. Friends of Mengo Canada also sent many of their members, and several of Sir Albert and Lady Katharine Cook’s grandchildren represented the founding family. The entire staff of the hospital, from doctors and nurses BOB P R INGL E PHOTO to the janitorial staff, joined their visitors in celebrating with speeches, dance and musical performances, and a huge feast.

(at right)A patient receives treatment in the dental clinic.

(below) The banner captures the excitement of dedication day. k e n chapman PHOTO BOB P R INGL E PHOTO

15 Betsy Thompson Remembers her first Visit to Mengo Hospital and the Beginning of Support for the HIV/AIDS Clinic wenty-five years after the Tfounding of Friends of Mengo USA, I found myself stepping off a plane at Entebbe Airport into the 16 warm Ugandan night. With the completion of Mengo’s dental clinic, the committee had discussed the

possibility of working with the HIV/ b e ts y thompson PHOTO AIDS clinic since Christ Church Dr. Edith Namulema has led the was not supporting any HIV/ development of the AIDS clinic from the AIDS programs. However, before tiny building seen here to a major facility committing to working with the clinic, that tests, treats, and counsels children we wanted to establish a relationship and adults affected by HIV or AIDS. with its medical director, similar to what we had done during the Getting to know the clinic’s doctors construction of the dental clinic. So on and nurses transformed my visit January 4, 2007, I flew to Kampala to from a fact-finding trip into a meet the hospital’s medical director, mission. It was a privilege to talk Dr. Joseph Nyanzi, and the medical with Dr. Namulema and to listen to director of the HIV/AIDS clinic, Dr. Nurse Miriam Kyahso tell her story Edith Namulema. of coming to work at the clinic ten This was my first trip to Africa, and years earlier after seeing the grief after the long flight, I was delighted her mother endured at the loss of that Ken Chapman and his family two of her sons to AIDS. I had tea one met me at the airport and deposited afternoon with Sisters Margaret and me at the simple but clean and safe Olive, nurses who had seen more than Namirembe Guest House, located 120 patients that day at a community next to the hospital. I spent my first health clinic, and listened to them talk morning with Dr. Nyanzi touring the passionately about their work. And I hospital, from the x-ray department spent a morning with a team from the in the basement to the roof where clinic on home visits; it was moving the laundry was washed by hand and to see how they cared for patients too hung to dry in the sun. sick to come to the clinic. In the afternoon, Dr. Nyanzi, Dr. When I left Uganda, I felt as though I Namulema, and I met to discuss had helped establish a strong tie with the needs of the HIV/AIDS clinic. the clinic, and the committee felt Dr. Namulema and I spent several confident that support of the clinic more hours talking about the clinic’s should be its next major focus, which accomplishments and its needs. it still is today.

16 In the courtyard of the new clinic, children affected by HIV/AIDS, wearing gifts of Alexandria soccer shirts, prepare to become pen pals of Christ Church Sunday School b e ts y thompson PHOTO children. Our Current Focus: the Mengo Hospital HIV/AIDS Clinic Nurse Miriam has served the n 2007, the Mengo committee, on clinic ever since behalf of Christ Church, joined the I she witnessed fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic her mother’s sweeping Africa. Our strategy was devastation at to work with the medical director of the death of her Mengo Hospital’s HIV/AIDS clinic, Dr. brother from the Edith Namulema, to finance projects b e ts y thompson PHOTO disease. appropriate for our limited funding, and to coordinate and strengthen effort ultimately led to increased our ties with other partners on the support for the Saturday Club, a ground. These partners included special weekly program for children the Mennonite Central Committee, affected by the disease. Finally, we one of the clinic’s major donors, and paid for prevention of mother-to- Friends of Mengo in Canada and the child transmission of HIV/AIDS for 27 U.K. Often, our funding has helped mothers who had recently given birth, fill gaps not met by the clinic’s large a program we still support. donors; we have focused on helping When the Mennonite Central children and women, and supporting Committee renovated an old laundry the dedicated staff to help them work to create a larger clinic, Christ Church more efficiently. was able to fill requests for equipping Dr. Namulema first requested help and providing amenities for the new for children affected by HIV/AIDS. building—for example, insulation During the initial year, Christ Church from the tropical sun for the tin roof provided antiretroviral treatments of the waiting-area courtyard and a (ART) for 22 children for one year and tank to catch and store rainwater to financed drinks and transportation supplement the unreliable city water for them on appointment days. This supply.

17 After Dr. Namulema obtained funding serve children and adults with HIV/ from PEPFAR, the U.S. program to AIDS in the Washington area. She also fight AIDS worldwide, and several met parishioners of Christ Church at other large donors, Christ Church two receptions and an Adult Forum helped the clinic meet needs these between services on Sunday. Several larger programs did not cover, such as members of the committee visited the ledgers for record-keeping and simple clinic in 2010, establishing closer ties pinafores that serve as uniforms so and increasing our understanding of 18 that the staff can be distinguished the complicated situation in Kampala from the patients. and the work the clinic is doing. In 2008, Dr. Namulema visited Dr. Namulema and Mengo’s HIV/AIDS Washington as guest of Friends of clinic have been recognized for their Mengo USA and the Mennonite effective and efficient work by Mengo Central Committee. We introduced her Hospital and USAID. We continue to relevant officials in the U.S. Agency to work closely with the clinic and for International Development, with would welcome your help in the form which she works closely in Uganda. of prayers, donations, and especially She visited Children’s Hospital and contribution of your time and talents the Whitman-Walker Clinic, which as a member of the Friends of Mengo ) USA.

Waiting area courtyard in new HIV/AIDS clinic, with roof insulated from sun’s heat with Christ Church assistance.

Terminally ill patients are given emergency treatment by clinic staff

at a day care treatment center. P hoto C o ur t e s y Edith N am u l ma

18 To Support Friends as associations, corporations and foundations, can make contributions of Mengo USA directly to Friends of Mengo Hospital ur goal is to expand the number USA, Ltd., c/o Christ Church, 118 Oand monetary value of charitable North Washington Street, Alexandria, contributions in support of Mengo VA 22314. In doing so, both the needs Hospital both among and beyond at Mengo Hospital and our work to Christ Church members and families. support it become more broadly Organized in 2000, Friends USA is a known throughout the United States. non-profit organization classified Uganda became a British Protectorate under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal in 1894. The first overseas Revenue Code to which contributions organization in support of Mengo are deductible under section 509(a) Hospital was and remains U.K. Friends (1) of that Code. That classification, of Mengo Hospital, Ltd., organized in determination and status enable 1959 by the hospital’s British friends. persons from throughout the United More recently, Friends of Mengo States to make contributions to the Hospital Canada was organized in Friends USA organization and to Victoria, B.C., obtained its public obtain tax deductions from their charity status, and began donating ordinary gross income for them. professional services, hospital Christ Church families can give equipment, and medical supplies directly to its work with Mengo to the hospital generally and to Dr. Hospital by entering Mengo Hospital Kenneth Chapman’s dental clinic on the Memo line of their check to in particular. Organized mainly by Christ Church. Christ Church also doctors, dentists and other health care supports the work of Mengo Hospital providers, its members also volunteer through its own mission committee their dental and other medical and through loose-plate offerings and expertise by periodically serving in allocations. Our Mengo committee Mengo Hospital’s clinics and wards encourages Christ Church members from several weeks to several months. and their families to travel with us to Together with our British and Kampala to experience first hand the Canadian partners Friends of Mengo variety and extent of medical services USA provides critically needed and needs in that city of nearly two financial support, equipment, million persons, its surrounding medicine and training to a hospital countryside, and its international still suffering from the tragic heritage community. They can see how the of the Idi Amin era, compounded by hospital and its HIV/AIDS, dental, eye the new challenge of the HIV/AIDS care and other clinics and services pandemic. We are proud of our effort are responding to those needs. to help restore the luster of what Preventive education is a focus of its Winston Churchill called “the pearl of and our support. Africa.” Other persons and families, as well —Randy Teague

19 MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF FRIENDS OF MENGO USA

1978 A chance meeting between a prayer group and a British missionary nurse led to the first support of Mengo Hospital by Christ Church. 1983-1986 earliest mission trips from Christ Church created an ongoing 20 bond with Mengo Hospital. late 1980s Large shipments of donated medicines and hospital supplies began, and continued into the early 2000s. 1990 A house for retired nurse Gwen Whitaker was built on the hospital grounds. 1997 Friends of Mengo USA helped Friends of Mengo UK with their project to build a chapel for the hospital. 2001-2005 The largest project in Friends of Mengo USA’s existence, the building of a new dental clinic and a house for its director, was completed. Friends of Mengo Canada provided dental equipment and furnishings for the interior. 2007-today Friends of Mengo USA has provided continuing support for the HIV/AIDS clinic at Mengo Hospital. Members and friends periodically go on mission trips to the hospital. BOB P R INGL E PHOTO Dr. Edith Namulema speaks to Adult Forum at Christ Church during her 2008 visit to North America.

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