Bolobo has been in my consciousness since Primary School days. My Mum's cousin, Jack, was a surgeon missionary there from 1948 to 1961 and he featured regularly in family evening prayers. Jack's time in Bolobo was the reason for this journey, but until I jumped off the boat yesterday I was by no means certain that it would actually happen. New ward blocks were built after Jack left and on yesterday's evidence they are less crowded than some photos I have seen fr...

Jack's house - or rather the last house that Jack lived in at Bolobo. The house is currently occupied by Michel Mpia, the healthcare "coordinateur" at the hospital, who took time out to show me round this part of the hospital site.

This is the "new" theatre in the hospital at Bolobo, which Jack designed and John Collis built in the 1950s - still in use - albeit clearly in need of some refurbishment, which Andre (the doctor in charge) told us will be done "when the funds are available".

Dr Andre Asuka is the man in the colourful shirt, one of two Congolese doctors based at Bolobo, who very kindly gave us a guided tour of the hospital, school and other facilities on the site.

This image looking in the direction of the river, with the church bell in the right foreground, church on the left and old hospital buildings in the background will be instantly recognisable to Jack and Fred. It is pretty much as things were in the 1950's, although the church bell replaced the earlier use of drums in the call to worship.