Muhabura Women's Shelter

26th October, 1999.

The Rev. Nolan Redman,
Episcopal Church in Almaden,
6581 Camden Ave,
San Jose,
California 95120,
U.S.A.

Dear Nolan and Ann,

I send you warm Christian greetings from us all in the Diocese. I do hope that you are all well. For us we are well thanking God who sustains us always. The enclosed is the report of our expenditure on the women's hall. It should have come earlier by the roofing stage took much time.

I am now happy to inform you that the hall is now roofed. Also the floor and inside plaster work has been accomplished. It is quite amazing to see how the Lord has helped us to use your donation to put up such a structure as you can see from the enclosed picture.

The whole Diocese and the Women in particular are grateful to you. We pray that the Lord will bless you for your Christian love and concern.

We propose to have the hall after the name of Almaden. This will always remind our present generation and the generations to come who was the main donor for erection of the hall. What do you say about this proposal?

The enclosed is the financial statement for the total expenditure. The remaining work is that of the doors, windows, chairs, painting walls, ceiling and the installation of electricity. All these will need about $6,000. Please pray for us that the Lord in His own time will help us to accomplish the work you have enabled us to start. Our wish is that we complete this work by early next year.

Once again accept our sincere appreciation of what God has done for us through your companionship.

With Love,

The Rt. Rev. E. M. Shalita
BISHOP OF MUHABURA

April 21, 1999

Dear brother Nolan,

Greetings in the name of Jesus to you and Ann.

I hope you received my letter. Joy and I are doing well in Kisoro. We are doing a good job on the women's hall. The enclosed are two pictures. One is showing when the foundation was started and another is showing where we have reached. The next picture will show you a building that already has a roof on the top.

Joy joins me to wish you and Ann a blessed time in your day-to-day ministry.

Please convey our love and best wishes to Robin and all the brethren in your church.

Yours sincerely,

The Rt. Rev. E. M. Shalita
BISHOP OF MUHABURA

"Two years ago I met a man at Nolan and Ann's named Ernest Shalita. He is an Episcopalian Bishop from Uganda. That night I learned about how he walked his diocese to visit parishes with a sleeping mat and a water bottle at his side. His country truly is 3rd world-water has to be brought from wells, electricity is a rare commodity, and homes are easily washed away in floods. When he was asked how he could keep track of tithing with out a computer, he said he wasn't sure if it would really help him so much because much of the tithing he received came in the form of a chicken, goat, or vegetables offered. As both a Christian and someone who is interested in other cultures, I was enchanted that night to hear him speak of his people and his country.

A year later, he was back and we had the opportunity to dine again with Bishop Shalita and his wife Joy. During dinner, Joy asked Ann and I what the women of our church did. We laughed and told her how much fun we had with bunko and bridge, and we also shared about some of the outreach that individuals participate in. She expressed a need for fabric to be sent to them in Muhabura, because she wanted to teach the women of the area a skill with which they could provide income for themselves. She said, first we teach, then we can evangelize. In the next months, Ann and Nolan were able to send 2 boxes of fabric to Joy for her project.

I couldn't get Joy out of my mind, so I wrote her and asked what her vision was for her countrywomen. She wrote that she wanted to start this vocational program, but that first they needed a building. She sent a preliminary blueprint and a list of supplies, and a budget totaling 14M in Ugandan shillings. When I discovered the exchange rate meant that this was approximately $12,000, I felt that this was something that wasn't out of reach for us in San Jose. At this same time the vestry was asking for proposals for spending some of the earnings from the Shadinger fund. I proposed to the vestry that we fund this Women's Bldg. They agreed, but said that they would like to see some of it supported by the congregation, so I brought the project to you. To date, we have about $3500. It represents gifts from 25 different families in our congregation. I thank all of you who have sacrificed to make this a reality for the women in Muhabura.

I would like to add at this time why I think Joy asked what our women DID. We know that Uganda has it's share of turmoil. They have experienced tribal warfare from neighboring regions; they experience periods of intense flooding that destroys; and the most devastating of all is the AIDS epidemic that has created a generation of orphans. In our country, if a child is orphaned and there is no extended family, the government agencies step in. Foster care is available. Shelters house the homeless. Government medical care is provided. In a recent discussion with Keith from Africa Team, I was told that in Uganda, there are no social services. No government programs. These children are at extreme risk in this part of the world. Keith said that the children get help from the Women's Union who try to help as many as they can. I asked him who was in charge of the Women's Union, and he said that at this time Joy Shalita was president. He said that the women of the country are the strength that works to pick up the pieces and help the helpless. So I believe that Joy sees this building too as a place where these women can also meet to gain strength and faith from each other in the face of what they are called to do."