The H3 story
begins in a small Texas town.
Mike, a doctor living in Bryan, Texas, contacted his good friend Tim, a missionary at African Bible University in Kampala, Uganda, to see if there would be any value in bringing his skills to Africa.
2012
It All Begins
Urged on by his friend, Mike brought two pastors for an exploratory trip to Kampala. During what they had anticipated to be an exploratory mission, Pastors Ben and Wade ended up preaching, teaching and counseling students at African Bible University for the whole trip… and Mike met Ugandan contacts who urged him to set up a one-day clinic, in which he saw over 300 patients in a Kampala slum.
2013
Exploring the need
To further gauge the commitment of those in Uganda to the medical ventures, Mike brought a nurse, Shireen, with him to run another day-long medical clinic. The clinic was again conducted in a Kampala slum and saw between 400 and 500 patients. Most of the staff of the clinic were students from African Bible University and local Ugandan medical contacts. For the first time, the team was convinced of the need for long-term follow-up with patients.
2014
Expansion
Energized by the success of their second trip and by the enthusiastic response from Ugandan contacts, the team returned, slightly larger and this time accompanied by three nurses, Pastor Wade, and a lawyer, Chris, who was interested in supporting entrepreneurial small business ventures. The medical team ran a two-day clinic in a Kampala slum, seeing 700 patients. Wade participated in a week-long Bible focus seminar for African Bible University and evangelized at the clinic for 7 straight hours. Chris made an additional trip to Africa in 2014 to provide advice and support for small businesses.
2015
Discovery
In response to growing interest in Texas, Mike brought the largest and most varied group to date, including two doctors, a veterinarian, two soil scientists, two nurses, and the lawyer. Around 600 patients were seen over two days at clinic. The team was able to pay for emergency surgery to save a man’s hand, and funded specialist care for two children with heart problems. Scientists advised on land use and soil and animal health for local farmers, and funded a clean water project to bring filters to the area.
2016
The team grows
Team expansion translated into a group of 16 traveling with Mike. Clinics were held in both Kampala and Mbarara, and the team developed relationships with Ugandan health care professionals who provide continued care for patients with special needs. The reformed student network in Uganda honed their vision with the help of Pastor Ben, and soil scientists consulted with area farms to help Zana Community School feed the hundreds of students that live on the campus. Back in the States, Heads Hearts & Hands gained nonprofit status, and a website gives the organization an added layer of publicity.
2017
New partnerships
An exciting year for new partnerships and deepened relationships in Kampala. A team of 16 conducted four days of medical clinics around the Kampala area. H3 gained contracts for cardiology and pediatric consults with specialists in Ugandan hospitals. New City Presbyterian Church provided the vision and the resources to hold medical clinics on their new church campus at African Bible University. We consulted with Zana Presbyterian Church to maximize the use of their farmland. For the first time, H3 partnered with Berean Baptist Church and Sports Outreach to hold medical clinics.
2018
Solidifying a System
H3 was able to identify 40 patients with needs more significant than the clinic could provide. Thankfully, we have developed a follow-up system with our partners at New City Church, who have been tracking and providing follow-up care for these patients throughout the year. We have arranged surgery for more than 10 patients and we have a new system to provide medication for patients over the long term with conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. H3 clinics set a record for patients seen in one day: 740!
2019
Planning for the Future
Team size capped out at 22 members and because of the depth of experience on the team we were able to contribute to needs in Africa in new and exciting ways: Paul taught several classes at African Bible University; Adam and Brent explored options for a new work study program for young women that would utilize internet marketing and communications; and the rest of the team performed three days of clinic and provided medical care for area boarding school children. As our capacity to give well in Uganda increases, we have big plans to expand the scope and development of H3 programs to meet identified needs of our Ugandan partners.
2021
Pandemic Crisis
The country of Uganda suffered under some of the most stringent lockdowns in the world. Consequently, we were not able to do any large-scale clinics or even travel. But by God’s grace, in early 2020 we had established H3-Uganda, an NGO in-country that was able to receive donated money quickly and act as an established entity under the Ugandan government. Our H3 Uganda partners continued the mission in country by feeding hungry families and providing spiritual and physical care for those in need.
2022
Back to Africa
Finally, Uganda lifted Covid restrictions in January 2022 and we were able to plan our first trip in three years. A smaller team of 10 returned to Kampala to re-establish contact with our Ugandan partners and to once again hold clinics. What an encouragement to be able to visit with the long-term patients and scholarship recipients who had been served by H3-Uganda even in our absence.