Sunday, March 15, 2026
This is the house where all the activities begin and end for people working at the hospital and now at the Dental Clinic too. Everyone gathers here, meals are served and housing is doled out according to prearranged bookings.
On our last to Bwindi we stayed here in a room called Blackie’s shack. This trip we are staying in the Buhoma Lodge, which is just inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Mimi Simmons and Rick Kalb have their own rooms above us.
The 8 dentists and other volunteers are scattered around the area in various Monkey House accommodations. It is a lively group with everyone working together enthusiastically. After 2 days of intense dentistry, everyone attended the Sunday service in the BCH church. The service lasted 2 and a half hours including much singing and dancing, speeches, and a chicken auction.
Everyone got involved in the joyous occasion. Julianah, our god daughter, and Anivious, the Batwa girl we sponsor, arrived during the service to join us. What a treat that was.
During the rest of the day, we did a variety of things; including giving Julianah and Anivious clothing I had brought for them, which they were both happy to receive. Julianah is about my size and fits into everything. Anivious is so small, nothing I have fits. Nevertheless she took shoes, scarves and a jacket.
Then we met up with Barnabas, the hospital operations manager, who took us on a walking tour of the staff housing. Existing housing is woefully inadequate. Housing is needed for at least 150 more people. We learned there is some existing housing available for purchase that is currently being rented by the hospital for staff as well as land that is available to be built on for about 24 units total. Each unit will cost about $12,500 to build. Some existing housing needs to be refurbished. In all, we are thinking $300 thousand is needed to improve current staff housing and we are wondering how to interest the group in our assessment of the need,
Back at Monkey House, we spent the afternoon hanging out, chatting with other guests and enjoying the sunshine.
We returned to Buhoma Lodge with Scott, Julianah and Anivious for dinner. Shortly after arriving, the sky opened up and we had a deluge of rain. Fortunately, we were under cover and had huge umbrellas to get to the room when needed.
Monday, March 16, 2026
Today is the day the whole dental staff went gorilla tracking. Mark and I were happy to see them off, as we have seen the gorillas 4 different times and did not need another trek.
While everyone else trekked, we played cards with Julianah and Anivious. The games were rather inane, but the 4 of us had a good time together. After a couple of hours, they both departed to visit their other friends and we relaxed.
At 5:30 the dentist group convened at what is called the Lower Monkey House for drinks, popcorn and chatter. The gorilla trek was a supper success for all concerned. After a time Mark and I made a pitch to the entire group for funds for the staff housing need. The group was very receptive and we believe the Kellermann Foundation will receive a fair amount of money as a result of our presentation. We are hoping to raise $300,000 to build and refurbish 24 staff units. We shall see.
At 7:30 a group of 8 of us walked to nearby Bohemia Lodge for dinner. The conversation continued lively until 9:30.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Up and out at 8:30 for a drive to a large grammar school about an hour’s drive away to provide dental supplies, educate the students about dental hygiene, and apply fluoride to everyone’s teeth. The littlest ones were hardest to do as they were afraid and unsure what we were doing. Older kids were much more receptive and willing.
Adventures with Julia 