Tom & Cheryl Martin Missionaries

April 12, 2024

Cheryl likes babies. Patience is 3 months old.

April 8, 2024

Adrien did Brenda on the left hair and now is going to do Maria's on the
right. The reason I took this picture is that all 3 are called
Nalongo(mother of twins). Brenda has twin boys and Adrien and Maria have a
boy and girl twins. Twins are very common here. A father of twins is
called Salongo. If a boy is born second he is called Kato. A girl born
second is Nakato. They often go by that name rather than their given name.
We met a girl yesterday called Happy. Power was off most of yesterday, all
night and all morning Monday. It is now noon and Power is off. The
newspaper said Uganda has increased electricity exports to Kenya.

April 7, 2024

Dear friends and family: This morning at our church program there were 43
present. They love to sing and are learning English at the same time as
they are learning about God.
We visited some homes today but it was more a day of people visiting us.
In the afternoon a young lady aged 20 came to seek medical advice from
Cheryl. Her scan said she has a problem with her gall bladder. Then Joram
came with his son named Enoch who is almost 2. On April 1st his second
son Elijah was born. For the birth his wife Immaculate had to go to a
hospital 300 km. away because the scan showed the child had a brain
issue. Elijah was born with water on the brain and is supposed to have an
operation on Monday at only 7 days old. Pray for Joram, Immaculate and
Elijah. Then the sewing sisters Aminah and Jocelyn came with their cousin
Catherine. They left at 8:30 pm. We are working with them to start a
training center for young women to learn sewing and fashion and design.
Pray for this project also. We have delivered to them the sewing machines
HCTH purchased last year. Adrien's Blessed Beyond Measure Salon is also
going to be a training center for young women to learn a skill. Cheryl
and I will be taking the first 2 students there tomorrow. Pray for this
as well. Thank you for your prayers.  Tom and Cheryl

April 6, 2024

Adrien is doing hair for Jane. She had help from her friends Brenda and
Jennifer. This picture was taken after the 3 had already worked on Jane
for 6 hours and still 2 hours to go. Brenda was hoping to get her hair
done also today.

April 5, 2024

Cheryl went to Adrien's Blessed Beyond Measure Salon today. Do you think
this makes Cheryl look older or younger? Many years ago Cheryl's hair was
close to this colour.

March 31, 2024

Our Easter Sunday gathering. I taught them a new song. Teopista the girl
holding the new song started high school this year. We gave her a ride in
the car to the program. She was serious. It was only her second time ever
riding in a car. It was only about a 3 minute ride for her. With the
children I talked about the significance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

March 31, 2024

The Sunday program is in Adrien's home. Tracy and Consulanta have their
new dresses on. Morris and Godwin wore their new pants and shirts also
made by the sewing sisters.

March 30, 2024

Tomi Cheryl is enjoying a peanut butter cookie that Cheryl made.

March 29, 2024

Yesterday we visited the family of this boy who is the last child of
Reverend Tembo an Anglican priest. Ab16 years ago Rev Tembo was expecting
a child. He said if it was a boy he would call him Tom. I told him I would
prefer he had another name. When we returned to Uganda there was another
Tom in the country. Tom is now in grade 10. His father can't work now
because he is recovering from colon cancer. He is very thankful for the
help of HCTH in his family.His daughter Patience will be going to
university this year. The home they live in was paid for by HCTH.
Yesterday Rev Tembo said he wants to bring 4 to 6 orphans into his home.
He asked if he could call his project Tom and Cheryl. In a polite way we
said we were honored but hopefully he could think of a better name. We
already have a hair salon called Tom and Cheryl. Their daughter Patience
is rearing chickens to earn some money. We were there to buy 6 chickens
which we gave to families for Easter.
Have a blessed Easter. God is Good!
Tom and Cheryl

March 29, 2024

The sisters who have a sewing shop made dresses for Tracy and Consulanta.

March 28, 2024

Ruth is very happy with her 2 new classrooms and her new cook house.

March 24, 2024

Adrien's beans are growing well. She has also planted some maize.

March 24, 2024

Ruth is standing in front of what will be 2 new classrooms. She is happy
to have a new cook house.

March 23, 2024

Grace got 2 new dresses made by Aminah and Jocelyn. Today I took Tracy and
Consulanta to get measured for a new dress. They picked out the material
they wanted. We will get the dresses on Monday.

March 22, 2024

Priscila got a new watch. It is the first watch she has had. Thanks to our
friends in Nevada. James is working on the house his family lives in. It
is owned by HCTH. Water from rains was damaging the wall. HCTH  has helped
James become a plumber, his brother Timothy a welder and younger brother
Abraham studying to be a plumber.

March 21, 2024

The new cook house for Ruth at Lutaaya school is progressing. Contrast the
old cook house with what the new one will be like.

March 21, 2024

Brenda's twins Peter and Paul are good now after swallowing weed killer a
few days ago.

March 20, 2024

These 3 young ladies received new watches today. Sisters on the left
Aminah and Jocelyn and cousin Catherine. The sisters have a shop where
they make clothes and sell material. The watches come from our friend who
lives in Mesquite,  Nevada. Catherine who is 20 never owned a watch
before.

March 20, 2024

The project at Lutaaya school is going well. This house is being cemented
over the bricks inside and outside to make 2 bigger classrooms plus cement
floors.

March 18, 2024

The next HCTH project. At Lutaaya school a house is being renovated to
make 2 large classrooms and the school is getting a new cook house.

March 18, 2024

I am entitling this A DAY IN THE LIFE   Today I had a lot to do so for
only the third time I wrote down my to do list. At 8:20 I went to the
bank. For 4 days I was unable to use my bank card. My account was frozen
because I needed to update documents. They could have told me. I  had
about 15 pages to fill out plus use my signature over 20 times.I had to
get a passport photo then return to the bank. They said to wait 20 minutes
so I left to complete some tasks. I returned 70 minutes later after taking
Cheryl home. The bank said Cheryl had to sign everywhere I signed. I took
the
papers to Cheryl to sign. Back to the bank. The lady at the bank said,
"You are going to be mad at me. I need Cheryl's passport so home to get
Cheryl's passport then back to the bank. 5 times into the bank.
Today we took pig food to Adrien. We went to see a girl to talk about a
course she wants to take. We went to a primary school to get a sponsor
letter then toast secondary school to get 2 more letters.We visited 2
HCTH construction sites. I went to see Annet. A boy doing a car mechanic
course needed coveralls. Later Annet called to say the 2 year old twins
of Brenda swallowed weed killer and were at the hospital. Another girl
needed money for medical issues. Maria called and came to our house . She
had papers from the college she has been accepted to for nursing. We had
to pick up 2 dresses we had made for a sponsored child. I had to send
money to Catherine who is in her last term of college. After supper I
slashed and trimmed grass for an hour. Hopefully tomorrow is a quieter
day. Pray for Cheryl and I as we go to Kampala tomorrow.
Thanks for your prayers.  Tom and Cheryl

March 16, 2024

Today we went to the site of the new house project. A daughter of the
family named Ruth has a 2 month old daughter named Patience who has
pneumonia. Ruth was very concerned because her only other child a 4 year
old boy died a year ago. She took the baby to a clinic but needed $20 for
medication but only had $4. Thankfully HCTH was able to help her out. The
man in the picture is Stanley the builder not her husband who provides
little help.

March 14, 2024

Gladys house is almost done. She is very happy and thankful.

March 14, 2024

Thank you for those who have emailed us to express your sorrow at the
sudden passing of Rick Poulin. Your prayers for Cheryl and I and Rick's
family are a great blessing. Today would have been Rick's first day with
us in Mityana. We did have a lot planned for his time with us. He was
going to spend a day with his sponsored boy Jeremiah and his family. When
I contacted Jeremiah's mother to tell her the sad news she was in shock.
She later texted to say  "I was so excited about meeting Rick. May he be
rewarded in heaven for what he did on earth. Now he is resting in the arms
of God." I  will miss Rick's dry humor. I still remember when Rick visited
us in Zambia in 2008. As we left our rented house to walk across the field
to the village we worked in, Rick said, "So this is what they mean when
they talk about the mission field."
Rick also sponsored Benjamin in Peru  whom he visited in 2019.
Our loss is heavens gain.
Blessings   Tom and Cheryl

March 11, 2024

Dear friends and family: We just received unbelievably sad news. Our
friend Rick Poulin who was scheduled to arrive in Uganda on Wednesday
night passed away from a massive heart attack last Saturday. Please pray
for his family. His mother in her mid 90's is still living. I was emailing
with him making last minute plans only 2 days before his death. Thanks for
your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

March 11, 2024

Please pray for Rick Poulin as he starts his long journey to Uganda on
Tuesday. He will be flying from Winnipeg to Calgary to Amsterdam then to
Entebbe,Uganda arriving late Wednesday night. He will stay in a hotel in
Entebbe Wednesday night then will have a 2 hour drive to Mityana Thursday
morning. This is Rick's first time to Uganda but he has visited the
ministry in Zambia and Peru. Pray for a safe journey. Pray for his time in
Uganda. Pray that Rick will be blessed as he blesses others. Thanks for
your prayers.   Tom and Cheryl

March 8, 2024

Today in the country Stephen let Cheryl and Atul plant a pineapple. Atul
gave Tony a hat from Whistler B.C. plus other clothes.

March 7, 2024

Yesterday we took Atul to Entebbe. We took Joan with us also. She had
never been to Lake Victoria or to a mall or never had eaten at Kentucky
Fried chicken. It was good for Joan to get away from her business for a
short time. She works very hard. Her business is doing very well. When we
got back to Mityana at 2:30 many clients were waiting for her. She is
another HCTH success story.

March 7, 2024

This is the building project taken today Thursday. One picture shows how
they mix cement. They will be completing the latrine also.

March 7, 2024

On Tuesday a young mother came to talk to Atul  Cheryl and I. She wanted
to share her dream with us.
6 years ago in April this same young mother came to our gate with a 15
year old girl to translate and her 4 young children. She was in a
desperate state. Her twins were only 2 months old and the others 3 and 5.
Her husband was very physically abusive to her. She was 7 months behind in
rent. No food. The 5 year old wanted to go to school. The mother knew no
English. We never saw this young woman again for 10 months and at that
time we knew something had to be done to rescue her.
What has happened in the last 5 years is a miracle of God. Adrien has been
away from her abusive husband for 5 years. She lives in her own home so
pays no rent. Her children are all in school. She has a small garden plus
7 pigs. Last fall she completed a course in hair dressing. Now she is
fluent in English and has even translated for us.
What is Adrien's dream? Adrien wants to start a training center for young
girls to learn hair dressing. Many would be from villages where school
ends after grade 7 and their is no future except pregnancy. Adrien would
find a room for them to stay in near the training center. After 1 year of
training they would return to their village with a skill they could use to
earn money and feel good about themselves.
When I took Adrien home after the meeting she was very happy and said, " I
know that God is going to make my dream come true."
*It is in Adrien's house where we have our Sunday program.
Pray for Adriens dream.
Blessings!  Tom and Cheryl

March 4, 2024

Here’s the improved video.

https://youtu.be/S8ADdopwnAQ?si=ZdZiGmmF3A0rpKrK

Atul

March 4, 2024

Today we visited Lutaaya school. The owner Ruth helps the very poor
children. She said only about 40 of 152 students have paid for the term.
During covid Atul came and helped to build the latrine. Before this the
school had to use the neighbors latrine.

A seamstress was there making
school uniforms.

March 2, 2024

Today Atul cooked a meal for Cheryl and I plus Adrien and Annet's family.
We had rice and different vegetables plus and papaya.It was like Christmas
for them as they were given clothes. The children had fun with their
balloons.

February 28, 2024

Gladys has a cow that she milks to sell the milk.

February 28, 2024

This is Atul's construction project for Gladys and her husband Francis.
Stanley is the builder. Gladys has a small stand in front of her house
where she sells food.

February 26, 2024

Atul took pictures of children on Sunday plus the construction project.
The main food here is posho(corn flour) and beans. The food was prepared
for the workers.

February 19, 2024

Uganda has many different ideas that we don't necessarily agree with. This
morning at 8 Stanley came to see us. On Saturday and Sunday he had a
family meeting with his wife and her parents. His wife is 27 but is living
with her parents. Stanley got her pregnant when they were both very young.
Their son is now 14. The parents took their daughter from Stanley because
he was poor and the parents wanted better for their daughter. Stanley is a
very nice man and he loves her and she loves him but the parents are
keeping them apart. The parents say that if he pays a dowry of about $4000
he can take her. They want to be together and pay slowly by slowly.
Stanley is praying that the parents agree.

February 19, 2024

These are the avocado's our neighbors gave us- some to eat and some for
Adrien's pigs. Stanley is making charcoal.

February 18, 2024

I woke up this morning early thinking that the pictures I can send are
beautiful but they don't tell the whole story. Yesterday the service was
great with the children. Someone called it a Sunday school which it is
closer to since there is no ordained fully credentialed pastor but only 2
old missionaries. No 45min to 1 hour sermon and no asking for money.
Before we went to the program a boy came to the gate. He is one of our
grade 11 graduates. We have to meet with 9 who just wrote their grade 11
national exam. There have to be some difficult decisions as some will not
go on to grade 12 and 13. After the program a young father of 2 wanted to
see us. He was upset. He was unfaithful to his wife and now she has
another man and has left him and the children. We then went to see the
family who gave Cheryl the dress. They are very thankful for the help of
HCTH but want help to finish their house. The living condition is not
good. Later a woman came to the gate who needs lots of help. Saturday we
talked to 2 grade 11 graduates and 2 more today. Also, Annet who helps us
is going to Kampala today with a grade 11 graduate. Her mother abandoned
her shortly after birth. Faridah just met a woman a few weeks ago who
thinks she is her mother who left her daughter 18 years ago. The mother is
coming from north Uganda. They are meeting to get a DNA test to see if it
is her mother. If it is the mother wants to take her. HCTH is paying for
this. Another grade 11 graduate is going to Kampala to see about nursing.
A boy wants to study plumbing and pipe fitting. We are busy. Our builder
is coming to the gate at 8 this morning. That is why I got up at 6:30. It
will be a long day. Thanks for your prayers Tom and Cheryl

February 18, 2024

We are soon going to need a church expansion. 33 this morning. A child we
helped made this dress for Cheryl. Godwin has a new, expanded car repair
shop. Our neighbour has a large avocado tree. They gave us 4 big avocado
for us to eat and 2 pails full of not good avocado for Adrien's pigs.

February 17, 2024

Cheryl is holding 13 day old Grace. In Uganda Grace is a male or female
name. Grace was6 weeks premature and weighed 1.5 kilos. He is a younger
brother of triplets Eldon, Ethan and Evans. Godwin was doing mechanical
work on his cars in his repair shop. He has a car I gave him a year ago, a
car Atul gave him a year ago and others that he made. Children are very
creative here.

February 14, 2024

This morning we helped Adrien and Patricia plant beans in her garden.

February 13, 2024

These are the beans I planted on January 12. Adrien and her niece Patricia
helped me. Today Cheryl and I are helping Adrien plant beans in her
garden. I  think we will have green beans to eat in 10 days.

February 13, 2024

This is the way many people travel in Uganda. It is very dangerous. Often
we hear of trucks like this over turning with many fatalities and
injuries. It was hot here today- about 30C.

February 13, 2024

Little 3 year old Judith was enjoying a sweet from Canada. It was cute.
She had a little backpack. She showed us that inside she had 6 little
notebooks and 6 pencils. She wants to go to school. Judith is the little
girl whose mother was 12 years old when Judith was born.

February 11, 2024

Today I gave a watch to Rev. Tembo. He had one before but it got lost. He
also put on a shirt that we gave him 15 years ago. He has had to retire as
an Anglican priest after 4 operations for cancer. He is on medication but
the cancer is gone. He is very thankful to God.

February 11, 2024

Dear friends and family: God has blessed again. God has used someone who
has offered to pay for the little boys operation. Thank you God.
Our devotion today was, "Don't Be Afraid to Grow Old" Look at Isaiah 65:22
and Psalm 92:14. "They shall still bear fruit in old age." " My chosen
ones will long enjoy the work of their hands."
*Pray for Cheryl as Monday is her brother Maurice funeral. Cheryl would
want to be there. Of a family of 7 there are only 2 left- the oldest and
the youngest. Cheryl's brother Elwyn will be 101 on Tuesday.

February 9, 2024

Little Patience is only 1 month old.

February 8, 2024

Cheryl just received word that her brother Maurice passed away last night.
He was 81 years old. He has not had good health for a number of years.
Pray for his family and for Cheryl who is not able to be with the family.
Thank you. God is Good.   Tom and Cheryl

February 7, 2024

 Today we blessed Patience with a computer that Cheryl brought from Canada.

She is waiting for her results from her last year of secondary school and
plans to go to university with support from her sponsors. She was not
expecting this gift. At first she was almost in shock and then started to
cry.

February 7, 2024

Today we went to visit Maureen. She came back to Mityana because she had a
medical appointment. She had an operation on one of her breasts and during
the operation they pinched a nerve which is causing her a lot of pain. She
has been an intern for 6 months and has been intern of the month at the
hospital 2 times. The hospital gave her the sofa she is sitting on as a
gift. Maureen was telling us that sometimes wealthy patients in
appreciation give her a bit of money. She uses it to help patients who do
not have money. She told us of a little 10 year old boy named Martin who
was hit by a car while walking. He hurt his head but mostly his leg and
knee. His mother abandoned him in the hospital because she has no money.
Maureen has been looking after him and  cooking the same amount of food
she usually eats  but sharing it with him. He needs a major operation
which will cost about $1000 using pins and screws. The operation costs
$1600 but Maureen thinks because of her they will do it for $1000. Without
the operation he will never be able to bend his knee. There are many sad
stories like this.
I  think we have all the school fees paid. Now we need letters from the
children. Blessings  Tom and Cheryl

February 5, 2024

Today we delivered 15 Good News Bibles to secondary students supported BY
HCTH. They were purchased through the ministry of recycling cans by our
friend Wayne in Napanee. So far this ministry has also sent 16 children to
school whom otherwise would not be able to go to school. I delivered them
on my trusty 17 year old motorcycle. Also through the Gift Certificate
ministry 6 pigs have been purchased, 15 hens  a bicycle, medical help, 2
mattress plus bedding. God is Good all the time.  Tom and Cheryl

February 4, 2024

A very poor family is very thankful. We sponsor 1 child in the family but
are sending the other 4 to school from money earned through recycling
cans. They made a basket for us filled with fruit- oranges  apples,
bananas, passion fruit and a mango. All of the family helps when they
fetch water.

January 29, 2024

I saved the last mango from our tree until Cheryl came.

Good Luck got a new backpack.

January 29, 2024

Thanks for your prayers. Cheryl arrived safely in Entebbe. Since Cheryl
had not seen me in 3 weeks I thought I should have a sign and wear my hat
with my name on it. God bless.
Tom and Cheryl

January 29, 2024

Through HCTH gift certificates Adrien was blessed with 4 pigs and Juliet
got 2 pigs. Paul and his sister Lynet got backpacks from Canada.

January 28, 2024

It is 5 am in Uganda. Actually I woke up at 4 am and could not sleep so
decided to get up at 5. I thought that I needed to explain a bit more
about yesterday so you will better understand the ministry of HCTH. The
traveling and talking to people is the easy part. The difficult decisions
are the hardest. Sometimes wise decisions affect good people negatively.
Last year HCTH had 15 students in a high school. The head teacher turned
out to be corrupt, dishonest and greedy. The girl was crying because she
is in grade 11 which has a national exam and rightly so does not want to
change schools but I refuse to give more money to this man so he can buy a
bigger car. Education is awful in Uganda. This man wants her to pay almost
$1000 for her year. This is one third more than 3 other schools I checked-
all better schools. There is lots more to this story. James came also. He
is a good boy who has done well and has his own plumbing company but needs
a bit more help. Thieves stole his stock so he had to pay the wholesalers
plus he was in a bad taxi van accident. How much help do you give? One
girl I visited yesterday did very poorly in her last year of primary. She
failed the same grade last year. Now we have to tell a 15 year old girl
that there is no point in going on to school. Vincent who is making bricks
wrote a letter. His bricks are not dry plus he does not have firewood to
burn them. He is in grade 11 and his school is demanding these students go
into boarding so the school can make more money. Of course he can't pay
for school. Barbara wrote a letter yesterday and asked for help to send
her daughter to secondary school. She is a single mother and twice said
that I want my daughter to have a better life. She borrowed money to build
her house and has no money to send her daughter to school. The mother
works hard selling fruit and vegetables. The daughter named Teopista did
very well in her primary leaving exam. This does not include many calls
yesterday from parents of sponsored children wanting us to see them now
now. You are going to think I am making all of this up but it is not easy
as they say here. I got a call yesterday from the UAE in the middle east.
The mother of a sponsored child says the money we give her is not enough
because he is starting secondary school. On Friday I got a call from Saudi
Arabia. The mother of 2 sponsored children is working there. The main
export of Uganda right now is people working as servants in the middle
east. I told 2 head teachers on Friday that the difference between the
average wage of many parents making about $2 per day and a school fee of
$1000 per year is probably one of the worst discrepancies in the world if
not the worst. Again we are not on a vacation. Doing God's work is not
often the easiest route to take but it is the most rewarding. We are
blessed to do our small part in service to our God. Blessings from Uganda.
It is 6 am now. I might even try to sleep until 7.
Tom and Cheryl

January 28th, 2024

Dear friends and family: In case you think Cheryl and I are in Uganda for
a holiday. This morning we left the hotel in Entebbe. In Bulenga we met
with Joram and family for about 45 minutes. Joram had to sign papers from
our lawyer re changing the name on HCTH properties. We got to Mityana
about noon and went to see Annet who works for us then to see Joan who
lives in the house when we are not here. After lunch and some unpacking I
went about 10 minutes on the motorcycle to see a student going into S4
which is a year they write a  national exam. She was not happy with our
decision and was crying. I then went to find out primary school final
results for 2 children
They both did well. I then went about 20 minutes in the other direction
to visit 3 families to get the results for 4 students graduating from
primary school. 3 of these did well. I went to take a card from sponsors
to Patience plus talk to her father about his son Tom re. school. I
rushed home. Winnie and her son Good Luck were here to get sponsorship
money. James came. He wanted help with his plumbing business in Kampala.
He has a contract to work in Kenya. He is a HCTH graduate. I then went to
give sponsorship money to a boy named Christian. This includes letters
and pictures. Stanley came with the budget for a  house construction
project. I took him into Mityana and went to the market to buy onions
carrots and a mango. The big mango was about 55 cents. It is now  6:30
pm. Time to relax. It is great to have Cheryl here. It was nice not to
have to cook supper. Thanks for your prayers. Tomorrow starts a busy time
of visiting schools and paying school fees.  It is nice to sign off with
Tom and Cheryl

January 25, 2024

A young boy named Vincent is making bricks to pay his school fees. He has
5000 made. He has to pile them and burn them to make them hard. He has
done this for the last 3 years.

January 24, 2024

In spite of the height difference these are the triplets. I ask Eve to put
them in Alphabetical order so left to right- Eldon Ethan Evans  Eve is a
HCTH university graduate who has her own business.

January 21, 2024

There were 27 at our church program this morning. I taught them a new
song. That was the basis of my message for them this morning. Check it out
on YouTube. The song is  Thank you Lord for your blessings on me by Dan
and Amanda. I told them that in worldly terms they might not have much but
they still are blessed by God because they have food to eat, a roof over
them, shoes on their feet and clothes to wear  a mother that loves them.
Most of all they have God and His son in their life. Have a blessed day.
Tom

January 21, 2024

Dear friends and family. It is a beautiful Sunday morning. It has been
very busy here. I have 2 contractors busy on separate projects- Solomon
and Stanley. Yesterday I met with Florence and her 4 years old daughter.
She wanted help to send her little girl Precious to school. Florence
teaches at a Daycare and gets about $40 per week. We do not have a sponsor
but I was able to help Florence through money we received from recycled
cans. So far I have paid for 5 children to go to school for the year
through this program. I think we will be able to send about 20 to school.
Last night I was invited to supper of matooke and chicken. I bought a
watermelon. There continues to be a lot of medical needs
. On Friday Maureen took 2 children to the skin clinic in Mulago hospital
in Kampala. We moved Brenda a mother of twins to a new house owned by
HCTH. James moved out. Brenda has 3 children including twins Peter and
Paul. Today we are having a birthday party for twins Morris and Tracy who
are 6 today. I bought a cake for them.
Pray for Cheryl as she leaves Canada on Friday for Uganda. She won't miss
the cold weather. It will be nice to have her here. We will be paying
school fees for about 100 more children. Thanks for your prayers. Tom

January 17, 2024

This morning I visited Solomon our builder at his wife's shop. I gave a
suckered to these 2 little girls then I took a picture of the one little
girl and her mother. Julie the little girl is 2.5 years old. The mother is
now 15. She was 12 years old when Julie was born. HCTH paid for solar
power for this home. Now they have lights and can watch television.

January 14, 2024

After church this morning I brought watermelon for the children. I gave
out the last of the Tim Hortons bracelets for camp day. Thanks Peggy. It
rained while we were having church. God bless.  Tom

January 14, 2024

Blessings on this beautiful Sunday morning. I want to share some from a
letter I received yesterday. It is from Emily a girl who just completed
secondary school through HCTH support. We met Emily first about 10 years
ago. She was in a home for orphan girls. The home was not run well so we
helped out. When Emily finished grade 11 the home stopped helping her
because the organization said education was getting too expensive yet
Emily was a very good student and had dreams to go on to grade 13 taking
math, chemistry and biology. She came to HCTH asking for help to achieve
this dream. We found a kind and generous lady in Napanee who agreed to
help Emily. Thanks Margaret, this letter is for you too. Part of her
letter says, "Praise be to the Almighty God who has kept us when we are
still alive. I take this opportunity to thank you and mummy Cheryl for the
support that you have provided to me towards my studies. I am so happy and
grateful for the work that you have done for all of us. It is really hard
to find such kind people like you and I pray to the Almighty God to
continue granting you blessings, divine mercy and protection upon you and
all your family. Words cannot express what you have done for me but I am
praying to God to keep you always and live to see the goodness of God as
your reward. God bless you and keep you safe always. Greetings to mummy
Cheryl."

Now I am off to our house church program. It is almost 9 am in Uganda but
1 am in Napanee.
God bless you all and thank you for your prayers.  Tom

January 13, 2024

This avocado tree outside our gate is loaded with avocado.

January 10, 2024

Barbara came with her niece Jocelyn and her children Elvis and Hope
Angela. Barbara is an amazing story also. When we first met her she was
going to an orphan school but now has a university degree and a good
business. Her father had 6 wives all of which died of HIV. Barbara's
mother was a prostitute. What a blessing to see her doing well. Barbara
and Jocelyn got new watches. The 3 children got new backpacks from Canada.
Later I went to see Lillian and her little boy she named Ricky Martin. He
was born shortly after our son Rick left Uganda last year in early
February.

January 9, 2024

Today I met with Maureen. I gave her a new watch. The watch I gave her 3
years ago was stolen. I  gave her money for her next 4 months of
internship. She said it is like a dream to know she is now an orthopedic
surgeon. She remembers being chased from primary and secondary education
many times because she had no money to pay fees.  She interns in a
hospital 4 days then travels 4 hours to her home to volunteer in her local
hospital for 3 days. She says she doesn't want to miss a minute of
learning. Thanks to her sponsor in Canada and the watch from the United
States. God is Good.  Tom

January 8, 2024

I picked 2 mangoes from our tree today. They don't look great but the one
I had for supper tasted good. A mother and daughter were happy to get
clothes and shoes brought from Canada. Today we visited a family. They
shared a pineapple with us that they grew. They gave us avocado's,
mangoes, passion fruit and maize. In the first week I have been given 5
eggs, mangoes, 5 oranges, 2 bunches of bananas from other people. In their
poverty they are very generous. Blessings  Tom

January 8, 2024

Dear friends and family: It is a beautiful 8 am morning in Mityana,
Uganda. On Saturday it was 28 degrees but only 26 yesterday. It was nice
to resume our little church yesterday. There were 29 there. They love to
sing. Since Christmas was only 2 weeks ago I started with the birth of
Jesus and in April will talk about the significance of Easter. This is the
only church for all of these mostly children. There were 3 adults and
about 5 teens.
I am busy meeting with HCTH sponsored children who are in university or
college. The courses range from Orthopedic surgeon to nursing to Business
to fashion and design. Others are in courses of apprenticeship. Many of
our youth are waiting for exam results to decide where to go from here.
Many decisions have to be made. Many ask for help for sponsorship, for
food  start a business and much more. It is important to make decisions
that give people hope. That way they can cope with life. Decisions have to
be made in relation to the ministry of HCTH also.
Saturday I helped the second sponsored child since I came who has malaria
and typhoid.
In any spare time I like to keep the property neat by slashing grass and
pulling out weeds. This morning I am helping a family to purchase a car
battery which they will use for their solar power system.
Thanks for your prayers. My sleep pattern is gradually getting adjusted to
the 8 hour time difference. Many blessings. Tom

January 4, 2024

Tracy is riding on a swing made from a bicycle tire and a fallen tree branch.
Sisters Rachel and Victoria got a Tim Hortons bracelet. Victoria who is in
her last semester of nursing got a white watch.
Twins Peter and Paul were happy to get a sweet.
*Another reason to pray for good health. Today at lunch I had a Coke in a
glass. I left the glass on the table. In the afternoon I poured a glass of
water and took a big swallow. When putting the glass down I noticed a
multitude of small ants floating on the water. The good news is that I
didn't swallow all the ants. The bad news is that I swallowed about 20.
Maybe ants are good for me. Thanks for your prayers.

January 2, 2024

Thanks for your prayers. The money is in the account in Uganda. That is a
great relief for me. It rained for an hour at noon and is raining again
now at 2:40. Tom

January 1, 2024

Annet and Adrien helped me clean the house. They liked the shirts we
bought them in Peru. Adrien had her 2 children Tomi Cheryl and Classon.
Tomi Cheryl sat on my lap all the way from Entebbe to Mityana which was
about 1 hour and 45 minutes. I even had time to do some yard work. It is
6:15 now and I am very tired. Pray that we are successful tomorrow when we
go to the bank. The money I sent on December 18 was not in before New
Years. One girl is going back to university on January 6 and another
January 8. God is Good. Blessings  Tom in Uganda

December 31, 2023

Thanks for your prayers. I arrived at the hotel in Entebbe 5 minutes
before the New Year. There was fireworks near the hotel. I am tired but
Happy to be here. We left for Toronto Airport at 8:15 Saturday morning and
got to my room at midnight in Entebbe or 5 p.m. Sunday in Napanee. It is a
long time to go without sleep and not much food. I feel better not eating
than when I eat plane food. Hopefully I get some sleep tonight. It might
be a bit difficult as it is noisy tonight. Thanks again for your prayers.
All went well and the luggage arrived safely.
Tom in Uganda.

December 28, 2023

Dear friends and family: Thank you for your prayers! It has been an
interesting last 2 weeks. 1)On December 14 we applied online for our entry
visa to enter Uganda. You can not even get on the plane in Toronto without
it. It usually takes 1 or 2 days to hear back but because of a small
glitch it took 5 days. 2)On December 18 we sent a substantial amount of
money to our bank account in Uganda. It usually takes 3 or 4 days to get
into our account. This money is to pay for school fees for over 100
students in university, college, primary, secondary; a food program for
many families; medical; house construction and more. As of today this
money is still not in the account. 3) On December 19 I was born 76 years
ago. 4)On December 26 we attended a family gathering. On the morning of
December 27 the hostess called to say she had just tested positive for
covid. She knew I was leaving on Sunday for Uganda. At least I thought I
was. 5)At 1:30 p.m. on December 27 I checked my e-mails. I could not
believe what I saw. I thought it was a scam. It was from KLM Airlines
saying, "Your flight on Sunday, December 31 has been cancelled. I called
my travel agent then went to Maritime Travel. It was true but the agency
had not been informed yet. It took a while but I am now leaving Toronto on
December 30 instead of the 31st.
 I think you can see why we need your prayers. It would be much easier to
sit at home and rest our weary bones but that is not what God wants for
us. Too many people still need to be blessed and to see God's love at
work. Pray for Cheryl as she will be in Canada until January 26. Pray for
Wisdom  Integrity Safety Health (W.I.S.H.).
We pray each of you have a blessed New Year 2024.
Tom and Cheryl

December 19, 2023

Renee Liscio has started a Go Fund Me page for Ana in Peru. Ana is the
lady whose husband died December 1 while hooking up the electricity in
their new home built by HCTH. She has twins aged 10 and a little girl
named Fernanda who is 7. Just after it happened Ana was crying because now
she is single again and it is hard to find a good husband like she had.
If you would like to help out there is a link to the Go Fund Me page
below. Any small amount would be a great blessing.
Thank you and God Bless!  Merry Christmas!
Tom and Cheryl

December 3, 2023

I am saddened to bring you this news from Peru but do request your prayers
for this situation. This year HCTH was blessed to help a young mother
named Ana with a new home for her, her 3 children and recent husband named
Keiner. They were living in a 8 foot by 10 foot room. We got to know
Keiner well especially Rocco who worked with him every day. Even though he
worked at night he was there helping most days. When we had a new house
dedication and prayer a week ago Keiner spoke with emotion about how this
was changing his life. He was excited and for Christmas bought his new
wife Ana a new fridge and stove. He could not wait to get electricity in
the new house. When Rocco and Renee left the site on Wednesday Javier had
only a few things left to do to complete the project. Friday while Javier
was completing the bathroom Keiner insisted on completing the electricity
hook up. In this process Keiner was electrocuted and died in the ambulance
on the way to the hospital. This is so very sad for a family that was so
excited about their future together. Please pray for this family, for our
workers in Peru Javier and Karina and for Rocco and Renee Liscio who got
to know and see Keiner for the great man that he was.
Thanks for your prayers!   Tom and Cheryl

December 1, 2023

Thanks for your prayers. We are home safe in Napanee. All flights went
well. It is good to be back in Canada but not the cool weather and snow.
God Bless!    Tom Martin

November 28, 2023

Today we looked at 2 possible housing projects for next year. These people
obviously thought that their first priority was building a toilet before
anything else was built.

November 27, 2023

Cheryl likes this kind of a palm tree. Our friend Martin is taking a
cooking course. Today he carved this from a watermelon.

November 25, 2023

More happy children. I only have a few candy canes and suckers left and
many will be gone today. I brought well over 500 from Canada.

November 25, 2023

The children like to get candy canes.

November 22, 2023

We visited a factory where they make clothes from Elpaca and vicuna. They
are very expensive.

November 22, 2023

This is a perfect example of a volcano overlooking the city of Arequipa,
Peru. It is dormant. It has not erupted for over 200 years.

November 21, 2023

Cheryl and I are spending 3 days visiting our friend Fanny in Arequipa and
her 2 daughters and family. The family owns a trout restaurant. I had
trout Napolitano today. They raise their own trout. It is beside a river.

November 21, 2023

No matter where you go in Arequipa you are not far from the dormant
volcano called Misti. Arequipa is in the Andes mountains. Some of the
mountains still have snow on them.

November 19, 2023

Today we visited Katy, Cliset, Kelly and family. It is good to see Cliset
doing well with the course she took in college. She is making clothes with
her brand name Alaska and is selling sports shoes online all over Peru. On
a good day she sells 10 pairs of shoes. She had made an order of 40 tee
shirts.

November 17, 2023

I just got this letter from Abraham in Uganda. He just completed high
school. He wants to be a plumber like his older brother James. In
September he did a job for me at the house where he and his family live
which is owned by HCTH. He has learned from his older brother.


Hello Mr Tom hope your doing well that side here in Uganda it's raining
heavily these days but am glad to say that the water connection I did last
time is working well we nolonger have water inside the house and when the
tank is full the water just moves in to the pipes I connected in ground to
the big passage and am also glad to inform you that we are done with our
final UCE exams ,we thank you for your care and support we love you and may
God bless you abundantly 🙏
Abraham

November 16, 2023

We just received this email from Douglas in Uganda. He and his brother
just completed university through HCTH support. We have also helped his
mother Sarah and family since 2006. It shows how grateful many of the
people there are.
Tom and Cheryl


Hi Tom and Cheryl,
How are you doing. And how is Peru.
I hope everything is going well. There are a lot of good things that happen
in our lives, life is complicated that sometimes we take them for granted,
sometimes it's because of age, that we cannot realize how important
somethings or people were, upto an age when you have grown up and get a
reflection of how life was. Sometimes i sit and reflect on what life was in
my early years. Sarah being a single mother and having all the
responsibility of taking care of all of us, it was a hard life for her.
Then i realize how important you have been to us and our family as a whole,
how you changed Sarah's life, how you shaped our stories. I have an
important message to share with you, "that the good you have done will come
back to you in large numbers." So allow me prophesy about your life, that
you and your generations shall live a life of abundance in Jesus Name. I'm
looking forward to walking into the footsteps you have set.
May God bless you 🙏

November 16, 2023

I took these pictures while on my walk this morning to buy buns. No matter
where we go where we work we are surrounded by the Andes mountains yet we
are only a few kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. It is very dry and grass
and trees only grow where they are watered. The last picture is the Lurin
River near us which seldom has water in it. It is amazing the contrast to
the landscape of Uganda with so much green and lots of rain. God made it
all! Cheryl and Renee are visiting a home to teach some cooking. Rocco is
building. I am off now to visit families.  Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

November 12, 2023

Today after church we visited families in Manchay. We bought food for
Manuel and his family. Manuel is in 4th year studying statistics in
university. He has 1 more year. To earn money he teaches mathematics and
sciences to students studying to enter university.

November 12, 2023

Last year HCTH built a house for Katy.

November 12, 2023

One of the streets in Manchay.

November 11, 2023

Cheryl took these pictures of the building project and Ana's birthday.

November 11, 2023

Today we visited families in Manchay.  Some new families are moving in.
Each wooden box represents a family.

November 11, 2023

Today we sang Christian songs in a church to teach 15 children English.

November 10, 2023

I thought I would share this with you. It is a miracle when you know where
Maureen came from. This is her graduation as a orthopedic surgeon in
Uganda.

November 7, 2023

Today we visited Roxana again at her school. She was very happy to see us.
We had some things to give her that she could use at school. She is now
teaching at a government school and receives a good salary. She thanked
HCTH again. She said she could never have gone to university without help.
She especially thanked her sponsor Judy. I knew she was taking university
courses but did not realize she has almost completed her Masters degree in
Education.

November 6, 2023

Today we visited Centro Prenatal. It is called "Life and Hope". They work
with young girls who are pregnant. They are located near a university.
They give the girls an alternative to abortion. We gave them baby clothes
from Canada. In a week they have about 100 girls they are working with.
The board with pictures are of babies born in October.

November 5, 2023

These are some of the young ladies HCTH has helped for many years and have
been blessed by the ministry.

November 5, 2023

These 4 plus 1 other lady got new watches today. The first picture is of
Lucio who had a stroke in June.

November 5, 2023

Tonight Karina arranged a party for us to meet all of the sponsored
children and families plus say goodbye to Peggy, welcome to Rocco and
Renee and Happy Birthday to Cheryl. These are 3 of the 5 cakes they had
plus food from different parts of Peru.

November 3, 2023

Dear friends and family: Pray today for Rocco and Renee Liscio for safe
travels to Lima. They fly out of Toronto this afternoon to Atlanta then
arriving later tonight in Lima then a 1.5 hour drive to where we are
staying. Pray for them as Rocco oversees the building of a house for Ana,
a single mother of 3 children. Pray also for a safe trip back to Canada
for Peggy late Tuesday night arriving in Toronto on Wednesday. She has
been a great blessing to many people here in Peru.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

November 1, 2023

Today we walked up to visit Noe and his family. It is pretty steep. His
large brick house was built through HCTH help financing and labour. We
were fed a great meal of Lomo Salgado and ceveichi.

November 1, 2023

We climbed up to see Rosita and her family with clothes and shoes. We took 2
of the children to buy food using money a sponsor sent.

November 1, 2023

I gave out 7 watches today all to adults and not one had ever owned a
watch before. Thanks to Don and Vicki in Mesquite, Nevada.

November 1, 2023

We gave clothes and shoes to Miriam and her family. HCTH sponsors helped
Miriam to complete training to be a speech and physio therapist. What a
blessing that she can help her father Lucio who had a bad stroke in June.
He had to learn to walk and talk again. In one picture her cousin Brisino
is beside her and in the other it is her father.

November 1, 2023

We are off for day 12 with our backpacks full of barbie dolls, clothes,

shoes, watches, candy canes and pictures with Bible verses. We came home

6.5 hours later with everything empty. We have given out at least 500

candy canes and 250 Bible verse cards.

October 31, 2023

Another HCTH success story. Today we visited Roxana in her grade 2 class.
She now has a coveted government teaching job. HCTH helped her to complete
university to be a teacher. We sang with them for about 25 minutes. After
singing about 6 songs I asked them which song they liked the best. They
said, All of them. We gave each of the 34 children a candy cane and a card
with a  Bible verse. Roxana was very happy that we visited her class.

October 30, 2023

Today we visited Rosita in her house built through HCTH support 5 years
ago. We were able to buy the family food. The location in Manchay is a
stark contrast to yesterday in Miraflores near the Pacific Ocean.

October 29, 2023

Today we visited Rosita in her house built through HCTH support 5 years
ago. We were able to buy the family food. The location in Manchay is a
stark contrast to yesterday in Miraflores near the Pacific Ocean.

October 29, 2023

Today we visited Larco Mar which is at the Pacific Ocean. It is very
beautiful. Many people were surfing.

October 28, 2023

Today we visited Alejandro and his family. They are happy in the house
built for him in 2019 by HCTH sponsors and labour. As you can see from the
first picture new neighbors are moving in. They even have street lights by
his house which is quite high up the mountain.

October 27, 2023

 Today in Manchay we visited Karina the mother of 2 children. HCTH has

helped her for many years. I gave her a new watch. She never had a watch
before.
. She has worked for 7 years at Bembo's which is the Peruvian equivalent
of McDonald's. She earns about $3.60 Can. per hour. Today she was working
from 6 pm to 4 am. She appreciates so much the help her sponsors from
Ontario and Alberta give her through the sponsorship of her 2 boys.

October 27, 2023

We went to a beautiful park this morning in stark contrast to where we
work in Manchay.

October 24, 2023

This is certainly a good news HCTH story. A friend of Peggy helped Shirley
finish primary and secondary school then study physio and speech therapy.
She now has 2 pre school locations and a Montessori school. Her husband
Leo and his mother have a restaurant and hotel in Manchay. On Sunday
nights Shirley, her mother  Leo and Leo's mother plus others have a Bible
study in the restaurant. PTL  Tom and Cheryl

October 24, 2023

Children love the dolls and candy canes.

October 24, 2023

Javier is working on a HCTH project building 2 rooms for Veronica plus a
bathroom.
Tom

October 22, 2023

Today we visited Ana and her family. Peggy started helping Ana in 2007.
Now she is sponsoring Ana's daughter. Ana gave Peggy and Cheryl a
bougainvillea from her plant.

October 21, 2023

Dear friends and family: We arrived safely in Peru. Thank you for your
prayers. The flight to Lima was not without incident. The plane from
Atlanta to Lima was 1.5 hours late because the luggage door would not
shut. Then when we arrived in Lima 1 hour late the luggage door would not
open. No exaggeration we waited almost 3 hours for the luggage to start on
the carousel. We got to our place of residence at 12:15 instead of 9 a.m.
Karina and Javier had a lunch ready for us. Karina asked if I would teach
an English class to about 15 teens at a Korean church. It went well. We
then went to buy a Sim card for our phones, to exchange money and get some
groceries. It is 8:50 and we are tired after basically no sleep last
night. It is nice to see Karina and Javier. They are a blessing to the
ministry of HCTH. Karina just finished radio therapy for cancer yesterday.
Before that she had chemo therapy. She is doing well. Pray for Karina and
Javier.
Blessings Tom and Cheryl

October 19, 2023

Dear friends and family: It is that time of year again. Tomorrow October
20 we are off to Peru for 6 weeks to minister to the people of Manchay
Peru which is on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. It is an area of extreme
poverty. 2 of the big projects are a house for a single mother named Ana
and improving the home of a single mother named Veronica. In both cases
HCTH sponsors the children. We will be visiting and helping the families
of the 35 sponsored children. Pray for Cheryl and I plus for Peggy Hall
who is travelling with us and Rocco and Renee Liscio who are coming in 2
weeks to oversee the house building project. Thanks for your prayers. 
Tom and Cheryl

September 28, 2023

It is good to be back in Canada. During the 5 weeks in Uganda many people
were blessed through the ministry of HCTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

*There has been a change in the ministry of HCTH. Our long time treasurer
Diana Perry is retiring. She has been a great blessing and asset to this
ministry. We have been blessed to have a new treasurer. His name is Rocco
Liscio. As of October 1, 2023 Rocco will be the treasurer of HCTH. On
October 1 e-transfers can be made using the email   hcthmartins@gmail.com
 This will then go directly into the HCTH account. If you prefer to write
cheques they can be sent to Rocco Liscio 66 Locust Lane, Tamworth, Ont. KOK 3GO

 Thanks for your support of HCTH.    Tom and Cheryl

September 19, 2023

The ladies are making mats to sell. The red mat is not done yet but it
looks like it is for me. Pictures of the new machines and material. Each
machine comes with a tool kit and instruction manual. P.S. Power went off
at 7:30 am and is still off at6:20 pm. I got wet again today on the
motorcycle from rain.

September 19, 2023

Maureen just called very excited. She just got her results back from her
final exams to be an orthopedic surgeon. She not only passed but was the
highest in her class. No wonder she was excited. We and her sponsor from
Kingston are very proud of her. She is now doing internship in Masaka.
Yesterday the little girl Judith got her cast off. The hospital says she
needs 6 weeks of therapy at $20 each week. Maureen called the hospital for
me and they reduced it to $12 per week.

It is 11 am. Already it has been a busy day. Yesterday I finished paying
term 3 school fees. We got caught in the rain. We waited 1 hour at a
school but left on the motorcycle in a light rain. Annet and I got wet. We
were about 15 minutes out of town. In the afternoon we did finish paying
school fees using the car. Power was off most of yesterday until 7:30 pm.
It went off again this morning at 7:30 am. Now I am seeing people who
called before but I told them to wait until I paid the school fees.
Catherine had a caeserian when her son Eddie was born. The doctor said she
needs another operation costing $120. She had half and wanted help with
the rest. Jennifer is a single mother of 3. The children live with their
grandmother. The school told Jennifer that her 5 year old son comes to
school with bruises being beaten regularly. One day he came to school with
marks on his neck. They had tied a rope around his neck and to his arms
and then beat him. The teacher told Jennifer he has to get him out of
there. Then 3 different people wanted help to buy seed as the growing
season is starting. All of this before 11 and before I left home I slashed
grass for 30 minutes. Other issues to deal with this afternoon. Pray for
wisdom and safety on the road. I  do have to say NO often. We can't help
everyone. Thanks for your prayers.  Tom

September 17, 2023

I thought I would get a new sign for our little church and try to cover as
many bases as possible. Just kidding- this is a church near our home. At
church this morning I gave balloons to the children. 28 were there. Adrien
is holding Brenda's twins Peter and Paul. Brenda is holding Adrien's twins
Morris and Tracy. Twins are very common here.

September 15, 2023

Yesterday Joan went to Kampala to buy 3 new sewing machines(in boxes)
material to sew with and yarn to make mats to sell. The women had a meal
today to celebrate one year of the program. Thank you to those who blessed
these women. It is a great program. Pray for Joan who is a single mother
of 3 children the youngest only a few months old.

September 13, 2023

I just thought of an example of the heart of a missionary through Chicken
noodle soup. I  brought 4 packages of chicken noodle soup from Canada.
Each package lasts me 3 lunches. Yesterday Adrien and her niece Patricia
came to wash clothes, wash the floors and clean the compound. I had to
decide if I should take them home before lunch, buy something along the
street or use my last package of chicken noodle soup which then is
finished in 1 meal instead of lasting me 3 days. I know Adrien likes
chicken noodle soup and Patricia has never had it before. If I use the
last of the soup I still have 13 more days in Uganda. What do I do? My
chicken noodle soup is done. I will have to get something else for lunch.
Adrien and Patricia enjoyed the soup  and that is what is most important.
Thanks for your prayers. Tom

September 11, 2023

Today Stanley and his friend came to paint the front of the house we stay
in here. The first 2 pictures are after and before. They worked from 8 am
to 6 pm. They were happy with what I paid them plus gave them a watch. I
gave Stanley a watch before but he said it broke when he fell out of a
tree while cutting branches. He said he learned his lesson. He won't wear
his watch while working.

September 8, 2023

Tomi Cheryl loved her new sunglasses.

September 7, 2023

Something interesting that I forgot to tell you last night about Joan.
Joan's mother gave a small plot of land for the sewing ladies can grow
some food. It is about a 30 minute walk but 1 afternoon each week 15 of
the 17 ladies go to work in this garden. They have planted sweet potatoes
which they will be able to harvest in November.
Joan also teaches them about finances.
It is 8 am here in Uganda but 1 am in Napanee. We have had a lot of rain
lately which is great for the gardens.
Thanks for your prayers.  Tom

September 6, 2023

Dear friends and family: Today I met with Joan to talk about her sewing
class. There are 17 girls aged from 14 to 31. 14 ofthe girls have
children. None are with a husband. One 17 year old has a 2 year old child.
Joan started the program exactly 1 year ago.  Joan told me about 3 of the
girls. 1)ELLEN: She is 23 years old with 5 children. The oldest is 10.She
had no hope in life.  She had no place to live, no parents to help. Her
husband left her when she was pregnant with the 5th child. AGNES: 14 years
old. Her mother asked Joan to help Agnes because she had no money to send
her to a special school for children with learning issues. She loves the
class and is the first one there every day. For the first 4 months she
could not do much but is slowly learning. 3)SHARON: Lives with an older
woman because she has no place to stay. When her mother died she went to
live with her aunt but her uncle got her pregnant at 16.
Joan is so happy to see them learn a skill which they can use to support
their families. She is giving them hope. In the future Joan would like to
help more girls. Many come for help but she has no more room. Even now
they come every other day so about 9 each day. I asked Joan about some of
her challenges. Lack of material. Lack of machines. It is hard to see some
of the children not have basic needs. Some of the women walk long
distances carrying their children. Pray for Joan and her sewing program.

September 5, 2023

The young mothers are making dresses and skirts. The first picture of the
young girl who made the blue skirt she is mentally challenged. It is great
to see her learning to sew. Their biggest problem is lack of material to
sew with as the women are very poor. Joan is so thankful for the help of
HCTH. Thanks for your help in this ministry.
Tom

September 4, 2023

Kenny is home from school. Term 3 starts September 19. We first met Kenny
about 15 years ago. He was in a very bad state. Now he can speak English
well and has a much better life. He is very thankful to God for the change
in his life.

September 3, 2023

Our church is outgrowing our facilities. Today we had 37 attend to sing
and listen to Bible stories. It is a growing group. They love to sing and
are good to listen.
Power was off for 3.5 hours last night and is off again today.

September 2, 2023

In photo 1 Hope House got new eavestroughs. Betty and her daughter Julie
got new eavestroughs and a new cook house after the fire destroyed their
old cook house.

September 2, 2023

Sharon and Faridah got new watches today. Neither had ever had a watch
before. Today is Faridah's(in the yellow) 18th birthday.

September 2, 2023

Sharon and her mother are getting a new pig pen. 5 young ladies got shirts
and pants from Canada.

August 28, 2023

Today I was in Kampala. It rained from about 8 to 1:30 sometimes very
heavy. I hope you can see there was about 1 foot of water running down the
street. Tom
Thanks for your prayers. It was a good day in spite of the rain.

August 28, 2023

Dear friends and family: An update on the little girl Judith with the
broken arm. Sunday morning I decided to call Maureen who is the girl
almost finished to be an orthopedic surgeon. She was about 4 hours away
where she is soon doing her last internship. I  went to see Judith and had
Maureen talk to her mother. Maureen arranged to meet them this morning at
the local Mityana hospital. They did an xray to show the break and Maureen
herself did the operation. The cost is less than half of what they
originally wanted. I called Maureen at 7:30 tonight and she is still
working at the hospital helping the doctors because they are busy. She is
an amazing young lady.
P.S. We had 32 at our little church yesterday.
God is Good. Thanks for your prayers Tom

August 26, 2023

This morning I met this little girl named Judith. She fell and broke her
arm. Her mother took her to the hospital but the doctor demanded about
$160 Can. but they left because they are very poor. They went to a man who
is not a doctor and he said he would fix it for about $80. The mother was
able to collect $20 and is praying so she can at least take Judith to the
quack doctor. We see many with crippled arms and legs for this very
reason. One of many sad stories. As you can see they put a splint on it.

August 25, 2023

Yesterday Winnie came to see me. She was saying how her son whom she named
Good Luck is now 5 years old. She was talking about how her life has
changed in 5 years. How God has blessed her from a young girl pregnant in
grade 11 who had lost hope of achieving her dream to go to college and be
a teacher. God brought HCTH into her life and now 5 years later she has a
job teaching, is attending teacher college between semesters and owns a
hair salon. She needed a calculator for college.
Thanks for your prayers   Tom

August 24, 2023

On July 28th at 3 am a man set fire to Betty's cook house. It also damaged
the eavestroughs and water tank and 1 wall of their new home built by a
HCTH sponsor. Before setting the fire he stole their plates utensils,
Jerry cans, basins. They say the man has mental issues. Of course they
have no money to repair things. They are trusting God to help them.
Another sad Uganda story but God is Good.

August 24, 2023

The ladies are busy learning to sew. Joan told me 3 of the machines need
repair but she didn't have enough money to fix them.

August 24, 2023

Joan is teaching the young mothers how to make soap which they can sell.
With about $20 of ingredients they can make $40. They sell it in plastic
bottles for 40 cents each. It gives the mothers extra money.

August 23, 2023

I brought a laptop to Uganda knowing that someone needed one. Today
Maureen came for a visit. She has completed all her studies and only has a
year of internship to be an orthopedic surgeon. She was saying how much
she uses a computer but the battery in hers is not good and they can't get
another battery. When I gave her the computer she cried and said Thank you
God many times. She is from a very poor family and without a HCTH sponsor
she said today she never would have made it this far. God bless Tom

August 22, 2023

Tomi Cheryl is now 20 months old. She now has a school bag so can go to
school. I think the sucker made her happier.

August 20, 2023

Thanks for your prayers. I arrived safely in Entebbe. I am tired but a few
hours sleep will do me. No sleep on planes. I am in the Entebbe Flight
Hotel now. No problem with suitcases and planes. Blessings Tom

August 19, 2023

Thanks for your prayers. I am at Pearson Airport in Toronto. God is
blessing. All 5 items of luggage were overweight. They did not even weigh
my 2 carry ons. I had an extra suitcase. The man at the KLM counter said I
had to pay $320 for the extra suitcase. I said that is too bad because it
is all to give away in Uganda including the shirt on my back. He asked
what I did. After I told him he said the extra suitcase is free. A great
blessing. God is Good!  Tom

August 18, 2023

Dear friends and family: It is that time of year again. I leave Toronto Saturday, August 19 at 5 p.m. for 5 weeks in Uganda. Pray the W.I.S.H. Prayer is essential. I will be paying third term school fees for over 100
children in primary and secondary. I arrive in Mityana, Uganda on Monday. On Tuesday I am meeting with 2 who are starting university in August. Another has finished her schooling to be an orthopedic surgeon and is
starting her last internship. As well there are 6 others in university and college. There are many other issues to deal with. Some are waiting for medical help. Pray for wisdom. Safety is always a major prayer concern.
The roads are dangerous. Pray that the planes are on time and no problems with the 3 large suitcases being taken loaded to the limit with needed items to give away.
Thanks for your prayers and God Bless   Tom

July 4, 2023

Joan sent some pictures of the young mothers at the sewing workshop.
Tom and Cheryl

June 23, 2023

These are some of the young mothers learning to sew at the workshop in
Mityana, Uganda.

Hello.. good morning..
At the workshop.. while we ere getting ready for class..
I pray you and your loved ones have a beautiful day..
Stay blessed

May 2, 2023

5 more pictures Joan sent. She is excited about what the girls are learning to do. They can make things to sell and make clothes for themselves and their family.

May 2, 2023

Joan sent some pictures of items the girls are making in the sewing class. In the backgroud are some of the pictures with Bible verses we gave to Joan to hang in her shop.   Tom
Hello Tom.. good morning.. I hope this finds you well.. here are some pictures of our class.. The girls send you greetings

April 24, 2023

Joan sent pictures of the new sewing machines and sewing material she bought on Saturday for the women she helps. Thank you for those who helped her. We talked to her on the phone Saturday night just after she returned
from buying the machines in Kampala. She was very thankful.
Hello Tom and Cheryl..
It’s a beautiful happy day here..
Thank you once more for supporting us…

April 24, 2023

We are home safe in Napanee. Thank you for your prayers. It was not without incident but your prayers were essential to us being in Napanee now. I was very tired last night but stayed up until 10 p.m. As per normal
I woke up a 2:30 a.m. wide awake. My body was saying it is 9:30 a.m. and I should be up and going. At 3 a.m. I did get up so I am e-mailing you good people most of whom hopefully are sound asleep in your beds. Now to explain why your prayers were needed.  When we got to the airport in Entebbe Saturday night we usually are given the boarding pass to Amsterdam and the boarding pass from Amsterdam to Toronto. The lady at
the desk could not get our seat number and pass to Toronto from Amsterdam. She even called her supervisor. She gave us our pass to Amsterdam but said we would have to get our boarding pass to Toronto in Amsterdam. This is KLM. One of the reasons we like KLM is that it is reliable- ha ha. First thing we did in Amsterdam is go to a machine to print off our boarding pass to Toronto. It printed quickly but when we looked at the set number it said-STANDBY. You can imagine our surprise since we had paid for our trip on September 29, 2022. We went to the KLM desk. They said the flight was over booked by 17 and we were one of the 17. We would have to wait at the boarding gate to see if we could get on the flight. I asked about upgrading and they said everything was full. We went to the gate and waited. We were first in line. There was about 3.5 hours between flights. About 1 hour before the flight was to leave a KLM agent came to the gate. She took our boarding pass that said standby and
said that we would have to see if anyone who had a seat did not show up. We sat down. In the meantime we met a couple from Toronto. His wife had a seat. He was put on standby. Another man from Hamilton was downgraded to standby. Interestingly, we booked our flight through an agent, the couple used expedia and the man from Hamilton booked directly through KLM so it seemed to be random. They said they would get us out to Toronto on the next available flight and would compensate us but after 15 weeks away we wanted to be home plus our son was meeting us in Toronto. Boarding started and they called the couple. The husband got a seat. Then they called Tom and Cheryl Martin- PTL. We had a seat upgraded to the deluxe economy section. I was in seat 11K by the window on the right side of the plane and Cheryl in seat 12A on the opposite side of the plane. Very happy and thankful to have a seat. Something else interesting happened. As the flight crew was filing past us to get on the plane one nice older flight crew member said to me, "Good Morning". I said, "It is not a good
morning!" She did not expect that answer so she asked why. I told her we were on standby  wanted to be on our way home. She said, " I hope to see you on the plane." When she saw me on the plane she gave me a thumbs up. A few minutes later she came to my seat and to Cheryl's with a small glass of wine- probably from the first class section. She also told me that most who were on standby did not get on the flight. Thank you for your prayers. It is good to be home even though it is 6 C. and raining and I only slept 4.5 hours which is more than on Saturday night.

The Rest of The Story: When I got my seat I was sitting beside a young lady from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. She was a nurse but also one of 10 chaperones for a group of 82 high school students from all over Sask. who
were on this flight. I think to accomodate this group of 92 they put 17 who had already paid for seats on Standby. You wonder why Tom and Cheryl when we were probably the first to pay for this April, 23 flight having
paid 7 months before. Oh well, it is all air under the plane wings now. We are home and thank God for arranging that. P.S. I went back to bed and slept from 4:30-7:45 a.m.
God Bless    Tom and Cheryl

April 22, 2023

Dear friends and family: We are in Entebbe. We fly from Uganda tonight around midnight. I arrived in Uganda on January 2. Time has gone fast. God has blessed our time here. We have 99 young people who have sponsors to go to school.  Thanks to all the sponsors. We have 11 in university, college or courses. In addition we are helping some children go to school who do not have sponsors. There has been many medical issues this year. We have
helped many pay medical bills. We have bought goats, pigs, chickens through gift certificates. We have helped 5 with businesses. Hope House has 5 children- 3 girls and 2 boys. We are blessed to have Annet there. Every month 17 families receive food. We had 4 join us and they were a great blessing. When Atul came he built a house for a family.. Mike and Esther blessed many people here through their family. It was a blessing to have our son Rick accompany Cheryl to Uganda and for him to see our work here. Help was given to 3 other house building projects. About 300 pairs of eye glasses were brought from Canada. Many people were helped by what
can best be described as compassion- there are many needs. It was a blessing in the last few days to meet and be able to help Joan and the young ladies she is helping in her sewing program. Thank you for your prayers during these 4 months. God has blessed the ministry of HCTH. Pray for our safe arrival in Toronto at 12:45 pm Sunday.
God bless Tom and Cheryl

April 19, 2023

Joan who was wearing the white t-shirt with New Chapter foundation has on the back Hebrews 11:1. I asked her why that verse and she said she tells the girls that faith in God can move mountains and gives the girls Hope.

April 19, 2023

I saw this man in Mityana today. It is not a shirt we brought.

April 19, 2023

Today Cheryl and I helped Joan move into a new location. It is much larger and brighter. Last night her father and brother and I moved everything from her old location.  Joan has the white shirt. She has 2 14 year Olds
who could not continue past grade 7. Two of the women have 5 children. One 19 year old has a 2 year old and is pregnant again. Joan has a great desire to help women like this.

April 16, 2023

Little Ricky Martin is sleeping. The mangoes on our tree are getting bigger. Today at our church program we had 26 present.

April 14, 2023

Three women in the sewing group got baby blankets and others got clothes from Canada.

April 13, 2023

I am sending you this text I got on my phone this morning from Joan.  Keep in mind we only met her a month ago and visited her foundation for the first time 2 days ago. The second time we met her, her husband was
preparing his Sunday sermon. A few days later they separated because of his frequent affairs. She did not know he had been married before. He has other children she is finding out about. Her husband was physically
abusive also. Our chance to help her really only began 3 days ago and after that short time she could write these words. God is good! I hope you find this text a blessing also.

Good morning Tom and Cheryl.
I hope you had a good night my dear friends. Am writing this message to once again say thank you for your support towards me you have supported me emotionally ,these past few days that I have been talking to you have really been of great help to me.. and am deeply thankful.
And you choosing to help me and the other girls oooh Woow that got me amazingly speechless and no words can express how grateful am . Am really happy I got to know you both you people are so friendly so supportive and kind I have never meant such amazing souls.

When I talked to you, you took so much weight off my chest and gave me new encouragement you made feel free to express my self without any judgments. The amazing prayer Cheryl had for me, the warm hugs made me feel so much better Am thankful to God for you and I pray that he continues to bless you. May he continue to keep you healthy happy and make all dreams come true

Thank you a million times...am glad I met you and I pray to God to keep our friendship forever And above all thank you for trusting me Stay blessed and have a beautiful day.

April 11, 2023

Every once in a while you meet a Ugandan like this young single mother who wants to help her own people. A great heart but lacking resources. She started a foundation to help poor single mothers and teens with little
education learn to sew. She does not charge them any money. They buy their own material. She has 6 sewing machines. She has to pay rent for the room about$600 Can. per year. She said she depends on God to help her. The ladies name is Joan.

April 11, 2023

Today we ate a fruit we had never eaten before. It is called matungulu. It had an interesting taste a bit like passion fruit but not as sweet.

April 11, 2023

Tomi Cheryl was baptized on Easter Monday. After Annet her mother had a big Ugandan dinner. That is the second big dinner in 2 days. After the dinner we visited 3 families. Thanks for your prayers. We leave Mityana on Friday April 21 and fly out of Uganda on the 22nd. Pray for our last few days in Mityana.
Blessings Tom and Cheryl

April 9, 2023

We met this little boy named Elisha for the first time today. Another sad story of a mother of 3 who just separated from her husband because of his frequent unfaithfulness. He is a church pastor. The aunt of this little
boy made the cake.

April 9, 2023

Dear friends and family: We just returned from Easter dinner. We had 3 invitations so went to Adrien who asked us first. She had chicken, beef, noodles, potatoes, matooke, peanut sauce and greens. I ordered a cake.
After eating Tracy the 5 year old twin sang a song she learned at school. It was a welcome song for parents at their visitation day. Each child had a part to welcome their parent. Tracy sang Welcome to my father Tom and
welcome to my mother Cheryl. Her father abandoned his children 4 years ago. At our church program this morning we had 25 present. On Friday I delivered 9 chickens to families for Easter. When I went to Brenda's she was very excited. She said she was just praying that God would help her with food for Easter. She said, "God answered my prayers. God must love me."
Thanks for your prayers.

April 8, 2023

For Easter Dora got a new watch, Gloria and Sarah got new dresses from Canada. The watch was from friends in Nevada. We helped many families with food to make their Easter meal special. Also many continue to be sick and need help with medical fees. Have a blessed Easter.

April 7, 2023

Marjorine got a new dress from Canada. 4 children from another family were blessed with clothes.

April 2, 2023

Today at our church program we had 24 there. After we took Annet, Tomi Cheryl and Adrien's family to a village called Galiraya. We picked mangoes and guava from the trees. They gave us avocado's and a pineapple they
grew. We then visited Betty who gave us a pumpkin and 2 homemade clay bowls. The roads were bad after heavy rains.

April 2, 2023

After we took them to a local hotel to buy sodas. Godwin rode on the lion and all the children on the rhino. Tomicheryl did not want to get off. They enjoyed the tour.

April 1, 2023

Tomicheryl loves lollipops. She is now walking all over. Joan has a birthday today. We bought her a small cake.
We continue to be busy. Many are sick- Maria had malaria and typhoid. Now her mother is sick. Tomi Cheryl had malaria. Morris had malaria twice in 2 weeks. Ritah has ring worm. Peace had a fever and more.
We have visited lots of schools lately paying school needs. We are getting lots of rain so grass is growing and needs to be slashed often.
I went to  Kampala on Thursday to renew my visa. The taxi van broke down half way there so we had to take another van. Travel here is often an adventure.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

March 26, 2023

We have lots of mangoes on our 2 trees this year. How many mangoes can you count on the trees? Our little garden has egg plants and onions. We also have a few peas and beans.

March 26, 2023

Annet gave us these shirts. She said that as we get older she does not want us to forget who we are.
I am not good with selfies.

March 26, 2023

These pictures are of the back of the house where we stay in Mityana. We just got the back wall plastered(cement). The large black tank collects the water from the roof. We pump the water to the upper tank. Gravity gives pressure for water on taps- 3 sinks and 2 toilets. This is the water we use for drinking(boiled of course), cooking, washing dishes and clothes. The box covered by a blue tarp is Cheryl's washing machine.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

March 19, 2023

Dear friends and family: Today there were 31 eager voices singing at our gathering. They love to sing and love to hear Bible stories. I am starting to explain to them the story of Jesus and the importance of His birth,
life and death. I want to make sure they understand this. After the program we visited a school because it is visitation day then visited a family. At 1 p.m. we went to Harriet's new home. She moved in today. She had a big meal of Thanksgiving with rice  potatoes  cabbage matooke and beef. She and the 4 children are very thankful. The children gave Cheryl and I a nicely wrapped gift. Inside was an apple. We then visited another home to look at repairs that were made to their latrine. We went to see Tomi Cheryl who is very sick with malaria. Pray for her. Yesterday she had diarrhea and vomiting. Yesterday we visited Eve and her triplets- Eldon, Evans and Ethan. They are now 5 years old. We also visited Hassan who is better after 2 blood transfusions. He has anemia. Tomorrow we are putting up a mosquito net in a home. Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

March 18, 2023

We just met Patricia yesterday. She came from the village to work in a home. I gave her the watch and Cheryl gave her the dress plus other clothes. She is 16 and her birthday is December 23. Her father has 11 children from 3 wives. She completed grade 2 then stopped. She did not want to go to school any more and her parents had no money anyway. The second picture is of Catherine who came to the gate for help. She has a 5 year old son. Her husband died during covid. We helped to start her in a business selling fish. I gave each of these girls a watch.. The third picture is of Lilian and her new son. She has named her son Ricky Martin. His clan name is  Ssegirinya. So he is  Ssegirinya Ricky
Martin.

March 13, 2023

It is a beautiful sunny morning in Entebbe, Uganda. After our church program yesterday we drove to Entebbe to spend the night. It rained all the way to Entebbe so traffic was good. We are giving the last of the 10
computers we brought to Uganda to Shakira who has a business in Entebbe. Last night there were a troop of monkeys around the hotel. There were 29 at our church program yesterday. Their singing is getting much improved and they love to hear stories from the Bible. On Saturday we helped Adrien plant maize. The rain season has come. Medical needs continue. Hassan went to the hospital yesterday. Juliet called to say her 1 month old niece is in the hospital. Kato is just over malaria. Maureen who is in her last year studying to be a surgeon has to report to the cancer clinic. She has a lump on her breast.
We continue to bless people through the gift certificates. 10 laying hens to one family, 10 chickens to another, 2 pigs to another and 2 pigs and a goat to another. There are always less glamorous things that need to be done. The rain season means grass grows faster so needs to be slashed. Annet's bed needed to be repaired. Our gardens at home needed to be weeded. I put a new carrier on the back of the motorcycle. Cheryl keeps busy keeping the house clean,  cooking, washing clothes and much more. That is why being in Entebbe for 1 night is relaxing. On the way back to Mityana we are stopping to visit a family in Bulenga a town just outside of Kampala. God bless you all. Thank you for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

March 11, 2023

The house is almost ready to move in. It will be a great blessing for Harriet and her 4 children.

March 7, 2023

Today Atul and I visited a home. They gave each of us a hat, a key chain, 4 eggs and 2 oranges.

Date: March 7, 2023

The new house and latrine. One picture shows the old house.

Date: March 7, 2023

This pig was purchased through gift certificates.

Date: March 5, 2023

Dear friends and family: It has been a while since the last update. Time goes so fast. I arrived in Uganda on January 2. I looked forward to Cheryl and Rick coming January 21st. Rick has come and gone. Mike and Esther were here for 3 weeks but they are back in Canada. Atul came for 17 days but
even he leaves on Wednesday. I was thinking that even though the people have left  their legacy
continues. Mike and Esther bought glasses for Jefferson. They should last him for years. A child has school fees paid for a year and has sponsors for continued help. They brought many computers which will bless the recipients for years. Maureen studying to be a surgeon got a microscope
they brought. On Saturday we gave yarn that Esther brought from her grandmother.
When Rick returned to Hamilton he told a friend about our work. They sent money to bless many. A boy is going to school for a year. A lot of medical help has been given. Rent for a poor family was paid plus food for 9 months. 2 pigs were purchased and more. Atul always blesses many. He is paying to build a house for a single mother and 4 children. He brought 3 suitcases of items to give away. He
sponsors a girl in her final year to be an orthopedic surgeon plus another studying nursing. He provides food on a monthly basis to 17 families.
Many people in Uganda are blessed by our friends coming from Canada. Yesterday we had 30 at our church program. Atul cooked a meal for 11.God is Good.  Thanks for your prayers.  Tom and Cheryl

Date: March 5, 2023

The house project on day 10.

Date: March 1, 2023

This moth landed on our house today.

Date: March 1, 2023

The pig pen is almost done. Tomi Cheryl was happy to be on the motorcycle.

Date: February 28, 2023

Stanley is building the pig pen.

Date: February 28, 2023

Stanley got a new watch and some clothes. He never owned a watch before. He was very happy with a hat, shirt  shorts  belt, sunglasses. He is building a pig pen for Adrien. He is struggling to pay school fees for his
one child  a daughter in grade 8. His wife is working as a maid in another part of Uganda. He does not know if she is coming back to him and his daughter. I only met him yesterday for the first time. He is a nice man.

Date: February 27, 2023

Check out this short YouTube video taken Sunday morning at our program

https://youtu.be/DnkHstoEIas

Date: February 26, 2023

These are goats and pigs purchased through gift certificates. Today 20 chickens were purchased for 2 families.

Date: February 26, 2023

Two sisters Dora and Maria received a new dress from Canada. Today's little church had 31 present. They love to sing.

Date: February 26, 2023

The new house construction on the morning of day 5.

Date: February 24, 2023

Morris is feeling a lot better after 3 injections. Only 1 more to go. He likes to eat sugar cane. Henry is digging the hole for the new latrine. He is down 5 feet. Only 20 more feet to go. Henry loves to read. Today I gave him a book I brought from Canada- Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. The builders have a good start on the house.

Date: February 23, 2023

Today we visited this kindergarten class of 42 children. Just after taking this picture  we took the little boy in the front row second in on the right to the clinic across the road. He had a high fever and tested positive for malaria.

Date: February 22, 2023

Atul is helping to dig the foundation for a new house project.

Date: February 22, 2023

Tony and Cotilda got clothes also.

Date: February 22, 2023

Atul brought clothes for Vincent, his uncle Stephen and mother Betty.

Date: February 21, 2023

This is a nice email we got from our son Rick after he returned to Canada from Uganda.

Hi Mom and Dad,it was definitely a life changing experience seeing the work you do, and also seeing how greatful, and overwhelmed families are for those that you are helping their kids go to school.At times it seems
overwhelming with the daily decisions you have to make and also sometimes having to say no to people pulls at your heart. i also felt blessed when families said thanks for letting your parents come here, even though it
was solely your decision to come to Africa. Sometimes I am left thinking that its impossible to break the cycle of poverty based on the morals of the people and corrupt government of the country and poor pay and job
prospects for those that you have helped before get an education  butdefinitely the successes and hopes that you have given children that are going to school definitely outweigh any of the challenges.I feel that god
is also watching out for you since in many ways driving and sometimes carrying money is dangerous.i could go on and on but travelling to Uganda has left an impression on me and I also think about who can carry on with
this work long after you are gone but I know that everything will work outin the future. Love Rick

Date: February 21, 2023

Jefferson came to show us his new glasses. He was so thankful for the glasses he so desperately needs. His work is as a motorcycle  taxi driver. He wanted us to especially thank Esther's parents for buying them for him.

Date: February 19, 2023

Annet is with Tomi Cheryl. Annet has a book Esther brought from Canada. Tomi is sitting in a plastic container I used to bring candy canes from Canada. The picture is taken at Hope House where HCTH has children staying
so they can attend school. Today is also the day food is given to almost 20 families on the 20th of each month. This is another ministry of HCTH. Also today Jefferson picks up his new glasses  in Kampala at Mengo Hospital.

Date: February 19, 2023

It is 4:30 a.m. in Uganda. The barking dogs woke me up. Pray for a safe drive to and from Entebbe. We are picking up Atul. Pray for his time in Uganda. He has a planned project to build a house for a single mother and 3 children. He will arrive in Mityana about 2 pm and wants to meet with the builder shortly after.
We continue to have to make many decisions each day as there are a lot of requests for help. I know what praying for the wisdom of Solomon means. It is such a blessing to be God's hands and feet in this small part of His kingdom. Many blessings to each of you. Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 12, 2023

Florence got a new watch today. Florence is the mother of 7 children and is HIV positive.

Date: February 12, 2023

Today at our little church program  we handed out clothes to many children. 26 in attendance. They love the 2 songs Esther taught them last week "Our God is an Awesome God " and "I've got peace like a river". They
love the actions.

Date: February 12, 2023

Today Emily came with her niece Noreen. Emily is in grade 13. She came with a letter of appreciation.  We gave the baby a home made blanket and sweater from Canada. Some quotes from her letter. "I am so grateful and
pray to the Almighty God to bless you abundantly and fulfill all your heart desires. It is really rare to find such kind people. Words can not express what you have done  for me. What comes from my heart is simply a
prayer that may the Lord keep you always."

Date: February 12, 2023

More children receive clothes today. The girl by herself Eva loves her Canada doll.

Date: February 11, 2023

This young boy named Vincent has made 4000 bricks. He wants to make 3000 more. He is trying to get enough money to pay for his school fees. He is in grade 10 and has missed the first week of school making these bricks.
HCTH gave him money to buy firewood to burn the bricks.

Date: February 11, 2023

Contrast the old latrine with the new one. Tony and Cotilda and son Steven are very happy. They have never had a proper latrine before.

Date: February 10, 2023

Dear friends and family: Pray for Mike and Esther as they fly out of Uganda Saturday. They have been a great blessing to the ministry of HCTH. They were a lot of help to us especially paying school fees. They and their families were very generous sending money with them to bless many people here with sponsorship, sending some non sponsored children to school, paying for dental work, medical, building a latrine, put in solar
power, food, help a business, pay for a hair dressing course, buy blankets and mattresses and paying rent for a poor family, buy glasses for a young man and much more. In addition they brought 3 smart phones and 6
computers. Plus 3 suitcases of 50 pounds each. Thanks Mike and Esther.
We have given out 50 backpacks from Canada. At about $15 per backpacks here that has saved us about  $750.
We have paid school fees and got letters from 90 children. Only a few more to go. Tomorrow we are meeting with Douglas and  Simon Peter. They are starting their last semester of university.
I hate to end on a sad note but today we visited Canon John Musaasizi. He has been part of HCTH eye glasses ministry since 2006. He developed dementia last year and it is progressing rapidly.  We then visited St. Anne school. The owner Godfrey has had dementia for 5 years. He is only 56 now. Also we stopped to see the wife of our builder Solomon. She is still finding it difficult dealing with the death of her son at childbirth in
December. It was their first son after 4 girls. In spite of many bad things happening God is Good.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 7th, 2023

So far we have given out 46 backpacks which we brought from Canada.

Date: February 6th, 2023

This is another ministry of HCTH. A friend from Nevada has given over 100 watches in the last few years. They are a great blessing to many who have never owned a watch before. Maria is a university graduate. Dora just
finished high school and Emily is in her last year of high school. Kenneth just graduated from university in engineering. He proudly told us last night that he is now an engineer. He talked about what a great blessing
HCTH has been to him and his family. All3 children now university graduates. He compared now to when we first met them in 2007 with a single mother who could not pay for rent, food and school fees. He was thankful
to God.

Date: January 30, 2023

Julie is cooking beans for the 2 men digging the hole for the latrine. They already are at 20 feet so only 10 feet to go. Tony aged 86 and Coti have never had a proper latrine.

Date: January 28, 2023

Elvis is alive and well in Uganda. Elvis got some new clothes today. This is a jackfruit tree.

Date: January 27, 2023

Many children are happy to get new clothes and backpacks.

Date: January 26, 2023

We only met Brenda the mother of twins Peter and Paul one year ago. We gave her money to buy beans to plant. She harvested the beans, bought maize seeds and this is from that seed. Rick with giant sized avocado.

Date: January 25, 2023

Tony and Cotildas new house and their old house. Esther's parents sent money to build them a new latrine. 2 pictures show what they use now. Remember Tony is 86.
Thanks for your prayers. Mike and Esther and Rick and Cheryl are safe in Uganda.

Date: January 24, 2023

A mother and children are carrying fire wood they collected. Twins Morris and Tracy had their fifth birthday yesterday. Pineapple growing.

Date: January 20, 2023

Today when I stopped to get gas Catherine was very happy. She has her uniform which means she is now an employee. She likes her manager.  Today I delivered a mattress.
Pray for Mike and Esther leaving Canada today and Cheryl with Rick tomorrow.

Date: January 17, 2023

Dear friends and family: I think this one incident of today says a lot about a) The Uganda culture b)The ministry of HCTH and c) God at work. A girl we help named Catherine is a hard worker. After high school she worked at a gas station. One night the manager called her into his office and raped her. He got fired but Catherine was pregnant with a little boy named Eddie. 3 years later the gas station changed ownership and got a new manager. Things went well for a few months but then the new manager
demanded sex from her to keep her job. Catherine left and got a job at another gas station for $1.15 per day. This manager-a lady said that was all she could pay. That was not enough to even pay her transport to and from work. Catherine came to ask my advice. I  told her to talk to the manager once more and I would pray things work out for her. The manager had the same story of no more pay. I even talked to the manager and told her she was making a big mistake because Catherine was not going to work
any more for that pay. Catherine gave up her job. Today, after 4 days Catherine came to talk to me and was excited. The manager called her and offered her a full time job paying about $110 per month which is a pretty good wage for here. The manager said many customers stopped coming to the station because Catherine was not there. Catherine is happy. God answered our prayer. God is good!
Tom

Date: January 15, 2023

HCTH helped Betty and her family to get solar power. They have never had lights in their house I their life.
There were 24 in our program today  singing and praising.

Date: January 15, 2023

Dear friends and family: It is a beautiful Sunday morning. At 9:30 I will be going to have our little church program. I expect 20 to 25 there. The children love to sing.
I have been very busy. I am paying a lot of school fees especially for post secondary students. Maureen is in her last term to be an orthopedic surgeon. Benjamin his last term of nursing. Victoria in nursing. Rachel her second term of university. Simon Peter and Douglas are finishing university. Timothy in welding and his brother in plumbing. Adrien has started a hair dressing course. Stella is starting a secretary course which will help her at work. Plus other fees have been paid.
The economy is not good here. I have hear more people say I have no food. I am getting more at the gate asking for help- 2 to 4 per day. Most often it is women but I had 2 men on Friday plus 2 young boys who said  We heard you are helping children. Last night a young woman came to the gate. We
knew her. Her room was broken into the night before. They beat her and stole any items of value eg. her mattress. A single mother came crying. She has 3 children who need help. Yesterday I met in the home of a single mother of 5 children- 4 in school. She wants help. The problem is when you start helping it is not just school fees but also rent  clothes, food, medical. We can not help everyone. That is why we need wisdom. Yesterday when I was leaving the home of the mother of 5 a lady with a child was
standing there waiting to talk to me. She was the aunt of the young girl whose mother and father both died.  Also wanting help. It is difficult. I visited a family that we have known since 2006. Emmanuel used to help us and now is an Anglican vicar. He said  Can I ask you a question? How is it that since 2006 you have not changed? I told him. You know the answer. It is God.
Also to end on a light note. I ask you to pray the  W.I.S.H. There is a model of Toyota they have here in Uganda. It is a Toyota WISH. Every time I see one of these I think of my friends praying for Wisdom, Integrity, Safety, Health.
It will be nice to spend time with the children soon singing. Hopefully when I return home there is no one waiting at the gate. Blessings and thanks for your prayers.
Tom in Uganda
P.S. Pray for Mike and Esther arriving in Uganda next Saturday and Cheryl and Rick arriving Sunday night.

Date: January 13, 2023

I am delivering matooke to a family. It is getting very expensive. Lilian got a receiving blanket. She is expecting in 6 weeks. Remains is drying maize from their garden. Children love sweets. P.S. I picked 3 more mangoes from our tree-now 21. Only 1 left. They taste good.
Tom

Date: January 11, 2023

Kenneth who has cerebral palsy got a new bed, mattress, blanket and sheets.

Date: January 9, 2023

Some of the ministry of  HCTH. Twins Peter and Paul got a new hat and clothes. Tomi Cheryl got a new  outfit. Graeme got about 10 pairs of glasses to give to those in need.
I have picked 18 mangoes from our tree.
God bless   Tom

Date: January 6, 2023

I thought I only had 1 mango but I looked in the other tree in our yard and saw 6 more mangoes. Some are ripe.
Mangoes to eat tomorrow.

Date: January 5, 2023

Today this 26 year old came to our gate. She asked if I recognized her. She looked a bit familiar but I didn't know her. She said her name was Harriet and we helped her with a serious medical problem. When she told me
who she was I was stunned like never before. In 2006 a 9 year old girl in very bad shape walked by our home. Her feet were almost unrecognizable as feet. She had elefantiasis. She could barely walk. We started sponsorship for her and got medical help. After about 3 years she disappeared going to live in the village. I had not seen her since 2008. The pictures are Harriet now. Her feet are so much better. She said she wanted to find the people helped her so much when she needed so much help. She is working as a hairdresser now in Kampala. She only completed grade 6 in school. An amazing success story. She said God healed her fee. Look up elefantiasis online.
A sad story today. Our builder Solomon told me his wife gave birth to a baby boy on December 5. The baby only lived 1 day. Solomon said it has been difficult especially for his wife Catherine.
God is Good!   Tom

Date: January 2, 2023

I arrived safely in Entebbe. Thank you for your prayers. I got to the Entebbe Flight Hotel at midnight. It is 12:45 a.m. now. There is an 8 hour time difference. Not much sleep since getting up Sunday morning. It is really good to be back in Uganda. Pray for Cheryl, our son Rick plus Mike and Esther who are coming in 3 weeks.
Thanks again for your prayers and support. Tom

Date: December 31, 2022

Dear friends and family: Happy New Year to you all! It is that time of year again. Today starts the trip to Uganda. We are going to our son's in Hamilton for New Year's Eve. Tomorrow Cheryl and Mark will take me to the
airport. I fly out at 6 P.M. on KLM. I arrive in Entebbe at 10:30 p.m. on Monday night then travel to Mityana on Tuesday morning. Cheryl and our son Rick arrive in Uganda on January 21. Thank you for your prayers for W. I. S. H.  Wisdom Integrity Safety Health. Many Blessings for 2023.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: December 13, 2022

We received sad news from Uganda today. Juliet passed away today from sarcoma. She has not been well since about February. We have sponsored Juliet since 2006. She is 20 years old and was in grade 11 this year. Her
family lives in a home owned by HCTH. Juliet is now at peace with Jesus. Juliet had a difficult life being born an albino in an all black country and community. Pray for her family as they have no money for a burial. Her
mother has already asked for help with transport, a coffin and burial. HCTH will make sure this is looked after. Thanks for your prayers for the family. This is a picture I took the end of September of Juliet with her sister Sharon and her mother in the doorway of the house they live in.

Date: December 4, 2022

Thank you for your prayers. We arrived safely in Napanee this morning. 4 weeks from today I leave for Africa.
 Tom and Cheryl

Date: December 2, 2022

My last pictures of part of God's creation. A place called Manchay. The cheapest lots are higher up.

Date: December 2, 2022

Another cake for supper tonight. It is called Three Milk  or Tres Leches. It is my favorite.

Date: December 2, 2022

Dear friends and family: Thanks for your prayers during the 6 weeks we have been in Peru. As is normal, time has gone fast. It has been a busy last few days. In our last days in Peru people want to have us for a meal. Tonight will be 3 nights in a row. We hope to get back to Mahanaim at a reasonable time tonight because we leave for the airport at 5 a.m. At 9 a.m. we leave Lima for Atlanta then after a 5 hour wait a flight to Toronto arriving in Toronto at 11:56 p.m. Saturday night. I will have 4 weeks in Napanee before leaving for Uganda January 1.
Many Blessings to each of you!
  Tom and Cheryl

Date: December 1, 2022

Anna had another birthday party for Cheryl tonight. Peru makes great cakes.

Date: November 29, 2022

Two Peruvian Christmas trees we saw today.

Date: November 29, 2022

We think we have problems! This is the story of an issue Cheryl and I have been dealing with for the last 4 weeks while in Peru. It takes place in Zambia and Botswana.
We have helped and sponsored Precious since first going to Zambia in 2005 with World Hope. I taught high school. Cheryl taught English literacy, health and a Bible study with women. In 2006 friends from Napanee came
and started to sponsor Precious through Primary, Secondary and nursing. These sponsors came to Zambia 3 times to see Precious. She was from a very poor, dysfunctional family. Both parents were not well with HIV. Of
7 children, all sponsored or helped at one time, Precious is the only one who did well for herself but not without bumps along the way. Along the way she had 2 daughters close together from a man who never really helped
Precious with them.(Common in Africa) Precious got a nursing job in neighbouring Botswana. She needed financial help to get a passport and travel for the daughters aged 6 and 7 because she said she did not have
any place for them to stay in Zambia and she feared for their safety living with another family while Precious was in Botswana. The girls arrived in Botswana only a few months ago. About 4 weeks ago we received a sad e-mail saying her youngest daughter named Kelen(after her sponsors daughter Karen) had died suddenly. She had
no money for burial and even to retrieve the body from the mortuary. We sent her the money Precious asked for but it took her days to get it. All the time the hospital was charging more each day the body was left there.
We had to send more money. This whole process took about 4 weeks. Often the system for Moneygram was down or they did not have enough money to give her. We received many desperate emails from Precious.
This morning we received this email from Precious.  "How are you doing Mr. Tom and Cheryl and my sponsors. Thank you so much for helping me in my situation. It was not easy for me to bury my daughter Kelen alone. I
am wishing you good health and happiness and many more years on earth. She was put to rest yesterday. I am in sorrow and sadness and pain. I will never again have her in my life. Thanks"
Pray for Precious!
Tom and Cheryl

Date: November 29, 2022

The geranium Cheryl is pointing at is a foot taller than her.

Date: November 29, 2022

Today Cheryl and I in the other direction from where we stay. Later today we were in Manchay where we work. I included 1 picture of Manchay as a contrast to the beauty of the flowers and trees. Maybe that is why I appreciate the colour. It is an amazing contrast BUT God is in Manchay too even though the dust covers everything. There are 3 sets of photos each with a contrasting picture of Manchay. All were taken today

Date: November 28, 2022

We have not been in Canada for 6 weeks so maybe there are beautiful flowers like this in Canada now also.

Date: November 28, 2022

More of God's beauty.

Date: November 27, 2022

Tonight they had a surprise birthday party for Cheryl and I. Lots of food and cakes. They had planned a party on November 18 when we were supposed to return from the jungle but we were delayed for 5 days.

Date: November 27, 2022

Cheryl's pictures from the birthday party.

Date: November 27, 2022

Katy with some of her new furniture in her new house. One picture is Katy with her mother, father and sister. Katy said she is very happy.

  

Date: November 23, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is good to be back in Lima. We were able to fly from Puerto Maldanado this afternoon to a more respectable 74 F. in Lima. It is good to be back. We have a lot to do before returning to
Canada December 3. We still have about 35 letters and pictures to get from sponsored children. There are a couple other construction projects going on also.
You probably heard about the plane accident at Lima Airport. It happened on November 18, Cheryl's birthday. The accident happened at 5:11 p.m. We were scheduled to leave Puerto Maldonado at 4:50 but it was delayed. We would have been in the air on the way to Lima and had to be diverted but the plane was delayed. When the airport reopened fights were backlogged so we could not fly out until Wednesday- 5 extra nights in the jungle.
 There is a stark contrast between the lush, rain soaked jungle and the dry, sandy, rainless, treeless Manchay. It is great to be back where our friends are and the need is regardless of the landscape.
May Blessings   Thank you for your prayers
Tom and Cheryl
*Pray for Atul, Ben, Kathie, Glen as they fly to Canada tomorrow. Because of the accident in Lima Airport they fly from Lima to Santiago, Chile then from Santiago to Toronto.
* Check out the report of the plane collision with a firetruck on You Tube "Lima, Peru Runway Incursion"

Date: November 22, 2022

More of the beauty of Puerto Maldonado. Pray that all goes well as we fly back to Lima tomorrow and Ben, Kathie, Glen and Atul continue on to Canada.

Date: November 22, 2022

Some flowers at the hotel.

Date: November 19, 2022

Our trip to Monkey Island.

Date: November 19, 2022

Beautiful flowers here. STUCK in the jungle. We were supposed to leave the jungle on Friday but can not get a plane to Lima until Wednesday. There are worse places we could be. In all things I have learned to be content.

Date: November 18, 2022

It was a hot day in the jungle. It was 98 F. but  felt like 115 degrees F. Tomorrow is supposed to be 102.
We went to the airport to fly back to Lima leaving at 4:50 p.m. We knew there was a problem when they took the luggage off. The flight was canceled. Lima airport is closed until 1 pm. tomorrow. A plane taking off hit a fire truck killing 2 firefighters. The plane caught fire but all in the plane ok. We now have 1 more hot day in the jungle. A memorable birthday for Cheryl.
Thanks for your prayers.

Date: November 17, 2022

A 400 year old tree. On Friday Cheryl will be another year older. Not quite as old as the tree.

Date: November 17, 2022

2 birds we saw today

Date: November 16, 2022

In the jungle today it was about 35C. It rained for about 20 minutes but God was with us. We were under a shelter eating lunch.

Date: November 16, 2022

Today we saw a caiman(black alligator). It was about 4m. long.

Date: November 16, 2022

In the jungle today.

Date: November 16, 2022

Today in the jungle. That is a 400  year old tree. The river is a tributary of the Amazon.

Date: November 16, 2022

Last night on the lake.

Date: November 15, 2022

Cheryl and I plus Ben, Kathie, Glen and Atul are spending 3 days in the Peru jungle at Puerto Maldonado. Today at sunset we visited a lake.

Date: November 15, 2022

Nice pictures from Atul, and the jungle. 

Date: November 15, 2022

Katy sent some pictures of what her old house looked like.

Date: November 14, 2022

More cute Peruvian children.

Date: November 14, 2022

Today we went to the Manchay clinic for the poor. We gave candy canes and teddy bears to the children plus cards with Bible verses to the adults.

Date: November 12, 2022

Veronica and her daughter Ximara are standing on the pad which will be their new kitchen. It is the next project. Ben and Kathies church raised money for this project.
Tom and Cheryl

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Date: November 11, 2022

Starting to paint today. Katy's bedroom is pink. The other walls are white. Out her bedroom window you can see this car(the third picture). It fell off the road 2 years ago killing the 2 in the car. They left the car where it landed.

Date: November 10, 2022

This little boy was happy to receive a stuffed toy.

Date: November 10, 2022

2 pictures from the window of Katy's new house. One picture is Katy's house.

Date: November 10, 2022

The house on Thursday before we painted.

Date: November 9, 2022

At the new house project today Katy prepared lunch. Painting tomorrow.

Date: November 8, 2022

Today we bought about 20 Bibles for Karina and Javier. Karina cried when she saw the Bibles. During covid Javier had Bible studies by zoom with people from the U.S., Peru, Colombia and Chile.

Date: November 7, 2022

The new house today. The roof and drywall is done. Tomorrow"mudding".

Date: November 7, 2022

Yesterday Katy's family had a meal for us. It is a typical meal for a special occasion in the mountains. They dig a hole in the ground, start a fire with charcoal then pile rocks on the charcoal. When the rocks have heated for a long time they put on them chicken, beef, pork, potatoes, sweet potatoes and beans. It only takes 30 minutes to cook the food. It is called "Pachamanca".

Date: November 6, 2022

Pictures from Atul. The girl is Katy whom we are building the house for Javier is overseeing the project.

Date: November 5, 2022

Construction pictures Cheryl took today. After 3 days of construction. About one third of the roof is on plus some of the drywall inside.

Date:  November 4, 2022

Day 2 of construction.

Date: November 3, 2022

Ben and Glen from Gananoque, Atul from Kingston at their first day of
house assembly.

Date: November 3, 2022

More pictures of Manchay. The last one is of a plot dug out of the rock
with the walls of a house ready to assemble.

Date: November 2, 2022

The men started the building project today.

Date: November 1, 2022

Katy wanted us to pray for her new home. The pad is ready. In 2 weeks she should have a new home. She said she really does not have any furniture. In her old house (she is standing in front of the material in one picture)
she just had an old bed that was falling apart because of insects. Katy is very excited. She is 27 years old. She said in her journal in 2008 she wrote that her dream was to own her own plot and house. Her dream will
soon be coming true. She said she was 3 years old when her 18 year old father died(the numbers are correct). Her mother also was 18 years old at that time. They lived in the mountains. Her mother moved to Manchay. The
pad is waiting for the arrival of Ben, Glen, Atul tomorrow to help build the house. Pray that all will go well for the construction.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: November 1, 2022

This is the terrain of Manchay the zone of extreme poverty where HCTH helps many families. It is like a large stone quarry. The hills are covered with square boxes(homes).

October 30, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe we have been in Peru 6 days already. Time goes fast. We have been busy visiting many families and giving out many items of clothing, watches, pictures with Bible verses,
shoes, stuffed toys and much more.It is also amazing how much has changed in the 3 years since we were in Peru last. The children have changed a lot. Some are through school now. Many have gotten much taller. Some are now working and others in college. Some are even married. A few babies were born. Overall for most families
life has improved in spite of covid which affected Peru a lot. The country was basically shut down for 2 years. They hardly recognize the word "covid". The refer to it as the "pandemic". Many businesses have closed. We went to see our friends who have a Travel Agency but the shop was empty. Most travel agencies closed because nobody was travelling. Many people we know could not work eg. Roxana the teacher, Shirley and
Leo could not operate their 2 schools, Miriam's father lost his job etc. Most know of people even in Manchay who died with covid including Shirley's father. Thanks for your prayers for Karina. She had her operation on Wednesday. She hopes to be able to leave the hospital on Tuesday or Wednesday. They took a biopsy of the removed tumor and should get the results in a week. Pray for Atul, Ben, Kathie and Glen as they travel to Peru November 1 arriving early in the morning Nov.2. They will be very busy with house construction and renovations. Karina just called. She sounds a lot better. She hopes to find out tomorrow if she can go home Tuesday or Wednesday. She misses not being able to spend time with us.
Thanks for your prayers
Tomas y Cheryl

Date: October 25, 2022

Dear friends and family: Thanks for your prayers. We arrived safely in Peru. We arrived at 5:30 a.m. As normal not much sleep on the plane. Javier met us at the airport about 7 a.m. He took us to where we
stay-about 90 minutes. Then we went to get our Sim card and phone data Then to change money Then Javier left us to shop for groceries then eat lunch then bus to the market near our home. The vendor gave us a tangerine to eat. Fruit here is so good. The mango tasted great as did the granadilla. Tonight we are having fresh strawberries and bananas. I had to take the bus back into Cieneguilla to get a couple things we forgot. We were concerned about the 2 suitcases of items we left here 3 years ago but
God protected them. The clothes, playing cards etc. are good. The electric kettle bowls. God looked after our things. Pray for Karina. She has her operation tomorrow. They are removing a tumor on her spine. They are going to do a biopsy to see if it is malignant. Javier said that last night Karina wanted to run from the hospital room so she could see us today. Covid is good here. Many are still wearing masks.
Only Javier can visit Karina in the hospital. Thanks again for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: October 25, 2022

I forgot but in our spare time today we went to a dentist. Cheryl  needs some dental work and has an appointment for Thursday. The strawberries with condensed milk on them tasted great.
Tom and cheryl

Date: October 23, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is a beautiful fall day in Napanee. Tomorrow, October 24 we travel to Toronto and at 6 p.m. depart for Lima, Peru. The last time we were in Peru was 2019 because of Covid. It will be nice to see our friends there again. In addition to connecting with the sponsored children we will be working on 3 or 4 construction projects. Please pray for our 6 weeks in Peru. Pray for our helper in Peru, Karina, who has back surgery on Wednesday for sciatic issues. Also pray for the 4 or 5 who are joining us. They also have a heart to help our friends who live in Manchay, an area of poverty on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Thanks and Dios les bendiga (God Bless you all). It will be nice to use our Spanish again.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: September 26, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is 5:45 a.m. I got up at 5 because I was awake since 4:15 a.m. There is a 7 hour time difference so at 5 a.m. my body was saying,"Get out of bed, it is noon. You have too much to do." I am already thinking about Peru. We leave for Peru on October 24 and there is lots to do between now and then. We are blessed to have 4 people join us in Peru and hope to complete at least 2 building projects there. We are in Peru for 6 weeks until December 3 then prepare for Africa for January 1 to April ?, 2023. Thank you for your prayers and many encouraging emails welcoming me home
from Uganda. We do serve an Awesome God!
Tom and Cheryl

Date: September 25, 2022

Thanks for your prayers. All went well and I am home safe in Napanee arriving about 4:10 p.m.  It is good to be home. Cheryl had chili and raspberry pie waiting for me. I am blessed to have a wife like Cheryl. I am blessed in so many ways.
Tom

Date: September 24, 2022

The twins Peter and Paul are looking good. A few months ago they were in bad shape. God is good.
Tom

Date: September 24, 2022

This is the worst picture I have ever had to send. Today I went to see Juliet home from the hospital. Juliet has lost a lot of weight. Her mother showed me the cancer clinic results. She has a high grade Grade 4 undifferentiated Sarcoma. A large tumor on her back. Also enlarged lymph nodes. A right adrenal heterogeneous mass- adrenal metastases. TMN stage- T3N1M1 Stage 4. She started chemo September 19 and another treatment October 12. Today I bought a mattress because she was sleeping with her mother and often touches the sore tumor. The picture of the tumor is not pretty.
Pray for Juliet.

Date: September 24, 2022

Dear friends and family: The 5 weeks has gone fast but I think of what has been done and I think I must have been here longer. It will be nice to be home but part of me will be in Uganda. I am now at the airport in Entebbe  waiting at the gate. As I arrived at the airport I realized that this is my 66th time at Entebbe airport- 33
times arriving and 43 departing. I land in Toronto at 12:45 on Sunday. Thanks for your prayers over the last 5 weeks. In 4 weeks we will be off to Peru. Thanks for your prayers for Juliet.  Two people have agreed to help the family. God is good.
Tom

Date: September 23, 2022

Interesting: After sending the email to you I had a text. "Can you help me. I am very sick. Only $120" The first of probably many today. It is only 7:30 a.m.
I hope it is quieter in Canada. Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

Date: September 23, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is 7 a.m. of my last full day in Uganda. Many continue to have medical issues. Yesterday morning it rained off and on so I slashed grass at home then went to Hope House to clean up weeds. In the afternoon I went back to Hope House and while there Juliets mother called Annet. Juliets cancer has spread and they want money to return to Mityana to their home waiting for their next appointment October 12. Pray for Juliet. I visited a few homes and returned to our house at 4 p.m. I turned my phone off while weeding the garden. I decided to leave it off while bathing and eating supper. For the second day in a row while bathing there was a knock at the gate. When I emptied the basin of bath water there was noone at the gate so I started supper.Just as I turned on the gas stove a knock at the gate. 2 students wanting school needs plus a lady who was sick and wanted help. She said she tried to call me but the phone was off. I thought that is exactly why I turned my phone off. After eating I turned my phone on to check my emails. Right away the phone rang. It was the mother of a young girl we sponsor. She came home from school sick and the mother said she did not have a single coin. I turned my phone off but at 9 turned it on to check email again. Right away a call from a sponsored
child with tooth problems. This is why my phone is off a lot. Pray for a good weather day to wash clothes as I leave tomorrow for the airport. Also pray the Arrive Canada App works OK. I have had issues with this before.
Thanks for your prayers

Date: September 21, 2022

Adrien in the middle is helping 2 kindergarten teachers at the local school. There are 73 children in the class.
Today a family I visited gave me 3 avocado. The two on either end are normal size.

Date: September 20, 2022

I paid my car insurance for the year. The lady said prices have increased. It is now $34 per year. I took a picture of the lady typing up the sticker for the car window.
P.S. Esther make sure your father sees this. I saw a neat t-shirt someone was wearing.  In big letters it said " ANTI-SOCIAL SOCIAL CLUB". At least I thought it was funny.
Blessings Tom

Date: September 18, 2022

Today in our little church we had 22. They love to sing. I taught them a new song " I will enter His gates with Thanksgiving on my heart..."  Later I went to see the new water tank paid for by a generous Canadian then to
visit Cotilda and Tony at their new home.
Many continue to be sick. Just today one with typhoid and a dental issue. Juliet needs prayers. She finds out more tomorrow about her cancer. Sylvia also is in the hospital and her daughter Abigail is sick. People continue to come to the gate. This morning at 8 three brothers came for help. Last night at 6:30 someone came and 2 Friday night after 6. It gets busier when people know I am leaving soon.
Power just went off at 5:45. It is a common occurrence but very annoying. I leave for Canada on Saturday. Pray for my last few days in Uganda.
Blessings Tom

Date: September 13, 2022

Dear friends and family: I woke up early at 5 a.m. so thought it was a good time to email. With my phone on now maybe nobody will call. You might wonder how after 3.5 weeks I could still be busy. You might think it is time to relax now for the last 10 days in Uganda. Power was off most of the day Monday. At 6 p.m. a mother came to the gate.
Another sad story. Her 3 children lived with the father in a far off part of Uganda. Her husband was a  fisherman. He drowned 10 days ago. She can't afford to keep her children but she said they are living like "mud children". Few clothes, no shoes, no school etc. They are now staying with a poor family. Power came on at 6:30 but off at 8:30 and off most of Tuesday until 5 p.m.
Tuesday was supposed to be routine.  I was out the door at 7:30 a.m drove about 20 minutes to get a picture of the new water tank. They of course needed more money. The daughter had an infection in her foot. Her brother is recovering from a bad cut on his knee. He cut it with a machete while cutting grass. I took Juliet to the clinic. Then a routine stop at Glory H.S. to pay a fee for Dora. Dora was sick so I took her to get a test. She has a UTI. I took her to a drug store for medication then to a clinic for an injection. A routine stop at Pride  SS. A boy needed money for notebooks. Then he wanted help to buy a  phone. His phone was stolen. Then a call from a student at Trinity college. She was sick. I
drove there. She had diarrhea bad and a bad tooth. I took her to get medication then to a dentist to get the tooth pulled. The dentist was an older man with a kitchen chair in his back patio. $4 to pull the tooth
with no freezing or pain killers. I took her home then Annet called from Hope House. A single mother of 2 children wanted help. She could not speak English. Another sad story. She cried when I told her we could not help.Then met 2 other single mothers who wanted help. Time to go home to slash grass for 45 minutes then go in the house excited to see power on. Supper of Uncle Ben's Chinese style rice and cooked carrots.
While I was at the dentist Juliet the albino called from Mulago hospital. She is about 19. We just found out she has cancer. She needs financial help.
Ready for a relaxing day today.It is almost 6 a.m. I will try to get 1 more hour rest before the day begins.
During this time I only had 1 message on my phone.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

Date: September 8, 2022

In March of this year HCTH built this house for a poor family. They live off the land growing beans,maize, coffee, avocado, papaya, mangoes etc. They struggled to buy eavestroughs. Now they are saving to buy a tank so for the first time in their lives they do not have to go to the well. A tank costs about $350 which is very expensive for them.

Date: September 8, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is 11 a.m. I am home until my next appointment at 12.  This morning before 7 two young sisters were at the gate. They had walked at least 40 minutes. They had medical bills they needed help to pay. At 8:30 I met Annet at the bank. We were the first in so it only took 40 minutes. We went to Joan's shop then to Glory High school then to Lillians shop then to Trinity college where we have a student in grade10. I then took Annet home to Kiyinda. All this by 10 p.m.
Yesterday a young lady came to the gate at 7:30 a.m. I had not seen her in 3 years. We helped Gloria through primary school, high school and teachers college. She told her story which is so typical. Before covid her pay for teaching was little and often was late or only part of her pay. When covid came school was closed so to live she got a job as a maid paying $20 Can.per month. After school opened she started teaching again but after 4 months no pay so she went back as a maid. She was asking for about $200 to
start a business cooking because she likes to cook. In all this she was able to save $120 of her own money which is amazing. I told her to come back Friday.
Sadly this is more than common. It is the norm. It is how people become rich because they are allowed to not pay their employees. There is no place people can go to demand pay for their work. Another high school teacher told me it has ruined her love of teaching.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

Date: September 6, 2022

When in Uganda do like the Ugandans. Today we drove about 15 km. to pay Kenny school fees. We then visited Galilea about 5 . out of town. Theygave me a pineapple they grew plus banana leaves Annet uses to cook
matooke. I planted the pineapple at our house You plant the top after cutting away the existing pineapple.

Date: September 6, 2022

After we left Uganda the end of April Adrien harvested the cucumbers we planted and mango from our tree.

Date: September 3, 2022

Dear friends and family: I continue to pay school fees for term 3. There are still a few to go. On Monday I will see Maureen who is studying to be an orthopedic surgeon. Tomorrow I am going to Kampala to meet with 5 families helped by HCTH. Today Rachel is moving into her hostel at university. On Sunday Kenny who has cerebral palsy is going back to school. Annet is going with him in a taxi. Today I had to send money to Juliet for food. She is in hospital in Kampala after surgery. I have been busy paying for school requirements also. I will leave early in the morning for Kampala. It is a 90 to 120 minute trip. I will return to Mityana later in the day.
Thanks for your prayers.

Date: September 3, 2022

Lynette loved her new doll.
Eddy was happy to get a school bag
Today we had our little church service. After they received a treat.

Date: September 2, 2022
Little Tomi Cheryl is having a bath.
Today a 19 year old grade 13 student was at the house getting a backpack, shoes and other school needs. She saw the toilet in the bathroom and asked how it works. She did not know how a toilet flushes.I have paid most of the school fees. Now families are asking for school needs. Term 3 school starts on Monday. We are getting lots of rain now but it usually only rains for an hour orless.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

Date: August 28, 2022

There were 23 in our church program this morning. The children love to sing and hear Bible stories. After Adrien had a welcome back lunch for me of rice, potatoes, marooned and her own duck she killed.

Date: August 27, 2022

This morning we paid school fees at 4 schools. This little boy named Emma was playing with a homemade toy. Tom

Date: August 26, 2022

Sometimes there are stories that have to be heard. Yesterday a girl whom has been sponsored by  HCTH for many years called wanting to see me. She came this morning at 9 with her mother Hajara who went to Saudi Arabia 6 months ago and was supposed to be there for 6 months.  She was one of two Nannys in a home in S.Arabia. One day her boss told her she had to go to the hospital for a medical. The other nanny said don't go because many African workers there go to the hospital and have major operations. Many die and are returned to Africa in boxes. Others later find out they have had organs removed. Hajara ran to the police. The police took her phone and money and sent her back to Uganda with her life but no money for 6 months work and no phone. A major export of Uganda is workers to Saudi
Arabia, Dubai  Qatar etc. The plane we left Uganda on the end of April had about 200 going from Uganda to S. Arabia. We personally know about 10 from Mityana where we work who are working in these countries.
It is a sad story. Hajara has 4 children sponsored by HCTH. Hajara's father was a Muslim cleric. In our first year in  Uganda Hajara and her husband Sula became Christians. Pray for Hajara and her family.

Date: August 25, 2022

It almost makes you sick to think of all the sickness here. In the first 4 days HCTH has helped 8 with medical and dental issues. They range in age from 8 month old twins to teenagers to an HIV positive mother of 7. Many who don't have help just suffer with the pain. By this time I had hoped to have paid for many school fees but there have been many other pressing issues to deal with. Going to Kampala to start Rachel in university took 1 day. An issue of teachers acting inappropriately  with one of our children had to be dealt with. A teenage pregnancy took time today. At least 10 calls per day from people knowing I am here and wanting to see me.
You can see why it is a busy time.  Also why prayers for wisdom are needed.
Thanks for your prayers

Date: August 25, 2022

This is an amazing photo when you know the story. This is Solomon our Uganda builder. On December 17,2021 Solomon was attacked to steal his motorcycle. They hit him on the head with a hammer smashing his helmet.
They held his leg on the muffler until he passed out. They left him for dead. I told him December 19 was my birthday and Solomon said that was supposed to be his burial day. Two days ago was the first he was able to
wear long pants. He said thanks for our prayers. Solomon is doing a small job for HCTH. The attack knocked out 12 teeth and broke his shoulder. Pray for Solomon.

Date: August 23, 3022

I visited this family this morning. They were happy to get clothes from Canada. The toques were hand made. Eva liked the doll. The twins Peter and Paul had been very sick. The mother Brenda said she thought they were going to die. I gave her the $80 she owed the clinic. Also today I took 2 to a clinic for medical and dental work. It was a very busy day. Thanks for your prayers.

Date: August 21, 2022

Thanks for your prayers. I arrived safely in Uganda. Tired but happy to be here. It will be busy. I got to the hotel at midnight. 1 hour to go through customs. It is 1 a.m. Uganda time now or 6 p.m. in Napanee. I have not had sleep since 6 a.m. Saturday morning in Napanee but sleep will come. My ride to Mityana is coming at 8:30 a.m. They have a nice breakfast in the hotel. Thanks again for your prayers.
Tom

Date: August 19, 2022 

Dear friends and family: 

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over. That means it is time for me to go to Uganda. Tomorrow I leave for 5 weeks of ministry in Uganda. Pray the W.I.S.H. Wisdom-Integrity-Safety-Health. Pray also for Cheryl as she remains in Canada preparing for our October 24 departure for Peru. This will be my 33rd. time to Uganda since 2005. It will be a busy 4.5 weeks in Uganda(5 days of travel to and from). 1 girl is starting university. 3 others are in university(2 nursing and 1 orthopedic surgeon). 1 is in college. 3 are in courses (welding, plumbing, cake making). 5 are in their last semester of university. I will be paying school fees for about 100 children( term 3 of primary and secondary). One amazing fact is that I have to get children for 15 new sponsors in Uganda-pictures and letters. There are also other exciting new projects to see about in Uganda. 

Time will go fast. Thank you for your prayers. 

Tom 

Date: April 30, 2022

Thanks for your prayers. We are safe in our home in Napanee. It was a long
journey. We basically have been up since midnight Thursday night Napanee
time.
We pray we can get a good sleep tonight. It usually takes a few days for
our body clocks to adjust to the time difference.
 It is good to be home. It was a beautiful day today.
God bless each of you.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 28, 2022

Annet sent a picture of Tomi Cheryl with Tom.

 

Date: April 27, 2022

Today we planted a small mango tree at this home. It started on its own from
our mango tree.
Today we gave powdered milk to the twins Peter and Paul. The boys are doing
well now.

Morris,Tracy and Godwin got new toques today. The two on the left were made
by a woman in Napanee.
Brigit our pharmacist got her first watch that she has ever owned. Thanks
to our friends Don and Vicki from Mesquite, Nevada who sends them to us so
we can bless others.

Today Adrien gave Tomi Cheryl her first hair do.

Date: April 19, 2022

In our small compound we are blessed with God's bounty. We have a papaya
tree, 2 mango trees and a small garden with green beans, yellow beans,
onions, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Date: April 19, 2022

Today Cheryl, Adrien and I helped Brenda and Maria's family work up a plot
to plant a garden. It is a big job as the weeds are big and numerous. We
hope to finish tomorrow.

Date: April 18, 2022

This was our Easter meal today at Adriens house. Cheryl helped prepare it.
Notice no utensils plus how much the children eat. We had matooke, rice,
spaghetti, cabbage, potatoes, greens called Makati, chicken. We are about
3:30 after a heavy rain.

Date: April 18, 2022

Happy Easter to you all: We had a good resurrection day. In our little
church this morning the lesson was about the meaning of  Good Friday and
Easter.  The children and even adults here do not know the Bible very
well. I taught them a new song, " Jesus loves me this I know".
You saw from the pictures that we enjoyed a good Easter meal. There were
20 for the meal.
The biggest issue now is sickness. People have malaria, typhoid, ulcers,
bacterial infections, flu, cough and more. This is without accidents,
burns etc.
Many suffer because of lack of money. I visited a home today where the
mother has been sick for a few days but did not get help because of no
money. With the help of HCTH she Now has medication. This mother of 7
already is HIV positive. There is a lot of death here. The coffin makers
are busy. On Friday we talked to a young mother whose twins-a boy and
girl- died after 1 week. Another friend here attended the burial of a 10
year old last week. Fortunately covid is not and has not been a big
problem in Uganda. I have been in Uganda since January 19 and I do not
think I have heard even 1 person talk of covid.
Interestingly today Adrien told us how 3 years ago she had almost given
up hope that her twins Morris and Tracy would live because they were so
malnourished and she had no food for them. Then God led her to our gate
and her life ha
s completely changed. A friend from near where Adrien lived 3 years ago
came to see her a few days ago. She had not seen the twins in 3 years. She
could not believe how strong and healthy they are now. She did not think
they would survive.
We leave Uganda on April 29th and arrive in Toronto on April 30. We will
miss Uganda but it will be nice to be back in Canada.
Pray for our last 12 days here.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 14, 2022

Today we gave chickens to some families. We also gave healthy food for the
twins Peter and Paul.

Date: April 13, 2022

Yesterday we went to the land HCTH purchased about 10 years ago. It is
about 160 feet by 90 feet. 4 families grow food on it. Today we took 2
other families to the land to give them a 60x30 feet section. They were
jumping with joy and thanking God. Brenda mother of the twins fell to the
ground overcome with joy. Florence the mother of 7 was also very thankful.
Tonight I said to Cheryl that we should go some day soon to help them dig.
Cheryl said, "I knew you were going to say that." It was an especially
blessed day for Florence because today they got electricity in their new
home. Thanks for allowing Cheryl and I to be a conduit for God's
blessings.

Date: April 12, 2022

Solomon has just finished the work at the house for Claire and her mother.

Date: April 10, 2022

Today we had 18 in our program. After we had watermelon for them. The
children love to sing especially songs with actions. The Bible lesson was
about Noah. We are all related to Noah's family.

Date: April 9, 2022

It is such a great blessing to be able to bless others and see lives
changed. Jane- her mother calls her Jennifer- is sitting on her new bed and
mattress. She never had a bed before. The second picture is her clothes
stored in two bags. The third is what she was sleeping on up to today. This
is an 18 year old girl in her last year of high school sleeping in a all
room with 2 teenage step Brothers one is her age. No light in the room. She
uses a small cheap flashlight cost 40 cents to study at night. This
situation was worse than those we got 3 beds for last Saturday.

Date: April 8, 2022

Dear friends and family: Thank you so much for your great hearts.
Jennifer(her real name is Jane) is now in school without fear of being
chased. Cheryl took her and paid her fees. Thank you for your prayers for
her. She now has help to go to school.
 The names Jennifer and Jane are interchangeable here. We have had this
before.
 We spent this week paying school fees for term 2 for the children
supported by HCTH.
 We continue to be busy each day. Our builder Solomon is on another
project. People continue to be sick and need help. Today Cheryl sewed
holes in 2 mosquito nets. Yesterday I repaired a pig pen.
 3 weeks from today we leave Uganda and arrive in Toronto on April 30. It
will be nice to be home but we will miss Uganda.
God has blessed many people here through the ministry of HCTH and that is
only possible because of people like you. Thank you and God Bless.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 3, 2022

This beautiful young lady named Jennifer has struggled all her life to go to
school. We were talking to her today. She was sent home from school and not
allowed to write her term 1 exams because she owed money to the school. She
is grade 13- her last year of high school. Sadly, this is common here in
Uganda. She said she is really stressed because if she does not pay to write
her final exams by April 30 she will have to repeat grade
13 next year.

Date: April 3, 2022

Little 6 year old Favor was happy to get her first doll. She stays in Hope
House.

Date: April 3, 2022

Juliet had never had a bed to sleep in. The damp, old mat in the corner is
what she used before on her mud floor sleeping beside her mother and 18
year old brother in a small room. Now she has a new bed, mattress,
pillow, sheets and a room to herself in a new house they just moved into
yesterday.

Date: April 2, 2022

Dear friends and family: 4 weeks from today we will arrive back in Canada.
 We are looking forward to our little service Sunday morning. The last two
weeks we have had 17 attend. It is a good division of 4 adults, 5 teens
and 8 children.
 It is amazing the number of twins in this area. We saw 5 mother's of
twins yesterday afternoon. At 6 a young mother came to the gate with 1
month old twins. Adrien says she knows of 9 Nalongos (mother of twins) in
the Namukozi area.
We visited Mityana Junior School yesterday. We talked to 2 teachers there
with twins. One teacher told of a little 7 year old boy who came to her
asking if she would help him to go to school. He lives with his
grandmother who has no money. The teacher asked him what his greatest wish
was. He said, " I want to at least 1 time to wear shoes on my feet." The
teacher is helping him to go to school. She also bought him his first pair
of shoes.
 We have been handing out lots of cards with Bible verses. The people love
to hang them in their home.
 Cheryl is using her health care background to try to educate many people.
There are many myths and wrong ideas. One poor mother of twins fed her
twins cassava milk because she did not have enough breast milk. She was
adding sugar to the cassava for the babies. The children drink very
little water and often drink unboiled water. Mosquito nets are of limited
value because they eat late at night and leave doors open. Children carry
sharp knives, razor blades laying around, nails in boards and other
dangers. Cheryl saw a child who was probably barely 1 year old walking
with a sharp knife in his mouth- sharp end inside his mouth. It makes you
shudder. Playing near open fires is common. Most nights you can smell the
fires. This is when they burn their garbage and especially plastic.
 To end on a mild note: On my way home today  I saw a shirt that said
Hershey Chocolate World, Hershey Pa. I thought of all the shirts we see
that the people have no idea what it is when they buy it in the used
clothes market . We see many Canada shirts. In fact the Nalongo at our
gate had on a Canada shirt. Recently a Montreal Canadiens shirt, a
Winnipeg Jets shirt, Smokey Mountains, Tennessee; Vancouver, and a winter
toque Ottawa 67's.
 Have a blessed Sabbath day and God bless you.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 2, 2022

Today we delivered 3 beds to a family. The 17 year old son and 19 year old
daughter had never slept in a bed before.

Date: March 31, 2022

Dear friends and family: Time is going fast. March is over. I had to ask
Cheryl today whether it was Wednesday or Thursday.
We continue to be busy. When we can we are teaching English to Adrien.
Cheryl is also teaching Adrien how to sew. Adrien learns fast. They have
sewn a lot of clothes for her family. This will save her lots of money.
Many children here are sick. There has been sickness from typhoid,
malaria, bacterial infections, flu and more. Juliet an albino had a large
mass removed from her back yesterday. They are doing a biopsy to see if it
is cancerous.
Our builder Solomon is on the next HCTH project of putting electricity in
Florences new home.
 People continue to come to the gate. Yesterday Sarah and her sister
Cheryl came re. school. Sylvia came the night before. Early in the
morning Rigan and Godfrey came.
 The rainy season has started. It is good for the crops. All our water
tanks are full.
 I needed an electrician at our home on Wednesday. There are 6 electric
products stores close together. I prayed that God would lead me to the
right store. I went to one called God's Mercy. An electrician was there.
I brought him to the house. In 10 minutes he was done. I asked him how
much and he said, $2.00 Can.   I gave him $4
 I have often talked about the unsafe roads and why you need to pray for
us. There are no street lights- not even 1 stop sign in all of Mityana.
When you come to an intersection whoever thinks he is there first or has
a bigger vehicle goes. People are very inconsiderate. They stop  wherever
they want even on the road. Pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles have
little consideration. Vehicles could be passing on the left or right.
Many vehicles are going much too fast. Thanks for your prayers of
protection for us. On Sunday on the motorcycle Cheryl and I were driving
up the road. At an intersection a car was turning onto the main road and
going left. He ran into us on the motorcycle. Fortunately he was not
going fast. He pushed the bike slightly sideways but I kept my balance.
Where the car hit was in the one spot it did no damage to us or the
motorcycle. God was watching over us. The car actually touched Cheryl's
leg but no harm. Thanks for your prayers.
God Bless Tom and Cheryl

Date: March 30, 2022

A pig purchased through HCTH gift certificates. Today Cheryl and I planted
onions for Adrien. These beans were planted 13 days ago. They are growing
well. We are getting lots of rain.

Date: March 26, 2022

Joram, a boy we just met today got a shirt, toque and ball from Canada.
Joram had a brother born with cerebral palsy and died at age 5.  Morris got
a shirt and sandals.  These beans were planted 9 days ago. They were up
after 6 days.

Date: March 23, 2022

It is such a blessing to see lives change for the better in a short time.
Today we took 10 kg. of rice and 10 kg. of maize flour to Brenda and her
family. We told her we are putting them on the food program so they receive
food each month. Brenda said she was wondering what they would eat tonight.
Then we took Eva to enroll her in school. She has not attended because her
mother has no money. She starts school tomorrow. Brenda and Eva are very
happy. Brenda actually completed S6 or grade 13 but never got her marks
because she owed money to the school.  The pictures show Eva at her new
school, with her backpack and doll we gave her, and with her family. God is
good!

Date: March 22, 2022

Today we went to Entebbe. Atul flies out of Uganda tonight. A boat came in
with fresh Lake Victoria tilapia. Annet and Adrien love to swim. We saw a
large group of monkeys eating jack fruit and oranges.    Tom and Cheryl

Date: March 21, 2022

Today we visited Brenda. All she owns is found in this one room. Even her
mattress was given to her. She does not have enough breast milk to feed her
4 month old twins. Her husband left her when he found out she was pregnant
with twins. Her 7 year old daughter Eva can not go to school because her
mother has no money. Eva is on the new mattress bought for
them today. We also gave them some food.                          

Cheryl brought some yellow bean seeds from Canada. They do not have yellow beans in
Uganda. We are now eating the beans Cheryl planted 6 weeks ago.

Date: March 21, 2022

To us this is unbelievable. This is a picture of Betty with her son
Vincent and daughter Juliet in front their new house. It is hard to
believe but the other picture is of the house they lived in before. God
does answer prayer.
Tom and Cheryl

 

Date: March 20, 2022

Cheryl and I with our namesake, Tomi Cheryl Comfort.   Atul is with the
family who are getting a new house. Today we completed the construction after
14 days. Atul is buying them each a new bed and mattress. The teenagers
have never had a bed before.

Date: March 20, 2022

Yesterday Atul cooked for us at Adrienne's. Everyone liked the food.

Date: March 19, 2022

Check out this you tube video. Yesterday we went to Katakala school. This is
the grade 7 class.
Tom and Cheryl

https://youtu.be/lQL4qeJZ1ds

Date: March 17, 2022

Cheryl and I planting beans and potatoes at Adriens house.

Date: March 16, 2022

The house construction after day 11.  Today we helped plant potatoes and
beans around the matooke.

Date: March 15, 2022

Today we visited a  school. See the 30 second video on YouTube.
Tom and Cheryl


https://youtube.com/shorts/gTN4wlps0BA?feature=share

Date: March 13, 2022

House construction at noon on day 7.

Date: March 12, 2022

Doreen and her mother are happy to have a clothes line we put up yesterday
at her new home.

Date: March 11, 2022

The family made their own bricks for their new house. The new house early
on the fifth day.

Date: March 9th, 2022

Today we visited the house being constructed for a single mother and 2
children aged 18 and 21. This is day 3 of construction.

Today I had my grass shears and axe and slasher sharpened. A man uses his
bicycle to turn a sharpening stone.

Today we visited David and Rosemary. We helped them collect firewood.

Date: March 8th, 2022

Atul with 4 month twins Peter and Paul.

HCTH next building project started on Monday.

Date: March 7th, 2022

Cheryl got this message from a young lady HCTH has sponsored since primary
school. She is now in university. She is from a very poor family and never
could have even attended secondary school.
Happy Women's Day to all you ladies out there.
Tom and Cheryl


I thank her for being a hero to we who are helpless and make us reach where
we are now and wherever we will go she will always remain on our
hearts.Thanks to her for everything may God bless that loving heart of
hers.Thanks slot and a happy women's day to her.

Date: March 5th, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is 5:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. We got up
early because we are driving to Entebbe to pick up Atul. He arrived late
last night. Entebbe is a1.5 to 2 hour drive depending on the traffic and
number of slow trucks you get behind. Most trucks are overloaded, puffing
huge columns of black smoke and barely moving going up a hill. On the way
we will probably see 10-15 trucks broken down. That is a common sight.
Pray for a safe drive.
 We continue to be busy. Our extended family of those we help continues to
grow. There is a lot of need in addition to the children in school.
Yesterday we paid for a little boy named Christian to go to school. His
mother had only paid one third of his fee so the school chased him(sent
him home). Also yesterday one of our children was sick with malaria. Pray
for Kate. Joyce is finally recovering from stepping on a nail-it was
septic on Monday. I have been taking her to the hospital every day for
injections. Another girl needs an operation for a growth on her back. Her
single mother could not have paid for this on her own. The operation is
on Monday in Kampala. Pray for Juliet.
 On Tuesday we are helping Florence and her family move into their new
house. Pray that the move goes well.
Thank you for your prayers. God is Good.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 26th, 2022

Dear friends and family: Our devotions this morning from "Word for you
Today" summarizes our ministry. 1Corin. 9:19-21 says Paul voluntarily
became a servant in order to reach a wide range of people. He then said in
verses 22-23 I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in
Christ but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their
point of view. I've become every sort of servant in my attempts to lead
those I meet into a saved life. Paul could relate to unbelievers without
endorsing their lifestyle.
Today was a typical day in the ministry of HCTH. In the morning we met
with our builder Solomon re. the next project. We went to the house
purchased for a widow and family. Cheryl gave them curtains then helped
install them. We then went to the home of a single mother. I repaired the
pig pen plus latch on her latrine. Cheryl helped her wash clothes then
helped her sister who stepped on a nail and has a very sore foot. Then 2
pigs were purchased for another single mother through gift certificates.
Food was purchased for 2 families.
Pray for Cheryl who is going to Kampala on Monday. A student is starting
college plus Cheryl has to renew her visa. On arrival in Uganda customs
only stamped it for 1 month instead of 3 months. It is hard to believe
Cheryl has been in Uganda 1 month already.
Electricity has been spotty. Almost every day it is off for a period of
time.
The people here are poor but very generous. Today I was given roasted
peanuts. On Thursday we were given a home grown pineapple. Another family
gave us 6 eggs and 4 avocados.
It is still dry and dusty. We did have a brief rain in the night. The
rainy season is in March.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 19th, 2022

Dear friends and family: Cheryl just said that we had a busy enough day
today. This morning it was interesting. Maria was home from school. Her
family had kept secret from her that HCTH was building a new house for the
family. Cheryl and I asked her to take us to see the plot. When we got
there she was perplexed because she was sure she had the right plot but
there was a new house On it. She did not think it could be the right plot.
She thought someone had built a  house on the wrong plot. When we told her
she was in a state of unbelief mixed with shock.
 We bought a small fridge for our home in 2008. Cheryl has often talked
about it being too small. When a family helped by HCTH needed a fridge
for a business it was an opportunity to donate the small fridge to the
business and Cheryl to get a bigger one. Harriet had said she was losing
customers because people wanted cold drinks. Now she has a fridge and
Cheryl is happy.
Some children were also happy today because we took them to the market
with extra money their sponsors had sent.
Every 20th of the month about 18 families receive food from HCTH.Today, a
day early, we delivered food to 4 families.
We are looking forward to singing with the children tomorrow.
God Bless   Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 16th, 2022

The new house is almost done-day 12. The second picture shows where the
family was living last September until HCTH rented a place for them. They
slept on an uneven dirt floor. The roof was very porous. The mother calls us
her heroes because we rescued her family. We tell her that God is her hero.
A couple of times she referred to us as her Saviour. We quickly corrected
that idea. The family is very happy.Now all of her children are in school.
Thank you for being a part of this.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 15th, 2022

The second picture is a house HCTH  purchased for a single mother and
family. The daughter Claire has a sponsor. Her sponsor sent extra money.
Today we delivered a new bed and blanket. She has been sleeping on a
mattress on the floor. 3 years ago she came to the gate at Hope House. She
was starting high school and her mother could not pay school fees. The
house they rented for $10 Can. per month was very poor with a leaky roof.
In 3 years their life has completely changed. They are thanking God.

Date: February 14th, 2022

A young lady we have helped in the past named Viola  made these shoes. She
has become the mother of a little girl sponsored by HCTH. The girls mother
died. She was a friend of Violas and had no known relatives so Viola took
her as her own. Every year we buy shoes from her to give to needy people.

Date: February 13th, 2022

Day 10 of the house construction.

Date: February 12th, 2022

Today in Namukozi a young woman followed us to the family we were
visiting. She was the first young person HCTH helped in post secondary. We
had not seen her in 15 years. It was a great blessing to meet her. She
said she has 3 nursing jobs. One is in a government hospital. She does
home care nursing. She wants to start her own home care business. She is
visiting her mother in Namukozi because she needed a break. Two of her
patients died of cancer in the last 2 weeks. One died in her arms. She
said that 15 years ago you rarely heard of cancer in Uganda. Now it is
common. She had many good things to say about HCTH. She said nobody would
ever know how HCTH changed her life. One of the interesting things she
said was that she only has 1 child and does not want any more. She says
she has even bought a small car.
At a school we visited we talked to a teacher. She has 2 children- a boy
named Genesis and a girl named Exodus. I asked her if her next child
would be called Leviticus.
Today we visited 1 school and homes getting 10 letters for sponsors. We
got home just before a heavy rain at 3 p.m.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 11th, 2022

Day 8. The last picture is of the latrine.  Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 9th, 2022

Dear friends and family: This morning we used the car to visit schools
because of a light rain. In the afternoon we bought 5 chickens for
families. We took baby blankets to the mother of the twins Peter and Paul.
I even had some time to do yard work.
We ate early. It was good we did because at 5:30 James came. He is
apprenticeship to be a plumber. First thing he noticed was where our
eavestroughs were leaking at the seams. He said he could fix it. He would
go to town to buy silicone. I had brought some silicone from Canada for
that purpose but had not done it yet. The job is now done. He is a nice
young man.
 15 minutes later Claire came from school. 3 years ago she came to the
gate at Hope House asking for help to go to grade 8. The house she lived
in with her mother was very poor. Last year HCTH rented a nice house for
them. Last Sunday they moved into their own house thanks to HCTH donors.
They are so happy in spite of the person living there not leaving when he
said, nobody there with a key until 3 hours after they moved their things
there, the local chairman who oversees the property deal demanded $1,000
Can. instead of the customary $80- he heard their were white people
involved, and worst of all when they went to use the latrine they found
that the neighbors had been putting their garbage in the latrine which is
now full. A man is going to clean it out Saturday . We have always said,
in Africa expect anything. In spite of all this they are praising God for
his many blessings.
Blessings to each of you
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 8th, 2022

Picture 1 and 2 - A sponsor is paying for Caroline to take a cake making
and decorating course. She made this cake for us today. Notice her
spelling of Cheryl.

Picture 3 - Annet with Tomi Cheryl now aged 2 months and 6 days

Date: February 8th, 2022

Dear friends and family: We had a nice rain this afternoon. It just
started to rain as we got home on the motorcycle.
Cheryl arrived on Monday last week. On Tuesday her and Adrien planted
beans. Most were up yesterday after 6 days.
We are busy now going to schools getting sponsor letters. We got 18
letters yesterday and 15 today. Also today we put in a new pole for
Adriens clothesline and then went to fix the clothesline at Hope House.
On Sunday morning we sang with 13 at Adriens. In the afternoon we took 7
with us to visit the old couple in Galilea which is about a 20 minute
drive. We sang some songs for them. They were happy to see us. The day
before a son had died and they were preparing for his burial on Monday. He
was
in his early 40's. I think our presence cheered them up.
Today after the rain Caroline called to say she made a cake for us so we
went to get it.
The rain is a great blessing because it was very dusty.
Thanks for your prayers
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 7th, 2022

Progress on the new house after 4 days of construction.

Date: February 6th, 2022

Winnie and her son Good Luck. Winnie got pregnant in grade 11 and left
school. She said at one time she looked at her son as a problem but now he
is a blessing to her.
She teaches grade 1 in a school plus took hairdressing and last year
opened her own salon. She said she appreciates Cheryl and I so much for
changing her life. She called her salon Tom and Shellies Beauty Giants.
Notice her shirt.

Date: February 5th, 2022

Dear friends and family: About 5:45 p.m. as we were getting supper along
the road- chicken and chips- I said to Cheryl, I think this is the busiest
day we have ever had here in Uganda.
At 9 a.m. Annet came with Williams the father of her little girl Tomi
Cheryl Comfort. Williams had a large box of food for Cheryl and I Annets
parents. It is the first we met Williams. Then Kenneth came. He is
starting his last semester in engineering. He stayed for an early lunch.
Then Maria came with Erin and Dora whom we sponsor. Then Claire and her
mother came. We were preparing for a house purchase for 1 p.m. Then
Solomon came. He wanted help to do a motorcycle mechanic course. I took
him to see the mechanic. Then Barbara came with her 2 children Elvis and
Hope plus nieces Jocelyn and Annette. All of the children wrote sponsor
letters and we got pictures plus paid fees. Sumaiyah called asking for
help. David called wanting to talk to us. I went to the bank ATM. The
fridge stopped working so I had to get a fridge guard. Claire and her
mother came back to see us because the house deal fell apart because of
corruption- a long story. We then went to talk to Annet at Hope House.
Then get gas in the motorcycle and buy more air time then buy home made
juice at Joans shop.
I told Cheryl she is not cooking. Chicken and chips- all the chips you
would want to eat for $2. Can.
I am happy that tomorrow is a day of rest.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl
As I write this email Cheryl is putting songs on a paper for tomorrow
with the children. "My God is so BIG"  "God's Love is oh so Wonderful"  "
Isn't He Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful"

Date: February 5th, 2022

This morning Annet came with her husband. He had a big box of food for us.
It contained fruit- oranges, banana, mango, watermelon plus sugar, rice,
cooking oil, salt, coffee, food flavor. It is their custom to bring food
to the parents of the wife.  Tom and Cheryl.

Date: February 4th, 2022

Today we delivered a big bag of eye glasses to Canon John. He is in charge
of this ministry which has given out thousands of glasses since 2006.
 We met a lady today with twin boys Peter and Paul. Same sad story. After
she got pregnant the father left her.
 We brought some yarn from Canada. They use yarn to do their hair. We gave
Adrien green yarn on Wednesday. When we saw Adrien today she said she was a
Christmas tree.
God Bless   Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 4th, 2022

This girl named Emily was sitting at home because she had no money for
school fees. Her mother and father died when she was a few months old. She
was living in the village with her grandmother. She had missed 3 weeks of
school already. She wants to be a doctor. In National exams in grades 7
and 11 she did very well. She wants to study math, chemistry and biology
in grades 12 and 13. She was losing hope but Praise God today she will be
starting school. Thank you to a very generous person who wants to help
vulnerable girls like Emily.
Pray for Emily. She came to our gate asking for help. An organization from
the U.S. helped her to grade 11 and then when she turned 18 she was out on
the street or out in the village. Thankfully, This is not the way HCTH
operates.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 3rd, 2022

Pictures from the construction site. The hole for the latrine is about 7
meters at this point. They will dig to about 10 meters. They put toe holds
in the side to climb up and down and pull up soil in a bucket. Not an easy
job.

Date: January 31st, 2022

Thanks for your prayers. Cheryl arrived safely today in Uganda. All planes
were on time. Luggage ok. Cheryl says it is warmer here than in Canada.
Actually it was cloudy today and cooler than it has  been. Thanks again
for all your prayers.
Now I can say     Tom and Cheryl

Date: January 28th, 2022

Dear friends and family: Cheryl just gave me the sad news that Allan
Sackmann who wrote the book about us, "Following the Martin's" passed away
from covid. He was a very nice man and talked about writing a sequel. Pray
for his wife Penny.
Also, pray for Cheryl as she starts her journey to Uganda today. She will
arrive in Entebbe about 2 p.m. our time on Monday or 6 a.m. in Napanee.
It is very tiring then your body has to adjust to the time change.
I have been busy paying school fees. About 100 have been paid for.
Yesterday I went to Kampala to pay fees for 3 children. This is a tiring
2 hour ride each way in a crowded taxi van. I was tired last night so
went to bed at 8:30 but woke up at 6 a.m. this morning.
I want to tell about 1 Life changing story. Last year we met a very poor
family. They were living in a very poor house which leaked a lot in the
rain. The single HIV positive mother and 7 children  slept on the ground
on a dirt floor. The owner let them stay there rent free. HCTH last April
rented a nice living accommodation for the family. This year when I came
the children could not go to school because of lack of fees. BUT the
mother Florence had bought a small plot of land. Her father in the village
died and left her a plot. She sold it for $800 and put that toward a plot
near where She is living now. She had to pay the remaining $400 by the end
of January. As of January 29 the children are all paid for school fees- 2
are now sponsored; the plot is paid for; on Monday a new house on the plot
will be started to be completed in about 2 weeks. This is all because of
God's amazing Grace. Thanks to so many generous people lives like this can
be changed. This family is seeing God in action.
Thank you for your prayers and support. Stories like this have happened
often through the ministry of HCTH. God bless you all.
It is getting light. It is 7 a.m. and time to get to work. Adrien is
coming to wash clothes at 8:30. Annet and I are going to visit Kenny who
will go to school Monday. Viola is coming from Kampala with Brittany now
sponsored by HCTH. Britanny's  mother died and left no known relatives so
Viola took her in. Lots to do so when Cheryl comes on Monday she can rest
for 3 months. I am laughing to myself as I say this in case any of you
think I am serious.
God Bless and thank you for your prayers.  Tom

Date: January 24, 2022

Dear friends and family: It was another busy day but I want to share one
event of the day. In the morning an adult helped by HCTH called and wanted
to talk to me. I was busy so I went to see them about 4 hours later.
Yesterday in her village a medical team came to do free tests- scans,
blood pressure etc. This lady was worried because she had a lot wrong with
her including high b.p. She needed pills which you buy from them when they
return next Sunday. They were given a week to get the money. It looked
like a legitimate medical form affiliated with a clinic in Kampala. She
was asking me for money for the pills. She was worried because she was so
unwell. Her pills cost $300. I said this is not right. I took her to HOSFA
a small hospital. The doctor checked her b.p.- 110 over 80. I showed him
the form. He said he has seen this often. It is a scam taking advantage of
the poor and poorly educated. He said there was nothing wrong with her. He
said no charge but if I wanted to give him something that was ok. I gave
him 20,000 dollars- I mean 20,000 shillings which is about $8 Can. He was
happy. The immediately felt better. Before when I asked her where her
problem was she said in her stomach, her head and her legs. The men in the
village had her convinced she was not well. Every day there is something
new. Often you need a lot of wisdom and you all know where wisdom comes
from.
God Bless  Tom
P.S. Pray for Cheryl as she goes to Toronto Saturday, flies Sunday morning and arrives in Uganda Monday at 1:30 p.m.

Date: January 24, 2022

Dear friends and family: Cheryl  could tell you that I normally  have
great sleep patterns. A few minutes after going to bed I am asleep. I was
tired so I went to bed at 8:30 last night. The problem is that I woke up
at 3:45 a.m. wide awake so I thought I would check my emails.
I woke up thinking of the expression "What keeps you up at night?" I woke
up thinking of the thousands of children in Uganda that want to go to
school, whose parents want to send them but they have no money to pay
school fees. I am thankful that in addition to the 76 sponsored children I
am working on to pay school fees I have been able to pay for 13 children
that we do not have sponsors for. I am using the money from recycled cans
to pay for these children. Last year we got almost $5000 from recycled
cans. If you see Wayne Skinner at Napanee No Frills tell him thank you. He
works very hard at this. The students not sponsored but sent to school are
cases like 16 year old Maria who is very intelligent, got a half bursary
to high school but this year in grade 10 was sitting at home because she
could not pay the other half. Or her sister Torah aged 15 in grade 10
sitting at home OR their 4 younger siblings OR 14 year old Sunny who could
not complete grade 7 two years ago now in grade 7 OR her 3 siblings. AND
so many more. Fortunately, all of the above mentioned are now in school.
Many mother's say to me that their 6 year old children are saying to them,
"Mommy, why can't I go to school?" I hear this a lot. Maybe that is what
keeps me up at night.
I will try to get more sleep now. It is 4:25 a.m. The rooster are crowing.
I have another busy day ahead visiting at least 4 schools or until the
money runs out. I will take the maximum out of the ATM again in the
morning. At some time I might be forced to go into the bank to take out
extra money.
What a Great God we serve that would give me the privilege of being able
to bless so many people. God bless each of you.
Tom in Uganda

Date: January 23, 2022

Dear friends and family: At 7:30 This morning a knock came at the gate. It
was a mother and 2 sponsored sons wanting money. After,I made toast, put
on peanut butter and at 8:15 another knock. This time 2 boys previously
helped by HCTH.Then at 8:30 The phone rang and Sumaiyah was coming to get
money for her sister. Then the day started visiting families. Everyone
wants their sponsor money. They can't wait. That is how the day started.
At 5:45 a girl called who was coming to get money. Almost immediately
after there was a knock at the gate. I thought it could not be the phone
caller so soon. It was another sponsored child here for money. Since 7
p.m. it has been ok.
I try not to have to wait in line in the bank so I take the maximum from
the ATM each day. The max is about $2000 Can. I have taken the maximum for
5 days now and can barely keep up to payouts.
Today I went to Galilea to the new house built last year for the old
couple. They are very happy. The grandmother gave me 12 mangoes, bananas
and 3 eggs.
I did take time to sing with the children for about 30 minutes. I taught
them some new choruses. They love to sing and they are learning English.
Tomorrow time permitting we plan to visit at least 4 schools.
Thanks for your prayers.  Tom

Date: January 18, 2022

Dear friends and family: I woke up at 6:30 a.m. but it was dark outside.
In Zambia it gets light at 5:30 a.m. In Uganda year round it is the same-
Light at 7 a.m. It is on the equator. Zambia is further south so length of
day changes. The reason I am emailing is not to give you a geography
lesson. It is to thank you for your prayers again. When I checked my Email
at 6:45 a.m. I had an email from Entebbe airport health. The COVID test
was NEGATIVE. They told me I would have the results in 4 hours. Praise God
again. I have to go now. They have a good breakfast at the hotel. Also I
need to get a towel. They did not give me a towel last night. It will be
my last shower for 3.5 months.  Blessings from Entebbe.  Tom P.S. Cheryl
sent me pictures of the snow. NO I don't miss the Canadian winter.

Date: January 18, 2022

Dear friends and family: It is 2:15 a.m. at the Flight Hotel in Entebbe
Uganda. I arrived safely at 22:40 a.m. 20 minutes early. I should be tired
but wanted to thank you for your prayers. With international travel there
are a lot of hoops to jump through. I arrived early at the airport in
Lusaka Zambia. They informed me I had to have an online health form
before traveling to Uganda. There is no way people can travel now without
a smart phone. It is to register for a covid test at the airport in
Entebbe. I had to show this form before boarding the plane in Lusaka. Plus
show my negative COVID test from Sunday$100  The airport COVID test was
only $30 U.S. Plus show proof of vaccinations. Plus show the Uganda entry
visa also done on line $50 U.S. All this before being allowed on the plane
with a final destination of Uganda. Also the threat of staying in a hotel
in Entebbe until you get the airport test result. I did not thinkuch about
it on the first flight from Lusaka to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia but I prayed a
lot from Addis to Entebbe. The airport in Entebbe was smoother than ever.
I was out of the airport 25 minutes after getting off the plane. I had to
pay the COVID test fee in one area. Then get the COVID test. Then go to
customs to get the passport stamped after showing the online visa. Then
pick up my luggage. I  not exaggerating. I was through all this in 25
minutes. The plane was 20 minutes early. I left the airport at 1:05 a.m.
and the plane was scheduled to land at 1 a.m. The amazing thing is that
nowhere did they say anything about staying in Entebbe until I get the
test result. I am glad I did not worry about it. It was a day filled with
God's favor. I had better close. It is 2:45 a.m but 6:45 p.m in Napanee.
People from Mityana are coming to pick up at 8:30 a.m. Maybe Annet will
come with her little girl named Comfort Tomi Cheryl. Thanks again for your
prayers. God is good!  Tom in Uganda

Date: January 17, 2022

Dear friends and family: This is my last day in Zambia. Time has gone
fast. I took the 5 hour bus to Lusaka on Saturday. Sunday morning I got a
COVID test. Sunday night I got an email to say the test was negative.
P.T.L. Today I have to get the official print copy. It has been a time of
some rest which is good. I had planned to meet with a young lady named
Evelyn. HCTH helped her get a certificate in nursing a few years ago. She
was hired by the government in western Zambia. Yesterday Evelyn started
from her home at 4 a.m. on the bus and got to Lusaka at 5:30 p.m. I had to
meet her because through HCTH sponsorship she is taking her degree in
nursing to get a BNSc. On her own this would be impossible. She told me
last night that she earns less than $300 per month. Out of this she has to
pay rent, food, clothes etc plus she is helping to send 3 younger brothers
to school. She never knew her father. For the last 15 years her mother has
lived with HIV. It is such a blessing to help deserving people like Evelyn
Thank you to Cindy, Melanie and family for helping her. You have blessed
Evelyn so she can bless others.  When you get hired by the government they
control you. Evelyn had a hard time getting time off to come to Lusaka.
She had to plead her case that her sponsor needed to see her. They won't
release her to attend university full time so she has to do her degree
while working. She is contracted to the government and they have a big
control over her life. Today we are going to buy her a computer.    Thanks
for your prayers. I leave Zambia at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday arriving in
Uganda 1 hour after midnight. I will be very busy in Uganda as school has
started. I read on the Internet that Uganda now has 410 COVID deaths in
two years with a population of 44 million people. God Bless each of you.
Tom

Date: January 9, 2022

Dear friends and family: Today I visited a friend of ours since 2005-
Pastor Sichikata. Last July he contracted covid. He was very sick. He was
on a ward with 10 others all on oxygen. 9 of the 10 died. After 1 month
the doctor told the pastor that there was no hope. The oxygen was not
helping. Pastor said he prayed until 3 a.m. and said to himself I am ready
to die and if the oxygen is doing  no good  I will take it off and he did.
The next morning  the doctor ordered the oxygen back but the pastor said
no. The next 2 days his oxygen levels were low. That night Pastor prayed
to God and said I am ready to go if it is time. That is when he said the
miracle happened. The machine recording his oxygen levels made a strange
sound and the numbers started going up. Shortly after this the doctor told
him his oxygen levels were normal and he could go home. He said he still
needed a stick to walk for a while but has completely recovered. He
certainly is praising God for a miracle in his life.
I thought  you  would enjoy this story. Some of you who have visited
Zambia know Pastor Sichikata. In fact today he  was asking about Sterling
and Rick.
God Bless   Tom

Date: January 8, 2022

Dear friends and family: I just want to tell of one activity today because
it pretty well sums up the ministry of HCTH. Yesterday I visited the home
of a family helped by HCTH. The parents have basically abandoned  the
family. They have to fend for themselves. The oldest 2, a girl 19 and boy
17 do odd jobs to feed the family. Two younger sisters aged 11 and 14 also
stay there. They sleep on a blanket on a cement floor. The 2 rooms they
stay in is bare. Today I took them a Bible and told the oldest to read it
to the others. I then took them into Choma to buy 2 mattresses and some
pots and utensils. They were very happy. The 19 year old has a 6 month old
baby. We also took a sponsored boy who needed a mattress. I am serious here. 

His name is Tom Martin's Michelo.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Tom

Date: January 6, 2022

Dear friends and family: All is well in Zambia but very busy. I have spent
3 days visiting families, getting letters and pictures. I am using my
bicycle. I have had lots of breakdowns. There has been lots of rain- every
day there has been some  rain. It is great for the crops. They say the
rains delayed until I came. It was much needed and a great blessing. The
first day here I had to buy gum boots. I have used them every day.
Thank you for your prayers.
Tom in Zambia

Date: January 3, 2022

I thought you might find it interesting how the time change affects sleep.
As I said before, I had not slept in 36 hours. I went to bed last night
very tired at 8p.m. I slept immediately but woke up wide awake at 10:15
p.m. My body was saying,"What are you doing sleeping, it is 3:15 in the
afternoon." 7 hours difference. I took a gravol and soon went to sleep but
woke up at 1:30. My body was saying, "Why are you sleeping, it is only
6:30 p.m." Again I went to sleep but woke up at 4:10 a.m. I was surprised,
the alarm woke me at 5:45 a.m. The taxi came at 6:15 a.m.
It usually takes 5 to 7 days for my body to adjust to the change.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom in Zambia

Date: January 3, 2022

Dear friends and family: I am on the bus on my way to Choma, Zambia. I
arrived safely in Zambia. Thanks for your prayers. All planes were on time
and all went well except no sleep for about 36 hours. I slept well last
night. Wi fi was out at the lodge where I stayed. As normal in Africa you
never know what will happen. I had arranged for someone to meet me at the
airport but nobody was there. I had to take a taxi from the airport. It
was a blessing as he was a nice man. I found out why my taxi driver friend
from Lusaka is not driving taxi any more. He and his friend drank a local
beer with something in it. He lost his eyesight. Very sad. He was a nice
man. My new taxi driver Nathan is nice too. He is going to arrange a covid
test for me to leave Zambia to go to Uganda in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for your prayers
Tom

Date: December 23, 2021

Dear friends and family: Time goes so fast. It is hard to believe that it
is almost Christmas, 2021. The year is almost over. It has been a year of
fears and lockdowns and more but for Cheryl and I and the ministry of HCTH
it has been a blessed year. Hopefully this letter will bring you some much
needed cheer.
First of all we want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year. You are a blessing to us and more importantly to many in Peru,
Zambia and Uganda. In spite of covid concerns HCTH continues to grow
greatly. God is blessing this ministry. As an example this email is going
out all over Ontario but also to 3 countries in Europe, 2 in Africa, 2 in
South America, 8 States of the U.S. and 5 Canadian provinces. 

God is Great!
Two Bible verses that mean a lot to us are 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not
give us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a calm and well
balanced mind." AND Isaiah 6:8 "I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
Whom shall I send? And who will go? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
 As I said, 2021 has been a blessed year starting on January 1 as I
travelled to Zambia and then on to Uganda until May 3. Cheryl joined me
in Uganda. Then from August 14 to October 19 I was in Uganda where Cheryl
later joined me again.
 We have not been able to travel to Peru in 2020 and 2021 but the ministry
there continues with the help of our very capable missionaries in Peru-
Karina and Javier. Each month they go to the door of sponsored children
to give out sponsorship money. The ministry in Uganda and Zambia continues to greatly expand. There are 10 children in University and College. There are over 130  in primary and
secondary school. 1 house was built in Zambia and 2 in Uganda. Many
people were helped with medical issues. In both countries food is given
each month to 30 families. There has been a lot of help for a school in
Uganda. Two new families are being helped in Uganda. Both are single
mothers with a total of
11 children. It will be great to return to Africa leaving January 1, 2022. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Thanks for praying for W.I.S.H.  Wisdom, Integrity, Safety, Health.

 God Bless and again Merry Christmas
 Tom and Cheryl

Date: October 3, 2021

Dear friends and family: It is a nice Sunday morning at 7 a.m. in
Mityana(midnight) in Napanee. It is so great to have Cheryl here with me.
She has been busy in the less than 3 days in Mityana.
Friday we took 2 bunk beds, sheets and 4 mosquito nets to a family. The 4
children aged 8, 1 0, 12, 14 had never slept in a bed. The youngest slept
on grass. What a blessing that was to see their joy. We all helped to
assemble the beds and put up the nets. It is life changing for this
family. They were thanking God.
We have been busy visiting families and handing out clothes Cheryl and
Atul brought. These are a great blessing also.
Yesterday a girl HCTH sponsors are helping called to say she had 3
chickens she wanted to sell. Now 3 families have chicken for their Sunday
meal.
We had to go to the bank yesterday to change a name on our account. This
could take hours but God blessed us- only 30 minutes.
People continue to be generous. My motorcycle mechanic came with sugar
cane. 2 other families gave us avocados.
Their has still been time to slash grass, Cheryl to cut my hair, make
rice pudding- Cheryl used the rice I accidentally put in the sugar jar on
top of about 1 inch of sugar. Cheryl was cooking carrots and put rice on
the cooked carrots instead of sugar. She thought the sugar was a bit
granular. I did separate the rice and sugar as best as I could. P.S. Who
put rice in a sugar bag? It was not me.
I am excited about today. At 9:30 We are having church with the children.
The theme is "Katonda Yatonda Ensi- in Luganda" God Made the World. The
theme song will be my version of, He Loves Me Too. If God so Loves the
Little Things like the birds the pigs, the cows, the trees, the flowers
then I know He Loves Me Too. The children love to sing. They are getting
a lot better and are learning English but best of all are learning about
God and His Love for us. Their 2 favorite songs are, I'm in the Lord's
Army  and Happy, Happy Happy Happy Happy are the people whose God is the
Lord.
Thanks for your prayers  We serve a great God!
Tom and Cheryl

Date: September 30, 2021

Dear friends and family: Thank you for your prayers. Cheryl arrived safely
in Entebbe last night. After 6 hours of sleep we are ready to go. It is
raining hard in Entebbe at 7:30 a.m. After breakfast we will drive the 90
minutes to Mityana.
It is good that now I can sign off with
Tom and Cheryl

Date: September 25, 2021

Dear friends and family:
 It is a nice Ugandan evening at 9 p.m. My phone says it is 22C outside.
Today was cool. Only a high of 25 C but 29 C yesterday.
 Today was like many days here. I have a busy morning scheduled but not
much in the afternoon until the phone rings then I start thinking can I
get everything done in the day.
 I finally after about 10 years of loyal service gave away my grey Roots
backpack. It was starting to decay from time and use.
Many people continue to be sick. The mother of a sponsored child named
Resty came asking for help because Resty is in the hospital.
 Yesterday I stopped at a home and there WA s a group of people gathered
around a squealing pig tied in a grassy area. It had been bitten by a
snake. Two days ago a crowd of children were pointing up in a tall tree.
A wild monkey was in the tree.
 Today I visited a very poor family of a single mother with 4 children.
They live in a pretty poor 2 room house. The  3  girls aged 14, 10 and 8
and boy 12 sleep in one room. No beds but a thin foam for 3 of them to
lay on. The youngest had a cloth sack sewn with grass in it for a
mattress to lay on. They had mosquito nets but all had big holes. I think
help is on the way.
Pray for Cheryl. She leaves on Tuesday on KLM and will arrive in Uganda
Wed. night. It will be nice to be with her.
 A young lady we help named Winnie called yesterday and wanted to see me
so I saw her this morning.She is starting her own hair salon. She had a
big sign made that she wanted  me to see. Her hair salon is called " Tom
and Shelie Beauty Giant Salon". I think her 3 year old son Good luck
spelled Cheryl for the sign. I pray the Tom and Shelie Salon does well.
Have a blessed day tomorrow. Another day singing with the children.
God Bless   Tom

Date: September 19, 2021

Dear friends and family: I WhatsApped with Cheryl today. She feels better
today than yesterday. Thank you for all your prayers and encouraging
emails and calls to Cheryl.
 This morning as I was singing with the children I was feeling a little
down but then I thought that is the opposite of what the songs said that
the children enjoy so much. " I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my
heart."
"The joy of the Lord is my strength"
"Happy, Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy are the people whose God is the Lord"
"If you are happy and you know it........"
How can you sing these songs and not be happy in spite of the circumstances?

 Sickness is a major problem here. Yesterday one of our youth tested
positive for typhoid and malaria. This is common. Another needed dental
work. Another is going for a scan tomorrow.
 I had to renew the car insurance here. It was $30 for the year. The agent
typed up the sticker for the car window on an old Manuel typewriter.
 Friday the mother of a family HCTH helps was on the motorcycle with me.
She said to me, "Are all Canadians good like you?"
 I continue to teach English to Adrian and her sister Joyce. Friday I was
teaching them the word Favourite. I had them complete sentences with the
word Favourite in it. They have 6 sisters and 8 brothers. I asked who
their favourite sister is and why. Adrian said her favourite sister is
her older sister and Brenda because when her husband was treating her bad
and beating her she wanted to leave the husband and leave him with the
children. Her sister Brenda told her not to leave her children and now
she is happy she didn't do that.
Thank you for your continued prayers

Tom

Date: September 18, 2021

Please pray for Cheryl. She is very disappointed as I am. She got to the
airport Saturday morning and she was not allowed on the plane. You now
need a Ugandan entry visa ahead of time. I came on August 14 and did not
need this. This is my 31st time to Uganda and always got my visa at the
airport in Uganda. Unfortunately we were not informed about this change.
Maybe for some reason God does not want her in Uganda right now. There are
other positives but our heart was set on her being here. We will look at
other options. God is in control.
Thanks for your prayers!
Tom and Cheryl

Date: September 12, 2021

Pray for Cheryl this week as she makes her final preparations for her long
journey to Uganda. She will leave home about 4 am. on Saturday morning and
30 hours later she should arrive in Mityana. There will not be much sleep
during this time.
It will be great to have her here with me. We are in Uganda until October
18 arriving in Canada October 19.
Thanks for your prayers.
It is a beautiful Sunday morning at 7:50 a.m. At 9:30 I am having a
program with children. I am teaching them a new song. Old to us but new to
them. "His Banner Over Me  is Love" The second verse says," He takes me to
his banqueting table". That would be difficult for them to understand plus
banqueting is a big word. The revised Tom version is "He gives me food to
eat every day and His Banner Over Me is Love."  The next verse is," He
takes me to His home up in Heaven."
I am also teaching them, Oh Be Careful Little.......feet where you go;
eyes what you see; ears what you hear; tongue what you say"  I added,
Hands what you touch; mouth what you eat; brain what you think.
Repetition is important to learn the song and the bonus they are learning
English.
Have a blessed day!
Tom

Date: September 11, 2021

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe this is the 20th
anniversary of 9/11. It was the year I retired and our retirement trip was
to Hawaii. We were in Honolulu on this day. In fact that day we had
planned to go to Pearl Harbor. What an amazing place to be at that time.
I was thinking how thankful we need to be living in North America.
This week I visited a family with a single mother and 7 children. The 16
year old said she was hungry. The night before they only had little food
so they let the youngest eat. This family moved to a new place on Friday
helped by HCTH.  They did not have too far to go but they were going to
carry everything. No beds for the 8 of them. Only pots, few clothes, jerry
cans for water. It was sad.
Adrian was saying her father had 14 children in a 3 bedroom house. All
the children slept in 1 small bedroom.
Another little girl had her head shaved bald. She said her mother did it
with a razor blade.
Today a 19 year old woman came to the gate for help. She has a 1n year
old son. She told the same story I have heard now 4 times in the last 4
days. Some by women old enough to know better. The man said he loved them
until they got pregnant then the man is gone. Two of them already have
children from the same situation.
I visited a couple this week. They said 5 of their 11 children have died.
A young teenage girl said to me, "I want to go to Canada some day." I
asked her why and she said"to improve my life"
I hope now you are more thankful for where God placed you.
These are great people and many of them need help. Thank you so much for
your prayers and your financial support.
God Bless you.
Tom in Uganda

Date: September 4, 2021

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe a week has passed since I
emailed.
We ask for prayer for wisdom. I want you to see why wisdom is needed. All
of these 8 situations were just today. That is why I shut my phone off
early at night.
1) At 8 a.m. I went to see a boy sponsored by HCTH. He was in S4 but did
not do very well. He is working with a plumber in Kampala and says he
loves it. His boss sent him home to get money from his mother for tools.
His mother has no money. Should I give him money for tools. He is doing a
small plumbing job for me at a home owned by HCTH. I told him instead of
paying labour I would give him money for tools.
2)This university engineering graduate visited today with a painting for
his sponsor. He asked if I had a watch to give him. He lost the one I gave
him before. Should I give him a watch?
3) His sister also a university graduate needs a good phone for her job of
mobile money and bank agent. Her phone died. Should I give her money for a
phone?
4)A single mother wanted money to help pay rent. We have helped her a lot
before. Should I give?
5)Another university graduate made a stupid decision and wants me to give
her about $3000 Can.   Not even a question.
6)I visited an old couple today. Their house is very poor. The grandfather
is in his 80 s which is rare here. They gave me eggplant, onions, tomatoes
and a pineapple they grew. It was the best pineapple I have eaten. Should
I consider building a small house for them.
7)A recent S4 graduate came to the gate this morning. He hurt his foot and
needed about $30 for medical. We have helped the family a lot. Should I...
8) Annet needed to see me. A single mother paid for electricity service
but did not get a receipt. I know she paid. The office is very corrupt.
They say she did not pay. She has no money. Should she and her family go
without power or should I help?
 Unbelievable but true that all of these were today.
On a lighter note. There were 20 at our little service last Sunday. This
week we are changing location.
I am teaching Adrian and her sister Joyce English 5 days each week. Her
sister Joyce is 14. Their father could not pay for school so they both
stopped in grade 4. The father has 15 children aged 32 to 4. Each week I
teach them 2 songs to help learn English. This week it was "Happy  Happy 
Happy Happy

Date: August 29, 2021

Subject: Tom

Dear friends and family: It is a beautiful Sunday morning in Mityana,
Uganda. It is 8:40 a.m. I have already visited one family. At 9:15 I am
leaving for church. It is like old days in Canada. I am picking up Adrian
and 5 children plus her neighbors 4 and going to Hope House. Annet is
there plus about 7 other children. I will have a program for them with
songs, a Bible story etc.
Hopefully 11 of us can fit in the 7 passenger van.
Yesterday I was at a Wedding Invitation briefly. There were about 200
there. Maybe 25% with a mask. I followed a truck earlier with a cow and
goat on it. Sure enough it stopped at an Invitation too. It would be part
of the dowry.
I am convinced as the doctor in Uganda said in May the people here must
have some natural immunity to covid. Yesterday I  dealt with 2 people with
typhoid. Most people have malaria in their systems. Plus Ebola, Yellow
Fever, Cholera, HIV and more. Also the people here are not sanitized from
birth.
Many people have food needs. Some families only eat once a day.
I bought a birthday cake for a girl who is 16 today. She has never had a
birthday cake. I will take it in the afternoon.
I am still dealing with students who wrote a national exam in P7 and S4.
In my spare time I do yard work. I cut the grass with a slasher and grass
shears I brought from Canada.
I am eating well. I had scrambled eggs for breakfast. Someone gave me
potatoes already peeled. I cooked them with carrots and fried up onions,
garlic and green peppers to put on top. They were good.
Thank you for your prayers.
Tom
P.S. Pray for Cheryl who arrives in Uganda 3 weeks from today.
Off to church- Actually, formal churches are still in a lock down.

Date: August 21, 2021

Subject: Tom in Uganda

Dear friends and family: Time goes so fast. 1 week ago today I was on my
way to Uganda.
You probably are wondering what I am doing here.
The university students are in classes- Benjamin, Simon Peter, Douglas,
Jackline, Maureen, Carol. I have talked to them all or met them. I am
meeting Benjamin on Thursday.
17 families get food on the 20th of the month. It was good to be here for
that.
Students in P7 and S4(grade 11) write a national exam to determine if they
should continue. I have seen the 6 in Primary 7 and 7 in S4. There were
many decisions to make which involved a number of visits. Also some
difficult decisions.
Many people each day want to see me. I have to write things down so I will
remember. Some are greetings but many are serious e.g.. help with a
business, marriage issues,need for seeds to plant( 3 different people
today wanted help to buy seeds). Some just want advice such as the person
who came in the rain last night.
There is lots of house work to do such as slashing grass, pulling weeds,
cleaning etc.
I am eating well. Tonight I had Uncle Ben's Chinese style rice.
I am hoping starting next week to have some time to teach English to
Adrien and her 14 year old sister. She has only completed grade 3.
There are many needs. That is why we ask for wisdom. We can't help
everyone. I met a 36 year old mother of 7 children. Her oldest is 18. She
had 4 children when her husband died. She had another husband and 3 more
children when this husband left leaving her with 7 children plus Aids. I
do not know how they survive and try to send the children to school. That
is why many children do not go to school. The issue is- Can we reach out
to one more family? Pray for wisdom.
Have a blessed Sabbath tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

August 16, 2021

Subject: Tom

Dear friends and family: I arrived safely in Uganda. It is hot here like
the last week in Canada. I got to our home about 5p.m. on Sunday or about
10 a.m. in Napanee. This after leaving our home in Napanee at 4:15 a.m.
Saturday morning- about 35 hours. I was tired last night and went right to
sleep at 10 p.m. I woke up wide awake at 11:30 p.m. I amazed myself
because after getting up to take a gravol I went back to sleep. The next
thing I knew the alarm was ringing at 6:45 a.m.
 It was a busy day today. I had to get the motorcycle mechanic to come to
get it started. He charged me $2 Can. Then to the bank, to MTN to get my
phone connected and to Africell to get internet data. After that Annet
and I visited 3 families. Now at 6 p.m. it is time to cook supper and
have my African bath(in a basin). Also this morning the pump that pumps
water to our higher tank so we have pressure in our taps and toilets was
not working. Fortunately it was a simple problem and I was able to fix
it.
I also met with Maureen who is studying medicine. I met her at the very
crowded hospital. She was getting her second covid shot today. It was a
vaccine from India I had never heard of. Interestingly, I was asked many
times for the recent covid negative test but only once in Toronto asked if
I was vaccinated and then I did not have to show proof. Travelling was
easy. The doctor in the hospital today said covid is improving in Uganda.
Thanks for your continued prayers.
Tom

Date: May 7, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

We are heading home to Napanee this morning. We have spent 3 nights in a
hotel in Toronto. We had a negative covid test in Uganda on Saturday night
at 9p.m. We had a covid test at Pearson Airport Tuesday morning at 9:15
a.m. Cheryl got her negative result at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning. I did
not get my negative covid result until 8:30 p.m. Thursday night. Now we
can go to our home. It will be good to be home.
Thank you for your prayers and support. God has greatly blessed our time
in Africa.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: May 4, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Thank you for your prayers. We arrived safely in
Toronto at 8:30 Tuesday morning. Planes were on time. The plane from
Uganda to Ethiopia was about 80% full and the plane from Ethiopia to
Toronto had about 120 people. We did have room to stretch out and get some
sleep during the 16 hour time in the plane from Ethiopia to Toronto.
We had a covid test at Toronto Airport and now are in the Crowne Plaza in
Toronto for 3 days or until our test result comes back which could be in 1
day.
It is good to be back in Canada.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: May 2, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We are on our way to Canada. On Saturday we came
to Entebbe. Last night at 9 a doctor came to our room to give us a covid
test. Today they will take it to Kampala for testing and he will bring us
the result tonight. He was a nice young doctor. We had a good talk with
him. He was going to do the test this morning at 8 but he had to play the
guitar in his church Sunday morning-The Watoto church in Entebbe. He is on
the front line of covid in Entebbe.I asked him why covid has not affected
Uganda much. Only 30 active cases in all Uganda a country of 44 million
people. Only 10 deaths in the last few months. A total of only 341 deaths
since March, 2020. There are many factors. He thinks a natural immunity
plays a role. He does not rule out God's hand in it. He said early in the
pandemic  a covid positive mother needed a caeserian. The older doctors
feared to do it because they feared getting covid. They did not know if
the baby would have covid or if the doctors would get covid. This doctor
named Andrew and two other younger doctors performed the surgery. They
prayed one full hour before and all went well. Dr. Andrew said the doctors
were all tired and overworked at first so he formed a  fellowship of
doctors where they sang songs, prayed and praised and encouraged each
other. He played his guitar.
 Monday morning at 7 a.m. We will go to the Entebbe airport and fly out of
Uganda at 10 a.m. to Ethiopia then the 16 hour flight from Addis Ababa to
Toronto landing in Toronto at 8:10 A.m. Monday morning.
Pray that all goes well. We have 3 nights booked at the Crowne Plaza in
Toronto then arriving in Napanee May 7.
God has been good during our 4 months in Africa. God has kept us safe and
healthy. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: May 2, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We want to share with you some of the highlights
of our time in Uganda. We have been blessed but most of all we have been
able to bless many others. A recent devotion we had was entitled, "What Is
Your Net Worth? We are only worth what we are willing to share with
others. In man's kingdom, your net worth is the sum total of all you own.
What you don't share is lost forever but what you put in God's hands
becomes an eternal keepsake. In God's eyes your net worth is the sum total
of all you have given away." 1) Many of you understand this principle
because you have been very generous this year. Many of you responded to
needs in Uganda. 7 families helped Joan in her time of need to help pay
for her father's medical bill and burial.
2) Atul came to Uganda twice in spite of covid. In February he brought
money to build a new house, latrine, cook house for a young single mother
of 4 children. In April he brought money to build a latrine for a very
poor school.
3) HCTH has been able to bless La Taaya School through your generosity.
Ruth the owner is 37. She told me yesterday that she was never married
because she was too dedicated to God and to teaching. Her house built in
1960 has been renovated. Two neighbouring properties  have been purchased
to expand the school.
4) Money has been given to Catherine, Maria, Shakira to start businesses.
5) Money was given to build a new home and latrine plus beds for David,
Rosemary and 3 children.
6)A new sewing machine was purchased for Anisha.
7) Three new children have been sponsored. That brings to 87 the number of
sponsored children in Uganda.
8) The food program is working well. 17 families get rice, maize flour,
cooking oil each month. Thanks to those who pay for this successful
program. It is not cheap.
9) Because of your generosity we were able to keep our 3 builders busy-
Solomon, Daniel and Sulah.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
10) On Sunday's we would go to Adrians new house to sing, tell Bible
stories about God, Jesus, David, Noah etc. We taught up to 15 people and
children new choruses and action songs. This taught them about God but
also taught them English.
11) Teaching English to Adrian and see how well she has learned and the
great improvement she has made.
12) The time we spent with Adrian and her family. The 3 great Ugandan
meals in her home. Helping Adrian move into  her new house. Helping her
plant and hoe her potatoes and beans. A few days ago her 3 year old son
Morris told his mother. I don't need a father. I have Mr. Tom. Adrian said
the twins were playing a few days ago. Morris sat on a Jerry can. He said
to his twin Tracy, 'You come and sit behind me. I am Mr. Tom driving the
motorcycle and you are Miss Cheryl.' We were there when Morris was very
sick.
13) Many of the businesses helped by HCTH are doing very well- Miriam,
Joan, Joram, Lilian, Winnies grandmother, Viola making shoes, Viola in her
dress shop, Juliet selling phones.
14) The car and motorcycle worked well. The car was a great blessing
because of lots of rain.
15) Annet is doing well supervising Hope House. There are presently 5
children in the home. 2 more will be there on June 1.
16) HCTH reached out to a new family this year helping a single mother
named Harriet and her 4 children with food, paying school fees, clothes
etc.
17) Clair and her mother were blessed through HCTH.They are now on the
food program. They are in a much better house. They have a plot to grow
food.
18) The mother of Kenny our boy with Cerebral palsy and 3 other children
are living in a much better home.
19) Many people were helped with medical issues. At least 15 people were
helped.
20) It was great to see 2 recent student graduates doing well. Julius from
Civil engineering and now working  AND Winnie a graduate nurse has a good
job prospect.
 Thanks again for your part in these and many more blessings.
Thanks especially for all your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 22, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Yesterday we took Adrian's brother Francis with us to Entebbe. He is 15
years old.
We listed the firsts for Francis: First time in a passenger car. First
time seeing traffic lights. First time seeing Kampala. First time seeing a
lake. First time seeing wild animals. First time seeing a big hotel. First
time at a playground. First time in a big grocery store. Probably has
never eaten out before. He was very excited. His favorite animal was the
rhinos.
Pray for our last few days in Uganda.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 14, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family:
I have mentioned before Maureen who is studying to be an orthopedic
surgeon and has struggled to pay school fees most of her life. I am
including parts of the letter she wrote to a generous Canadian who now
wants to help her. "I am so grateful and humbled for everything you have
done in my life. Meeting you was a blessing from God. I am so happy that
I am going to start the rest of my school journey with no hurdles. Lately
it has not been easy for me to go to school because I have to work to get
my school fees, school requirements and food to eat. I am so happy that
this time around I do not have to hustle a lot. You have changed my life
a lot. I believe that one day I will be able to help other needy people
when I finish school. Jeremiah 29:10 says, 'My time to be out of Babylon
has come' and I believe the Lord has sent you to do His work and fulfill
His job. My prayer for you is,'May the living God keep you safe and
reward you every day. May your hands never lack and may the Almighty God
bless every single thing you touch on with your hands. I pray that God
bless you and your family, your works and everything.'
I think you can tell that she is very thankful.
God Bless!
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 12, 2021   

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family:  We continue to be busy here in Uganda.
Today we had a good visit with Joan. She is still grieving the loss of her
fiancee and father. We shared with her Psalm 118:5  "I called on the Lord
in distress; the Lord answered me."
Joan is so thankful for the people who helped pay for her father's
medical bill and funeral. I changed the words to a chorus we used to sing
and I sang it to her. She said she was going to put it on her phone as
her ring tone. It goes like this. " They paid a debt they did not owe.
I owed a debt I could not pay.
I needed someone to take my debt away.
And now I sing a brand new song,
God is so Good!
Somebody paid the debt that I could never pay."
Pray for Joan

Joan is moving into our home on Sunday. She will be looking after the home 

when we are not here.
Blessings
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 9, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: I want to give you part of a letter Cheryl and I
received today. It shows how thankful the people are. It is from the
mother of 4 children sponsored by HCTH. "Dear Mr. Tom and Mrs. Chery. I
write this letter to tell you how great you are to me and my family. I
don't know how to tell this but you are like my God because you have
fulfilled my wishes like educating my children, having a permanent shelter
or somewhere to live without displacement. Having my garden where I can
grow my own food. What name can I give to such a good person like you. My
basic needs have been given to me and my family. Thank you for saving my
life when you gave money when I was sick. I was at a death point but that
money was the transport that helped me to travel from death to life. You
are my savior because if not for you I would have been gone. Thank you so
much. Thank you for the food for Easter day. Thank you for sending an
electrician to fix our electricity. Thank you so much my dear Mr. Tom and
Mrs. Cheryl "
We give God all the glory.
Thank you for your part in all of this. Especially thank you to the
sponsors of the 4 children- Joanne, Barbara, Lila and Kristen

Date: April 8, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Today I was at the school I sent a picture of yesterday and talked about.
Today I went in the kindergarten class. There were 12 students. The
teacher was writing on a chalk board. The children were copying it. It was
very sad to see 6 little children with no notebook or pencil. The teacher
said the parents could not buy them. Needless to say, tomorrow we will be
going to the school with notebooks and pencils.
 Also today we took a girl we help named Clair to buy school supplies. She
was telling us 2 years ago when she came to the gate of Hope House asking
for help it was the 10th NGO she had gone to to ask for help. All others
said No to her. She said that year, her first in high school they were
sending her home every day because she had not paid. She would try to
hide at school. She said it was very stressful. Now she says her life has
completely changed because of a HCTH sponsor.
Thanks for your support and prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: April 5, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Atul put some of our singing with the children last Sunday on You tube. He
sent the link.
Tom and Cheryl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=916No5N4gpg

Date: April 1, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: This is not an April Fool's message. Please pray
for Atul who arrived in Uganda last night. Annet left Mityana at 7 a.m. to
pick him up in Entebbe. Pray for his 3 weeks here. He loves the people of
Uganda as we do. He wants to work on another building project. He is also
bringing a laptop and tablet for 2 university students. Atul is a great
blessing to the ministry of HCTH.
Thanks for your prayers
Tom and Cheryl

Date: March 26, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is 7:45 p.m. We just returned from Joan's
family home. We were there to support Joan. She is still mourning the loss
of her 28k year old fiance to diabetes exactly 5 months ago. Yesterday
Cheryl visited Joan's father in the clinic he went to on Monday. He had an
infection but seemed ok. Last night Joan called to ask if we would take
her father from the clinic to the main hospital in Mityana. We visited
Joan at her shop today at 2 p.m. and everything seemed ok. At about 3 p.m.
her father Ronald passed away. 3 hours later his body covered by a white
sheet is lying on their floor surrounded by mourners. Tomorrow is the
burial. Their is no embalming here so with the heat burial has to take
place quickly.
Pray for Joan and her family. Tonight Joan said to us, "I can't cry any
more."
We are thankful that we are here for Joan. She needs a lot of Christian
support.
Tom and Cheryl
Thanks for supporting this family through your prayers.

Date: March 16, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: A DAY IN THE LIFE:
This morning at 8:15 I went to Adriens house to bring her to our home for
an English class. I went a bit early so I could install a board with
wooden pegs for her to hang clothes on. She was planting tomatoes. After
the class we bought some items from Miriam's shop. Cheryl and I went to
Hope House to give money for transport to Marjoreen and her sister. They
had come from Kampala for the burial of their 5 month old cousin. We then
went to give Catherine money to buy a bed for her and her son. She has
never owned a bed. We went to see Clair and took her food.
For the first time ever I ran out of gas in the motorcycle. Fortunately I
was close to a gas station. While I got gas Cheryl went across the street
to Ronald's shop. We had stopped to see him yesterday. He is not well at
all. 15 months ago he had his toes removed because of diabetes, then part
of his foot. Now his leg is bad. Cheryl left the shop crying. She said the
smell of dying flesh was awful. Ronald is Japan's father. Last October
Japan's 38 year old fiance died of diabetes.
I went to the bank ATM then to a family who wanted to give us peanuts they
grew and roasted.
We then went to visit Emanuel and Grace. France's mother died at 65 a
month ago. Grace has 4 children but is also keeping the 2 children of her
brother. Their mother aged 28 died a year ago leaving 2 young children.
We were only there 3 minutes when the phone rang. Adrien was crying and
all I could get was Morris. Morris is her 3 year old twin. I tried to call
her but no answer so we rushed to her house-about 20 minutes away by
motorcycle. We got there and they looked very sad. They said Morris had
passed out and they could not revive him. They rushed him to a small
hospital in Mityana. We rushed to the hospital. Morris was still out but
there was some movement then he started to cry which was a very good sign.
They did tests and said he has malaria and pneumonia. They gave him an IV.
Cheryl and I went home to get a blanket, sheets and mosquito net because
they are there for the night. There was a heavy rain while we were there
so we had to wait. When we got home the power was off. No time to cook so
we had Kraft Dinner, beans and fresh fruit with yogurt.
Besides all this today we blessed a young man with money to buy 2 pigs
plus bought a birthday cake for a little 3 year old named Noreen.
It is 9:30 p.m. time for bed after an eventful day.
God is Good
Tom and Cheryl

Date: March 10, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: At night Cheryl and I list the many people we
have blessed that day. It is a good exercise for anyone to do. Here is our
list for yesterday.
We left home at 8:30 and went to Michael's hardware store. We blessed him
by buying 2 padlocks. HCTH sponsors his daughter and niece. .We went to
the grandmother of Good Luck(sponsored) and blessed her by buying a large
bag of food from her shop for the family of Kenny the little boy with
cerebral palsy. We took the food to that family plus the 2 padlocks. They
are moving on Saturday to the house Adrien vacated. I asked where their
mother was. They said she was trying to get money to pay for the truck to
move. HCTH gave the about $25 needed.
We went back to bless the grandmother again by buying a large bag of food
for Rachel. We delivered it to her. Catherine called. We blessed her with
money for books she needed at school.
A generous friend in Canada said he wanted to buy beds and be adding for
David and Rosemary new house. We blessed a carpenter by buying 3 beds from
him. We blessed another shop owner by buying sheets,pillows,blankets and
mattresses. We then went to see Remah. She just got home from 3 days in
the hospital. HCTH blessed her by paying her hospital bill of about $40.
She has malaria and typhoid. Her 2 children are sponsored.
Then to Adriens new house for a meal. We took her a  watermelon, soda and
other food. I took wire and a shovel plus hammer and nails to put up a
clothesline for her. We met her father for the first time. He had not been
to Mityana in 6 years. He had never seen his 5 year old grandson and
twins. The last time he came to Mityana was not good. His daughter Adrien
was with an abusive husband who even abused him. He came this time to see
why Adrien is so happy. He had to search for the transport money to come
about $21 each way.HCTH blessed him with money for travel. He thanked us
many times for helping Adrien. He has 15 children. After eating we held
hands and prayed for this precious little family. Even the father said a
short prayer. We prayed a blessing on the house.
We then went to Lilian's hair salon. She wanted to show us the new sign
advertising her business. She has HCTH help to start this business which
is doing well.
We went back to Rachel's to see the stand Solomon built for her in the
day. Solomon was blessed with money to build it. One of his children is
sponsored by HCTH.
We went to buy a watch band for Cheryl's watch blessing another man then
to buy air time blessing someone else.
 Hopefully by sending pictures many of you were blessed also.
It is 8:10 a.m. I still have to eat breakfast and am supposed to be
somewhere at 8:30.
God bless you
Tom and Cheryl

Date: March 7, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Today we heard about a young boy named Adrian. He
had a full bursary to go to grade 6 because he is very intelligent. We
asked his sister why he is not going to school. She said their mother does
not have the money to buy his requirements- books, uniform, shoes, pens
etc.- $75 Can. Tomorrow  Adrian is going to school thanks to HCTH. Praise
God for this. His sister shouted with joy upon hearing the good news.
 Today we had a young mother in our home named Justine. She is 23 years
old, completed high school and then met a man who got her pregnant. She
is a Christian but her husband is a Moslem who has other wives. He only
comes to see her about 1 day each week and does not help her much with
food. This scenario is very common here. I asked her if it is a good
situation for her husband to have 3 other wives and she said no. I asked
her why and she said because they can not support many families.
 Pray for us tomorrow as we move Adrien and her family to their new home.
She is very excited and said she would not sleep tonight.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 28, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: This is a long email but important for you to read.
Saturday was a typical busy day doing some yard work, teaching a 1 hour
English class, visiting the 2 construction sites a distance apart,
visiting  families and taking food to families. We returned home at 4:15
p.m. hoping to have an early supper and relaxing evening. I had a bath to
remove the daily layer of red dust then we ate at 5. The phone rang at
5:20. It was an 18 year old girl HCTH has sponsored for many years. She
had called 3 times earlier in the day each time more desperate. She called
first at noon to say the police had arrested her but she did not know why.
She wanted us to come to the police station but we said  we could not
because they would want money from the white people. When she called at
5:20 She said they were going to put her in jail for the night can we
please come. I asked her what her charges were. When she explained I felt
we had to go even though night was approaching. Cheryl, I jumped on the
motorcycle for the 10 minute drive to the Wabagalo police station . At the
police station they ushered us into the back yard, pulled up benches to
sit on and called our girl(name protected) from the room where she wad
being held. 3 policemen came including the one in charge and an investigation officer.
I asked them to explain  the charge against our girl. Her 21 year old
former boyfriend accused her of destroying his source of livelihood plus
that of about 11 or 12 of his friends.After a time the former boyfriend
and many friends showed up.  They looked very threatening with scowl on
their faces. They were trying to intimidate us and the police. It
reminded me of a WWF wrestling show with the star wrestler surrounded by
an entourage of body guards, hangers on etc. Cheryl and I were far from
intimidated. I looked straight at the accuser and said, "You do not look
happy." Cheryl said to him you must have brought all of your friends. In
short they were young punk criminals. The accuser is 21. He had never
worked a day in his life. He drives a nice car, owns a van, bought land
where he is building a house, is building a house for his mother, wears
nice clothes, entertains girls buying them clothes and more.
This is what you all need to hear. This life style is being funded by good
people like you and your friends. They spend hours on the int

Date: February 28, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Sorry for the glitch this morning. I had problems with sending the email.
I even went up to our friend Jorams shop to get his help. He is good with
computers. It went but for some reason was cut short.
The investigating officer said Mityana, Uganda is a center for scams where
young boys look at this as an easy way to make money. They do it in the
name of Christianity. The accuser plays the keyboard in a charismatic
church. That is where our girl met him. They prey on generous people from
developed countries who want to help. They say they have orphanages when
they don't. They say they are helping street kids, Aids children, the
vulnerable but are only helping themselves.
We left the police post back yard in the dark-power was off even after we
got home. Mosquitoes were numerous.
Unfortunately, the main issue to the police was the girl contacting a
donor not the illegal activity of the young men. The boys were willing to
drop the charges if she gave a written apology and promised not to contact
any more donors. She did that and they released her about 9 p.m. If we had
not been there the girl would have spent the night and probably more in
jail. Many have told us these boys pay off the police. I called the girl
today and asked her if she was glad we went to the police station. She
said she was very, very, very, very happy.
I did mention in the cut off email that I bought a newspaper on Thursday.
It had a covid update for Uganda. In one year of covid 333 deaths in a
population of 44 million.
Sorry for keeping you in suspense. God is taking good care of us and her.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 26, 2021

Subject: Peru

We just received this email from Karina in Peru. Shirley's father Juan
died of covid. Pray for the family. Shirley was one of our first sponsored
children in Peru. We have been in their home many times often for Cheryl's
birthday party and our 50th anniversary celebration.
Tom and Cheryl


Dear friends Tom and Cheryl

Today we received sad news this morning, Juan, Shirley's father, died, he
was infected with covid and I cannot beat the disease.
It is very sad in these circumstances that we cannot be close.
We pray for strength for his family.
The situation with the pandemic here is very difficult, we received news
that some parents of the children of the families that HCTH supports are
positive for covid, some are asymptomatic and others are already
overcoming it, thank God.
We continue to pray for you.

Karina y Javier

Enviado desde mi Huawei

Date: February 19, 2021

YouTube Links

"Adrien running down to her plot"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B95i2tTel4U

"Adrien's first look at her house"

https://youtu.be/xYGAGKrfnfw

Date: February 19, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

We just returned from a very blessed event. We took Adrien to see her new
house built on her plot. Last time she was at the lot there was nothing
there. When she got to the lot her mouth opened and she started to run to
the house. She spent 20 minutes saying  Banange which means WOW! We
thought she was going to have a heart attack. On our way she said she did
not have a house and little by little hoped to build a house. Now she has
a house. It is so much greater to give than to receive. Thank you to Atul
for funding this project. Events like this make any sacrifice we make to
be here worth while.
It is hard for us to contemplate what this means to a young single mother
with 4 young children.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Tom and Cheryl
Pictures to follow when the internet improves

Date: February 16, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: In spite of a world pandemic and other serious
world problems miracles are still happening in Mityana, Uganda.  Yesterday
we went to Mityana hospital to arrange a covid test for Atul returning to
Canada on Saturday. At the hospital we met a young lady named Maureen who
heled me get my covid test in October. I asked her about her work at the
hospital because she was volunteering while off school because of covid.
She was in her 2nd semester of pediatric medicine. So one day she wants to
be a doctor . School returned a week ago but she could not go because they
increased the fees by about$150 Can. Her story is similar to many here.
Her father left the mother and 4 children for another woman years ago.
Since then the family has struggled. Maureen's drive to get an education
is amazing. She worked in fields to earn money. She raised chickens and
pigs. When she graduated from high school she had a debt of about $800
Can. She worked for a year as a house girl to pay off the debt and start
university. Her mother has heart problems and Maureen pays for medicine
when she can.
HCTH blessed her with money to go back to school. She started to Praise
God. She said it was a miracle and answer to prayer. She hugged Atul and I
many times then grabbed our hands and prayed a beautiful prayer  of
thanksgiving. She said she continued to trust God even when it seemed
bleak. She said God has brought her this far and she knew He would not
abandon her now.
She said she is used to catching up on work she missed because she often
was chased from school because of no school fees then had to catch up. She
had to copy all notes because she could not pay to photo copy them.
She is leaving for school on Thursday.
On Friday at 7a.m. Atul is going to the hospital to get his covid test.
The lab tech is then taking the test to Kampala to be analyzed. Wait for
the result. Bring it back to Mityana. Go to the hospital to copy it off
then take it to Atul at his hotel. All the same day. And we think North
America is advanced. That would not happen there. All for a fee of course
but well worth it- less than $100 Can.
Pray for Atul last few days here. He has blessed many people in his few
days here.
Pray also for our friend Kenneth and his family. His mother passed away
with ovarian cancer yesterday.
Blessings Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 13, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is a nice  day in Mityana, Uganda.
We just returned from visiting  a very needy family in the village about a
20 minute motorcycle ride away. The family of 5 lives in a mud house with
a thatched roof that is starting to fall apart. It is about 10 feet by 10
feet. The mother and father sleep in a single bed and 2 older children
sleep on the floor on a 1 inch piece of foam. They have made bricks for a
new house but needed about $200 to buy wood to burn the bricks. HCTH paid
for the wood.
This morning we went to see a new girl being sponsored by HCTH. She could
not complete grade 7 and write her national exam without financial help.
She walks 1 hour to school. She leaves home at 6 a.m. and arrives at 7.
She leaves school at 5 and arrives home at 6. She has no breakfast and
gets a lunch at school  which is the same every day. Her father died 4
years ago and her mother can not pay for her to go to school. Josephine is
14 years old.
We are busy getting sponsor letters. We now have over 60 letters.
We are often asked about covid here in Uganda. Covid is serious but for
some reason it has not affected Central Africa. In 1 year there have only
been about 500 deaths in a country of over 44 million people . There is
no mention of covid where we are and no one in Mityana has even heard of
anyone with covid.
Thank you for your prayers and God bless you.
Even though the people  here are very poor they are very giving. Today we
were given 2 large bunches of bananas, avocados from 2 families and a big
rooster. We have been given lots of eggs also.
Tom and Cheryl

Date: February 9, 2021

Photos submitted by Tom & Cheryl will be posted on the new Facebook Group page for the Newburgh-Centreville Pastoral Charge

https://www.facebook.com/groups/262599465211637/

Sent: February 9, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Sorry for the confusion . Yesterday HCTH bought 2 goats for the family but
this photo was of their calf. We bought this single mother goats before.
When she had enough goats she bought a cow. Now the cow has a calf and the
cycle continues.
One story about this family. Simon Peter and Douglas are the youngest of
the family of 7. Their father left when they were young. The father sold
large bags of rice, beans, maize flour etc in the market. Once when they
had no food to eat Sarah the mother sent Simon Peter who was about 10 to
walk into Mityana to ask the father for food. It was about a 90 minute
walk for him in bare feet. The mother thought that because Simon Peter was
named after his father maybe the father would have pity on them. The
father sent the young Simon Peter back with nothing .Now Simon Peter and
Douglas have sponsors and are in 2nd year at Makerere University in
Commerce. God is good.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Anisha and Annet went into Kampala yesterday  to buy a sewing machine paid
for by a generous Canadian. Actually, 3 people expressed an interest in
helping Anisha.
There are so many generous people who know they are blessed to bless others.
Atul was at the work site yesterday. A house has been started for a single
mother of with 4 children.
I have to go to the barber now. Cheryl is waiting with the clippers.
Blessings Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 7, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family   Yesterday we met with Julius who recently
graduated from university in engineering.  Today we met with Simon Peter
and Douglas  who are in second year of university . Then we met with
Kenneth  who is starting his 4th year in engineering then with Jackline
who is starting her 2nd year of university.  It is so great to see them
doing so well. None of them could go to university without help.
I asked Kenneth if his life was always easy. I wanted Atul to hear his
story. Early on he started to cry and was very emotional. He is now 23 but
the memory is still strong.He told of his mother being a teacher but often
was not paid. His father died when the 3 children  were young. All 3
siblings said they would never be a teacher because they saw what their
mother went through. He said his mother prayed that the children could at
least get to grade 4 so they at least knew some English. He said the few
times they had sugar when he was young he said he did not like sugar even
though he really wanted it. He wanted his mother and 2 sisters to have it.
Children at school teased them because their mother was a teacher and
their clothes were so ragged. They did not want their neighbours to know
they had no food so they put grass or anything in a pot over a fire then
when it was time to eat they would take the pot inside and pretend they
were eating so others thought they had food.
They lived in a 1 room place where the roof leaked. 1 bed for the 4 of
them. Often relatives would come and stay with them. Once the rafters fell
on them because they were so rotted by termites. Another time their
latrine started to collapse with his sister in it. Their mother taught
them the power of prayer. Kenneth is now in 4th year engineering and has
his own company. His sister Winnie graduated as a nurse. His sister
Barbara is in 2nd year university . A powerful testimony of God at work.
We in our affluence often think we have problems but compare this to
Kenneth and many others in a country like Uganda. You can see why helping
children like Kenneth is such a blessing.
God bless each of you.
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 5, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family  Thank you for your prayers.  Atul arrived safely.
He is a great blessing to HCTH. In spite of many covid obstacles Atul has
made the effort to come. He brought 3  50 pound suitcases of backpacks,
calculators, pens, pencils, shoes, clothes etc. He even brought 2 jars of
peanut butter, chocolates and a computer from Can do I.T. in Napanee.
In addition he is funding the building of a house for a single mother.
Yesterday Atul arrived at 11 a.m. At 3 p.m. 4 hours later I said to Atul
that even if he had to leave then his trip would have been worth it. That
is hard to explain but is true. We had a chapats along the street for
lunch. Atul was blessed to see Lilian's new hair salon and desire to teach
hair styling. Then we went to see a girl we help named Catherine then to
where Anisha is almost finished her sewing course.  She is ready to start
on her own just lacking a sewing machine . Last year Atul paid to build
their house for Anisha, Titus and 2 boys. Then we went to see Adrien in
the house paid to build 2 years ago. When her 3 year old twins ran to meet
us looking healthy and even answering How are you  in English. Adrien is
keeping this house on HCTH land looking good. We are proud of you. Atul
was amazed to see the progress among these few people in one year. God is
Good!
Continue your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 3, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Dear friends and family  Yesterday we were busy and returned to our home
at 4 p.m. Shortly after Florence came to the gate them Barbra came with
her 2 children Holope and Elvis plus Jocelyn  and Annette. Before they
left Winnie who just graduated as a nurse came then Edward then Winnies
sister Barbara. The last ones left about 7:30 P.m. Power was off from 8
a.m. until after 8:P.m. It was a full day .

Winnie is a very strong young Christian woman. She was saying that a group
of Christians all over Uganda including her and her sister  Barbara have
been praying and fasting for a year for limited violence during the
national election Jan 14th. Their prayers  were answered. Also they were
praying and fasting for protection in Uganda from covid. Many believe that
is one of the main reasons why covid has not affected Uganda that much.
Today HCTH was able to bless a family. Clair just became a sponsored
child. She lives with her,,. mother in a small room with one small bed
which takes up half the room. The roof leaks. The landlord just increased
the rent from $4 Can. to $10 Can. per month. They struggled to pay the $4.
Today they found out HCTH is moving them to a house closer to where the
mother works. They were so happy. The house is partly furnished plus has
electricity which they never had before and a water tank. Plus they now
have HCTH land where they can grow food. Plus they are now on the food
program receiving a 35 kg bag of maize flour each month. You can see why
they were so excited.
Winnie last night was talking about how the ministry of HCTH has blessed
her family and so many others.
Today a young lady was saying how she was fearful at night and could not
sleep. Cheryl told her to read in her Bible 2 Timothy 1:7. She said she
did not have a Bible. Cheryl happened to bring one from Canada. Tomorrow
this young lady will have it.
Thanks for your prayers .
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 1, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

In yesterday's email  I forgot a few other things we did on Cheryl's first
day. I went to see Solomon re a quote to build a house for a single mother
with 4 small children. Annet and I went to the hospital  to visit a young
mother who is sick. We went to Mityana Junior School . I heard of a young
girl in grade 7 named Rose who could not finish grade 7 because of the
less than $50 She owed. HCTH was happy to pay this So Rose can finish
grade 7. Cheryl and I stayed up until after 10 p.m. talking about people
in Zambia and my time there.
It was a full day. There is lots planned for today also.
Thank you for your prayers .
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 31, 2021

Subject: Tom & Cheryl

Now I can say Tom and Cheryl. Thank you for your prayers.  Cheryl arrived
safely today in Uganda. Her planes were on time.  She landed in Entebbe 10
minutes early. It is great to have  her  here. We have a busy day planned
for tomorrow. Pray that Cheryl gets a good sleep even though it is 8 p.m.
here but noon in Canada. She has had basically no sleep since 7 a.m. on
Friday morning.
Again, thanks for the prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

An Article from the Kingston Whig Standard

Date: January 19, 2021

https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/pandemic-doesnt-slow-work-of-napanee-couples-charity-abroad

Pandemic doesn't slow work of Napanee couple's charity abroad

A Napanee couple who have been travelling to Peru, Uganda and Zambia for 18 years are seeing the effects of COVID-19 in some of the poorest communities in the world.

Tom and Cheryl Martin are the founders of Helping Cope Through Hope, a non-profit organization that sponsors 165 children in those three countries to attend school, as well as provides seed money for small businesses, offers meal programs and helps families with other necessities of life.

The Martins — both of whom are 73 this year — have spent six months of every year for the past nearly two decades travelling to South America and Africa to distribute the donations that support their work. One hundred per cent of those proceeds go to their charitable work, and the Martins cover their own travel expenses through retirement funds and pensions, Tom retired from teaching and Cheryl from nursing.

In March 2020, midway through the African leg of their annual journey, the two were scrambling to find an emergency flight from Uganda back to Canada as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold at home.

“(Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau was telling people to get home as soon as possible,” Cheryl said during a phone interview with the Whig-Standard on Sunday.

They ended up on a wait list for a flight to Amsterdam, which was able to take the Martins and their travel companion, a professor from Queen’s University, as the final three seats on the plane.

The airports in Amsterdam and Toronto were eerily empty, Cheryl recalled. The three travel companions entered quarantine as soon as they arrived home.

But the pandemic has not fully dampened their plans to visit and support their families abroad. While the pair have not been able to travel to Peru this time, they continue to support their families in that country.

In October 2020, Tom visited Uganda, and this year he left for Zambia on Jan. 2. Cheryl joins him in Uganda on Jan. 30, where they will remain until April 19.

Leaving Canada requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test, which costs $199.

Air travel between African countries also requires a negative test, something that becomes more complicated on that side of the world, with a test requiring a long trip to a bigger city from the small communities where the Martins stay, and an expense of approximately $200.

Tom spoke with the Whig-Standard via email from Zambia, where he was waiting for his negative test so he could travel to Uganda.

He said that while the pandemic hasn’t become established in the places he is visiting, if it were to arrive, it would spread quickly.

“When we visited a clinic in (the city of) Choma to talk to a doctor about getting a COVID test, there were about 150 people at a small clinic for the poor,” he wrote. “You could see how fast (the novel coronavirus) could spread in that environment. Different people told me they have little medicine at a clinic like this. They treat almost everything with all they have, which is Panadol (a drug that is a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine). There is a lot of suffering. How could they possibly deal with a serious outbreak of COVID? It was scary to see this clinic.”

Tom said he wears a mask when working with locals and when entering businesses, but that few area residents wear them — approximately 10 per cent in Mityana, the town in Uganda where the Martins travel, and perhaps 30 per cent in the capital city of Kampala.

“COVID has not affected the people too much because it has not been bad in these areas,” he said.

At least, the effects he’s seen haven’t been medical.

“Most of the people we work with struggle under normal times, so COVID makes it worse,” Tom said. “Many we have helped with small businesses had to close for a time, so they could not support their families. Some had items stolen from closed shops. Others were harassed by police, especially in Uganda.”

Some of the families the Martins have assisted in starting their own businesses lost food stock that expired during lockdowns, or lost their street food business due to curfews.

Cheryl reiterated the precarious way in which most of their families live and the instability that COVID-19 has exacerbated, socially.

“With lockdowns, businesses have closed, and lots of people are having trouble getting food on the table,” she said.

Cheryl knows that vulnerabilities exist at home in Canada and sees how that could affect people’s opinions of international charitable work.

“When you have your own problems, it’s hard to look and see other people’s problems,” she said. “The people in those countries are so much more vulnerable than we are. … They live day by day. If they don’t have money to put food on the table, they don’t get food for the week. Their wages are less, their businesses are so small.”

The countries the Martins visit have no free health care, no free education and no social support system.

“It’s certainly a different culture,” Cheryl said. “Nothing is free. It’s very expensive to send kids to school, by the time you buy everything they need. And the majority of them walk 30 to 45 minutes each way to school.”

“We try to continue to help the people through this,” Tom said. “We have sent money many times to Peru even though we can not go there. People who have come to visit these countries with us have a love for the people and want to help them. We continue to pay school fees, build houses and other projects and help people start businesses. We have a food program for poor families in Zambia and Uganda. A lot of medical help continues to be given.”

Cheryl admitted she is “feeling a bit leery” about travelling right now. Flying in close quarters with large groups of people comes with some anxiety, but she is not worried about being in Uganda and contracting COVID-19.

“There hasn’t been travel in and out of Uganda that much,” she said. “They’ve kept the spread down. Around crowds, I will wear a mask and be careful, but I’m not fearful of it. If you were fearful of all these things, you wouldn’t do anything in life, right?”

Cheryl said she and Tom consider the work they’re doing to be essential.

“Maybe some people wouldn’t consider it essential, but we do,” she said. “We’re helping vulnerable people. It makes their lives a lot easier when we can help them.”

For more information, visit www.copethroughhope.ca.

Sent: January 24, 2021

Dear friends and family.  Sorry to bother you again but I feel this is
important.
I am not often at a loss for words but I know I have to be careful when
talking about this because people are along a very broad spectrum re. The
corona pandemic. That is why I am trying to choose my words carefully and
I actually did something I hardly ever do and that is write the words out
ahead of time.
Some of you including family question the sanity of Cheryl and I even
wanting to be in Africa at this time. Anyone that knows us knows we have
never shyed away from where we felt God wanted us to be. We do live by
faith and not by fear But we have never ad the old saying goes, Put God
to a foolish test.God has not given us a spirit of fear.
Life is a risk no matter where we are. Some things are more risky but God
is there. We can not avoid risk.
The reality is  that in Mityana,  Uganda things now are no different than
any of the last 16 years except for a few people wearing masks. There is
not even talk of covid here. There have been few or no cases here. It is
not covered much on the news. Students are in university. Classes with
national exams- grades 7, 11 and 13 are in school. Schools are talking of
reopening soon.
I realize covid is serious. Millions have died worldwide but we are where
God wants us to be and that is what is most important to us. He will take
care of us .
Thanks again for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 24, 2021

Subject: Tom

Dear friends and family: Now is the time to turn your prayer focus to
Cheryl. She is starting her journey to Africa on Friday . She is
travelling to Toronto Friday then fly out on Saturday morning. It is a
stressful time to fly without the threat of getting covid. A covid test is
needed, possible plane delays and more. Pray that things work out for her.
I Don't want to be in Uganda without her for 3 months. I am excited to
pick her up at Entebbe airport on Sunday at 1:30 P.m. There is 8 hours
difference between Napanee and Uganda.
If you want to email  her to tell her you are praying for her, her email is
cveramartin47@gmail.com
Thank you for your prayers.  God is faithful.
Many blessings to You!
Tom

Sent: January 21, 2021

Subject: Tom

Dear friends and family: I arrived safely in Mityana,Uganda.  Thank you
for your prayers. It was a long day travelling. I was at the airport in 4
African countries- Lusaka, Zambia,  Harare, Zimbabwe,  Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia,  Entebbe, Uganda.
There is a lot to do in Uganda. It is the busiest for HCTH. When I first
come everyone wants to see me. It is good that many do not know I am here
yet.

The motorcycle started up easily. That is always a great blessing. I
picked 3 papaya from our tree. Today I went to the 3rd. birthday for twins
Morris and Tracy. It is great to see them growing and doing well.
Yesterday I had about 25 emails in response to the Whig Standard article.
There was a great positive response. Some want to donate and at least 3
new sponsors. It was a great blessing. The sister of the writer of the
article came to Zambia with us years ago.
 There is no sign of violence in Mityana after the contested National
election of January 14. Also you would not know there is an issue with
covid. I think I am the only person in Mityana wearing a mask.
I am at a local hotel using the internet.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

Sent: January 18, 2021

Subject: Tom

Dear friends and family: You might have heard me shout Hallelujah and
Praise the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. The covid test was negative
so I am ready to fly to Uganda on Tuesday .
Something interesting. It shows the value of the Canadian dollar abroad.
I was at a foreign exchange yesterday and a different  one today . They
both were the same. The Zambian kwatcha value is very poor now. At the
foreign  exchange they are giving 21.2 kwatcha per $U.S. and 9 kwatcha
for a Canadian dollar. They obviously do not want Canadian dollars.
Keep  praying  as I travel to Uganda tomorrow.
Tom

Sent: January 15, 2021

Subject: Tom

Dear friends and family: Today I had a great answer to prayer. My contact
in Lusaka called today. The place I was supposed to get my covid test in
Lusaka is closed for 3 days but Clifford was able to arrange a covid test
on Sunday morning at 9 at another location. I said Thank you God for this
answer to our prayers. I am going to Lusaka tomorrow by bus and will get
the test on Sunday, the results on Monday and fly out on Tuesday to
Uganda. Perfect timing by God. I could not leave Zambia without the test
or enter Uganda. Thank you for your prayers.
I am emailing this on our friends porch with pouring rain 3 feet away. It
has rained most of the day. Great for the crops.
P.S. They asked people to be away from downtown at 4:30 because they are
spraying for covid. I think it is a Zambian magic formula. If it does not
work they will blame it on the rain.
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom

Sent:January 14, 2021

Subject: Tom in Zambia

Dear friends and family: It is a nice sunny day in Choma. We have had our
rain for the day. The power is off but I am at a friend named Jenny who
has solar power. She is from the U.K. but has settled in Choma after her
missionary work ended.
 Time in Choma is winding down so almost everyone wants to see me for help
e.g.. Yesterday it was Jerome, Sylvestor, Floribert, Oteria and Ben.
Today it is Nchimunya, Irene, Naomi, Clever, Evelyn. Lots of need but
also lots of wisdom needed.
There has been lots of rain which is a great blessing .Usually rains only
last a short time and the sun comes out. As I ride through the field to
Mwapona many are busy working in their gardens. Interestingly, almost all
are women. It is too hard of a work for the men.
 There has not been too much talk of covid in Choma. Tomorrow they are
asking people to be off the  streets at 2 p.m. They are going to spray
something to prevent the spread of covid. Don't ask  me where that idea
came from.
God is good in all things. Many of those  helped by HCTH are doing well.
Jerome has a youth ministry in Mwapona. Evelyn is nursing. Floribert is
teaching and many more.
On Saturday I leave Choma for Lusaka. I have to get a covid test and fly
to Uganda on Tuesday. Pray for Uganda that there is no serious violence
because of today's election.
Thanks for your prayers. God answers prayer.
Tom

Sent: November 9, 2020 8:38 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: This is a different e mail than normal.
As I told you before, our friend Joan in Uganda lost her fiancee while I
was in Uganda. He was only 28, seemingly healthy but a week after entering
the hospital he passed away. Cheryl and I have been trying to comfort Joan
through e mails. As you would expect, Joan is hurting.  This morning she
wrote," For the first time in my life I found a person who really loved me
but God took him away from me. Everyone is telling me God has something
better planned but I seriously do not understand. I was really happy with
what I had. Thank you for your prayers. I am glad you are in my life."
 I was thinking that if anyone has words of comfort for Joan they could
e-mail me and I will forward it to her.  Thank you.
 Also, to show you that the work of HCTH continues even as we are in
Canada, I received an e-mail this morning from Maria. Maria, the same as
Joan, is a girl HCTH sent through university. Maria asked if we could
help a young girl she knows who is 16. Her father said he has no money to
send her to school so he is going to marry her off and get some money. He
has given her the choice between two men both much older than her. The
girl ran away to her grandmother who can't afford to send her to school
either. Maria is asking for advice.
 Thank you for your support of HCTH.
 Blesings!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: October 30, 2020 12:58 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

It is 7:30 a.m. in Mityana, Uganda. I will start washing clothes soon. I
have already had 2 brothers at the gate asking for school needs.
Yesterday a boy named Geoffrey came to the gate. We first met him last
year when he came asking for help. He was in a desperate situation. He
could not work because an out of control car ran over his foot and caused
severe injuries. He lost his ability to earn a living by making chapats.
While he was in the hospital someone stole his chapat making items. He was
behind in his rent etc. A kind couple visiting us from Napanee decided to
help him and buy material for him to start his business again. We left in
March and he was starting his business.
Yesterday Geoffrey updated me on his life. He just got going ok when he
had to shut down because of corona. He could not pay his rent again. He
sold what little he had in his room to survive including his mattress,
pillow,bed etc. When that ran out he slept on the street. A kind Ugandan
man gave him 150,000 to pay 3 months rent on a room. He has nothing in the
room. He sleeps on a sack on the floor. He is starting his business again
now and it is going well again. I did not tell him but today before I
leave Mityana I will buy him a mattress, sheets, blanket, pillow. Thank
God for the gift certificates.
Pray that Geoffrey continues to do well in his business.
 Pray all goes well as I leave for the Entebbe airport at 6 p.m. and fly
out of Uganda at 11:30 p.m. arriving in Toronto on Saturday at 4:30 which
is 11:30 p.m. Uganda time-exactly 24 hours after I leave Uganda.
Thanks for your prayers during this time in Uganda. God answered your
prayers.
Tom

Sent: October 27, 2020 11:56 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Please pray for Joan's boyfriend Calvin. He has been moved from Entebbe to
a bigger hospital in Kampala. Joan called me crying this morning. He has
been unconscious for 5 days now.
 I saw an interesting t shirt today that said,  "Dream It  Believe It
Achieve It" With God all things are possible.
 Catherine is slowly improving. Her hands are very bruised and swollen.
Jane is walking a bit better from the cat bite.
Pray for my last 3 days in Uganda. I fly out at 11:30 p.m. on Friday
night. I am supposed to be at the airport 4 hours early. Tomorrow at 8
a.m. I am getting a covid test at Mityana Hospital. They say a 24 hour
result but I pay extra for it

Sent: October 24, 2020 11:01 PM

Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family:

 It is 5:15 a.m. in Uganda or 10:15 p.m. in
Napanee. I slept well until 4 a.m. then started thinking about the days
events.
 It was one of those days in which you could say, "I could not have
scripted it to happen as the day unfolded. I left home at 8 a.m. to go to
the Bank ATM then give money to Jacklin for university. I then went to
Hope House to help Annet put up curtains which were taken down to paint.
Then to Namukozi to take food to 4 families. Then to visit Jessica who
has been sick. She wants help to get town water because the well is far
away. HCTH built a house for the family 2 years ago.  Other visits
followed. An easy day ended up that I got home at 2 p.m. with a brief
stop for a rolex(chapat and egg) for lunch along the street.
I thought I would relax a bit and bathe waiting for a visit from Kenneth
at 4. I got my basin of water from the rain barrel. Set it in the sun to
heat some more.
 I did not realize that my day was just starting. At about 2;15 the phone
rang. It was Shakira who said I told her I would call her on Saturday.
She wanted help to buy an oven for a business she is starting. I had told
her no a few days ago but to call me. She told me she sold her phone to
get some money and only needed 380,000 U. Shillings more. ($1 Can. =2,500
U. Sh.) I thought if she sold her most treasured possession her smart
phone she must be serious so I said I would send her the money. Just then
the phone rang again. It was Barbara who needed money for a job
application. Both of these girls were doing well before Covid. I said I
would send money by Mobile money. The phone rang again. It was Annet  who
wanted to talk to me. I jumped on the motorcycle. Went up street to send
the money then went to Hope House to see Annet. While I was there I had
taken extra wire to put up the last curtain. Annet shared about her
nephew who about 3 months ago developed a lump on his head. It grew and
was painful. They took him to the doctor and they said he needed an
operation which costs 2,000,000. They are very poor and the family has
raised 850,000. Jovan is now in a hospital in Kampala waiting for a
scheduled operation on Wednesday which will not happen unless they raise
the money. Annet was very emotional. I then went to Nabembezi school to
see Olivia who is sick with malaria. I arranged for the head teacher to
take her to the clinic and let me know the cost. She said she would call
me.
I rushed home for the 4 o'clock meeting with Kenneth. Just after he got
here it started to rain so we put our motorcycles in the shed. In
squeezing them in I broke one of the mirrors on my motorcycle. Kenneth
shared with tears how his 28 year old sister in law died last year of
throat cancer and his mother is looking after the children but a few
months ago Kenneth's mother developed ovarian cancer. They struggled to
raise money for an operation and now to pay for chemo treatments which are
supposed to be free but they always say the free drugs are over so if you
want the treatment you have to pay.
Then the phone rang. It was Florence who 3 days before came with her 8
month old baby girl to say she was sorry she got pregnant and wanted to
know if we still cared for her. She told of going to a party with friends
and an older married man got her drunk then took her to a room for the
night. 9 months later she had a baby. She told that this man plus other
family and friends told her to abort the baby but she said she could not
kill her baby. I assured her that we still loved her. She was relieved.
Then in the rain a knock came to the gate. It was Stella and a friend
coming from school. Stella needed 30,000 for school. Kenneth left about
5:30. While Stella was there the phone rang. It was Catherine. She was in
a clinic hospital and wanted to see me. Last night on her way home she was
beaten by 3 men and her phone was stolen. I took Stella and her friend
into town then went to try and find the clinic. It was 6 p.m. by then. God
helped me to quickly find the clinic and Catherine in a bed clearly in
pain from lots of bruises especially on her hands and arms where they beat
her with sticks to get her to release her phone. She was on some type of
drip. I gave her 50,000 for food and drinks. I will end up paying the
medical bill and pray Catherine is ok.
 While I was out and just before dark I thought of 1 more family I could
take food to plus buy a mirror for the motorcycle While on the motorcycle
the phone rang. It was the head teacher saying the fee for Olivia going
to the clinic for malaria was 40,000. I said I would pay on Monday. Then
the phone rang again. It was Winnie and her son Good Luck who wanted to
come for a visit. I rushed home, had a quick bath and at 7:15 Winnie and
Good Luck came. Finally at 8 I was able to call another man, Rev. Tembo,
who had called first while I was on the motorcycle at about 6:30 but I
did not hae time to get back to him.
Sorry for the long e-mail but I think it gives you more insight into our
ministry- the joys and trials of helping the very poor and needy. At one
point the thought did come to me- what is an almost 73 year old man doing
away from his loving wife when he could be relaxing in front of a
television in his comfortable home. The truth is I would not want to be
anywhere else BUT will be happy to be back in Canada this next Saturday
coming.
Again sorry for the long discourse. There was a lot more that could have
been said of these events but I tried to just tell the basics.
Life is never boring here.
Thanks for your prayers and financial support!
Tom

Sent: October 21, 2020 1:00 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: Yesterday I had to go to the capital city
Kampala. It is crowded as usual. You would not know there is anything
different except maybe 10% are wearing masks. I did get my temperature
checked once. Masks have to be worn in many buildings. Even on the taxi
van going and coming most had masks around their neck or ears but not
wearing them. In Mityana where I am you would not know there is any issue.
Less than 1% wear masks. Nobody knows of anyone in Mityana who has had
covid. Thanks for your continued prayers. Pray also there are no plane
changes as I am scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Saturday, October 31. I
am trying to find out if I need a covid test to leave Uganda. I don't
think you can even get one in Mityana.
 Pray for the last few days here.
The need continues. Rachel has had a toothache for a long time but could
not afford to go to the dentist. Now she is feeling better. Hassan is
better after getting medication. May others also. Yesterday is food day
when on the 20th of each month 17 families receive a 25 kg. bag of maize
meal. This is a great blessing. Thank you to our friend from Kingston who
supports this program.
The real reason I am e mailing is to tell you the more accurate total of
the Auction. Cheryl informs me that the total is over $6,100. That is
great. Praise the Lord! (I think I got the dollar sign instead of the
lower case 4 on the same key)
Thank you and God Bless!   Tom
P.S. My phone rang t 7:20 a.m. Sulah was at the gate re. a home
construction issue. I am glad I was up. Usually I do not turn my phone on
until at least 8 a.m. so I can have breakfast, e mail and shave in peace.

Sent: October 17, 2020 4:57 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family:  Sorry for the mistake. I did not catch it but
the total for the auction was over $5,000    Instead of the dollar sign I
did not hit the caps lock and it printed a 4 instead of a dollar sign. It
would have been nice to be as it was but it was an honest mistake. The
computer and typer did not catch it in spell check. We are happy with the
over $5,000. God is good.
I have to go. Kenneth who is in 3rd year engineering at university just
called and is coming to the gate.
 Blessings   Tom

Sent: October 16, 2020 11:13 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: First of all thank you for all who made the just
ended first ever HCTH Online auction a success. Over 45,000 was raised.
Thank you to Esther, Jessica and Atul for preparing for the sale. Thank
you to the donors and buyers. Thank you to Atul, Jessica and Diana helping
Cheryl on Saturday and Sunday pickup. Especially thank you to Cheryl in my
absence. She was busy today baking 11 pies for the fortunate buyers. Thank
you so much.
 It has been a busy 2 days home from the safari. Another lady was at the
gate yesterday asking for help. Yesterday I was invited to a great meal
in the country. It was matooke, rice, beans, green beans and orange juice
from their tree. There I met a very nice young boy who in February
entered grade 12 but stopped in March because of covid like everyone
else. In April his mother and father were in a car coming from a burial.
They were both killed in a bad crash leaving 3 children who now feel
hopeless about their future. Today I met with Viola who is raising a 3
year old whose mother died in a motorcycle accident leaving no relatives
so Viola took in the little girl. I also met today with Sylvia whose
husband now can't work because he was in a bad motorcycle accident. They
were doing so well. Sylvia was expecting her 2nd. little girl when the
accident happened. Sylvia lost her job because of Covid. Almost everyone
talking to me is asking for help because they have not been able to pay
rent since March. People were set back financially. Many still are not
working.
Yesterday I was in Mityana. 3 people phoned me and told me to go home.
Police were firing tear gas to disperse opposition party supporters. Later
Joan phoned and told me it was ok to go out.
I went to see Eve and her triplet sons. Interestingly the only one not
afraid of me was the one named after me. Today a girl named Florence who
was part of another ministry but Cheryl and I have been close to came with
her 8 month old daughter. Her daughters middle name is Martin. She said
she always appreciated our love for her.
 Sulah has been doing odd repair jobs. Today repairing te roof of Adrien's
house. Solomon is doing some work at Hope House and painters are painting
the inside of Hope House. There is lots going on.
 Thanks for your prayers. You can see why one major prayer request is for
safety on the roads.
 God Bless each of you.
Tom

Sent: October 15, 2020 12:20 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: It was nice to see a beautiful part of Uganda I
had not seen before but my heart is here with the people and their needs.
We went on a game drive in a Land Rover at Murchison Falls Park. We saw
elephants, hippos, lots of giraffes, bush buck, Ugandan kob, lots of
baboons, monkeys, wart hogs and lots of Cape buffalo. At 6:30 a.m. we
walked across a low bridge over the Victoria Nile. A big crocodile was in
the middle of the 1 lane bridge. We waited for it to slide into the water
before w proceeded. In the afternoon we went on a 17 km, boat trip up the
Nile and 17 km. back. We saw lots of hippos and got close to 7 Nile
crocodiles plus saw a few monkeys and lots of interesting birds. It was
great to be on the true grasslands of Africa  BUT it is good to be back in
Mityana. Thank you for your prayers. As you would expect, when I got home
a mother whose family w help was at the gate. She needed help for medicine
. Her and her 4 children are sick. She thinks it is malaria. Her name is
Jessica and she was asking how Jessica from Canada is.
Also, Winnie-mother of Good Luck- called. She wanted to see me with what
she said was great news. I went to see her and she was happy. She said
that since she came in contact with HCTH her life has changed so much. I
told her a year ago that if she put God first in her life God would bless
her. She has always been concerned about her mother who has had mental
issues after being bewitched. We prayed about that. She told me her mother
is now working and best of all her boss is going away for a year and told
her mother she has a house to live in for free in exchange for looking
after it. She has always struggled with paying rent. Winnie's grandmothers
business is growing also. Winnie has a job teaching(interrupted by covid)
and she will attend teachers college between terms. Quite a change in 1
year.
Honest Clinton is doing well and improving. He was actually hit by a taxi
van not a motorcycle. The van did not stop even after hitting a little
boy. They got the license number but I doubt anything will be done.
Thanks again for your prayers. God answers prayer! Adrien is coming at 8
a.m. to wash for me. It will be extra money for her.
 Today I am visiting 2 families about 25 minute motorcycle ride away. One
family has invited me for lunch. The other family has 2 boys in
university-Simon Peter and Douglas. At the other family Ronald is in
grade 13.
God Bless each of you.
Tom

Sent: April 5, 2020 2:02 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family;  We are well and self-isolating at home for 5
more days. We have been blessed with food from friends, family and
neighbours. We have been provided with books to read also. We have had
time to rest a bit, read the Bible, read books, study Luganda(Tom), do
some yard work, go for walks and bicycle rides. Cheryl is still using the
bicycle we bought in June, 1987. It has the same tires and tubes. On
Sundays we have even been able to watch our pastors and attend the weekly
church service from home. We are blessed!
 We have had time to reflect on our time in Africa from January 1 to March
25. HCTH was able to bless many people in Uganda and Zambia.
 I think of the 4 now in nursing and doing well(3 girls and 1 boy). The 5
who started university in August are doing well. One girl in Zambia
started university in January. Many people were started in new businesses
and many others were helped in their business.
 We heard so many testimonials from young people helped through the
ministry of HCTH. Kenneth in 3rd year engineering, Kenneth now finished
university, Winnie in nursing in Zambia, Winnie in nursing in Uganda,
Winnie now able to go to Teacher's college and many others like Sulah,
Barbara, Slvia, Precious spoke glowingly of how now they have Hope in
their life.
 The people who joined us for a short term were a great blessing to Cheryl
and I, to HCTH, most of all to the people of Africa. Esther and Mike took
their sponsored daughter on a safari. They sponsored a new child named
Promise. They paid off the motorcycle of a young father so he can use it
in his job as a motorcycle taxi man.
 Jessica was a great help to the ministry visiting many schools and
helping pay school fees and get sponsor letters. She sponsored a new
child also and helped that family. She was there to help counsel a young
mother who was having marital problems and much more.
 Atul paid to build a house for a young family who will not have to pay
rent now. He gave money to provide food for many families so they get a
25 kg. bag of maize flour each month. He is helping 2 sisters in high
school who are basically on their own.
 Rob and Tanya spent time with their sponsored child Joven. They paid
school fees for a young girl in grade 9 who otherwise would not be able
to go to school. They paid school fees for another young girl also. They
paid money so a young man could start a business making chapats.
 Lynann taught English to 3 young adults in the morning and 4 women in the
afternoon. It was a blessing to see this happening and to see how happy
the people were to know they were learning English. She worked closely
with Annet whom she had paid for to complete university. She also had 2
visits with Kenneth, a boy she is sponsoring whom is in 3rd year
engineering at University. Lynann and friends paid school fees so 4
children abandoned by their mother and father could go to school. Their
names are Patience, Peace, Livingstone and Honesty.  She took them to the
market to buy clothes plus gave money so they will receive food each
month for a year. A boy named Kenneth whom HCTH helped through university
a few years ago came for a visit. He mentioned that his one ear has been
bothering him for a year and he has limited hearing from that ear. We
diagnosed it as an ear wax problem. Lynann went into her room and came
out with some ear drops and an apparatus to flush out ears. She gave it
to Kenneth. He reported back 2 days later that his ear was now completely
better and he could hear perfectly. Kenneth also was able to get reading
glasses that he needed.
 When Jessica left she left an antibiotic. After she left, Cheryl had a
sinus infection. She was not feeling well so used that antibiotic. When
it finished she was still not well so used an antibiotic that Derek
Bedford left last year. Between the two she recovered completely.
 There were so many more blessing during the 3 months. What I have just
mentioned does not do a good service to how God blessed this time. God
was there in so many ways. I am not even mentioning the last 2 days in
Uganda when God intervened in an amazing way to get us home. I have
already relayed much of this to you.
You are all part of this story. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for
your financial support. And for some of you thank you for coming and
witnessing first hand God in action in Africa.
 May God Bless each of you!
   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: April 16, 2019 12:31 AM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Thank you for your prayers. I am safely back in
Uganda. I have to say that when I landed in Entebbe it felt like home.
Yesterday was a busy day as will the few days before we leave Mityana on
Friday, April 19. We arrive in Toronto around noon on Saturday morning.
Pray that we are able to complete everything. Many people want to see us
as is usual when they know we are leaving soon.
God Bless!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: April 7, 2019 12:32 PM
Subject: Tom in Choma, Zambia

Dear friends and family: I arrived safely in Zambia- a few hours later
than expected but am here. The plane from Entebbe was an hour late leaving
so I missed the connecting flight from Ethiopia to Zambia. Ethiopia Air
put me in a hotel in Addis Ababa for the night. I arrived in Livingstone,
Zambia at 6 p.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.  BUT Praise God I arrived safely.
I only have 6 days in Choma so will be busy.
 Thanks for your prayers!   Tom


Sent: April 3, 2019 12:25 AM

Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Yesterday was a very blessed day for us in
Mityana. God greatly blessed our day.
We had a great visit on Saturday from Sylvia- a girl helped through
university by HCTH and now has a good job. Yesterday she gave birth to a
little girl.
 Lillian another girl helped for many years ad now completing a hair
dressing course called to say yesterday was her birthday. We went to
visit her at her course to bless her with a few needed items. She is 20
years old now.
 HCTH helped Viola to start a new business. She has had a difficult time
but completed 2 years of business school. The end of her first year at
school she was raped on her way home from a class and a pregnancy
resulted in her son Elijah. Viola e-mailed yesterday to happily report
that she sold 1,200,000 shillings of items in her first two weeks. (about
$260 Canadian). She was very encouraged.
 In the afternoon we had a visit and lunch with Canon John and his wife
Grace Musaasizi. They are nice people. We had traditional Ugandan food
like sweet potatoes, rice, cooked cabbage, ground nut sauce and bananas.
 I will now try to tell you about the greatest blessing of yesterday. On
Monday I got a call from Esther saying Adrien had to report to the
police. I went to get Adrien at her hairdressing course. Esther and I
went to the police with her. Her husband had gone to the police
complaining that we had hidden her and the 4 children away from him and
he did not know where they were. We met for over an hour with a lot of
questions from the police. I had a great chance to meet the husband for
the first time and explain what I thought of him as a wife beater and
negligent father. I quickly saw what a bad person he was.The 2 police
asked us all to return the next day-Tuesday- at 10 a.m. to see the
Commanding Officer. Cheryl and I were early as was Adrien's husband who
came with his mother. He had cleaned up from the day before. Because we
were early I had a chance to tell the C.O. about ourselves and our work
in Mityana. She was a very nice person. Soon Adrien and Esther arrived.
The meeting lasted again over an hour but to save time the C.O. was very
hard on the husband and even said a couple times that she could put him
in jail right then for what he had done to his wife and family. In the
end her conclusion was better than we could ever have hoped. He is not
allowed near her home(our land). He can only visit the children when he
arranges it and it has to be at the police station. Her husband was not
happy about that. It was clear he does not care for his children but only
wants to dominate and hurt Adrien. I will end with one interesting thing
that happened. The father talked to the police at the first of the
interview. Then the C.O. turned to me and asked an interesting question.
She said,"The husband wants to know why you do not like him." That is
because I came down hard on him the day before. I said to the C.O. It is
not him I dislike but what I dislike is what he does. He beats his wife
at his pleasure, he does not feed, clothe, educate, care for his
children.
 When we left the office Adrien hugged Cheryl with a big smile on her
face. Adrien and Esther came to our house for a short visit and winding
down. Adrien was very pleased with the result. It was better than we
could have hoped for. Our prayers were answered.
Pray for all of these people mentioned in this e-mail that God will
continue to bless them. Especially pray for Adrien and her family now in a
new HCTH house. The house was wired for electricity yesterday.
Pray also for Lynann and Chris as the start there return to Canada
tomorrow. I start my journey to Zambia for 8 days also. Pray for Cheryl by
herself in Mityana.
 I think you can see why your prayers are essential!
 God is Good!
 Tom and Cheryl



Sent: April 3, 2019 12:25 AM

Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Yesterday was a very blessed day for us in
Mityana. God greatly blessed our day.
We had a great visit on Saturday from Sylvia- a girl helped through
university by HCTH and now has a good job. Yesterday she gave birth to a
little girl.
 Lillian another girl helped for many years ad now completing a hair
dressing course called to say yesterday was her birthday. We went to
visit her at her course to bless her with a few needed items. She is 20
years old now.
 HCTH helped Viola to start a new business. She has had a difficult time
but completed 2 years of business school. The end of her first year at
school she was raped on her way home from a class and a pregnancy
resulted in her son Elijah. Viola e-mailed yesterday to happily report
that she sold 1,200,000 shillings of items in her first two weeks. (about
$260 Canadian). She was very encouraged.
 In the afternoon we had a visit and lunch with Canon John and his wife
Grace Musaasizi. They are nice people. We had traditional Ugandan food
like sweet potatoes, rice, cooked cabbage, ground nut sauce and bananas.
 I will now try to tell you about the greatest blessing of yesterday. On
Monday I got a call from Esther saying Adrien had to report to the
police. I went to get Adrien at her hairdressing course. Esther and I
went to the police with her. Her husband had gone to the police
complaining that we had hidden her and the 4 children away from him and
he did not know where they were. We met for over an hour with a lot of
questions from the police. I had a great chance to meet the husband for
the first time and explain what I thought of him as a wife beater and
negligent father. I quickly saw what a bad person he was.The 2 police
asked us all to return the next day-Tuesday- at 10 a.m. to see the
Commanding Officer. Cheryl and I were early as was Adrien's husband who
came with his mother. He had cleaned up from the day before. Because we
were early I had a chance to tell the C.O. about ourselves and our work
in Mityana. She was a very nice person. Soon Adrien and Esther arrived.
The meeting lasted again over an hour but to save time the C.O. was very
hard on the husband and even said a couple times that she could put him
in jail right then for what he had done to his wife and family. In the
end her conclusion was better than we could ever have hoped. He is not
allowed near her home(our land). He can only visit the children when he
arranges it and it has to be at the police station. Her husband was not
happy about that. It was clear he does not care for his children but only
wants to dominate and hurt Adrien. I will end with one interesting thing
that happened. The father talked to the police at the first of the
interview. Then the C.O. turned to me and asked an interesting question.
She said,"The husband wants to know why you do not like him." That is
because I came down hard on him the day before. I said to the C.O. It is
not him I dislike but what I dislike is what he does. He beats his wife
at his pleasure, he does not feed, clothe, educate, care for his
children.
 When we left the office Adrien hugged Cheryl with a big smile on her
face. Adrien and Esther came to our house for a short visit and winding
down. Adrien was very pleased with the result. It was better than we
could have hoped for. Our prayers were answered.
Pray for all of these people mentioned in this e-mail that God will
continue to bless them. Especially pray for Adrien and her family now in a
new HCTH house. The house was wired for electricity yesterday.
Pray also for Lynann and Chris as the start there return to Canada
tomorrow. I start my journey to Zambia for 8 days also. Pray for Cheryl by
herself in Mityana.
 I think you can see why your prayers are essential!
 God is Good!
 Tom and Cheryl

Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is a beautiful Sunday morning in Mityana,
Uganda. Cloudy earlier but better now!
This morning we are going to Hope House to have a devotion time with the
children and workers there. Lynann is giving a Bible lesson and we will
sing some songs. All the children should be there except Catherine who has
classes.
 Later today we are meeting with 3 HCTH sponsored university students-
Kenneth in second year engineering, Winnie in 2nd year nursing and Julius
in 3rd year engineering. Lynann sponsors Kenneth in university.
Yesterday we had a great time with Sylvia who is so thankful for her help
to complete university. She introduced us to her future husband Ivan. It
is so good to see our university graduate girls meeting good future mates.
It was touching as Ivan basically asked me for Sylvia's hand in
marriage(Sylvia never knew her real father). Ivan said how much he loved
her and would be a good husband to her. He said he was so proud of Sylvia
as we are. She has a good job in Kampala using her degree in finance and
accounting. Praise God for this! We are so happy for Sylvia. Seeing HCTH
children like Sylvia makes all the effort worthwhile.
At 6 p.m. last night Sulah came with his wife Hajara and family plus a
young niece and nephew. We sponsor Sulah's 3 children. Hajara is expecting
again. They wanted help for the other 2 children.
 Adrien is happy in her new home. The latrine is finished. Tomorrow the
electrician is putting in the electricity for her. She also starts a new
job tomorrow which is closer to her home. Her salary also increases 50%
from 2,000 to 3,000 Shillings *$1 Canadian is 2500 Shillings
 We continue to be asked daily for help. There is great need as there is
in many other parts of the world. You just do what God allows and are
thankful for those you can help.
 We have had lots of rain. This is good for everyone. On Thursday we all
got wet as we were out on the motorcycles. I had to wait under a shelter
for about an hour but got wet anyway.
This week 2 boys were blessed with being able to go to school through the
money given by Chris and Lynann. Vincent is in first year of Secondary
school and Michael is in his 5th year.
There continues to be lots of medical needs also. This week HCTH helped 3
of our sponsored children who were sick- Lilian, Miriam, Flavia.
 Just for interest, Lynann asked Cheryl what the number of boys and girls
sponsored in Uganda. It is 36 boys and 38 girls.
 Thank you for your prayers and support! God Bless each of you! Have a
great Sabbath Day!
 Tom and Cheryl


Sent: March 23, 2019 1:32 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Uganda

Dear friends and family: As I write this at 8 p.m. it is very warm in the
house. Today was a hot day in spite of a brief rain in the afternoon.
 Tomorrow Joram and I are going to Entebbe airport to pick up Lynann and
Chris from Canada. Pray for safe travels and their 12 days with Cheryl
and I. The day they leave- April 5- I also leave for 8 days in Zambia.
Time will go fast. Annet will go with us. Lynann helped Annet to complete
university.
 The ministry of HCTH continues to bless many people. Gift certificates
this week helped 2 youth to get dental work. Tonigh another girl received
medical help. Tomorrow while I go to Entebbe, Cheryl will go with Lilian
to the medical clinic.
 The food program is expanding. Today I delivered a 25kg. bag to a family.
It is great to see people with lots of food to eat.
 One morning last week Cheryl and I were on the motorcycle. We saw at
least 50 students returning from high school at 8:30 a.m. The ones we saw
were only a small number of the total walking away from school. We knew
what was happening but I asked one girl in a group of students. The
students were sent home because they had not paid school fees. It is so
sad to see the students with nice clean uniforms and a great desire to go
to school but no money.
 It looks like Adrien will be moving into her new house on Wednesday. She
and her family will also have a new latrine. She is very excited. Adrien
will have land to grow food on near her house also.
 Today we bought a chicken for ourselves. This is the first meat we have
bought to eat since we came to Africa January 6. I am looking forward to
it. I picked out the live chicken in the market. The man said he would
kill it and take off the feathers for 1000 shillings(about 25 cents U.S.)
I thought it was a good idea. 5 minutes later I was walking away with a
freshly killed chicken.
 Last night Annet visited us to play cards. When we let her out at 8 p.m.
a bat flew into the house. It took a few swings but I finally was
successful and the bat met its demise. It sounds simpler than it actually
was. At first we thought it was a bird. Never a dull moment in Africa!
Anything can happen.
 Thank you for your prayers! God is blessing the work of HCTH. Thank you
for your financial support also.
 God Bless each of you!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 16, 2019 2:43 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It continues to be hot with a good amount of
rain. Today it rained for about 30 minutes in the afternoon so we had to
wait it out. We don't mind because rain is so important.
 Pray for our friends in Zambia. It is a drought there. Our good friend
e-mailed today and said, "I don't know how we will live. God will have to
keep us."
 Jessica is happy in her new house with her new beds, sheets, blankets etc.
 Atul and his sisters returned to Mityana for 3 days after being away for
2 weeks. They could not believe the progress that has taken place in
those two weeks. Atul joked about our 2 week vacation.
 We have started a new house for Adrien on land owned by HCTH. She is very
excited. What a major change for her since she first came to our gate 11
months ago. All the problems she had at that time have been addressed- a
better home, daughter in school, no rent debt, food to eat, away from an
abusive husband and more.
Today Atul sat in on a grade 12 math class at Pride S.S. He enjoyed this
as he taught high school math in Kingston.
 Sickness is a big problem here in Uganda. At any one time at least 1 of
those we help are sick. Today I was at the clinic with Adrien who has
typhoid. Miriam also has typhoid now. Stella and Patience have malaria.
 Thanks to those who have purchased gift certificates. Recently we
purchased a cow, mosquito nets, blankets, beds, food and medical needs.
 When you work as closely as we do with the people there are always
serious issues that need to be addressed. That is why we ask God each day
for wisdom.
 Thank you for your prayers.
 Pray for Atul as he leaves Uganda tomorrow for Canada and his sisters as
they return to the U.K. They have been a great blessing to the work of
HCTH.
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 8, 2019 12:34 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Today was another example 9f God directing our
steps. Esther called early in the morning. Esther found the home where we
put Adrien. It is owned by her uncle. Esther said she wanted to talk to us
because there was a problem last night. Adrien and her cousin were
carrying a large bag of charcoal across the road when a motorcycle tried
to hit Adrien. It was her husband. Adrien barely avoided being hit. She
told us a year ago when her husband beat her with a stick she was in the
hospital for a week. (Adrien is very petite weighing only about 80 pounds
soaking wet). Today Esther took Adrien to the police who summoned her
husband and her to appear at the police station on Monday. Interesting
that today is International Women's Day celebrated in Uganda. Great that
Adrien had the strength to go to the police. We pray that Monday the
police will take Adriens danger seriously and that God protects her from
any more attacks from her former husband.
Thanks for your prayers.
 Tom and Cheryl



Sent: March 5, 2019 12:41 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We have been getting lots of rain lately. Our
water tanks are all full.
 Today was a blessed day for one poor family in Uganda. Jessica moved into
her new home with her husband and 4 children plus a niece. They are so
thankful. We had one double bed, a 3 tiered bunk bed for 3 boys and a
bunk bed for 2 girls delivered. Plus 6 mattresses, 6 blankets, 6 mosquito
nets, 6 sheet sets, 6 pillows. Thanks so much Dan and Derek. We feel bad
you were not here to be part of this. Jessica said, "There has to be a
God because He has answered my prayer." Before this in their 1 room
rental they only had 1 single bed for the parents and 2 old mattresses
for the 5 children. God does answer prayer!
Last night Winnie came to visit us. We have helped her for many years. She
is in her second year of nursing and loves it. It is so good to see how
she has matured and is doing so well.
We now have most of the sponsor letters. There are only about 8 more to get.
We still every day get people asking for help. Today a young lady came to
the gate. Her husband died. She is HIV positive and she can't pay school
fees. They all start out by saying"I've got a problem." The reality is we
can not help everybody.
 I will end by a bizarre event that only would take place in Africa. On
Monday we went to Mityana Junior school where HCTH has 8 children
enrolled. There was a large crowd of people gathered. Then the police and
army came so we decided to leave as they often fire tear gas at will. The
rumor had spread that the principal had brought evil spirits and ghosts
into the school and the children were scared to go to school. The
soldiers and police were protecting the principal from the angry parents.
Yes, Derek, the same man we had a good talk with 2 weeks ago. A very nice
man. Tomorrow we will go back to find out when things will be back to
normal as children were sent home on Monday and Tuesday.
 It was a blessing to go to Pride Secondary School this morning to enroll
a girl named Rachel into S5 or grade 12. She could not go to school
because she had no money. She only completed S4 last year by working part
time in a restaurant but does not have that job now. Thanks Panna for
helping Rachel.
 Thanks for your prayers! God protects us every day!
Tom and Cheryl


Sent: March 1, 2019 12:55 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It has been hot the last few days with no rain in
3 days. It has allowed us to get a lot done. Today we received sponsor
letters from 14 children. We visited 4 schools. We now have 43 letters.
Tomorrow we will visit homes to get more.
 The gift certificates continue to bless many people. Today a goat was
purchased, yesterday a mattress and bicycle and Wednesday 2 mosquito
nets.
 Yesterday we visited 2 vocational schools to see if these would be
suitable for some of the HCTH children.
 We are using Annet a lot. She graduated from university a few months ago
in social work and is now working for HCTH and living at Hope House as a
counselor and mentor to the girls there. She is helping us in translation
and seeing some of the difficult issues we have to deal with. A number of
people continue to ask for help as we visit homes, walk along the roads,
at our gate etc.
The mystery of the twins at our gate even last year and again this year
has been solved. I was sure when Adrien came to our gate last year with a
translator they said the 1 month old twins were boys. This year they said
they were girls even though one was called Morris. Today we visited their
home and Adrien was bathing the twins. Morris is a boy and Tracy is a girl
so the twins are a boy and girl. The good thing is that in 3 weeks the
twins are progressing rapidly. They are 13 months now. Morris started to
walk last week and Tracy is a lot more alert crawling around. Adrien has a
constant smile on her face now as she now has hope for herself and 4
children. This morning she cleaned a house for 3 hours and received some
spending money(3,000 Shillings or about 85 cents U.S.).
 Thank you for your prayers!    Tom and Cheryl


Sent: February 24, 2019 11:19 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We are receiving lots of rain now but it is
mostly in the night so it does not disturb us. It has rained the last 4
nights in a row. The people thank God for the rain. The roads are getting
a bit slippery but there is a lot less dust.
 We continue to bless the people of Uganda as God blesses us. Yesterday we
spent time with the girls in Hope House. It was nice to play games and
share with them. It was also nice to see them eating well. They have meat
at least once per week which is more than us. I gave them the choice of
fish or chicken. They chose chicken.
We also visited Adrien again. It is unbelievable and such a joy to see the
change in her outlook. She now has HOPE plus food in her belly. She smiles
a lot.
Yesterday Viola visited us from Kampala. She was helped through college
through HCTH sponsorship. Thanks Bill and Sandra. She is doing well. She
has a small shop in Kampala and still makes shoes. She came with those
shoes and we took her to visit families. It gave us an excuse to visit
families and give them a pair of shoes plus bless Viola. She wants to
return to school and use the money from the shoes to pay for it. It is
great to see her have this desire yet not ask for HCTH to pay for it. HCTH
paid for and gave shoes to 31 people. It was a blessing all the way
around. The people were so happy.
 I have ordered a bicycle for Elisha's family. The son of Elisha will use
it for work. We found out that Elisha has blood cancer which has spread
through his body so he will not likely return to his home.
Sula has finished Jessica's house and is now building a latrine for her.
New beds have been ordered. Thanks Dan and Derek for these. The 7 in this
family has had their lives changed through the ministry of HCTH. They
thank God for this blessing.
 Atul has been busy seeing the work of HCTH. His 3 sisters arrive today-
one is from Toronto and 2 from the U.K. Atul and his sisters were born in
Uganda but left 46 years ago. They are going to return to the town where
Atul lived as a child. It is about 2 hours from Mityana. Pray for their
time in Uganda. His sisters will only be with us for 1 day.
 Check out the facebook page of HCTH. There are some pictures there that
Atul has taken.
 Thanks for your prayers!
Tom and Cheryl


ent: February 17, 2019 11:23 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear family and friends: Yesterday started and ended with a knock at the
gate. At 7 a.m. a girl we helped to complete high school a year ago was at
the gate. She woke us up. It was the first morning in Uganda I slept past
6:30 a.m.
At 4 p.m. there was another knock at the gate. I will explain this
one.Last April, 8 days before we left Uganda a young mother of 23 years
came to the gate with twin girls 2 months old. Her sister translated for
her because she could not speak English. She was in a bad situation. Her
husband left her and there 4 children for another wife. They had no money
for rent, food or school fees for the 5 year old daughter. I told her to
come back in 1 week(a day before we left) and I would know better if I had
any money left. She returned the next Sunday and we gave her some money to
use wherever most needed. One week ago on Sunday she returned to the gate.
We were very busy only being in Uganda 3 days. I told her to return in a
week at 4 p.m. She returned with the twin girls now 1 year old. Barbara
was here to translate. We asked her many questions. Interestingly none of
the questions were   What religion are you or what church do you go to? It
was all about her desperate condition of living. You could see the sadness
and hopelessness on her face. She was sweating profusely when she arrived
after walking for 40 minutes from her home carrying the twins. She said
they had no food, she was 6 months behind in her rent. Last year she had
used the money to send her daughter to grade 1 but because she could not
pay for the whole year she did not complete grade 1. It was sad when she
said people took advantage of her knowing how desperate she was. They
would get her to wash their clothes-many people with lots of clothes- and
then pay her very little. One good thing was that her landlady let her
stay even though she was 6 months behind in rent. Her twins are very tiny
as she is. Derek said she probably only weighs 80 ponds soaking wet. Her
oldest daughter aged 6 now is also very thin.
After talking, I jokingly said to Dan,"I guess we had better just let her
go." Dan said,"We need to help her." We all knew that was what needed to
be done. We visited her home. On the way we stopped at Joan's shop.
Earlier in the day Dan had said he had some money left. Dan bought her a
25kg. bag of maize meal, 2 kg. of rice, sugar and a tray of eggs(30). We
visited where she stays. It was as we expected. Very small, dingy and poor
living conditions. We met her landlady. Dan paid her last 6 months rent.
Adrien(the mother's name) was very happy. We went outside to take
pictures. Adrien's countenance had changed completely. She was happy and
even had a smile on her face. She now could COPE because she had HOPE.
What a blessing to be part of this amazing story. She said she has been
praying every day that God would bring help to her. God answered her
prayer.
 This is not the last she will see of us. In fact, this morning we are
meeting Adrien at school to pay school fees for her daughter. I just said
to Cheryl that because of gift certificates we will buy her mattresses.

Catherine is doing well after the death of jaaja. Jaaja Gertrude died
early Friday afternoon. The burial was Saturday afternoon. An interesting
part of the culture is that a truck is rented to take people to the burial
People have to pay for the truck. Catherine called to ask if we would give
her money for the transport to her own grandmothers burial($5 U.S.) Today
there is a family meeting to decide what will happen as Gertrude was
keeping 4 great grandchildren with her at her house.
 Today is Dan and Derek's last day in Mityana. They have been a great
blessing. Pray for their safe travels back to Canada and for Atul as he
arrives in Uganda on February 19.
God Bless you all. Thank you for being a part of this ministry which God
is using in a great way.
Tom and Cheryl




Sent: February 15, 2019 11:29 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It continues to be hot in Uganda but the rains
are starting.
I want to tell you of an incident yesterday to show you how we are closely
involved in the lives of the people we work with.
On Thursday I went to Kampala to meet with 5 post secondary students
helped by HCTH. On Friday morning I met with Dan, Derek and Annet at the
craft market in Kampala. We were back in Mityana by 12:30 p.m. A young
girl we help named Catherine called and asked me to meet her after her
classes- about 5 p.m. We had a busy afternoon and sat down to eat at 4:45
but just as I put some rice on my plate the phone rang. Catherine was out
of class. I put the rice back in the bowl and went by motorcycle (15
minutes) to Central College to see Catherine. On the way my phone rang a
lot but I decided to not stop but check who called when I got to the
school. I called the number and a girl named Oliver answered. She said
that her grandmother(jaaja) Gertrude had died. That is also Catherine's
jaaja. Catherine came up to me happily with her friend. She said that this
is her best friend. I said to her it is great to have friends. Catherine
is the girl who 2 years ago when writing a sponsor letter said, "Nobody
loves me." I told her," Catherine, Jaaja Gertrude loves you, Tom and
Cheryl love you, your sponsors Bill and Sandra love you and best of all
God loves you." Her mother abandoned her when she was very young then her
father dropped her off at Jaaja's.  Catherine was very happy with her best
friend but I had to tell her that Jaaja had died. Catherine started to cry
and myself and her best friend tried to comfort her. Another friend saw
her crying and came over also. This was all in the front yard of the
school. I later took Catherine to Hope House where she is staying so she
could prepare herself to return to Jaaja's house where the burial process
will take place.
 I was glad I was there for Catherine. Pray for her and the family.
Catherine is in an important year in high school when there is a National
exam at the end of the year.
Thanks for your prayers!    Tom and Cheryl


Sent: February 9, 2019 11:52 PM

Subject: Tom in Mityana Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Our friend Joy just e-mailed us from Russell,
Manitoba. She is from Uganda with a group of children in a children's
choir. They are touring Canada. The children have never been away from the
Equator. Joy said it is -41C. in Russell. It is a shock to their system.
 HCTH put Joy through university in Human Rights. She is a very
intelligent young woman.
In June and July the choir is in Southern Ontario. In fact on June 22 they
are in Tweed. Joy said they could use other bookings in June and July in
southern Ontario. This would include lodging also. If you have any
possibilities let us know and we will give you Joy's e-mail.
We are excited to see Joy when we return to Canada. She is a great person.
Blessings    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 11, 2019 11:38 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We are very busy here in Uganda. We are paying
school fees and visiting many schools. The roads are very dusty as the
rains have not come yet. In addition to paying school fees there is much
more going on. Yesterday we went to tell Jessica we are starting to build
her new house. Thanks Barry for the money you raised. I had a large
roofing nail in my back motorcycle tire. This had to be dealt with. Our
pump which pumped water to our upper tank had seized up. This had to be
replaced yesterday. This provides water to our inside taps and
toilets.Paying school fees takes a lot of time then we have to get sponsor
letters and pictures. Students need to be taken to the market to buy
school shoes, socks etc.
Dan and Derek are a great help. They are seeing the African culture up
close. They have heard many personal stories as we have had many visitors
at night. Sunday evening a family had a birthday cake for Dan whose
birthday was the end of January.
We have even more people than normal at our gate asking for help.
Thanks for your prayers!
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 6, 2019 7:36 AM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: To show you what it can be like in Africa.
Yesterday we travelled by bus from Choma to Livingstone which is about 2.5
hours. The 11:30 a.m. bus left at 12:30-par for the course. It makes 2
stops in small towns. The bus was not full so I moved to an empty 2 seats
on the opposite side of the bus from where Cheryl and I were sitting. At
the second stop about an hour from Livingstone a few people got off. After
about 5 minutes I thought I should look out the side window of the bus. I
saw 1 of our suitcases on the side of the road. I watched it for a while
and it did not move. I jumped off the bus and stood there for a while to
see what would happen. The bus driver tooted his horn to say the bus was
leaving. I then said to the bus worker,"That is my suitcase and we are
going to Livingstone." He just said ok and put it back on the bus. If I
had not gone out the suitcase would have been left along side the road
until someone took it home. Thanks to God for having me look out the
window. We know they never would have loaded it back on the bus.
Another of the frustrations of working in Africa.
We fly out of Livingstone at 6 p.m. en route to Entebbe, Uganda.
Pray for our 2.5 months in Uganda.
Tom and Cheryl



Sent: February 5, 2019 2:37 AM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Thank you for all your prayers. The money is
still not in but God knows. Today we leave for Livingstone. Many projects
were not able to be completed but I promised the people  I would be back
to Zambia before the end of April either from Uganda when the money comes
in or a few days after returning to Canada April 20.
 Some students we only paid for 1 term. Our food program that leaves food
for 11 poor families has been paid for Feb., March and April. Two
students in nursing only have 1 semester paid. We help 20 children go to
school from recycled cans in Canada. These have not been paid. I borrowed
about $1000 from the sale of fish.  The house for a widow could not be
started yet. I will be back.
I want to end on a positive note. These are a few lines from a letter we
received from a widow whose family HCTH has helped for many years. "Tom
and Cheryl, I will never forget you in my entire life as long as I live I
will always remember you and you will be in my mind because of your love.
To me and my family you are so kind. Your love to me is like God's love
because He does not forget His children. That's how you are. May you be
blessed each and every moment. May you live long. You are just like angels
that are a gift from God...." We all need encouragement.
Thanks for your prayers!   Tom, and Cheryl

Sent: February 4, 2019 2:26 AM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Sorry for the long delay in e-mailing. We have
been healthy and safe and busy.
It has been a trying time for us in Zambia because our money from Canada
never did arrive in Zambia. Our Canadian Bank is still trying to trace
where the money is. It has greatly hampered our projects here.
Fortunately, I brought some U.S. cash which I have been able to use. We
have paid most school fees but many projects have to wait. It does mean a
return to Zambia before the end of April either from Canada or Uganda.
Last Friday I went for the second time to the head office of Barclay's
Bank Zambia- International Services in Lusaka. This seems simple but is
not easy. It meant travelling by bus for 5 hours to Lusaka on Thursday.
Staying overnight in a hostel(16 men) and me with a cold and very runny
nose. Walk to Barclay's Bank when it opened at 8:15 a.m. Friday morning.
Walk to the bus station(30 minutes) in time for the 11:30 a.m. bus back to
Choma which I had paid for  on Thursday. The 11:30 a.m. bus finally left
at 2 p.m. and arrived in Choma at 7 p.m. It was supposed to arrive at
4:30. Par for the course here.
The issue is still not resolved but maybe closer.
Last night we had 4 sets of visitors. Allen is a boy HCTH helped through
high school. He came to say Thank you. He said something we have heard
before but what is so good to hear. He said,"Thank you so much for helping
me through my sponsors. Of all of Africa you came to Zambia. Of all of
Zambia you came to Southern Province. From all of this province you came
to Choma. From all of Choma you came to Mwapona Compound. From all of
Mwapona you came to me. I thank God for this miracle. Saying thank you
does not seem like enough but it is all I have"
Hearing this makes all the trials worth it. Allen never knew his father.
His mother died a few years ago.
 Tomorrow we are travelling to Livingstone then on Wednesday to Uganda. We
arrive in Entebbe, Uganda at 2 a.m. on Thursday morning. We are meeting
Dan and Derek in Livingstone. They will accompany us to Uganda. Thank you
for your prayers!
 Tom and Cheryl
P.S. We know the money arrived in Uganda. It will be a busy time there
paying school fees.

Sent: January 20, 2019 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We are receiving good weather in Zambia. It
rained heavily in the night which the farmers desperately need. The days
have been hot with not a lot of rain.
 We attended a good African service this morning at the United Church of
Zambia
We keep busy and are doing a lot of bicycle riding. We are paying as many
school fees as we can. SINCE  Unbelievably, our money from Canada has not
come yet to Zambia. It has been sent twice and our treasurer is awaiting
its return the second time so it can be re-sent. The bank never told us
until a few days ago that there is a freeze on Canadian money with
Barclay's Bank. We have always sent Canadian money and it was changed to
Zambian kwatcha but not now. Pray that the money is returned soon(like
Monday) so Diana can re-send it. Actually, there are many projects on hold
eg. a house to build plus university fees etc. It really is bad without
it. Fortunately, I brought some U.S. cash which I am using. Some school
fees have to be paid by January 28 or the students lose their place in the
school. Please pray that the money arrives very soon.
 We have been able to bless a lot of people with items we brought from
Canada. We have been busy handing things out including today.
 It was a blessing this past week to be here when they harvested the 6,000
fish from the pond at Esperanza farm. Most of them were sold within 2
days.
 Another blessing is that 2 young ladies who are in nursing through HCTH
sponsorship are both doing well in their studies.
 Thanks so much for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 11, 2019 2:48 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Yesterday was quite the day. A relaxing day in
missions. I wanted to go to Lusaka, the capital city to go to the head
office of Barclay's bank re. the money we sent to Zambia on December
28,2018.
 I got up at 5 a.m., had a small bowl of cereal then walked 20 minutes to
the bus station for the 6:30 a. m. bus. I was there at 6. The 6:30 bus
was full so I waited for the 7 bus. It left at 7:40 and got to Lusaka at
noon. I walked from the bus station in Lusaka to find Kafue House which
is the head office of Barclay's Bank.  I asked at least 10 people who had
no idea where it was. I finally found a group of men and one knew so I
took a taxi to save time. The meeting was good. I then wanted to use the
internet but only had time to answer 1 e-mail because I had to be back to
the bus station by 2 p.m. When I got there the large, good buses were
full so I was directed to a 20 passenger bus. It was a bit more expensive
but was an"express" bus with 20 passengers. The man said after I paid
they would only need 1 more person then they would leave. That 1 person
ended up being 6 people. I got on at 2 and the bus left at 4. We got to
Choma at 8 p.m. I had not eaten anything since cereal at 5 a.m.(my
African diet). The bus ride was interesting. At one point the bus stopped
along the road and about 15 men, women and children got off the bus to go
to the bathroom in the ditch.
I called Cheryl to meet me in Choma to get pizza for supper(yes, there is
1 pizza place in Choma). I asked the bus to let me off at this location on
the west of the town. He said he had to stop at the bus stop only so I had
to get off there and walk back. I was not impressed. Cheryl and I had a
nice pizza then we walked home(15 minutes).
 The Lusaka Bus station is a place to avoid. It is awful. While waiting
the 2 hours it was interesting to see the activity. We must have had
100(not exaggerating) people jump on the bus to try and sell the same
items. People are almost physically accosted(actually they are physically
accosted) by unsavoury characters wanting to direct them to a
bus-grabbing at them and there luggage. One man beside our bus had a
seizure and lay in a puddle of water. Another man helped by holding up
his head from the wet pavement until the convulsing stopped.
We only had one close accident on the way home. I forgot to tell Cheryl
about this.
Thanks for your prayers! It is hard to believe we have been in Choma less
than 72 hours.
Yesterday Cheryl spent the day visiting families and getting letters. She
is doing that now also. I am going there now to meet her.
 God Bless     Tom and Cheryl
Sent: January 8, 2019 8:34 AM
Subject: Safe in Choma, Zambia

We arrived safely in Choma. Thank you for your prayers. Last night was a
long night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the Nairobi, Kenya airport. Cheryl
tried to sleep on an iron chair. I tried to sleep on a hard tile floor. We
are tired but off and running in Choma.
Please pray for the money from Canada which we need. It did not arrive in
our account. We sent it December 28.
Pray it arrives soon.    Tom and Cheryl
P.S. It is raining but is a warm rain. The farmers need it!

Sent: January 4, 2019 8:08 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is the new year and first Cheryl and I want to
wish each of you a Happy New Year 2019!
 We are so thankful for our treasurer Diana. She is a gift from God! On
January 1 we met with Diana and she had everything ready so we could
prepare the 2018 tax receipts for sending. Thank you so much for your
generosity. We can bless people in Peru, Zambia and Uganda because you
bless us through  HCTH and you can bless us because God has blessed you.
This is the way God's kingdom should work. Thank you so much!
 We are a blessed people. We just received an e-mail from Winnie in
Zambia. We first met Winnie in 2005 when I taught high school in Choma,
Zambia. Her father, John, worked 120 hours per week(there are only 168
hours in a week) and still could not feed his family. In 2006(first year
of HCTH) we started sponsoring Winnie, her younger sister Verily and
younger brother Derek. 5 years ago John died of Aids. After testing, his
wife Mildred tested positive as did Verily. Winnie always wanted to be a
nurse. After finishing high school HCTH gave her a laptop and paid for
computer lessons. Winnie knew nothing about computers at that time. She
applied and through HCTH help started nursing school this year. She
e-mailed to say she loves nursing and is doing well. Presently she is
doing a work term at the local hospital. While doing this she has
assignments to complete through the computer and send back to her school.
She asked that when we come to Zambia in a few days if we could please
put electricity in her house because she now has to walk across the field
to the mission to do her assignments because they have electricity. I
thought how blessed we and our children are in North America. Many people
we work with do not even have the convenience of electricity. I told her
we would see about it when we come.
 Thank you for your prayers! We will be sending another e-mail soon!
Many blessings in 2019!    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: December 1, 2018 8:37 PM
Subject: From Peru

Anna wrote in her letter to the sponsor of her daughter Aracely  "This
year 2018 has been a sad year for me. My pregnancy was complicated and at
6 months the twin girls were born by C section. My girls were very small
weighing only 2.9 kg. for the two of them. Darianna only weighed 1.1 kilo.
The doctors did not give me much hope that they would live. I was in the
ICU for 2 days and my daughters for 1.5 months. Brianna left the hospital
and on the second day at home I woke up in the morning and Brianna was
sleeping in her little bed but she no longer had life. We rushed with her
to the Manchay clinic but Brianna had already died. It was very terrible
for me. It was the saddest day of my life. I was depressed but I knew I
had to go forward for Aracely and Darianna. After burying Brianna sadness
came over me and I did not want to leave the house. I have had to go back
to stay in the hospital twice for Darianna and once when I had broncitus.
Darianna is now 6 months old and is gaining weight. Each day she fights
for her life. It is a miracle that she is still with me. I give thanks to
God for this miracle."

Darianna looks so much better now than when we first saw her 6 weeks ago.
God has answered Anna's prayers and the prayers of many others.
God Bless!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: November 22, 2018 4:29 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Peru

Dear friends and family: We have almost received all of our sponsor
letters. We got 1 today. On Saturday morning we are invited to a home for
breakfast. When we receive a letter from the son in this family we will
have all our sponsor letters. It is a big job. Now we can concentrate on
giving out the clothes and other items we brought from Canada. This
morning we visited 3 families and 6 more families this afternoon in
Manchay. It is always good to see the many people blessed with these items
which were given to us by friends in Canada and the United States.
 As an example of this. When we visited our friend in Martinsville,
Virginia in September she gave us some clothes her little girl had grown
out of. Today we gave a dress to Anna's daughter who is 7 months old.
They put it on her and she looked beautiful in it. It was this little
girl's twin sister who died 5 days after being born.  Anna asked us if we
would come to her home on Saturday around noon. She is selling plates of
food(chicken, potato and salad). She is raising money to pay back money
she borrowed for the burial of her daughter 7 months ago. I asked her the
cost of the funeral and she said she borrowed 3,000 Soles or about $900
U.S. I am planning to buy a few plates of food to help her. Saturday
night we had a lot of fun at her home when she invited us for supper.
 Tomorrow Cheryl, Karina and I are going to Rosita's house where Rocco and
Javier are working. We are going to paint. It is nice to see this project
nearing completion. Rocco has done a very good job wirh his Peruvian
helpers. Yesterday he bought a stove for the family.
 This afternoon Cheryl and I had what we called our worst bus ride yet
this year. The bus was very much overcrowded the whole way to Manchay. We
were loaded with clothes with a full backpack plus a big bag of clothes
and had to stand up all the way and hold on with 1 hand. Many kept
getting on but few getting off. I am not exaggerating by saying that the
bus seats about 30 and had at least 30 standing up with the
cobrador(money collecter) hanging out the door. I could not pay him until
I got off the bus in Manchay. I could not get into my pocket for my
change purse. The roads are very rough with many speed bumps. I decided
to walk home from Manchay. It was more comfortable(only 40 minutes mostly
down hill).
 Thank you for your prayers. We leave Peru early in the morning on
December 4. Ben, Kathie and Glen were supposed to leave at 3:30 a.m. two
days ago but the plane did not leave until almost noon so they missed
their flight from Toronto to Kingston also. They were at the airport in
Lima almost 12 hours.Sharon and Sharon were only 4 hours delayed. (Who
says being a missionary is easy). Yes, this is Air Canada. Both times the
plane arrived in Lima on time but was delayed leaving Lima. But, we are
too blessed to let things like this bother us.
 Thanks for your prayers!  Nobody has been sick this year.
Many blessings to each of you!   Tom and Cheryl and Rocco

Sent: November 19, 2018 5:16 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Pray for Ben, Kathie and Glen as they leave for
the airport tonight to leave Lima at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday morning.
 November 18 is always a special day for our friends in Manchay, Peru. It
is Cheryl's birthday. On Saturday night Anna and Roxana invited us to
Anna's for a meal of chicken and rice plus a birthday cake. On Sunday at
noon another family invited us to their home for a lunch of rice and
chicken plus a birthday cake. Sunday at 6;15 was the main birthday party
with clowns, a pinata and 2 more cakes and lots of Peruvian food. There
was lots of dancing. About 40 were there.
 We are gradually collecting our sponsor letters. We now have only about 4
more to collect. The great blessing is that only last week another family
from Canada has decided to sponsor a little boy in Peru who is from a
very needy family. This is a great blessing. Also, we saw Alejandro last
night for the first time since he got his hearing aids. He is hearing
much better. Also, yesterday Alejandro purchased a lot near where he is
presently living. Next year HCTH will be building a new home for
Alejandro and his wife and 5 children. The first house he has ever owned.
A family from Canada has already pledged to bless Alejandro and family
with a new home. They are so thankful and thanking God for His rich
blessings.
 Glen and Ben have been working hard for 2 weeks and have completed much
on the house for Noe and his family(Noah's Ark). They accomplished a lot
in their 2 weeks here.
 Rocco is also progressing well on the new house for Emilio, Rosita and 3
boys.
 Thank you for your prayers!    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: November 10, 2018 9:00 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Every day we marvel at God's Goodness. We have
been so blessed to be able to bless others in an area of extreme poverty
in Peru. An area called Manchay.
 Just this morning Rocco called a young man who works at the money
excvhange. He asked what we did so I explained to him. He said he would
love to help in one of our projects. He said he has always wanted to help
in something like this. Next Wednesday Rocco needs help to put the roof
on Rosita's help so we called him. He has agreed to help Rocco. What a
blessing.
 The big construction project by Ben and Glen is progressing well.
Yesterday they poured cement. They have to carry 2,000 bricks plus
cement, sand rock up a very steep slope. Ben and Glen are growing a great
relationship with the two local workers Roy and another Alejandro. Ben
and Glen are amazed at how hard they work.
 Yesterday we bought a table and 8 chairs for a family through money sent
by a sponsor.
 The response to Alejandro's situation is amazing also! He now has 2 new
tires for his car. We took him to see about hearing aids. When he tried
them the improvement in his hearing was amazing. When we told him someone
in Canada had paid for them he cried as we all did. He gets his new
hearing aids next Tuesday. He cried again when he got the new tires.
Sunday we are visiting his home again to tell him someone is paying for
his lot and when we come next November we will be able to build a new
house for him. There will be more tears. Thank you so much for your
response. God is Good!
 As you can see, we see God at work in a great way. A few days ago we were
able to buy 23 Bibles and other books for Karina and Javier's Bible
studies(they now have 5).
This morning we are visiting families in Manchay. We have to get sponsor
letters. Plus we are giving out clothes and other items from Canada.
 Thanks for your prayers!
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: October 25, 2018 10:53 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear family and friends: Sorry to bother you again but these are two good
news stories. Today we took Atul to visit Shirley and Miriam. What a great
blessing to visit these two young ladies.
Shirley is now 23 years old. Her sponsor sent her through college to study
speech and physical therapy. Shirley now has her own day care business
with 20 children and is hiring workers. Her and her husband Leo are
studying the Bible each week with Javier.
 Miriam aged 22 also was sent by her HCTH sponsors to the same school as
Shirley to study speech and physical therapy. Miriam works 5 days per
week in a child care program and the other two days has a clinic in her
home doing speech therapy, massage therapy and facials. She has made a
room with a table and other needs. It is very impressive.
We are proud of these two HCTH graduates.
 We visited the house construction project. Rosita and her husband are
working along with Rocco and Javier. They still think it is a dream that
God is blessing them with a new home.
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: October 25, 2018 9:41 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We did make it safely to Peru. Thank you for your
prayers. The first 3 days have been very busy. Rocco has already started
the building project for Rosita and her family. He left again this morning
at 8:15 a.m. to go to work.
Atul arrived safely early this morning. Javier and I picked him up at the
airport about 1:30 a.m. We will soon be off to change money, visit the
travel agency etc. then in the afternoon visit families in Manchay.
 It was nice on Tuesday when we first met Rosita. Her son Alonso proudly
showed us his last report which was all A's. Rosita told us that with
Alonso's sponsorship money from last year she bought him new eye glasses
and a bed. As of yesterday their old flimsy, veneer type house is torn
down in preparation for the new. Rosa and her husband Ameliano are in
shock that this is all happening.
 We will keep you all informed.
Blessings!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: October 19, 2018 2:50 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe that it is that time of
year again. Time goes so fast. Our suitcases are close to their maximum
weight. We will have packed 11 - 50 pound suitcases for the people of
Peru. These include clothes for men, women, children, babies, youth;
medical supplies, toys and teddy bears; barbie dolls and stuffed animals;
material for sewing; school supplies; pictures with Bible verses in
spanish; sheets and towels; shoes; hats; used eye glasses and
miscellaneous items.
On Sunday at noon we leave home to fly out of Kingston to Toronto at 2
p.m. At 6 p.m. we leave Toronto for Lima arriving about 1 a.m. October
22.We will get to our apartment in Lima about 3 a.m.
We are in Peru 7 weeks this year but will be very busy. There are 7 people
from Canada joining us at various times while we are in Peru.
There are 3 building projects scheduled on top of the regular busy schedule.
Please pray for Wisdom in all decisions, Integrity in all our activities,
Safety in all our goings and comings, Health for all while in Peru.
Thank you for our prayers.
 Thank you and God Bless each of you!
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: September 12, 2018 7:08 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: This is a reminder of our major Annual Fundraiser
which is Saturday, September 22 in Napanee at the Strathcona Paper Centre.
It is a live and Silent Auction of items from local businesses and crafts.
Cheryl also makes dill pickles, relish, raspberry and apple pies to sell.
As well, other great cooks have items to see including homemade raspberry
jam. This year the cucumber crop was great so lots of dill pickles. We
have a lot of very nice items. The sale starts at 6 p.m. and we try to
end at 9. Come early to peruse the items. Cost is $7 at the door which
includes lots of snack foods.
We hope to see you there. It is worth the drive to Napanee
 Thanks!   Cheryl and Tom

sent: September 12, 2018 6:44 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: I arrived home safely in Napanee last night at
7:50 p.m.(2:15 a.m., Sept. 12) in Uganda. A bit tired but happy to be
home. Cheryl met me at the train station in Napanee. We live only about 5
minutes drive from the station. Cheryl had raspberry pie and ice cream
waiting for me.
Thanks for your prayers. This now starts a very busy time for Cheryl and I
preparing for the Charity Auction September 22, trip to the U.S. starting
September 27 to October 9 and leave for Peru October 21-December 4.
 Blessings   Tom and Cheryl


sent: September 5, 2018 12:48 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: It is 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
On Monday at 7:30 a.m. I went to Kampala by local taxi and was back in
Mityana by 3:30 p.m. The traffic was bad in Kampala. Lots of jams as they
call them.
There were a lot of blessings however. I went with Annet who is now a
university graduate. I visited with Joy who has graduated from university
and now has a job with the Uganda Bible League. She is helping her half
sisters since their mother died in December just before Christmas last
year. I also met Sumaiyah who is starting her last year of university. Her
mother is the sixth wife of Joseph. Joseph died two years ago. He was an
alcoholic. His 5 other wives have all died of Aids. About 3 years ago
Sumaiyah asked me if I would buy her father a pair of pants. She then said
to me, "He has not been a good father but I still love him." Now
Sumaiyah,the youngest of Joseph's 20+ children will soon complete
university.
I walked home from the taxi park and on the way a little boy and girl ran
with me as I walked fast. He was only about 3 years old. At one point he
grabbed y hand as we went along. I asked what his name was and he said it
was "Miracle". I thought it would be interesting to know the story behind
his name. He was with his older sister about 10 years old. I did not have
any candy canes with me so I stopped to buy them some popcorn. They said
thank you and then ran off.
 Then when I get back to Mityana, reality hits as people call with their
issues of life. One student was sent home from extra classes because they
needed a hair cut(50cents). Another could not go to classes because they
did not have a good pair of pants and shirt. I gave him(Shafic) 3 shirts
I brought from Canada. Another girl can't get her term 2 results because
she owes money from last term.(She is not sponsored by HCTH). These
issues are all too common. Then I heard even sadder news as Rita(another
HCTH university graduate-the only one ever in her family) told me her 21
year old sister Catherine who has been working at a gas station was raped
by her boss one night after he called her into his office to pay her
salary. He locked the door and raped her. Now she is pregnant. The went
to the police but the man ran off. They got a new manager who fired all
the workers but Catherine. This is a blessing because she likes her job
and is good at it. Pray that as her pregnancy goes on she will be able to
continue to work. One good thing is that Rita her sister said that the
family would not even consider an abortion.
 I don't want to end on sad news but pray for the people of Uganda. Pray
especially for Catherine.
On the drive to and from Kampala I always laugh at the signs and names of
things. The following were school names: Pioneer Peas; Onwards and Upwards
S.S.; Esteem Junior School; Precious Ones Kindergarden; Treasured Kids;
Prince and Princess; Smarties; White Angels.
You can see the Christian influence in names: His Grace Supermarket; God's
Grace Drug Shop; God's Will Vet Center; Praise the Lord Property Broker;
God is Love Real Estate; God's Mercy Vet Shop; Trust God Restaurant.
You would like to shop in these places: Fair Price Supermarket; Cheap Drug
Shop; Saloon of Beauty; Best Pork Joint.
And there are always many spelling mistakes.
 One truck had a sign on the back-Report Bab Drivers. Maybe you should
report bab spellers. Another was Extream Furniture; General Hardware and
Pluming; Carpentry and Joinary Workshop; Funiture and Workshop as well as
many Diary stores selling milk and yogurt.
I hope some of these left a smile on your face.
 Many blessings on this day that God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad
in it!
Tom-
Only 6 more days in Uganda counting today. It will be good to be back in
Canada. Pray for Cheryl. She is working very hard especially collecting
cans to recycle from Wesley Acres. The money from these cans send 20+
children to school in Uganda. The people have been good to her and that
blesses me.

Sent: September 1, 2018 1:36 PM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: It suddenly occured to me today that this weekend
in North America it is Labour Day Weekend. The next thought was that in
Africa every day is a day of labour even for me.
Just two interesting incidents of today I want to share with you.
 This morning I took Batman Jimmy to Hope House to spray for bed bugs-
again no mask or protection. The water tap and connector from town water
were both leaking. I asked Jimmy if he knew a plumber who could fix it.
When he was done spraying I took him into Mityana and we stopped at a
hardware and plumbing shop. The plumber was working on a job but left the
job, got the parts and came with me on my motorcycle. When we got to the
house, the first thing he did was ask me how much labour I was going to
pay him. I said $2 Canadian. He said, "How about $4." I accepted I was
not even thinking of getting that job done today but by 10:15 the
spraying and plumbing was done. That would not happen in Canada. The
spraying was in 4 large rooms and took at least 40 minutes. The cost for
labour and chemicals was about $26 Canadian. I did give Jimmy a hat and
shirt besides.
The other incident is more of a people story. I took Annet to visit her
family outside Mityana after the plumbing job. We took food to the family
also as they are very poor. Annet was so excited to show me her Bachelor
of Social Work Certificate. Now she says,"I am an important person." Her
family thanked HCTH. On the wall of their living room was a large photo of
Cheryl and I with Annet in her graduation gown superimposed in the picture
with us. Annet is the last born of 10 children. Her oldest brother is 28
years older than her. They live in what they call a village although homes
are spread out. Annet says there are over 100 families in their village.
Annet says she is the only person in all these families who has attended
and completed university, Her mother added, "It is a miracle." You can see
why Annet is so thankful for the support of HCTH and her sponsor from
Amherst Island, Ontario. Hopefully some day they can meet Annet. She is
now a proud employee of an international organization called Helping Cope
Through Hope.
 On this Labour Day weekend in North America take time to Count your many
blessings!
 Thank you for your prayers!  Tom in Mityana

Sent: August 30, 2018 2:21 PM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: Today I visited a woman named Rebecca. She is the
mother of 3 boys sponsored by HCTH. In early May we received an e-mail in
Canada that her 13 year old son Abrahim(Timothy) had been kidnapped. He
was missing for 3 weeks. HCTH paid money to have ads put on the radio and
tv about his disappearance. Today I found out from the family what
happened.
Timothy was on his way to school. His school is about as close as any
child we sponsor. When he got to the main road(25 meters from the school)
a man grabbed him and put him in a car. They had kidnapped 5 young boys.
The man took them to a town far from Mityana close to the Kenya border. He
was using them as slaves to build a building for him and then was going to
sell them into another country. He saw the tv ad and got scared so he
released the boys. The man was arrested and is now in jail. The mother
Rebecca said Timothy was released because of prayer.
HCTH money has had to be used for some very unorthodox purposes. In this
case the ads were what played a great role in his release.
 Unfortunately people today said that this incident is not isolated. Some
are kidnapped for selling, some for ransom money, some for body parts or
ritual sacrifice.
When this incident happened in May I shared it with each of you. Thank you
for your prayers. God does answer prayer.
 Blessings   Tom in Mityana, Uganda

Sent: August 29, 2018 1:17 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: I know how the early pioneer women must have felt
when they washed their clothes by hand scrubbing them then wringing them
out by hand to take out the water then hung them out only to have a rain
come and soak them again. That is what happened to me yesterday. I was
waiting for someone to come so I thought 9I might as well wash as the
weather was nice. Two hours later the rains came. I also know that there
are a lot more important things in life than wet clothes. They will
eventually get dry according to God's timing.
 Yesterday Joram informed me that the home for children needs to be
sprayed for bed bugs. I happened to meet Jimmy the bat man on the street
yesterday. Jimmy is his real name. The bat man is because he successfully
sprayed our home for bats a few years ago. Amazingly he is still alive.
He sprayed our attic on a very hot day with no mask. He was sweating
profusely with sweat pouring down his face and into his eyes. God is
good!Pray for Jimmy.
 We are getting lots of rain but the people are happy for their life
giving crops.
 Many people continue to be blessed through the ministry of Helping Cope
Through Hope. Thank you for your support. Yesterday alone a family was
helped to put windows in their home. Before they only had tin over the
windows. A young HCTH university graduate was helped in her successful
business. Another young girl showed me her high school graduation report.
I visited another college student in a work placement. Our builder is
working and hired a man to help him. A very large box of used eye glasses
were delivered to Canon John for giving to people with sight issues. He
says they are a great blessing.(probably 200 pair). I still have more to
take. A watch donated by a friend in Nevada, U.S.A. was given to a person
who needed a watch. And lots more. Two came to play cards last night. We
played Phase Ten. Today will be more of the same. We are blessed to be
blessed! It is a blessing to bless others!
Thank you for your prayers!   Tom
 Tom

Sent: August 23, 2018 6:01 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: I wanted to share one interesting incident this
morning. It shows the heart of the people in Uganda.
This morning I visited an old lady whom we call Grandma(jaaja) Gertrude.
She actually is a great grandmother. She does not know how old she is. She
is stooped over and walks with a cane. She has health issues. In fact, her
few remaining teeth are giving her many problems. Next week she is going
to the min hospital in Kampala to get the rest of her teeth removed. She
probably has never been to a dentist.
 A very kind lady from Napanee has helped Gertrude for many years even
giving her money so Gertrude can go to church each Sunday on a boda
boda(motorcycle taxi). About 3 weeks ago this very kind lady from Napanee
named Phyllis died. Today I told Jaaja Gertrude that Phyllis died.
Gertrude bowed her head and cried for quite a while then raised her head
and said about 3 times, "What a pity." Then she said, "She was very good
to me, May she rest in peace." Gertrude had never met Phyllis but Phyllis
made a difference in her life.
 Today there are police and military all over Mityana. There is unrest
because a popular member of parliament was arrested and beaten by the
police in Kampala. He is a member of the opposition and very outspoken
about the leadership of Uganda that has been in power for well over 30
years. He changed the Constitution so he can stay on as leader past the
age of 75.
Pray for peace in Uganda!
 Blessings  Tom

Sent: August 22, 2018 3:59 AM
Subject: Tom in Uganda Day 1

Dear friends and family: I promise I won't be e-mailing every day but I
thought you might like to know what I did on Day 1 in Mityana.
 Because of the time change I could not sleep but at 4 a.m.(9 p.m. in
Napanee) I finally fell asleep to be awoken by the alarm at 6:15 a.m.
because I had to meet Shakira one of HCTH University students. Joram came
to pick me up at 8 instead of 9 so I grabbed a banana for breakfast then
off to Mityana arriving at 10:15 a.m. I drove Carol to Joan's shop. I
talked to Joan about paying back her business loan' PTL she is able to
pay the money. I also talked to Carol about her university plans. I went
to Hope House to see the children and assess what is needed for repairs.
I went to the bank to take out money then home. I had to clean the floors
and shelves in our room before emptying the suitcases. IT was 1 p.m. by
then so I did not eat lunch because I had things I wanted to do. I took
out the trusty old motorcycle and after a lot of effort it started. The
electric start even worked PTL again. I took items from Canada to 2
families then brought two children back to the house for other items. I
had to take the motorcycle to get a flat tire repaired. I took  a boy to
get the monthly food for his family(25kg. of corn meal).
I then went to see Annet and took her to look at the home HCTH bought 2
years ago so she can live there with her daughter. She told me her HIV
medication is in 2 types. The first is free but she has to pay for the
second.
I went to F Troop vocational school to pay for Lillian's last semester in
hair dressing. She is doing a placement now.
 It did not take long. When I first took the motorcycle out the gate, the
neighbour came over and asked if HCTH would sponsor 1 of her children.
I met with Ritah at the Internet. Julius called so I have arranged to
meet, 4 university and college students tomorrow in Kampala. Pray for
safety.
Joram had e-mailed about 2 months ago that the pump that pumps water up to
the higher tank was not working. It still was not so he asked a plumber to
come to the house. At 5 he still had not come so after a good supper of
instant potatoes, pork and beans and yogurt with 2 No Frills Peanut Butter
chocolate chunk cookies for dessert I went out to the pump. Thanks to the
years 1981-1987 at Newburgh Hardware selling pumps and helping a friend
repair them, I was able to get the pump going and pump water. It is good
because there was very little water left in the tank. PTL.
Not all days will be this quiet.
I was going to go to bed early but Joram came home at 9 so we talked for
an hour. I did sleep better last night but woke up wide awake at 12:45 so
studied Oluganda words for an hour. I then went back to sleep until the
alarm woke me up.
 Sorry for the lengthy e-mail. I hope it did no bore you. I will be
e-mailing only every few days.
 Thanks for your prayers    Tom
It is 11 a.m. on Wednesday It has been a busy morning also.

Sent: August 21, 2018 3:46 AM
Subject: Tom in Uganda

Dear friends and family: I arrived safely in Uganda tired but healthy.
Thanks for you prayers!
It is 10:30 a.m. in Mityana. Last Sunday there were a lot of fires set on
the streets of Mityana and in other parts of Uganda. They are political
protests. There are lots of police on the streets today.
Last night when I arrived in Uganda at 10:20 p.m. it was 23 C. It is
cloudy today.
 There is a lot to do here. I met with one university student this morning
in Entebbe. I stopped at the children's home. All seems to be well there.
Next week our builder will be doing some cement repair.
 Keep me in your prayers for the W.I.S.H.
 I have not been to the home yet. I will have to do some washing before I
put items on the shelves.
God Bless!   Tom in Mityana, Uganda
P.S. The quality of the roads are not getting any better!

Uganda Bound

Sent: August 18, 2018 3:15 PM
Subject: Uganda Bound

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe that summer is almost over.
That means the time to leave for Uganda is at hand.
I am once again asking for your prayers as I leave home tomorrow(Sunday)
morning at 9 a.m. for Toronto then fly on Brussels Air to Belgium then on
to Entebbe, Uganda. I leave Toronto at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Entebbe at
3:10 p.. E.S.T OR  10:10 Uganda time(7 hours difference).
I return to Toronto on Tuesday, September 11.
 A number of young people will be helped in university or college as well
as visiting many in primary and secondary. This involves some trips to
Kampala, the capital city. There are about 70 sponsored children in
Uganda. There is the possibility of increasing the number of sponsored
children in Uganda depending on God's leading.
I will be supervising some repair to the Children's Home as well as some
administrative changes.
 Please pray the W.I.S.H. W- WISDOM  I- INTEGRITY  S- SAFETY  H- HEALTH
WEBALE nnyo- Thank you very much
Mukama akuwe omukisa- God Bless You
 Tom
*Pray for Cheryl as she will be busy on the home front. She does a great
job and her part of the ministry is essential.

Sent: April 11, 2018 2:29 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: This is our last night in Mityana. It was a busy
day saying goodbye to many families. At 5 p.m. Annette came to read Bible
stories with Cheryl. At 6 p.m. Cheryl and I went to Hope House to say
goodbye to the girls there. We bought each of the girls a goodbye soda.
After returning home at 6:45 one of our sponsored children came to the gate
requesting items for school.
 Yesterday HCTH was able through the gift certificates to buy 2 more pigs
for a single mother. A boy who is in grade 11 was sent home from school
because his single mother could not pay his school fees. Yesterday HCTH was
able to pay so he can continue school. He was very happy. Also, last night
Sylvia came to our house to play cards. As well we gave her money she needs
to start her last semester of university in May.
 I have been busy slashing grass at our home and at Hope House. We want to
leave everything in good condition.
 On Monday I visited the home of a sponsored girl named Juliet. I asked why
she was not at school. She showed me her school shirt which had 2 large
holes where the hot charcoal iron had sat on it for a while. I had to take
her to school to get another one.
 As always happens when people know our hours are numbered, requests for
help increase. Even tomorrow morning I have to deal with two of those.
 Tomorrow at noon we are going to Kampala. We will spend the night there and
go to the craft market Friday morning. At 2:30 p.m. we will travel to
Entebbe flying out of Uganda at 6:30 p.m.(1130 a.m. in Napanee). We will fly
to Ethiopia and then to Toronto via Dublin, Ireland to refuel arriving in
Toronto at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
 Please pray for these last 2 days. Thank you for your prayers during our
time in Africa from January 5.

 In His service    Cheryl and Tom


Sent: April 6, 2018 1:23 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: More rain today. Cheryl and I plus the painter
named Stephen started painting at 8:30 a.m. I was going to paint in the
morning then had a busy afternoon planned. BUT  at 12:10 it started to rain
hard. It was disheartening to look out and see yellowish water
flowing(paint). Rain is still a blessing.
We had a chance to talk to Stephen. He is 78 years old and was born in 1940.
His wife is 28. Their oldest child is 10. Yes, he was married before and had
7 children plus 4 more with this wife. Two of his children go to orphan
school which is for the very poor and has very poor education.
 On Wednesday I was in Kampala visiting with 4 university and college
students. All are doing well. When I got back to Mityana the main street was
blocked by rocks and fires were burning. The police fired tear gas.
The people were protesting bad roads in the town. They are very, very bad.
Last night Kenneth came to visit us. He said that unfortunately, things only
get done in Uganda when people protest violently. It is the way things are
done here. That is why there are many strikes at universities.
 While traveling to and from Kampala it is interesting to look at the signs
you see along the way. It is not hard to see the Christian influence in the
country. These were some businesses:  Divine Power Gym Trust in God Snacks
Saviour Junior School    Good News Medical Centre   Grace Cosmetics
Hallelujah Beauty Centre   God is Great Holdings  Glory Education Center

There were some interesting Business Names: Pay Cheap Hardware
Catch Him and Hold Him Wedding Fashions   Give and Take Hardware
Never Loose Hope Guest House   Golden Balls Nursery  Shop and Bag Grocery

There are also many spelling mistakes: There was a store selling Animal
and POULTY Feeds.   Another business will do TYPYING for you.  There was a
Guest House, Bar and LOGE.  I passed a PHARMACUETICAL business. A large sign
advertised for the Never LOOSE Hope Guest House(I did not make a mistake
before in the e-mail).
 We all need a laugh. When I got to Mityana I walked home past the 3 Diary
Stores selling milk and other products.
 God Bless you all. We only have 5 more days left in Mityana. There is still
lots to do! Thanks for your prayers.
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 27, 2018 1:54 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Have you heard of the expression, "On again, off
again"? Power is off now. It has gone on and off at least 25 times in the
last 30 minutes(not an exaggeration).
 Today we purchased a new water tank for the house purchased by HCTH last
year. It was an all day process from 9 a.m. untl completion at 2 .m. I asked
the seller if the tank had a guarantee. He laughed because there is no such
thing here. It is buyer beware. I asked the girl in the plumbing store how
much she earns. She told me she makes 80,000 for 1 month. That is about $30
Canadian per month for 6 days a week and 12 hours per day.
 Yesterday I met an Anglican Canon whose son was sponsored by HCTH until he
ompleted Secondary school. Canon Charles is retiring this year. I asked him
what he was going to do. He said he would be working in his field to grow
food. His retirement from over 30 years of Pastoring is
10,000 Ugandan Shillings or about $4 Canadian per month.
 I have gone to 3 schools to find out when their terms start and end this
year. It will determine when I would return to Uganda in August. None of the
schools know for sure. Things in Uganda are not well organized to say the
least. In 2015 in April I asked the local office of the ruling party in
Uganda when the election of 2016 was. They did not know. I got 3 different
answers from 3 different people.
 Spelling of words still amuses me greatly. A shop near us sells chapats,
samosas and egg lol's. I think they mean egg rolls. A publication for an
investment agency had on the front page " Make your investiments with us"
 There are at least 4 Diary stores in Mityana selling products from cows as
well as many hair saloons. I guess you can go there to have a drink as you
get your hair done.
 We continue to be busy. Each day brings with it many things that need to
get done as well as people who want to see us.
 Pray for our last 17 days in Uganda.
 Your prayers are appreciated.
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 25, 2018 1:01 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is a beautiful Palm Sunday evening in Mityana,
Uganda. Annette just left after reading her Bible story book with Cheryl.
We read the Palm Sunday story and answered her questions about this story.
Earlier in the evening Edward came with a flower for Cheryl and some eggs
from his grandmother. Before that Solomon came with some sugar cane, an
avocado and some bananas. Solomon is in grade 7. When he changed from Islam
to Christianity he changed his name from Sula to Solomon.
 We had a nice sharing time with the children in Hope House this morning.
It is nice to see them all getting along so well but especially enjoying a
time of devotions and singing.
Before this sharing time we wet to visit the family who today are moving
into their new house. Ritah and her family are very happy. Tori and Sierra
bought 2 bunk beds for them. Before Lilian, Catherine and Ritah all slept in
1 bed. These girls are 17, 21 and 26 and have never had their own bed.
 We have obtained most of our sponsor letters. Next weekend we are getting
our last 3 letters. We are busy giving out clothes that we or the girls
brought from Canada. Today we blessed 4 families with clothes.
 Pray for Cheryl and I tomorrow as we travel by local taxi to Kampala to
meet with Joy who helps with our university students. Also, pray for our son
Rick, wife Lilian and our granddaughter Maddie as they leave today for the
Philippines. Pray especially for 13 year old Maddie as she returns to Canada
alone from the Philippines in 3 weeks.
 We will be returning to Canada in 3 weeks also.
 Thank you for your prayers!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 18, 2018 2:38 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Pray for Tori and Sierra as they leave Mityana at
noon tomorrow and fly out of Uganda at 6:15 p.m. Thank you for your prayers.
These two young women have been a great blessing to the ministry of HCTH
here in Mityana. Their blessing money has blessed in many ways from helping
two other young women to go on a crusade in an area where there is a lot of
witchcraft to helping pay rent to helping businesses, taking children to the
market and much more.
 Today the girls read with Annette and her Bible story book. Tonight Sulah
another former Moslem and his family came for a visit. While they were here
two women came to the gate. They were holding a set of 2 month old twins.
They were asking for help. The young mother of the twins is aged
24 with 5 children. The oldest is 10. Her husband left her 2 months before
the birth of the twins. Another sad story.
 We continue to bless people through the gift certificates. Today it was 4
pigs and a mosquito net.
 In the morning we had a nice time of devotions in Hope House with the
children. It was a blessing to sing and have a sharing time with them.
 We will miss Tori and Sierra but they need to return to Canada to complete
their grade 12.
 Power has been off and on tonight. It has been off 3 times. It just now
came back on.
 Thanks for your prayers!
 God Bless!  Tom and CherylSent: March 10, 2018 12:33 AM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is 8 a.m. in Mityana, Uganda. There are a few
showers. We have had some good rains lately but not bad enough to slow us
down. Every time there is a storm, they shut off the electricity so power
has been off a lot but usually only for a few hours at a time- yesterday
from 5 p.m. until about 8 p.m.
 I should have e-mailed earlier about this important prayer request but with
God it is never too late.
Pray for Tori Sitwell and her friend Sierra as they arrive in Uganda today
at 12:15 p.m. We are very excited about their 9 days hear for many reasons.
We know they will be blessed and we will be blessed to see the many people
that will be blessed through them. Pray that these 9 days will be life
changing for these young ladies. They are both in their last year of high
school at Quinte Christian School. Pray for safety and good health. Tori
visited Uganda two years ago with her mother and sister Julia.
 The first time Cheryl and I visited Uganda in 2005 was for 9 days but that
9 days greatly changed our lives. This visit is my 23rd. time to Uganda. I
figured out that since then we have lived in Uganda for about
35 months. More importantly, so many precious lives have been impacted by
God through this ministry. Don't look at the 9 days Tori and Sierra are here
as not enough to make much of a difference. Pray for them!
 People have given them blessing money to bless people with. We have many
needs on our list. This morning our devotion was entitled, "The Measure of
Your Generosity."  One person said, "Prosperity is not what you have
attained, but rather in what you give away." We should look for a reason to
give every day. The recipients of our generosity are people loved and valued
by God- people for whom Christ died. The devotion goes on to ask,"So what
are you doing for others? How you answer that question is the measure of
your generosity.
 Thank you to the many very generous people who help the ministry of HCTH.
We pray for you each day. Cheryl and I get to see how lives are changed
because of this generosity.
 In the service of God!   Tom and Cheryl



Sent: March 3, 2018 11:31 AM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Sylvia just left. She is working on her thesis
which she has to complete before graduating from university in August. She
starts her last semester in May. It is great to see her doing so well.
Earlier today we spent time with Barbara who is in her last semester of
University now. She showed us her marks in the first 5 semesters of
university and she has done well. These are students HCTH has sponsored
since grade 5 of primary.
 This morning we were blessed to visit a widow who has 7 children. We were
able to tell her that HCTH is starting to build a house for her family.
Last year we looked at her house which is in very poor condition but did not
have funds to build it then. We are blessed to bless others.
 Sula, who does our construction, said, Thank you for giving me work." By
helping this widow, we bless Sula plus the 4 men who work for him plus all
the businesses where he buys the materials.
Yesterday and today we bought sweet potatoes for 10 families. We purchased
them from another widow who is using land purchased for her through the
ministry of HCTH.
 It has been a rainy, cooler than normal week but the rain is a blessing.
Our water tanks are full.
 Yesterday I had 2 wheel bearings replaced on the front tire of our
motorcycle. The repair man had to use his motorcycle to go buy the bearings
then install them. He charged 1000(40 cents) for labour. I gave him more. He
is a Christian man who calls me, Tom from Canada. I gave him some sweet
potatoes today.
 I want to end on a personal note- something that nobody knows. Last night
we were blessed to be able to watch the funeral of Billy Graham on Fox News.
We were blessed that Joram has a tv and that power was on. On the first date
that a young boy from Newboro, Ontario asked a young lady named Cheryl
Hutchings to go out it was a Friday night in October, 1964.
To impress this young, beautiful cheer leader from our High School Tom asked
her on their first date to go to the Billy Graham Crusade in Kingston at the
Memorial Center. Actually it was Leighton Ford who was with the Billy Graham
Association. That was our first date. Cheryl later said that at the end of
the service she wanted to go forward like many others but did not because
she did not know what I would think. The next night I wrote a poem which
started like this, "Up the road and to the left one foggy night I went, to
take a girl to Leighton Ford so her time would be well spent....." From
Newboro I had to go up Highway #42 then turn left on Hutchings Road.
 That was many years ago but God has blessed our lives together!
 Have a blessed day tomorrow!
 God Bless!   Tom and Cheryl


Sent: February 24, 2018 12:02 PM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: We continue to do God's work in Mityana, Uganda.
For most of this week Cheryl has been in the home because Sulah has been
doing some cement work here. She has got a lot of work done. Today I went to
Hope House to slash the grass. It took over 3 hours. I was sweating
profusely. It was interesting the comments of some of the passersby. Some
said,"Well done" or "Good work". One older lady asked me why I was working.
I told her that I liked to work. She said, "Why don't you hire someone to do
the work?" I said I liked getting exercise. As Cheryl said later, most
Ugandans or foreigners  here would hire someone.
 I have mentioned before but the gift certificates are a great blessing.
This week 3 beds were made and delivered as well as medical(Viola has
typhoid); a blanket and 3 mosquito nets.
 As mentioned before, Sulah is busy cementing our drive area around the
house and now will re-cement the wall. The carpenter has been busy making
beds.
 On Thursday I went into Kampala again. I had to go to get Ronald started at
a school. It is a multi-faith school with Protestants, Catholics and
Moslems. In the Accounts office there were 5 women working- two were
obviously Moslem. I gave the women a card with a Bible verse. They all were
happy to get it. Two of the women promptly hung it up on the wall.
 The glasses from Canada have been a great blessings. I have taken Canon
John about 300 pairs of glasses. He tells of the great blessing to many
people who as he says, "regain their sight".
 I think we now have all the school fees paid. Now we have to concentrate on
getting the approximate 80 letters.
 This afternoon I had a little time to read 2 Bible stories with Annette.
She has read much of the book I bought her 2 weeks ago. We read about
Solomon and Jesus feeding the 5000 plus. She comprehends well what she
reads.
 While visiting Annette, I also visited an older woman we have known since
2006. She asked me to come into her house. She has started a Day Care in her
home. She has about 8 during the week. Today she had 4 children between the
ages of 1 and 2. They were cute. I asked her how much she makes and she said
2,000 Shillings per day per child. This is about 80 cents Canadian. With 8
babies it means she makes about $4 a day during the week.
 Thanks for your prayers. Have a blessed Sabbath day tomorrow.
Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 17, 2018 8:32 AM
Subject: Tom in MityanaTom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Yesterday I returned home from Kampala in the local
taxi. It is about a 1 hour 40 minute ride depending on traffic- mostly slow
trucks. Thanks for your prayers.
 Today we visited many families and took some children to the market.
We met a 12 year old girl named Olivia. She is not sure when her birthday
is. She has no father and lives with her aged grandmother. Her mother works
as a maid in Kampala and can't keep her. She is in grade 5 but her
grandmother can't pay her school fees. It is sad to see children like this.
We visited Gertrude who is very old and not well but is keeping
grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was a great blessing to give her
money from a friend in Canada who each year gives her money to take a
motorcycle taxi to church. She proudly showed us a plaque she received from
the local Bishop to commemorate her work over the years in her Anglican
church. Gertrude gave us a beautiful basket plus one for the lady from
Napanee who gives her money to attend church.
 Julius, a young man now in his second year of engineering at university
came with his sponsorship letter. He is very thankful for help to go to
school. His mother died not long ago and without help would never be in
university. He loves to draw and came with a drawing for Cheryl and I and
one for his sponsor.
 Gift certificates are a great blessing. In the last few days we have
blessed many Ugandans through the generosity of people who buy the gift
certificates. There is a pig for Gertrude, a blanket for Viola, medical help
for Annet who is HIV positive, a bed for Juliet, mosquito nets for Shakira
and much more. Many have received backpacks and school supplies.
Tomorrow another Viola is coming. She is a girl helped through school by
HCTH sponsorship. She is now making shoes. Each time we come she comes to
see us and we take her around to children sponsored by HCTH and give them
shoes made by Viola. This is a blessing to her. Shoes are paid for through
those who buy gift certificates for clothes.
 Thank you for your prayers. They are greatly needed and appreciated.
 Tom and Cheryl
Have a blessed Sabbath day tomorrow!


Sent: February 14, 2018 11:38 AM
eSubject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family; Thank you for your prayers. We received heavy rain
for about 1 hour on Monday and Tuesday. Now we have lots of water.
 On Tuesday we took about 200 pair of glasses to Canon John Musaasizi. He
says many people are regaining the ability to read with these glasses.
 Today we met with Eve. HCTH helped her through university. She now has a
successful business. She made the comment that if she had not gone to
university she never would have married a lawyer. In October she had
triplets- 3 boys. She said her sister Robinah is now teaching thanks to
HCTH, her brother also teaching and sister Grace teaching. All were helped
through HCTH. People often ask us if the children helped to go on to post
secondary are able to get jobs. This shows that most do find work and HCTH
has helped many young people in Peru, Zambia and Uganda.
 In Uganda we are sponsoring 3 new children. This is always a blessing.
Yesterday we paid school fees for a new little boy named Douglas and today
for Paul who is in grade 1. In each case the families are very poor and the
children would not have gone to school.
 Last night we had a nice visit in our home with Barbara and Joceline.
Barbara is in her last semester of university.
 We have been busy visiting schools to pay school fees. We don't mind the
school fees but it is irritating having to pay for inside and outside
brooms, reams of paper, sugar, a cup and plate.
 Sulah is busy working at job sites. He is our builder. The carpenter just
made a small table for us.
 Many of our decisions require a lot of wisdom and discernment. One girl who
did not do well in her grade 11 exams now wants to go into hairdressing. Is
it a good idea?
 Missionaries sometimes have dirty jobs to do. A few days ago Cheryl noticed
that someone had thrown plastic grocery bags of garbage in our latrine. I
got a long thin pole from the carpenter and attached a large hook on the
end. The first treasure from the depths of the latrine was a pair of mans
pants followed by 4 plastic bags of garbage. Yes, I did wear rubber gloves.
 Tomorrow I am going to Kampala again to visit students. I will visit Viola
at her college, Juliet and her son Ethan then take Kenneth to look at
computers that he can use in his university engineering studies plus two
other university students. Pray for safety especially on the motorcycle
taxis(boda bodas).
 God Bless each of you!    Tom and Cheryl Sent: February 11, 2018 12:57 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family:  We had a blessed visit today with Annette(formerly
Shamiim). She is excited about her new Christian life.
She is the 16 year old Moslem girl who told me last year she would never
change from being a Moslem to a Christian because being a Moslem is easier.
Three weeks later she was a Christian. She has read through the Bible we
gave her- that she started reading with Nicole and Julia last year. I need
to buy her a Good News Bible now. I asked her if she had any questions and
she did ask questions like, Who were the Pharisees? What is a synagogue?
etc. She changed her name from Shamiim to Annette because she wanted the
name of the lady from Napanee who sponsors her.
 Her favorite subject in school is CRE(Christian Religious Education). It is
also her highest mark in grade 8 last year. We asked her why she likes CRE.
She said because she is learning about Jesus and being a Christian.
Pray for Annette!
 It continues to be hot and dry. The roads are very dusty. At night you are
covered with a thin layer of reddish dust.
 Two new young girls moved into Hope House today. Jacklin is in her last
year of High School and will be closer to school and also in a home with
good food and tie to study. Having enough food to eat was a problem in her
home. Catherine is in grade 10 and needs to be closer to school. She lived
with her aged grandmother. She does very well in school and should be able
to even do better.
 Tomorrow we are visiting probably the poorest family we work with. We only
sponsor one of their children but send all 5 to school.
Continue to pray for the ministry of HCTH. Pray for safety on the roads, for
wisdom in dealing with many issues, Good Health and that we will be a
Christian example to the people of Uganda.
 Pray also for Victoria and Sierra as they arrive in Uganda March 10. Pray
that it will be life changing  for these two young ladies. We are excited
about them using their talents with the people we work with.
 Thanks and God Bless
Tom and Cheryl


Sent: February 5, 2018 1:12 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: We are safely in Uganda. We arrived in Uganda about
1 a.m. this morning and stayed overnight in Entebbe. Joram picked us up at 9
a.m. this morning. It is good to be in Uganda but have a lot to do. 1 minute
after I turned my phone on I received a call. People want school fees paid.
The first day of school was today so there is no panic.
Tomorrow will be busier.
We visited some homes today and received a lot of hugs and smiles to see us
in Uganda again.
We will keep you informed. Thank you for your continued prayers.
You need to pray for rain now in Uganda. They have not had rain for 2
months.
 God Bless each of you!  Tom and Cheryl




Sent: January 30, 2018 8:33 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is 3:15 p.m.-an unusual time for me to be home.
I got wet on my bicycle for the first time this year- P.T.L. Thank you for
your prayers. It is raining today. It has not stopped activities as I have
been 3 times into Mwapona and twice into Mwapona.
 We still see and hear of many needs. This morning at 7 a.m. a young man
came who wanted us to build his family a small house. At 8 a.m. another girl
in grade 12 came. She was chased from school because she did not have the
kind of school shoes they wanted. They told about half her class to leave
and not come back until they had the proper shoes. The ones we had bought
her in the market looked great. Such is education in Zambia.
She told about her 11 year old brother who can not go to school because the
father can not pay school fees. He only completed 1 term of grade 3 last
year. Later we went to a school to see about him repeating grade 3.
The headmaster there asked if we would help others. Yesterday the
headmistress of another school stopped me to ask for help. Another visitor
came at 2 p.m. today while I was in Mwapona but Cheryl was here.
He wanted HCTH to build him a toilet. A day in the life of Cheryl and Tom in
Africa.
 Our projects are winding down. Nchimunya is finishing Joel's toilet today.
Joel is finishing his last job and Morris is working at a chicken house at
Esperanza.
Yesterday Bonnie and Graham went to Esperanza. They were amazed at the
changes since they were last here in 2011. That was our first year of
activities at Esperanza. They saw the new cemented fish pond. They saw
gardens of onions, green peppers, potatoes. They saw the 9 new little pigs.
They saw the goats. They saw new chicks being hatched in the incubator. The
hens they have now are an Australian breed that lay eggs for 4 to 5 years.
 Thanks for your prayers re. Bonnie and Graham's arrival. They arrived on
Saturday after a 4 hour bus ride stretched into a 7 hour bus ride from
Kampala. The bus lost its transmission and stopped about 30 km. from Choma.
They finally got a taxi from the bus to Choma. We had waited from
1 p.m. to a little after 4 at the bus station.
 I had my first flat tire on my bicycle yesterday. That is amazing with all
the broken glass laying around. It cost 50 cents to repair.
 We continue to get lots of visitors and will during our last days in
Zambia. Last night we had 4 visitors. All want to greet us but all have
requests also. Sort of a hidden agenda.
 Thanks for your continued prayers for our last few days in Choma. We fly to
Uganda on Sunday arriving at 1 a.m. on Monday morning.
 God Bless each of you!   Tom and Cheryl


Sent: January 24, 2018 2:22 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It continues to be hot and dry. More prayer for
rain is needed. Hopefully our friends from Canada Bonnie and Graham bring
rain with them- not the freezing rain our area in Canada had a few days ago.
One blessing of the dry weather is the excellent building weather.
All projects have been completed quickly. Rain is more important!
 Our time is winding down. As a result we start thinking of what has to be
done to ensure the ministry of HCTH is felt even when we are not here.
Money has been given to a local grocer to provide food for 11 families each
month. Money has been left so a widow with 3 children receives money each
month. Another HIV positive man will receive money each month for
medication. These programs alone bless 15 families.
 Yesterday we took Justina and Beauty to the market and to pay school fees.
We bought a samosa, muffin and soda and sat on the street having our lunch.
I asked Beauty if she remembers 9 years ago when we did the same thing and I
bought her a can of coca cola. She did not know how to open the can. She
said she remembered that. Today we took 3 others to the market and paid more
school fees. We are almost done now.
 Today also we bought 6- 2kg. of rice to give to 6 families. The love rice
but seldom buy it because it is too expensive.
 I will end on a positive note. Yesterday we were visiting a guest house.
The lady there was 40 years old. She said she has seen us riding our
bicycles and taking children to the market. She asked how old we were. I
asked her how old she thought we were. She said we were in our 50's. When I
said we were in our 70's(just) she did not believe us and said we were not
telling the truth. Unfortunately we were telling the truth but God is good.
We have had good health. Praise the Lord!
 Thanks for your prayers. Pray for the safe arrival of Bonnie and Graham.
They visited Zambia many years ago. They will accompany us to Uganda also.
 God Bless each of you. Thank you for your support. When we mention all the
programs of HCTH in Peru, Zambia and Uganda these could not take place
without your help. Many people are being blessed because of you.
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 21, 2018 10:05 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Today is very hot again. The rain situation is
getting desperate. It will have serious problems with food shortages if rain
does not come soon. Pray for rain for Zambia!
 Today Cheryl and I were blessed to attend the new church at Esperanza.
This has been a dream since the land was purchased in 2010. As well as
fishing for fish in the 2 ponds Esperanza is now fishing for people. Each
Sunday they have had people come forward for special prayer and to seek new
lives. There were 7 this morning which prayed a special prayer asking God to
change them. There were about 40 adults and 50 children present this
morning. The church meets in the first building HCTH built there which was
for storage. Pray for this new church!
 This week showed again how awful, archaic and worse the education system is
in Zambia. There is a national exam after grade 7, 9 and 12. Two years ago
the government said that if a child failed grade 9 they had to go back to
repeat grade 8 and 9. This year the legislated that if a child fails grade
7(2 of ours) they have to go back to grade 6. How many very poor parents can
not pay for 2 extra years of school and an already high drop out rate will
increase greatly. How many young girls will then get pregnant earlier. What
a bad decision! Very frustrating to try to help children when the government
does not care.
 This afternoon we visited our builder named Morris. HCTH sponsors his
daughter. He was telling us he stopped school in grade 7 because his family
could not pay. He said he then started to build. He does a good job.
 Later we visited Francis who taught with me at Choma Secondary School in
2005. We picked mangoes, guava and lemons from his trees. They will be a
great blessing.
 Our workers continue to be busy. Morris is finishing the fish pond and will
start building a latrine. Nchimunya is finishing a latrine for his father
and this week will start another latrine for Joel. Joel, our carpenter is
busy repairing chairs and then has another bed to make. If there is a need
for a bed, a mattress is needed also.
 School starts on Monday. The cholera issue is over now and things are going
back to normal.
 We continue to receive requests for help daily. We can't fill every need
but do what we can.
 Thank you for your prayers! We appreciate them greatly  Blessings!  Tom and
Cheryl

Sent: January 18, 2018 12:47 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is 7 a.m. in Choma, Zambia. We have been up
since 6 a.m. Judy left at 6:15 a.m. to start her long journey back to
Canada. She will be staying in Lusaka tonight and fly out tomorrow. Judy was
a great blessing to us helping write sponsor letters, paying school fees at
the bank, being her caring, compassionate self etc. Pray for her safe
arrival in Toronto on Saturday.
 Naomi, the mother of 3 boys and was 10 months pregnant gave birth to a
little girl on Jan. 16. She went to the clinic at 7 a.m., gave birth at 1
p.m. and was home with the baby at 6 p.m.
 Judy found out the joys of African banking yesterday. She was 2 hours in
line to pay fees for 2 children. She was supposed to pay for 2 others but
the headmaster of the school had given 1 wrong number in the school bank
account. Paying fees in Africa is made difficult by the banking system,
education system, culture and high and unrealistic expectations of children
and families.(for example failing science and wanting to be a doctor).
 People on a daily basis ask for help. They ask for everything from a new
house, latrine, school fees, food etc.
 We are still getting our daily dose of free mangoes.
 We are doing lots of biking. We should be losing weight in the heat. It
continues to be very hot and dry. There was a bit of rain in the night but
much more is needed.
 Thank you for your prayers. Time is going fast but it seems like we have
been in Zambia much more than 11 days because so much has been done.
Our workers continue to be busy. Morris is putting a cement base on one fish
pond so they will not have to use plastic. Joel is making 30 sieves(to sift
the maize flour). Nchimunya is repairing a house and building a latrine.
Monga has built or repaired many bicycles. He finished his third major
repair yesterday. Monga also is going to be doing some welding and other
work on a chicken pen at the farm(Esperanza).
 Thank you for your prayers!   Tom and Cheryl


Sent: January 12, 2018 1:08 PM
Subject: tom and cheryl

Dear friends and family: It was hot again today. I even got a bit of red on
my arms and I don't usually get a burn on my arms. The farmers need rain
soon.
 Tonight after supper we visited 2 families. We got oranges from a tree at
one family and mangoes from another.
 Today we got a lot of sponsor letters. There were 4 of us working on it.
Judy and Catherine helped us. As well, Cheryl and Judy took 5 to the market
this morning. We are taking 3 more tomorrow. For these children sponsors
sent extra money.
 All our people here are now busy. Joel is finishing the 3 beds, Morris is
putting a cement foundation for 1 fish pond so they do not have to use
plastic. Monga is repairing 2 bicycles and Nchimunya is building a porch on
a house.
 Every day there are more requests. Today alone a family we help showed us a
latrine that needs to be finished. Another wanted a small house built to
replace a poor quality one they have.
 Today also we paid school fees for 20 children. The money came from
recycled pop cans. Thank you Bob, Marg and Wayne.
 We also paid school fees for 22 other children sponsored by HCTH. This is a
big job.
 We have also given out lots of used clothes and other items from Canada.
I am still called the candy man.
 We are doing lots of bicycle riding in the heat. It is good for weight
control.
 As you can see, the ministry of HCTH is helping many people. This would not
be possible without your help. Thank you! Most of you can not be here but
your presence in our lives does make a big difference in many lives.
God Bless each of you!
 Tom and Cheryl


Sent: January 12, 2018 1:28 PM
Subject: tom and cheryl

Dear friends and family: We received this letter from the mother of 2
children helped by HCTH and a niece and nephew also who live in her home
built by HCTH.
Dear Tom and Cheryl
 First I would like to thank God for giving me this wonderful chance to see
you again in this New Year 2018. I can say 1+1=2 eyes which were waiting to
see you; 2+3=5 senses thinking of you; 5+2=7 days in a week of missing you;
7+5=12 months asking God to bless you in everything you do.
May the good Lord pour more blessings on you and your family. I wish you all
the best as we are still together on this earth of problems. But God
is in control. Great, Great, to see you.   Yours  Irene

Isn't that a nice letter?

Sent: January 9, 2018 11:58 AM
To: Aaron Payne
Subject: tom and cheryl

Dear friends and family: It continues to be very hot in Zambia. We did get
some rain in the night. Rain is very important here for the people growing
maize because that is what they live on.
 We found out there is another Cheryl in Zambia born in June to a family we
help- Monga and Constance.
 Thank you for your prayers about the money. It was sent on December 30 but
still is not in the account but today the bank said they have traced it and
it should be in our account Wednesday. This is not uncommon in Africa.
 The start of classes has been delayed by the cholera in Zambia. School is
not starting until at least January 30. It normally would have started this
week.  All projects were on hold because of the delay of money coming. Now
at least 4 are set to go including a latrine, 2 porches on houses, a house
repair.
 We are doing lots of bicycle riding. It is good exercise especially in the
heat.
 I want to end with a great success story. Last year a single mother named
Clen and her 3 children were helped by Dan and Nancy who were here. Dan left
money so she would be one of the 11 families helped with a 25kg. bag of
maize meal each month. Clen told me today that Dan told here that because
she was receiving food each month she could sell the maize that she was
growing around her house. She sold her maize and bought land in Mwapona
where she hopes to some day build a house for her and her family.
She works hard as a maid and earns $40 U.S. per month plus the house to live
in.
 Every day Clen and her family are providing us with 3 mangoes- 1 for
Cheryl, Judy and I. They have 4 mango trees.
 Thank you for your prayers. It is such a blessing to bless others. Today a
young mother named Martha came. What a great blessing to tell her we are now
sponsoring her 6 year old son Dan! Last year at this time her 2 year old
daughter died of stomach problems.
 God Bless each of you!
 Tom and Cheryl
Sent: January 7, 2018 12:18 PM
Subject: tom and cheryl

Dear friends and family: It was hot today. It was nice to have our bikes to
ride. We slept in until 10:15 a.m. We unpacked our items in the morning then
in the afternoon we visited many families in Mwapona. We gave out lots of
items from Canada. We gave 11 back packs and other school supplies plus lots
of clothes. We also gave out 4 watches. One man named Aleck said it was the
first watch he ever owned. He is 53 years old. Thanks so much to those who
donated these items.
 We are drinking lots of water.
Thanks for your prayers.
 We have had a total of 17 visit us so far today at our home.  Besides, I
rode to Mwapona twice to visit families.
 It is now 7:15 p.m. We are waiting at home for Hustings and his family plus
a girl named Winnie who is starting nursing. Hustings was supposed to come
at 6 p.m. and Winnie at 7 p.m.
 Hustings and family just came.
 Thanks for your prayers!
 Tom and Cheryl

January 6, 2018 3:10 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We arrived safely in Choma, Zambia tonight at
8:30 p.m. Thank you for your prayers. It has been a long journey which
started as we left the hotel in Toronto for the airport at6:35 a.m. Friday
morning.
 2 specific prayers: 1) I checked the ATM at the bank today and the money we
sent on December 30 from Canada is not in the account yet. Pray it arrives
very soon.
2) There is a cholera outbreak in Zambia-mostly in Lusaka. We are 4 hours by
car from there. So far there are over 2,000 cases and 51 have died. We are
not worried because of your prayers.
 God Bless each of you!   Tom and Cheryl in warm Choma, Zambia.
It is a shock to our system- about a 60 degree temperature shift from -30C
Friday morning in Toronto to +30C  today in Lusaka.


Sent: January 4, 2018 8:31 AM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

We just received word that the money HCTH sent to Africa on December 30 has
arrived safely in the account. That is a great relief to know because in the
past there has been problems. Thank you for your prayers. Already in Uganda
university students are needing money before Monday to start there next
term. Three students are starting their last term of university, 3 their
2nd. term of second year, 2 in first year plus 3 all starting their last
year of college. That is only in Uganda. Thank you for your support. Two
others in Zambia will be starting university this year.
I think both want to study nursing.
 We are blessed to bless others!
Tom and Cheryl


Sent: January 4, 2018 7:32 AM
To: Aaron Payne
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe that it is that time of year
again. The time when we humbly ask for your prayers. The time when your
prayers are especially important.
 We leave this morning at 9 a.m. for Toronto. Our daughter-in-law is
blessing us by driving us to Toronto. We will be staying in a hotel tonight
and flying out of Toronto Friday morning at 10 a.m. We will have to be at
the airport at 7 a.m. We will fly 13 hours to Ethiopia then 3 more hours to
Lusaka, Zambia. We arrive in Lusaka at 12:30 p.m. on
Saturday(8:30 p.m. in Napanee). It will be a long day. Also, we are blessed
that our friends Cyrus and Prisca are meeting us at the airport in Lusaka to
take us the 4 hours to Choma where HCTH ministers. This is also a great
blessing that they can do this.
 Pray the W.I.S.H. W-isdom in the many decisions we will have to make
I-ntegrity in all our words and deeds so others see God in us S-afety in
cars, buses, planes, motorcycles, walking H-ealth without which we could not
do anything. God has blessed us. Pray for this continued blessing!
 Thanks for your prayers! We are in Zambia until February 6 then in Uganda
until April 13.
 We pray that each of you have a blessed Year 2018.
 Tom and Cheryl


Sent: December 8, 2017 3:07 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We arrived home safely from Peru. Thank you for
your prayers. It is nice to be home  BUT we do not like the temperature and
snow today  BUT  4 weeks from today we will be in Africa..
 I want to end by quoting from a letter we received from a man in Peru to
someone who has been to Peru twice through HCTH. "Hello my friend. I write
this letter to thank you for everything- especially for the love you have
toward my family. We are thankful for this fruit of love that you have sent
us(he sent some money). My friend, I have a lot to tell you about what God
is doing in our family. We are learning each day to love God more and one
thing I am learning is to live in God's power. It is difficult to face
situations without Him. I know that God is in control of everything and I
trust in Him because I know He has a solution for every problem. Because of
this I am optimistic no matter what happens.
Fortunately, I have a good wife who is by my side in every situation. I know
that God is good in everything and all the time. The Bible says to love God
with all your heart and all good things will be added to you and I know that
this is happening.
 My friend, I want to say thank you to you and to God for your life. I am
waiting for that glorious morning when Jesus our Saviour comes when we will
have nothing but the light of His splendor when all will the Holy fragrance
of the Lord. We have put our faith and hope in the One True God. I say
goodbye to you with a strong hug from me and my family that God has given
me."
 Isn't that a great letter? It is a good way to end our e-mails from Peru
for 2017. The people are very appreciative of the help they are given.
 Have a Blessed Christmas!
 Tom and Cheryl


Sent: December 1, 2017 6:46 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We are in the jungle of Peru but fly back to Lima
soon.
 We have had a great 3 days seeing a beautiful part of God's creation. It
has been hot- 35 C. today but I like it and lots of fish to eat. We went to
the local zoo this morning. We saw a lot of beautiful and colourful birds
and animals and some not so nice such as a very large Anaconda snake plus
other snakes and a very large crocodile.
Yesterday we spent the day on a boat on a lake which is part of the Ucalyali
River-a tributary of the Amazon. Rocco caught 2 piranha. We saw some river
boats which carry supplies from Pucallpa to Iquitos where the Amazon begins.
There are no roads into Iquitos.
 It is 6:45p.m. We leave for the airport at 7:30 and fly out to Lima at 9
p.m. arriving in Lima at 10.
 This afternoon we visited Kid's Alive project in Pucallpa. They are located
along the lake which in the rainy season becomes part of the river. Water
has already risen 15 feet and by the end of April will have risen another 15
feet.
 Thank you for your prayers!  Tom and Cheryl We only have 5 more days in
Peru. Time has gone fast!



Sent: November 28, 2017 5:44 PM

Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: The last 2 days Rocco, Javier and I have been busy
erecting a small casita(house) for a single mother of 3. The women have been
busy also going to the market yesterday to buy material then teaching Karina
to sew items on her new machine. This morning they also took a young girl to
the market with extra money her sponsor sent.
 We were busy Saturday and Sunday visiting families. We were also invited to
a home for lunch Sunday.
 The last 2 nights I spent about 5 hours translating sponsor letters.
These letters show how thankful the people in Peru are to receive help. I
want to share a few quotes from them.
 "I want to thank you for the money that you sent me. I will use it in my
small business selling Cremaladas. My dream is to have my own business and
to help my family and to give work to many people that need it. I am
thankful for you my sponsor. You Canadians are marvellous people."
 "I want to thank you for your support that you are giving me to go to
university. Each step that I take and each achievement is thanks to your
support.There are no words that can describe all that you have done for me."
"I belong to a Christian church because above everything else, God is most
important."
"Many thanks for sponsoring me. How I wish for you to come to Peru so I
could get to know you and you could see the wonders of Peru. I would like
you to come to Manchay and we could have fun together."
"Thank you for blessing me. It is a great blessing. Wow! God is Good! I
always remember you in my prayers praying that God takes care of you at all
times. Please pray for my spiritual life and for God's protection."
"God has given me the opportunity to teach 10-12 year olds on Sunday school.
It is a great privilege. I always remember you in my prayers and give thanks
to God for you and pray that God continues blessing you greatly."
 These letters are to a person in Canada who came to Peru before but not
this year. The person sent some money for these people. Some of their words
are as follows; "I want to say that I miss you a lot and I admire you as a
person."
" I miss you a lot. I want to thank you for the money that you gave me.
Truly I do not have words to describe how much you have helped me. God bless
you and give you more energy.."
"I am very thankful to God because through Him you remember us in Peru. We
are waiting for your next visit to Peru."
"I am thankful to God because He has put a person like you in our life. I
missed you when I did not see you this year. Thank you so much for sharing
this blessing with me. God is good and faithful. He knows each one of His
children's needs.Thanks so much for your generosity. You will always be in
my prayers and in my heart."
 Aren't they beautiful letters?


Pray for the next 3 days as we travel to Pucallpa in the jungle. It will be
great to see another part of God's beautiful world.
Many blessings from Peru!   Tom and Cheryl with Rocco and Renee



Sent: November 24, 2017 6:46 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is 6;30 p.m. in Peru(the same time as Canada
now).
 We have been busy since Rocco and Renee arrive very early Tuesday morning.
One question we are often asked when people ask about coming with us on a
missions trip is, "We like to be busy. Is there enough to do to keep us
busy." We assure them that in our 13 years of HCTH and now 129 people never
has anyone sat around with nothing to do for any length of time.
 This time has been no different. We have been very busy. Today we left home
at 8 a.m. and returned at 5:30. Rocco and I were helping Javier building his
new house. Yesterday and today we made forms for 2 large pillars and poured
cement for them. Cement mixed by hand, fed down a tube by hand with shovels,
sand, stones and water carried in pails and 2 wheelbarrows(one with a flat
tire). It is tiring work. Renee and Cheryl taught Karina sewing on her new
machine including how to hem pants.
Wednesday we all went to Gamarra. We bought material so Renee and Cheryl
could show Karina how to sew items. Tuesday morning Rocco and Renee arrived
at 4 a.m. but by 9:30 a.m. we were out the door to walk 30 minutes to change
money. In the afternoon we went to Karina and Javier's new house
construction site. Tuesday and Wednesday nights we had people here visiting
us and played cards with us plus Karina and Javier.As you can see, Rocco and
Renee have been busy.
 We have every day filled until the time we leave- about 11 p.m. on
Wednesday night, Dec. 6. This includes visiting families, being invited to
homes for a meal, 2 days for Rocco and I to build a room for Anna, hand out
baby blankets and teddy bears at the Manchay clinic, 3 day trip to the
jungle of Peru(Pucallpa), Rocco and Renee to visit Central Lima and Mira
Flores.
 We do thank God for good health, strength, wisdom and integrity(not in that
order).
 Thanks for your prayers.
 Blessings  Tom and Cheryl




Sent: November 11, 2017 4:43 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is a nice warm day in Lima, Peru. Summer is
coming. Actually we are in their spring and summer starts on December 21.
Cheryl and I just walked from our work in Manchay to our apartment on
Calle(street) Miami. It is about a 1 hour walk(mostly down hill). On the way
we stopped at a market to buy fruits and vegetables.
 We are continuing to meet families and get sponsor letters and pictures.
A blessing this year has been 5 new sponsored children in Peru from 3
different families. They are all Christian families that are studying the
Bible with Javier. It is nice to help families that have a mother and father
who both want to learn more about God and love each other and their
children. That brings to 39 the number of children in Peru now sponsored. In
addition, 2 others are in University and are not counted in this total.
 Last night we did not get home until 8 p.m. after visiting 4 families.
 Tomorrow there is church at 9 a.m. We are visiting a family at 12 noon then
invited for lunch at the family of a boy we sponsor named Josue.
Later in the afternoon we have 3 other families to visit and get letters
from.
 Thursday was a different day. We went to Gamarra-  a shopping area where
textiles are made and then to the center of Lima. It was a total of 2 hours
by bus to get to the center of Lima. We were able to purchase items to sell
in Canada. HCTH has a Christmas sale in the Giant Tiger store lobby on
Friday, December 15.
 Time is going fast. It is hard to believe we have been in Peru almost 3
weeks but in that short time a lot has been done.
 Thanks for your prayers!   Tom and Cheryl with Krystyna and Sharon

Sent: November 16, 2017 9:20 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is a National Holiday in Peru today. Peru beat
New Zealand last night 2-0 in soccer(football) to go to the World Cup in
Russia in 2018. It is Peru's first time since 1982. Pray for us today as we
go to Mira Flores. That is where the New Zealand team is staying. We are
going to buy a sewing machine for a lady who learned to sew last year when a
lady from Canada came to work with her. She will be very excited to own her
own new sewing machine.
 We continue to be busy gathering sponsor letters. We are getting  maybe 7
more tomorrow. On Tuesday we got letters from 5 children. It is a challenge
because of children in school and parents working. For example, tomorrow we
have to be in Manchay by 8;30 a.m. to get 2 letters and a picture.
 Yesterday we visited Shirley in her new apartment. Her Day Care is doing
well. She has a loving husband and beautiful little girl named Alice. BUT
the real blessing was to hear Shirley tell about the 5 young boys her and
her husband Leo are working with and teaching the Bible to. Shirley was in
the first Children's program started in 2004 when a group from our church
came and started a children's program. It is great to see the cycle
repeating itself.
 On Tuesday we visited a home that is very needy. The sponsors of their
children gave extra money so when our friends come next week we will be
building a room for her. Javier says it will take 2 days. Another job for
Rocco.
 I want to end by quoting a bit from our Bible study this morning. It was
entitled, "Keep Growing."   You grow to the extent you give. By giving
out you create more room to grow on the inside. So give until it hurts and
keep giving until it feels good. Always endeavor to leave people better off
than you found them and you'll be better off too.  Proverbs
11:225 says,"The liberal man shall be rich! By watering others he waters
himself."  This epitaph was on a tombstone-- 'What I gave, I have. What I
spent, I had. What I kept, I lost."
 Javier and Karina are here so we have to go. It is 9:10 a.m.
 God Bless!  Tom and Cheryl

Sent: November 19, 2017 7:20 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

It is 7 p.m. in Lima, Peru. Anna, her mother, sister Maria and daughter
Aricely just left.
 This is the 15th birthday in a row that Cheryl has had in Peru. Why does
Cheryl enjoy having her birthday in Peru? Yesterday, November 18, her birth
day we were invited to Karina and Javier's for lunch. It was a surprise to
Cheryl that they had us for lunch plus a birthday cake for
Cheryl- her favorite- Tres leches(3 milks). We had a nice day with them.
 Cheryl thought that was all but she should have known better. Today after
church we went to Manchay for 1 p.m. Another surprise for Cheryl as about
45 people were in a home to celebrate Cheryl's birthday- another 2 cakes.
Families brought a lot of traditional Peruvian food. We were so full that we
walked home from Manchay arriving at 5:15 p.m. About 25 minutes later Anna
and her family came with another cake and cookies. This was also a surprise.
No matter how much you walk it is hard to lose weight here. 4 cakes for
Cheryl's birthday. Fortunately it was spread over a day and a half.
 Hopefully tomorrow is a quieter day. Pray for Krystyna as she leaves about
11 p.m. tomorrow night for the airport and about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday
morning Rocco and Renee Liscio arrive.
 Thanks for your continued prayers!
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: November 6, 2017 4:22 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Today is the last day for Ben and Kathie in Peru. They leave for the airport
at 11:30 p.m. and fly out at 3:30 a.m.
 Cheryl and Kathie just returned from taking Jyustin to the market. They
said he was good to be with. Ben and I went to get money exchanged and to
send money through Western Union. This morning we took hospital gowns to a
clinic in Manchay. The Director was very happy to get them. Each of us had a
job as Ben handed out candies, Kathie gave out cards with Bible verses and I
gave out 50 teddy bears. Cheryl took pictures. We then went to Shirley's day
care to give teddy bears to the 7 children there. We visited 2 other
families to get sponsor letters. After getting fruit in the market we walked
home via a route that took us to see the local pet Al Paca that lives in a
nearby park. Later this afternoon Roxana is coming for a visit. At 7 Sofia
and Soledad want to come to say goodbye to Ben and Kathie.
 Yesterday was a blessed day. After church we had a visit from Miriam at
11:30 a.m. We then went to Manchay. We were invited to the home of 3
families we just met this year and are sponsoring 1 child from each home.
They had a great lunch of pureed potatoes, rice and chicken. We had a good
time of fellowship and singing some songs. We then visited families.
Sunday is the only day many children do not have school. We were invited to
Katy, Cliset and Kelly's for supper at 5;30. Katy and Cliset cookie Chinese
Rice(Chaufa) plus jello for dessert. It was another great meal.
We then visited 1 more home before getting to our home after 7 p.m. The
Peruvian people are so appreciative of the help they get through the
ministry of HCTH. We have asked the ladies coming to bring a calendar so we
can write down all our appointments.
 Ben and Kathie have seen in their 12 days here the Ministry of HCTH which
works with the poor at their level of need. A very personal ministry.
Pray for them as they travel home. It will be a long night. Pray also for
Krystyna and Sharon as they arrive on the same plane that will take Ben and
Kathie back to Canada.
 God Bless each of you. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Tom and Cheryl



Sent: November 4, 2017 10:09 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is 8;30 p.m. We just returned from Manchay. We
left home at 7 p.m. to visit Karina and Javier's Bible study. They were
using the new chairs and table purchased by funds provided from a Pastor
friend of Ben and Kathie's in Canada. They were excited to use them for the
first time. There were 12 people at the Bible study. 10 Bibles were also
purchased.
 We visited many families today. Last year HCTH started sponsoring Alonso.
This family is very poor. His mother Rosa collects plastic bottles to help
feed the family. On the best day she can make about 20 Soles($7
U.S.) She must take along her 2 handicapped children aged 2 and 5 as she
collects the plastic bottles. Alonso proudly showed us his report card- all
A's. Also they proudly showed us their 1 chicken which gives them 1 egg per
day. HCTH gave money to purchase 10 more chickens. This money is from gift
certificates purchased at our Charity Auction only 2 weeks ago tonight. We
noticed that Alonso had a problem seeing. His glasses had broken beyond
repair. HCTH medical gift certificates paid for a new pair of glasses for
Alonso.
 In the morning we met with Mily to give her the money she needs for her
last year of university. Earlier I had given money to her mother Mary who is
also studying in University. Mily is studying Banking Management and Mary
studying Education. We also met with Eglinton whom HCTH sponsorship is
helping to go to University. Anna received the gift and money given by a
sponsor in Canada. We had a nice visit with Alejandro and his family.
His daughter Milagros played some songs for us on her violin. She is 13
years old. We visited the homes of Carmen and her sister Anna and their 4
sponsored children-Maricielo, Tiego, Jeiho, Giha. They live high up in the
hills of Manchay. Groceries were given to some of these families also.
 Tomorrow evening at 5:30 p.m. we are invited for supper in a home in
Manchay. Another lady today asked us for lunch on Sunday, November 26.
Sunday, November 12 we are invited for lunch in Manchay. We asked the people
coming Monday night to bring a calendar so we can keep our invitations
straight.
 Pray for Ben and Kathie in their last 2 days in Peru. Pray for their safe
travel home on Tuesday. Pray for Sharon and Krystyna as they travel to Peru
on Tuesday. Pray for their ministry while here.
 God Bless and thank you for your prayers!   Tom and Cheryl



Sent: November 1, 2017 9:06 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: We returned home at 7 p.m. this evening. Ben and I
left at 8:20 a.m. to meet Javier in Cieneguilla(30 minute bus ride). We
helped Javier in the construction of his new house. Cheryl and Kathie took
Kelly and her mother to the market in the morning. In the afternoon they
took Jorge and Juan to the market. They said the children were all excellent
to be withand very thankful. Their sponsors had sent extra money.
 At 4 p.m. we visited the home of a little girl Ben and Kathie are starting
to sponsor. We were also able to sponsor their little girl Daniela because
we got an e-mail last night from a lady near Napanee who wants to start
sponsoring a child. What a great blessing to the family.
They asked us for supper. The mother Adelia had cooked chicken noodle soup
and had quinua pudding. Their mother grows quinua in the mountains.
 Tomorrow Ben and Kathie are going with Karina and Javier to buy Bibles for
their Bible study group plus a folding table and chairs. Now they meet in
Shirley's Day care which only has a low child size table and chairs for
small children. The money for these items was given by friends of Ken and
Kathie.
 Thanks for your prayers!  Tom and Cheryl

Sent: October 29, 2017 10:26 PM
Subject: A blessed day in Peru

Dear friends and family: What an amazing day God gave us today. I just
mentioned to Ben and Kathie that in missions it does not get any better than
today.
 This morning we went to Vida Nueva(New Life) Baptist church at 9 a.m. At
11 a.m. we met Karina and Javier to go to Manchay where we work. Ben and
Kathie have commented on how polite the people here are, especially the
younger ones who get up to give us older people their seat. Ben said he must
look really old because on the way to Manchay a nun got up to give her seat
to Ben.
 We visited 3 new families that we are going to start sponsoring children in
their family. These families knew Karina and Javier were coming but not 4
gringos. The father's name in the first home was Noah. He has 2 daughters.
His younger daughter named Danielle was very cute. He said he has been
praying for God to help him and his family. He knew God was going to answer
his prayer he just had to be patient. He has seen several other families
helped but never gave up hope. Interestingly, he also said he has known
other families who were promised help from other organizations but help
never came. We told him we wanted to help one of his children and Karina and
Javier would be at their door every month with support from their sponsor.
His reaction was priceless.
 In the second home of a father named Abel their was a son and daughter.
They gave us a great meal of Lomo Saltado even though they did not know we
were coming. Abel was 16 when he was married and his wife named Queen was
14. Again the same reaction when we told them we wanted to sponsor one of
their children.
 Home number 3 had 2 daughters. The same reaction repeated.
We bought groceries for all 3 families. All 3 are in Javier's discipleship
class and are excited about growing closer to God and understanding better
the word of God.
  We then visited a lady named Marguerite. HCTH sponsors 4 of her children
It was her birthday as well as her son Paolo. That was the second birthday
of the day as Noah also had a birthday. Naomi Marguerite's daughter, came
home with us to get clothes. She left at 5:30 p.m. and at
6 Katy, Cliset, Kelly and Yobert came for clothes. Katy is an amazing young
lady. She is 20 years old. Everybody loves her. HCTH sponsorship put her
through college studying Industrial Foods. She now works in a factory making
juices. She shared with us that last December she started her own business
in Manchay selling cremaladas(like a slushy). This year she is expanding to
sell ice cream. She says the business is doing very well. She calls the
business "Delicious Fruits Katy". She sells her products from a cart.
 What a day? Then to get 3 encouraging e-mails from Uganda, another from a
person who wants to go to Peru, and another from a family who have been to
Peru twice.
 Just before we left Canada someone asked if our university and college
graduates are able to find work after graduating. All graduates in Peru have
good jobs. Roxana is teaching school. Katy is working. Shirley has her own
business. Miriam is working in speech therapy.
 Thank you for your prayers. God is blessing our time here. It is hard to
believe we have only been in Peru 4 days.
 Pray for Ben as he works with Javier tomorrow on their new house.
God Bless each of you!          Tom and Cheryl


Sent: October 28, 2017 12:03 AM
Subject:Tom and CHERYL

Dear friends and family: It is 10:50 p.m. in Lima,Peru. Karina and Javier
just left.
 We went this morning to visit the home Karina and Javier are renting in
Cieneguilla about 30 minutes by bus from our home. We then went to the home
they are building. It is amazing the progress from last year. They have
accomplished a lot but have been slowed lately because Javier fell about 3
metres while building and broke 2 ribs and injured his elbow and shoulder.
Next week Ben and I hope to help him a few days. Later we visited a school
operated by Kids Alive and 2 families there that HCTH helps.
 Tonight we had a good chance to talk with Karina and Javier. What they are
doing is amazing. They have 5 different discipleship groups each week
teaching the Bible to about 30 people including an 8 year old boy who they
say asks very deep spiritual questions. There is a large number of people
who are now serving God. One girl HCTH has helped for many years has a
boyfriend who is not a believer. Miriam is bringing him to Karina and Javier
for Bible teaching. Also Shirley and her new husband Leo spend a lot of time
with Karina and Javier in fellowship. Karina and Javier are our HCTH
missionaries in Peru and are doing a great job.
 Thanks for your prayers. On Sunday we are visiting 3 new families because
there are 3 families in Canada who want to help a child in Peru.
 Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. Mary and Millie are coming to our home.
After that we will be in Manchay visiting families.
God bless each of you!   Tom and Cheryl


Sent: October 26, 2017 6:28 PM
SubjectTomand CHERYL

Dear friends and family: Wednesday was a blessed day. At the Kingston
Airport one of our suitcases was over weight by a few pounds but the lady
said she would let it go with no extra charge. She said,'You are probably
giving most of it away'. I said,"We are giving all of it away".
At the Lima Airport at 1:30 a.m.(2:30 a.m. our time) we prayed a lot that
the customs would not inspect our bags. We walked right through. Praise God!
We got to our apartment at 4: 00 a.m. our time. 4 hours later I was up
unloading our bags- 350 pounds of items for the people of Peru. It will be a
great blessing. At 10 a.m. Karina and Javier(our helpers here) came. We
walked to get our money changed(about 30 minutes) then took a bus to get
groceries. In the afternoon we went to Manchay. It is great to see Shirley
doing well. HCTH sponsored her through college to be a therapist. She now
owns a Day Care(Cuna) where she looks after children and does therapy(
physical or speech) if they need it.
 Tonight at 7 p.m. Karina and Javier are coming over. They always look
forward to us being here.
*The time here in Lima is 1 hour different but when Eastern time goes back
one hour soon the time will be the same.
 Thanks for your prayers!   Tom and Cheryl


Sent: October 23, 2017 10:54 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: It is that time again. We are soon off to Peru.
The Charity Auction is over. Our treasurer just e-mailed to say that revenue
from the Charity Auction was over $12,400. Praise the Lord! Mukama
mulungi!(God is great in Luganda). Dios es Grande en Espanol  We leave
Kingston Airport at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning and arrive in Lima, Peru at
35 minutes after midnight on Thursday morning. It will be another long day.
We look forward to our 6 weeks in Peru. Pray for this Wednesday and the
following 6 weeks. Pray for the 6 people joining us. We look forward to
their ministry with us. Pray for Kathie and Ben Blodgett as they join us
flying to Lima. *Lima is in the same time zone as Napanee. It is the exact
same longitude as Napanee- 77 degrees west.
 Pray that God will bless the ministry of HCTH! PRAY FOR WISDOM IN THE MANY
DECISIONS THAT WILL BE MADE. PRAY FOR INTEGRITY FOR EACH PERSON REPRESENTING
HCTH. PRAY FOR SAFETY IN THE AIR AND ON THE ROADS. PRAY FOR GOOD HEALTH.
(W.I.S.H.)
12 suitcases full of needed supplies for the poor will be taken. This does
not include the suitcases of personal clothes etc. These will be a great
blessing. This includes school supplie;, medical supplies; teddy bears and
toy;, clothes for babies, children, youth, men, women: dental supplies; a
computer for a boy studying engineering in university and much more.
 It is a great blessing to serve God. We are excited about what God has in
store.
 Thank you for your prayers!
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: September 18, 2017 6:21 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Thank you for your prayers. I am safely back in Canada. Mark and CHERYL met
me at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the airport in Toronto. It was good to see them.
The plane from Amsterdam was 30 minutes late but it was a good flight.
 Continue your prasyers for Cheryl and I as we leave Thursday morning for
our U.S. trip visiting friends in Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, Southern
Virginia and speaking in churches on the next 2 Sundays in North Carolina
and Tennessee. We will see lots of our friends in these states also. God has
provided a great network of friends who are very supportive of the ministry
of HCTH.
 Thank you for your prayers and support also. When coming back from Uganda
it is so clear how essential your prayers and financial support are. It was
a very effective, safe and healthy 3.5 weeks in Uganda.
 We will return to Napanee on October 3 in time to prepare for our major
fund raiser- the 13th Annual Charity Auction on October 21. I will be
speaking at churches in the area on Sunday October 15 and 22. Then off to
Peru October 25. So far we have 5 people visiting us in Peru.
 Thank you God for blessing each of these great people.
 Tom
P.S. While in Uganda I was thinking about age. The more years I have the
more I believe that age is not based on the number of years God has given to
you on this earth. How old you are is how old you feel. That is why I am in
my early forties. I certainly don't feel any older. Thank you God!



Sent: September 14, 2017 7:31 AM
Subject: Tom in Kampala

Dear friends and family: Pray for a safe and healthy journey home. I am in
Kampala today. I fly from Entebbe Friday night and land in Toronto at
11:35 a.m. on Saturday morning. It has been a blessing to be here but it
will be greater to be home even if it is only for 4 days before heading to
the U.S. for 12 days.
 Today I met with Joy. She is a recent university graduate through HCTH
sponsorship. She finished in May and had a hard time finding a job but two
weeks ago started a good job with the Uganda Bible League. They distribute
Bibles plus have a ministry in prisons, schools and homes. She was telling
me about visiting the prisons and how sad it is to see men and women of all
ages grouped together- even young teen boys with men.
She told of a lady she had a Bible study with who has served 18 years of her
life sentence for killing her abusive and adulterous husband with a machete.
The only regret she has is never seeing her 18 year old daughter since her
birth. The problem is that Joy now has another agency that wants to talk to
her about a job. As well she is doing some work now for HCTH LOOKING AFTER
OUR POST SECONDARY STUDENTS. Pray for Joy.
 An update on a former story. Eve who is an earlier HCTH university graduate
is expecting triplets. The birth now is expected to be in 3 weeks. She likes
the 3 boys names suggested by our travel agent in Canada. The 3 boys will be
called  Thomas and Eldon and Martin. Eve said she especially likes the names
Eldon and Martin.
 Also yesterday I talked to Annette. She said her Moslem friends at school
are not happy with her now being a Christian but they are still friends.
She is doing well.
 Tomorrow early I will go to the craft market. Pray for safety on the boda
bodas(motorcycle taxis).
 Thank you for your prayers over the last 3 weeks. God is good.
 Tom in Kampala, Uganda


Sent: September 12, 2017 12:58 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: I want to share yesterday with you to let you know
some of the things I am doing in Uganda. It was a busy day. I have thought
of timing of when I come and as I woke up early this morning I thought that
the timing is perfect for Uganda even though I don't like missing any of
August or early September in Canada. It is perfect timing here as children
are all starting school (universities and colleges starting and primary and
secondary starting their last term).
 Yesterday I left home at 7:40 a.m. to go to Hope House to see Rebecca
before she goes to school. She had already gone but the two youngest in the
home Marjorine and Faridah were there. They needed school shoes repaired so
I gave Faridah money for that. Marjorine came with me to the maket to get
school requirements. I then went to Pride S.S. to see Rebecca. Ritah called
and said she had a letter for Dan and Nancy so I arranged to meet her at the
Internet. I took this opportunity to use the Internet.
 I then went home to get a hammer and nails. I returned to Hope House to
repair 2 chairs which needed it. I had to go and buy longer nails but they
are good now. I gave Ronald money to buy a pan for the home to cook Chapats.
I also gave him money to repair his bicycle. This is in return for keeping
the grass slashed at the home.
 I then took Mariam to her high school. We had questions about what she
needed to pay.
 I went home for a quick lunch and even had time to slash some grass. I try
to leave our home with no grass growing where it should not and weeds gone.
Joram was home washing. I put lime in our latrine. I do tis twice each year
to keep down the odor.
 I then went to the local Vocational school because Lilian needed some ites
for her hair dressing course.
 Edward and Catherine came to the gate. Edward needed money to repair his
school shoes. He left and Catherine stayed to write a thank you letter to
her sponsor. They had sent her a watch. I will tell more of this story
later. Solomon came with some sugar cane plus a list of his school
requirements which I will get this morning. Then Sulah came. Things are
supposed to quiet down but they get busier because people know I am leaving
soon.
 Now for a great story. Catherine started to write her thank you letter.
Catherine is quiet and does not say much. It is hard to get anything from
her but I could tell she was thinking. I even asked her what she was
thinking and she said, "Nothing." At one point she asked, "How old are my
sponsors?" She wrote in part, "Thank you so much for the watch. I will wear
it every day at school and at church. I really appreciate your help paying
school fees...... Thank you for loving me...." Then she started to cry big
tears. I asked her why she was crying. She did not answer but I finally got
it from her. She said, " Why would someone from Canada who has never seen me
and who does not know me love me so much, when my own family does not love
me?" I asked her who does not love you? She just turned 16 a few days ago
and said her mother gave her away when she was 6 to live with her
grandmother who struggles to survive and send children to school. Her
grandmother is elderly. It was very touching but great to know her heart.
She does feel she is not loved by her mother. She is the youngest of many
children her mother had. Her father died of Aids.
Pray for Catherine. She is a very intelligent young lady but does have hurts
in her life.
 It was a long, draining but blessed day.
 I have to go now. It is 7:55 a.m. Another day starts. I have to get
Solomon's items then meet someone at 10 and 1 that I know of. I have not
turned my phone on yet because then the calls and texts start.
 Sorry for the long e-mail. I was going to share it with only those who know
Catherine but thought it would be good for each of you to hear.
 Thank you for your prayers!   Tom

Sent: September 10, 2017 3:04 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: It is the Sabbath day in Mityana. This afternoon at
4 p.m. which is 9 a.m. in Napanee I will be having a service in the
Children's Home. It is nice to spend time with them. Yesterday I was there
all morning slashing grass and trimming the hedge. It is good exercise.
One of the children there- Rebecca- asked me if I work that hard in Canada.
I told her that I did. I said we have a big garden. I told her that Cheryl
works hard too. After the service(devotion) time Joram and I are meeting
with them. I am meeting with others at 1 p.m. and at 2 p.m. so it is a busy
afternoon.
 I want to include parts of 3 letters I received. This is for 3 reasons.
To show how grateful these children are, to show how they appreciate those
who come from Canada to visit them and to show how they give God the Glory
for the change in their lives and that of their families.
Please don't pay attention if the name Tom is used by them. It is all God
and Tom is pretty ordinary in this program but God is extra-ordinary.
 All of these children have had difficult lives but they know they have been
blessed by God.
 Sylvia whose father was murdered by a second wife and whose mother is HIV
positive writes, " Hello Mr. Tom: This letter is to inform you of all and
Cheryl have done for me and my family. Thanks because it is very rare for a
Ugandan person to do what you are doing. Thanks for spending your time to
travel that long journey coming to Uganda to help people like me and my
family and leaving your family behind. Thank you for that love and care. May
God bless you! Give my regards when you go back to Canada to Mrs. Cheryl, to
Dan and Nancy, Cara, Julia and her family and Nicole. I wish you a safe
journey as you travel back to Canada and I pray for God's journey mercies to
lead you and be upon you as you travel. God has been good to me through your
help and support. I love Him."
 Annet wrote, "This letter goes to the people I love most. People with
kind hearts, caring and lovely- my heroes- Tom and Cheryl   It is now 11
years since you have been helping us. You are my family. Thanks for bringing
new friends to us, like Dan(Fleury) who gave a goat even tough I did not
know him. My lovely friends Dan and Nancy, Julia, Nicole, Victoria and
Mollie and others. May Almighty God bless you. Nothing I can give back but I
know the Most High who sees everything will reward you."
 Sylvia and Annet are both starting their last year of university!
 Joan just graduated from university and received help from her sponsor to
start her own business. She wrote, "I write to tell you that I am so
grateful for everything. I know you always say it is not you but to me and
my family you and cherly(her spelling) have made this possible. May the
Almighty God bless you with a gift of life wealth and happiness and lots of
joy because this is what you have given me. I thank you and my sponsors and
God so much."
 I hope these letters were a blessing to you this Sabbath day.
Love  Tom   My last Sunday in Uganda. I return to Toronto on Saturday. It
will be nice to be home but will miss our friends in Uganda. I will leave
them in great hands. The hands of God, the Father. It is good because many
of the children we work with do not have a father.
 God Bless and thank you for your prayers   Tom


Sent: September 5, 2017 12:31 PM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: Today started out with a great blessing. I had
arranged to have Kenneth come to our home at 9 a.m. Kenneth is a boy who was
helped to complete university through HCTH sponsorship. I gave him the
computer that Mike sent to him from Canada. Thanks so much Mike. Kenneth
said, "God ha answered my prayers. I never dreamed I would own a computer.
This has made my day." Kenneth actually teaches computers at the Anglican
Diocese. He was very thankful and speaks very highly of HCTH help.
 People are starting to ask for requirements the children need for the last
term. It is about 2.5 months long but this is why it is so frustrating.
Childre are asked to have 12 note books, 10 pens, the younger ones 12
pencils and 24 notebooks; 6 toilet paper and a ream of papers. Some are
asked to bring 2 kg. of sugar. It is so corrupt. The schools collect these
items and sell many of them. Calculate 2 kg. of sugar each from 600
children.
 I spent the morning with Joan who graduated from university this spring.
She wants to start her own business. I later met with Barbara who is
starting her last year of university.
 A young boy came with a gift of 6 eggs from his grandmother. I had 2 eggs
with Instant potatoes for supper.
 Yesterday I washed some clothes. I am getting good at washing by hand.
Also I continue to bathe using a basin. I tried the cold shower once but it
is not for me.
 It was a great blessing going to the bank today to find that the money sent
from Canada to the HCTH account on Friday has arrive. Praise the Lord! We
have had many problems with banks so it is a blessing when there are no
problems. It is needed because costs especially in education have increased
greatly.
 Thank you so much for your prayers. There is only 1 more post secondary
student to get ready for school since I was with the other Kenneth
yesterday. He is starting civil engineering.
 God Bless!   Tom in Mityana



Sent: September 3, 2017 1:37 PM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Things are
well in Uganda.
 Annet's nephew who broke his jaw and had other injuries has had surgery.
Thank you so much for your prayers and the family who gave to pay for this
surgery. Annet wrote a thank you letter to them. They were very thankful.
 To update on another story from before. I was not sure Eve was serious
about wanting me to name her triplets. Yesterday she called and asked if I
had names for her. My choice was our 3 sons so Rick, Paul and Mark. I told
Eve of the other person from Canada suggested my names so I gave her the 3
names
Thomas   Eldon    Martin.
 When I went to Kampala in the local van last Thursday, the lady beside me
had a chicken on her lap. Fortunately she had a hankerchief over its bottom.
By the smell it is good she did.
 Yesterdy Joram went to the burial of a 9 year old boy who died of malaria.
 Today I wanted a different food than what I prepare so I went to the New
Highway Hotel Restaurant. Their menu which is printed and laminated
following items  Cacumbar salad; Omellete;  Chicken Bauger;  French Test;
Milk Shakers   Bear;  Vacado;   Aglass of juice
Then I went outside and saw the Diary Store where they sell milk.
 Seriously, there are a lot of needs. People come often and many asking for
help. Pray for wisdom.
 God Bless on this Sabbath Day    Tom

Sent: August 30, 2017 12:58 PM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: Today I asked Annette what was good about being a
Christian. She said I can go to church when I want, I do not have to fast
and I have new Christian friends. I asked her if she still had her old
Moslem friends and she said yes. I told her that was good. I asked her if
she tells them about Jesus and she said, "I do!"
 One of HCTH early university graduates met me today. She is having a C
section on November 18 or 23. She is expecting triplets- 3 boys. She wants
me to name them because her husband who is a lawyer said it was up to her to
name them. November 18 is Cheryl's birthday.
 I visited the hospital today to see Kenneth and Winnie- two students
starting university in two weeks. Their mother owns a small shop at the
hospital. While there I met a family whose son was in the hospital because
of a motorcycle accident. He is 21 years old. He is a nephew of a girl we
help named Annet who is starting her third year of university.
Annet was crying because they had just been told the cost.He broke his jaw
and fractured his cheek bone. They took him to Kampala for surgery but they
said no surgery unless they pay the about $200 U.S.
 As you can see there is always issues to deal with.
 Blessings   Tom


Sent: August 29, 2017 1:54 PM
Subject: Tom in Mityana

Dear friends and family: It is raining a little at 8:30 p.m. tonight. It has
rained some every day but has not affected my progress.
 This morning at 7:30 I met with a Joan- a recent university graduate of
HCTH support. She told me about her becoming a Christian. She said in a
letter she wrote, "I joined a study group my last year of university and it
was mostly Christians. They invited me to their church. They taught me how
to pray and read the Bible. I decided to become a Christian also. Its really
good because I can talk to God about my problems and I feel better than I
did before."
 Also, this morning I went to Namukozi. I saw Annette and I forgot and said,
'How are you Shamiim?" Annette said,"Shamiim is not here any more."
WOW! She was Shamiim when she was a Moslem but that girl is not the Annette
of now. That made my day!
 I met a young lady helped a few years ago named Viola. She is now making
shoes. I took her to people we know and sold 20 pairs of shoes for her.
 I went to F Troop Vocational School and paid fees for 3 children there
supported by HCTH sponsors.
 Even tonight after supper I met with Rema who is the lady looking after the
children at Hope House.
 On Sunday I went to Kampala by local taxi meeting with 6 children attending
College or university. Tomorrow morning I meet with 2 more who are in their
last year of university. We have to go over school fees and needs. I texted
another to say we have to meet at 1 p.m. because I am busy all morning.
 As well, many people know I am here and as a result I get many requests.
Today one wanted a bicycle, another a phone, another clothes, another help
to build a house, another to buy land. I am not kidding. That was just
today. That is why we ask for prayers for wisdom.
 Thank you for those prayers! They are essential Pray for Barbara-a girl
starting her last year of university. She has been sick for a month in Gulu
which is Northern Uganda and is too sick to get to her classes. She was in
Gulu doing research.
 Tom in Mityana, Uganda

Sent: August 25, 2017 6:29 AM
Subject: Tom in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is the rainy season. Each day it has rained for
about 1 hour in the middle of the day. As they say here, the rain disturbs
me but it is a great blessing.
 This morning I went to see Annette(formerly Shamiim). She is doing well.
She has almost finished reading the Bible and is attending an Anglican
church not a mosque.
 I also talked to a brother and sister who are starting university in 2
weeks. Kenneth is going into Civil Engineering and Winnie into Nursing.
They are very excited and thank their sponsors so much.
 It is great to be back in Uganda among our friends. It is busy and the
phone rings often as people realize that I am here.
 At present in Uganda their are 8 in University, 5 in Vocational school and
3 in College. It is a blessing to see them doing well.
 I was Praising the Lord that the motorcycle started up easily. The starter
even works. The motorcycle is a great blessing for the ministry of HCTH.
 Thank you for your prayers! The rain has stopped and there are people to
see.
God Bless   Tom and Cheryl
Sent: August 21, 2017 3:00 PM
Subject: Tom to Uganda

Dear friends and family: Time goes so fast. I am at the Toronto airport
starting the long journey to Uganda. I will be in Uganda until September 16.
Please pray for me and for Cheryl busy in Canada. In Uganda, two are
starting university, 4 starting second year, 3 starting third year, 3 in
vocational school and 4 in college. Pray for wisdom, integrity, safety,
health.- W.I.S.H.
 I will keep you posted!  Webale ne mukama akuwe omukisa
Tom                         (Thanks and God Bless You)

Sent: April 25, 2017 1:59 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl Martin

Dear friends and family: Thank you for your prayers. Our son Mark picked us
up at the airport in Toronto at 9 a,m. The plane was 30 minutes early but
luggage was delayed. It is good to be home but another busy time begins as
we have at least 150 letters and pictures to get to people.
Thanks again for your support!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: April 22, 2017 11:51 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is 6:40 p.m. in Uganda on a Saturday night. We
had a lot to do- our last full day in Mityana. It rained all morning so we
had to resort to using the car. We gave out the last of our clothes, extra
food from the fridge plus the last 2  25kg. bags of corn meal. We also
visited many families to say goodbye plus to Hope House where I bought the
last treats for the children there.
 A highlight of today was visiting with Annette. She wrote a nice note to
her sponsor. I will quote part of it. "I greet you in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. I am enjoying reading the Bible that you bought for me. I have
been reading the Bible with Nicole, Julia, Tom and Cheryl. In the Bible
there are amazing stories about God. I liked reading about creation, Noah's
boat, and the story of Jacob. I have read 138 pages of the Bible.
 I changed my name to Annette because I want my name to be the same with
yours. I appreciate you for all you have done for me. I am happy to be a
Christian now because some Islamic activities were hard while Christian
activities are simple like you can pray any time while in Islam there is a
specific time to pray. In Islam it is a must to fast while in Christianity
it is not. I am very happy that I am set free from Islam. I would like to
see you some day. I pray that God give you good health."
Nalukenge Annette
It is interesting that just tonight we received an e-mail from Annette in
Canada asking us to pray for her. Lets all pray for both Annette's!
 Tomorrow at 9 a.m. we are leaving Mityana for Entebbe. We fly out of Uganda
on Monday and arrive in Toronto at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
We left Canada on January 5 so it will be good to be home even though we
will miss our friends in Zambia and Uganda.
 Thank you for your prayers!    Tom and Cheryl



Sent: April 20, 2017 12:11 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: We continue to get lots of rain. It is great for
the food production and for our yellow beans.
 Things are winding down time wise but we continue to be busy.
 Yesterday I met with Sylvia- the last of our university students. It took
most of the morning but all 8 university and 3 college students are ready to
go. Today we met with Joy over another issue. She is in her last year of
university in Human Rights.
 We also met with a single mother named Rebecca today. She is very thankful
to the sponsors of her son Faisal and wanted to write a thank you letter.
Iwill quote part of the letter to show the impact of sponsorship and of Dan
and Nancy Bedford who came to see their sponsored child Faisal and his
family. She says,"Thank you for everything you did for us. I am thankful for
the house, the food, the water tank. Faisal used to fetch water every night
after school but now he no longer does which gives him time to cocentrate on
his homework. Me and the four kids now have a roof over our heads. Thank you
for the mattresses and other bedding. The kids used to share the same bed
but now they each have their own bed which is new but really nice for us
all. I am really happy that I now get food every month. I am no longer
uncertain of where food is going to come from or whether I am going to have
food. I now have at least 2 meals a day with my kids. Only God knows how
really you came to us. I am so grateful. May the good Lord richly bless you.
I am so thankful for Tom and Cheryl but most of all the Almighty God that is
using them to do this ministry. May God protect you, provide and guide you
all the days of your life."
 Today and each 20th of the month 9 families get 25 kg. of corn meal. It is
a great blessing to them. Yesterday and today we also gave out sugar and
salt that we had in our home. Last night after supper we delivered these to
4 families in Namukozi- interestingly 3 are named Annet.
Sulah has finished all his building projects. Today I paid him for the
completion of Sylvia's pig pen and fixing Mary's metal roof. He is very
thankful for the work which helps his family.
 I want to leave with the house and Hope House looking good so today I
slashed grass at both places. It is a big job. Also, lime needed to be put
in the latrine to keep down the odor.
 As you can see, there is still lots to do. We do have 3 more days in
Mityana to complete everything.
 Thank you for your prayers and financial support. We could not bless the
people without this help. It is greatly appreciated. The ministry is
growing!
 God Bless each of you!

Tom and Cheryl


Sent: April 15, 2017 11:28 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Happy Easter to each of you.
 It was hot today in Uganda. We have been busy working with the families
here and showing the love of God through our love for the people.
 Today Cheryl, Julia and I took 6 children to the market. Julia also met
with Julius after that.
 Yesterday we bought 14 meat hens and delivered them to families for Easter
along with rice and sugar. The people were very appreciative. This morning I
delivered the last chicken to the family furthest away. This morning I woke
up to a flat tire on the car. There was a large chunk of wire in the tire. I
must have picked it up while delivering chickens yesterday. It meant taking
the tire for repair. The cost was 5,000 Shillings or about $1.40 U.S. I took
the tire on the motorcycle.
 On Thursday Julia and I went to Kampala on the local taxi-about $1. 75 U.S.
for the 90 minute trip. We took Sylvia and Esther. Annet met us there. HCTH
and Julia combined to give them money to buy what they needed. This included
a watch, back pack and lots of clothes. Julia got to experience the mayhem
of Kampala streets. I spared her the thrill of Kampala boda bodas.
 Tomorrow we are having a church program in Hope House. I am bringing
Annette also because the devotion will highlite the Easter story which will
be new to Annette.
Today my motorcycle mechanic texted me and asked if I would be celebrating
Easter. Faisal is a Moslem so it was an opportunity to explain why Easter is
important to Christianity.
 I had better go. It is 6:25 p.m. and Barbra, Joceline and Annette are
coming to play cards.
 Pray for Julia as she travels to Entebbe on Monday to start her flight back
to France. Pray also for our last week in Mityana. We will e travelling to
Entebbe next Sunday for 1 day of relaxation before flying out of Uganda
Monday at 6:30 p.m. here. Even that day we will meet a little girl in
Entebbe HCTH is sponsoring. Cheryl will meet her for the first time.
 God Bless each of you this Easter. We serve a risen Saviour.
 Blessings!   Tom and Cheryl




Sent: April 9, 2017 11:48 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

It was an interesting day in Uganda. The 20 minute car ride to the church
ended up being 1 hour and 20 minutes. I was not too happy BUT  it is Africa.
A family had us for breakfast before church- potatoes, chicken, rice,
bananas. The service started 30 minutes late. 13 babies and children were
baptized. Julia, Cheryl and I are now God parents to 13 Ugandan children. My
preaching went well. The people were happy to hear Lugandan from me. We
returned to the pastor's house in Mityana for lunch shortly after 2 p.m. We
had a meal of yam, matooke, potatoes, chicken, beef, smoked fish, rice and
peanut sauce plus watermelon.
 After coming home I went to get Annette to bring her to the house. Julia
read the Bible with her. She had read over 70 pages on her own which is
good. She said she is enjoying reading the Bible and is happy being a
Christian.
 I went to Hope House. 5 of the children needed hair cuts for school.
Thank you for your prayers.
 Blessings   Tom and Cheryl and Julia

Sent: April 8, 2017 12:38 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: We had another heavy rain in the night. Thursday
night it rained most of the night also. It is great for the gardens and
water tanks.
 Yesterday Joram, Cheryl and Julia took Nicole to Entebbe to start her
flight back to Canada. On the way they stopped at the Friday craft market.
When they returned at 4:15 p.m. they met me in Mityana. I had bought 3
mattresses, 6 sets of bed sheets, 3 blankets and 4 mosquito nets.We were
able to deliver them in the car. Cheryl was driving the car from Joram's
shop to our home. It was her first time driving the car in Uganda. After
delivering the items we took Sylvia and Miriam out to supper. The muzungus
had chicken and chips. Miriam and Sylvia had liver and chips.
 Today is a full day. Saturday's are busy because the children are home from
school. With money Julia bought she is buying a bed, mattress, sheets for a
single mother who is now sleeping on the floor. More blessings today. We
have ordered a bunk bed from our carpenter friend which we will deliver
today also to a family. It will go with the items bought yesterday. At 4
p.m. Miriam is coming so Julia can take her to the market.
 Tomorrow I am speaking at an Anglican church. The first part of my message
will be in the Luganda language. The message God gave me is "12 Things I
have learned about God from Signs I have seen on Taxi and truck windows
Katonda Atonda- God Created Mukama Akwagala- God Loves Mukama Afuga- God is
in Control  Mukama Mulungi- God is Good  Mukama Yagaba- God Provides Mukama
Afaayo- God Cares  Katonda Alaba- God Sees  Wesige Mukama- Trust God
 Mununuzi- Saviour/ Redeemer
 Nnema- God's Grace
 Waliwo Amanyi Mu Kusinze- There is Power in Prayer  Aliwamu Nabagumikiriza-
God is With Those Who are Patient Many of the vehicles have Christian
sayings in large writing on their windshields. It is good also for learning
Luganda.
 Have a blessed weekend.
 Tom, Cheryl and Julia



sent: April 5, 2017 12:15 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It was a hot day in Mityana. We had a nice rain in
the night so we were thankful.
 It was a blessed day. Annet, a student at Uganda Christian University came
to Mityana specifically to spend time with Nicole and Julia. We all went to
the home of her family in the valley. The roads were very slippery because
of the rain in the night. We took food to her parents.
Earlier Annet had told us she was stressed at school because her parents did
not have food to eat. A friend of Julia's had given her some money to spend
on people. Julia decided to spend some of this by leaving money so Annet's
parents will get food each month. When we told her mother she was Praising
the Lord and started to sing and then cry. A sister of Annet whose son we
paid school fees for and hopefully find a sponsor for, gave us a chicken. It
was live but we asked if they would kill it and bring it when the girls came
home. The chicken tasted good for supper. Annet spent the day with Nicole
and Julia.
 When I came back from Annet's I hoed up the garden at Hope House. This took
about 3 hours. Tomorrow Cheryl and I will plant beans.
 At 5:30 Annette(formerly Shamiim) came. She said she has been reading her
Bible. She is going to read with Julia on Sunday. She seems very happy.
 We are enjoying the yellow beans from our garden.
 Thank you for your prayers. They are much appreciated. Pray for Nicole as
she flies back to Canada on Friday. Pray for me as I speak at an Anglican
church on Sunday. I am going to speak as much as I can in Lugandan.
 God Bless!   Tom, Cheryl, Nicole and Julia
 God Bless!

ent: April 3, 2017 11:23 AM
Subject: [Fwd: My Last Africa Email]
We thought you might enjoy Dan and Nancy's last e-mail about there 10 weeks
in Africa with us.
 Tom and Cheryl

Hi All:
I weighed myself yesterday and weighed 152 lbs down 12 lbs. now I have to
figure out how I keep it down. Yesterday Derek Jen and Charlie were out for
lunch, Melissa and her family out for supper. We are getting Sophie and Ben
off the bus today and looking after Charlie on Friday PA day. In the next 10
days Cat sitting. Life is back to normal.
Our last day with Tom and Cheryl, Tom asked us for a couple of high points
from each country. Zambia first  Nancy went first with meeting Clen and her
family single mother of 3 struggling to do the best for her family. We paid
school fees, got clothes, put them on the food plan, and visited them often
enough that the family became comfortable with us. Shortly before we left we
invited the family to lunch outside at the Museum. The family arrived late
Clen now had extensions in her hair wearing a bright red skirt and black top
the kids in their Sunday best. They walked in a completely different family
especially Clen it was like the world had been lifted off her shoulders, it
was wonderful and to Nancy indicated that we really had proved this families
life.
We had not talked about it before but had exactly the same first pick.
The kids eat at their first restaurant, their first ice cream, we told them
we would make sure their school fees were paid next year. Nancy's second
pick was the relationship she developed with Catherine, who would came and
read Charlottes Webb to Nancy. They developed a really close relationship,
she is a lovely girl with a great sense of humour who is trying to find
herself.
My second pick was relationship based as well it involved Tom's builder
Nchimunya he is a very talented young man who has achieved a lot at a young
age. He was abandoned and used by his father at a young age, I think he
thought of me as a father figure, we spent a lot of time talking and getting
together. We will definitely keep in touch.
My first pick in Uganda involved Rebecca and her family, I could not believe
where this 5 person family was living. I knew we had to do something to
change this situation. I think Tom knew I would react this way and that's
why he showed me the place. We found a nice place to live, Nancy did a great
job of furnishing it. They now own the furniture and live there rent free.
They are also on a food program.
Rebecca does not show a lot of reaction but she couldn't hide the big smile
on her face. The second for me was holding Agnes' new born baby boy. Agnes
did it right she got educated, married a nice man, started a little business
then at 30 had the baby. She was our first sponsored child and we are very
proud of her.
Nancy's first pick was the reaction of Jane when she found our she was being
moved to a brand new house. Her and her 6 kids were living in a tiny space.
She was singing she was dancing she hugging people she was down on her knees
there were tears (not only hers). If this situation didn't bring tears to
your eyes you don't had a heart. We bought her a plastic table and chairs
for her same reaction.
Nancy's second involved kids. If she somewhere where there were kids they
were surrounding her. In the children's ward at the hospital she was
surrounded by mothers and kids as she passed out little bracelets.
The sad part was some of the kids were too sick to get excited. At a little
school on a hill she was surrounded by kids as she talked about Canada and
played round and round the garden on little kids hands.
When we leave toms house and go up a big hill at the top are a bunch of
little kids. Nancy would raise her hands and dance as she went by.
So when we went by the kids would be standing there hands in the air
dancing.
Nancy and I have been very fortunate to be able to take this trip. We have a
lot friends who can not do that kind of thing for different reasons. I am
happy we were able to share it with you.
God Bless
Dan

Sent: April 2, 2017 9:31 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: We had a blessed day here in Mityana. This morning
Nicole, Julia and us went to Hope House to have a program with the children.
We sang songs, had a Bible lesson and then prayer. After Nicole and Julia
spent time with them.
 At 1 p.m. we went to Barbara, Viola, Shakira and Sumaiyah's house for a
meal of beef, matooke, rice, beans. It was very good. We all liked the food.
They were having a family meeting. The meeting was about where he should be
buried. Their father had up to 8 wives with children from each.
 After this we went to get 10 laying hens which we delivered to 3 families.
They were purchased by Nicole and Julia.
 In between we had a call and then went to the hospital to meet Jane and her
6 girls. Sarah and Cheryl have malaria.
 Yesterday we arrived in Mityana with Julia at 11:15 a.m. We were
immediately on the go. Julia spent the afternoon with Annette(formerly
Shamiim). They read many pages in the new Children's Bible I had bought for
her in Kampala. It has easy to read stories which cover the whole Bible.
Annette did not want to stop reading. Julia said she had lots of questions.
Pray for Annette today as she shares with her Moslem father named Musa that
she is now a Christian.
 It continues to be hot here in Mityana.
 Our yellow beans that were planted the day we arrived in Mityana on
February 21 are ready to eat- our first feeding tomorrow although we ate one
bean raw today. We love to eat yellow beans. These are from seeds we brought
from Canada last year.
 Pray for Nicole's last 4 days here. She flies back to Canada from Entebbe
Friday night. Pray for Julia's time here also. She came last year with her
mother and wanted to return to renew friendships started last year.
 Thank you for your prayers!    Tom and Cheryl
Also, thank you for your prayers as Dan and Nancy arrived home safely on
Saturday after 10 weeks with us in Africa. They were a great blessing to the
ministry of HCTH


Sent: March 27, 2017 11:52 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Update on Annette. I talked to her aunt today.
She said Annette was scared about her decision to become a Christian but
after talking to Sulah she felt a lot better. It is amazing that God brought
them to our home at the same time last night. Nicole is at their home
tonight spending some time with them.
 A few days ago we delivered a bed to a little girl named Patricia that
Nicole is starting to sponsor. Her brother said,'She will sleep like an
angel tonight and never wake up."
Also, we visited a family on Sunday. The mother said that the 2 goats we
gave her a few years ago are now 14. That is a great blessing to hear also.
Dan and Nancy gave a table and chairs to a family today. They have never had
these in their life before. Tomorrow the family of the little boy they
sponsor named Timothy will move into the apartment provided by HCTH and
furnished by Dan and Nancy. Tuesday will be an exciting last day for the
Bedford's here in Mityana.
 Blessings    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 26, 2017 2:56 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is the end of an amazing day in Uganda. It is
9:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. in Napanee.
 We had a busy day which started out with a church service in Hope House
with the children. We had a time of singing then talked about the creator
God "Katonda atonda" in Luganda. After this time we met with the children to
go over house rules then met with Rema who is looking after them. We went
home for lunch then off to get a sponsor letter from Joan in which she told
her sponsor about her decision to becom4e a born again Christian and how
happy she is. Joan is in her last year of university.
 We then took Rebecca and her family to her new housing in the house
purchased by HCTH. She was very thankful and praised God. Dan and Nancy and
friends furnished the home for her. Before Rebecca and 5 children lived in
one small room.
 After we went to Mityana Secondary to get a sponsor letter from Barbara and
to the home of Gloria for another letter then to the market to buy a back
pack for a girl named Clare.
 Home at 4:30 but God was not done yet. At 6 p.m. Sulah and his wife and 3
children came with sponsor letters. We did not know that they were coming.
We did know that Barbara was coming with Jocelyn and Shamiim her nieces. The
day actually started at 8:30 a.m. when I drove the motorcycle to Namukozi to
visit Shamiim. HCTH just started to sponsor Shamiim a few days ago. Shamiim
is a Moslem so I went to talk to her about converting to Christianity. That
was why we invited her to our home tonight. God planned it so that Sulah and
Hajarah was here. Sulah was a Moslem who accepted Jesus and Christianity in
2006 through the ministry of HCTH.
Sulah talked to Shamiim about converting to Christ and Christianity. He and
Hajarah were able to share from personal experience. Hajarah's father was an
Iman or Moslem holy man. Shamiim has decided to accept Christ and
Christianity. She wants to change her name from Shamiim(a Moslem name) to
Annette the name of her sponsor. What a great evening. God is good! Dan and
Nancy and Nicole were able to witness this great blessing. The angels in
heaven are rejoicing. We had prayer with Annette. She said she was very
happy. She made some very interesting comments which gave us insight into
the Moslem religion. It woud take too long to share them. But she did ask if
God loves Moslems also. Sulah told her that unlike Allah- God is a God of
love  Thanks for praying for our ministry. Many people are being blessed
daily.
We appreciate your support. Pray for Dan and Nancy as they leave Mityana for
Entebbe on Wednesday and then fly to Canada Friday. Pray also for Julia
Sitwell as she arrives in Entebbe Friday night for about 18 days in Uganda.
 We serve a Great God!   Tom and Cheryl



Sent: March 23, 2017 1:23 PM
Subject: [Fwd: Hello from Africa]

Update from our friends with us in Uganda   Tom and Cheryl

It's been a while since I have written, we have been busy. On Monday we
purchased two love seats for the apartment we are supplying Rebecca and her
family. While there i noticed the water tank looked like it was tilting and
the wall behind it more servilely cracked. The rank is
8 feet high and 6 feet in diameter and was full. First thing in the morning
i asked Tom if Sula would take a look at the tank, he did and said the
situation was dangerous. If the tank fell in the direction of the tilt (
stupid statement of course it would) it would have collapsed a wall and
fallen into the front yard of a house 6 feet below. Time to repair 1 to 2
weeks which means the tank needs to be emptied thus delaying Rebecca's move
for a while. WE got Rebecca's beds in tuesday, it so nice to see the
passenger on the motorcycle ride down the road with a 3/4 bed sitting on his
lap. not the pieces the whole bed. We have everything set up the apartment
looks amazing, can't wait for the family to move in. On wednesday we go to
Entebbe for a 2 night stay at a beach front resort on lake victoria, then
home. It's time.
We had some truly wonderful experiences and have been able to have an impact
on some peoples lives. Wednesday we told Gertrude the 73 year old great
grandmother looking after 5 great grand-kids that we have made arrangements
for her to receive a 25 KG bag of maize meal per month for the next year.
She was so thankful when asked about how she fed her kids she said with gods
help. We're not God but maybe it was his hand who lead us to her.
Looking Forward to Seeing friends and family.
Dan
Sent: March 22, 2017 1:01 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Today sure ended on a great note. After supper
Nicole and I went to visit the family of a little girl Nicole wants to
sponsor. Her name is Patricia. The reaction of the aunt where she is staying
was something that is hard to explain-shrieks of joy, laughing, dancing,
some tears and more. Even Nicole shed some tears. To say they were thankful
is an under statement. One of the family said, "You have saved our lives."
What a blessing to see. It rivals the reaction Jane had when we told her we
were moving her and her 6 little girls into a new house built by HCTH.
 Yesterday we blessed another girl with the blessing of sponsorship. Thank
you to a lady in Napanee who wants to sponsor a child. We see what an
amazing thing it is to these people. Today Dan and I put up a mosquito net
for her. Actually Cheryl and I started our day by sewing holes in a mosquito
net for Catherine the daughter of Annet. Last Saturday Cheryl and Nancy
sewed some holes in mosquito nets at Hope House.
 Today we took Annet to the market to buy matooke(green bananas). She was so
proud of the fact that when she went to the hospital for her monthly check
up and ARV drugs yesterday she had gained 4 kg. over last month.
She has come such a long way since we first met her 3 years ago when she was
dying of AIDS. This was another blessing.
 We are turning our sights to getting sponsorship letters. This is a big
job. We now have 49 letters. There are only about 35 more to go.
 Tonight Ronald came to our house. On Saturday we took 2 dead birds from
their water tank. Ronald said today there was another bird in the water.
This ensures a job tomorrow trying to correct the problem. There is always
lots to do.
 God Bless you all. Thank you for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl



Sent: March 17, 2017 2:42 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is a bit cool by Uganda standards but it is
great to see so much rain. Our water tanks are all full. Praise the Lord!
 Yesterday we left home in the morning and did not return until after 4 p.m.
It was a full day  Nicole is enjoying her time at Central and is
experiencing some very good but also disturbing things about the Ugandan
culture. Experiencing caning of students was particularly disturbing for
her. Last night after supper I took her to meet 3 families HCTH is helping.
 Yesterday morning HCTH bought 3 mattresses, 4 blankets, 4 bed sheets for a
family. Praise God for gift certificates. Today we are buying 2 mosquito
nets and 2 more mattresses. Yesterday, a goat was also purchased.
 Dan and Nancy bought 6 mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, blankets etc. for a
family also.
 Dan and I took 2 single mothers to HCTH land where they will be able to
grow crops. They were very excited.
 5 meat hens were purchased for 5 families- this includes the Children's
home- Hope House.
 Nicole is going to stay in Hope House tonight with the children there. It
will be a great experience for her. Tomorrow she is going to spend some time
with Annet. HCTH is going to sponsor 2 of her nephews. The father grows some
crops to survive. His wife left him, took 5 of the older children and left
him with the 2 youngest boys. He can not afford to send them to school.
 We had a great experience on Wednesday taking Dan Fleury to the airport to
fly back to Canada. We stopped to meet a little girl Dan and his wife Ellena
are gong to sponsor. She is only 5 years old but is in grade 2.
Her older sister was with her when we paid her fees for the year at her
school. Her older sister said, "This is a miracle". A few days before she
had been sent home because she had not paid fees for her first term. Now she
is paid for the year. Thanks Dan and Ellena. The family is even going to
change her name from a Moslem name to Ellena. Last night her older sister
texted us to say her mother likes the name.
 As you can see, there are many blessings occurring. There are also
difficult decisions to make. Yesterday 2 people asked for help but we can
not help everyone. Also, Agnes called to say that her camera which she
borrowed about $1,200 U.S. to buy for her business filmimg weddings,
graduations etc. was stolen. She still owes almost $1,000 U.S. The worst
part is she is expecting her first child any day now. She called me on
Wednesday crying as she told me about the loss. It was by a man who conned
her worker into showing the camera then asking her to get something in the
back as he ran off with the camera. Agnes was one of the first youth helped
through HCTH sponsorship. She was praying to God to please send someone to
help her go to high school. In her words, she was praying with her face to
the ground. When she looked up from her prayer Cheryl and I were walking
through her yard. God is good!
 Thanks for your prayers!  Pray for Agnes!
Blessings   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: March 12, 2017 1:33 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: Nicole Sheffield arrived safely today and on time.
Thank you for your prayers. She will be working with a teacher at Central
for 2 weeks then for 2 weeks at Pride High School.
 I went into Kampala Saturday morning. I met with 1 college and 2 university
students supported by HCTH. This morning I went on to Entebbe to meet Nicole
who arrived at 12:15 p.m.
 This is different for the Martin's. In the years since we started the
ministry of HCTH in Uganda in 2006 Cheryl and I have never visited a tourist
site here. We have not had time. As i Write this Cheryl is with Dan and
Nancy and Dan Fleury in Queen Elizabeth National Park for 3 days.
It is so good to see Cheryl taking a break. Today they went on a boat cruise
on Lake Albert and saw many Buffalo, elephants, hippos, nile crocodiles etc.
They also stopped at the equator where you can actually stand with one foot
in the northern hemisphere and 1 foot in the southern.  They will return on
Tuesday. That means I am cooking for
Nicole- a scary thought, but I am good at Kraft Dinner- a favorite
everywhere. Tonight we had leftover and heated up rice, baked beans and
peanut sauce from ground up peanuts. Here they call them g nuts(ground
nuts).
 On Friday I took Dan Fleury to the second largest Macademia nut farm in all
of Africa. It is just outside Mityana. They also grow tea and oranges.
 Nicole saw how busy we are just in a few minutes this afternoon. After
returning to Mityana at 3:15 I took her to Hope House to meet the children
there. Faridah needed her school shoes mended. Miriam had a Urinary Tract
Infection and needed medication. The neighbour, Ida, needed to see me about
repair on the road past our house. There was a serious issue at the home
that needed to be dealt with. I needed to buy a new lock for our gate. When
we returned home after less than an hour Nicole said it was amazing all that
was done in a short time.
 Thank you for your prayers. We have to start getting sponsor letters from
about 75 children. This is a big task but poco a poco(little by little).
 Blessings!    Tom and Cheryl



Sent: March 9, 2017 1:39 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is 9:20 p.m. in Mityana. We received a nice rain
this morning but we were able to continue in the rain.
 Today we purchased 2 goats through HCTH gift certificates plus 5 laying
hens and a blanket. Tomorrow we are purchasing 10 more laying hens for
families. Yesterday we delivered 4 goats on the motorcycle plus 4 hens.
 We continue to purchase school needs for sponsored children. Today we were
at a vocational school to see the 3 in this school- one taking hairdressing,
another sewing and another cooking. We also visited 3 children at Central
High School.
 Yesterday a girl named Viola came to see us. She has completed college and
now has a business making shoes. She is doing well. HCTH purchased 28 pairs
of shoes to give to sponsored children.
 It was a blessing to receive an e-mail from Arizona from a men's group who
sent money to sponsor a child. This is a great blessing!
 We are receiving many gifts of mangos, avocados, bananas and peanuts. It is
hard for us to keep up to them. Today Cheryl made a mango-pineapple cake. It
was very delicious. James even climbed way up into an avocado tree to get
some for us.
 Dan and Nancy are busy cleaning and getting an apartment ready for Rebecca
and her 5 children. Her present accomodation is very sub standard by any
standard. It is a great blessing for her. Also, the house being built for
Jane and her 6 daughters to live in is nearing completion.
 We had a nice visit with Gertrude. She is a 73 year old widow who is caring
for 6 grand or great grandchildren.
 We are awaiting the arrival of Nicole Sheffield on Sunday. She will be
teaching at 2 high schools here. Pray for her. She is in her last year of
teacher's college at Queen's university.
 Thanks for your prayers. God is good! Many people are being blessed through
the ministry of HCTH.
 Blessings    Tom and Cheryl with Dan, Dan and Nancy

Date:    Tue, March 7, 2017 4:02 am
To:      "Tom Martin"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a nice letter from Joy. She is in her last year at university
studying Human Rights. Julius is in university in engineering, Maria is in
university in Social work. Dorah is in grade 9 and Eron in primary school.
 We are very busy. Today we visited Kenny the little boy with cerebral
palsy. He is in boarding school and was very happy to see us. Dan and Nancy
bought food which we delivered to Gertrude a great grandmother keeping  5 of
her grand children and great grand children. We gave her money so she can
take a motorcycle to church every Sunday. We have ordered 4 goats which we
will deliver to families tomorrow. The new house Sula is building for HCTH
is nearing completion already. There is another job waiting for him.
Thanks for your prayers.
 Tom and Cheryl

Dear Tom and Cheryl
How are you doing today, I am sure you are still so busy but thank you for
fixing sometime and meet my siblings, thank you for my up keep,thank you do
the trust and continued support towards my family, I am a little sad we not
spending as much time whenever you come but I am most glad because I know it
means reaching out to more kids, I pray that everything continues so well
and for God's more provision and guidance might not be there to witness but
testmonies are shown through my siblings thank you so much for
Julius,Maria,Dorah and Eron we all love you so much and thanks for the
financial ,moral and spiritual support will always love you both.

Sent: March 1, 2017 10:56 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is 6:15 a.m. I woke up early so I thought it
would be a good time to e-mail everyone. I was woken up by the bell ringing
at 5 a.m. to wake up the students at the nearby boarding school.
 Yesterday was a great day to give you an idea of the extensive ministry of
HCTH here in Mityana, Uganda.
 I was out the door at 8 a.m. to go to a vocational school to pay fees for
Lilian and Hajara. They did not do well last year so are changing direction.
Lilian is studying hair dressing and Hajara is studying hotel management and
cooking(catering).
 It was a blessing for Cheryl and I to meet with David to give him money
from his sponsors Paul and Betty. They have helped him for many years. He is
in his last year of Journalism at university.
 In the morning Jackie went with a girl named Ritah(finished university last
year) to buy 2 pigs for 2 families. Later she bought food for 2 needy
families also. Later I went with Margaret to take Annet to the market to buy
some food and personal needs. Later in the day Dan and Nancy took
Rebecca-another single mother- to the market to buy food.
 At 9 a.m. I met with Sula to give him money to start a house on HCTH land.
That will be the 3rd. house on this land. It is for a single mother with 6
young daughters.
 At 10:00 a.m. we all went to visit Elisha who is probably the poorest
family we work with. It was an eye opener for our friends from Canada.
Elisha has an 11 year old girl who is severely brain injured from malaria
when she was 2.5 years old. HCTH sponsors 1 of his children but pays for
4 to go to school. This morning we are taking Elisha and the 4 children to
the market. We are also buying them 3 mattresses. Right now the children all
sleep on the floor and the parents mattress is in very poor condition. Even
the school the children attend is poor by any standard.
Many children don't have uniforms or even shoes to wear. Jackie bought
uniforms for 2 little girls.
 I had to go to the bank. No exaggeration- I was within seconds of exactly
90 minutes in the line at the bank to withdraw money- from 3:45 to 4:15.
It is common here. Now you know why I do not like going into the bank.
Sometimes even by taking the maximum from the ATM each day the funds can not
keep up with the spending.

Sent: February 28, 2017 1:44 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Acknowledgement.

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Fwd: Re: Acknowledgement.
From:    "nchimunya Muloongo"
Date:    Tue, February 28, 2017 4:08 am
To:      tmartin@kos.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail is from a young man in Zambia. It shows how one couple from
Canada( Dan and Nancy) can make such a difference in a life or lives.
 Nchimunya had a problem with his ear and Nancy took him to the doctor.
They left money for him and told him if there was any left he should keep
half to bless someone else and give the other half to someone he knew so
they could bless someone else. As you can see, Nchimunya is very thankful.


Please  Tom, forward  it to Dan.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "nchimunya Muloongo"
Date: Feb 27, 2017 21:24
Subject: Fwd: Re: Acknowledgement.
To:
Cc:

Forward  it to Dan Tom, thanks.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "nchimunya Muloongo"
Date: Feb 27, 2017 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: Acknowledgement.
To:
Cc:

Dear Dan,

Greetings  to  you  in the precious  and mighty name of  our Lord Jesus
     With great hope, I'm hoping that everybody is fine and still  doing
fine  too.Once again, hopefully  your journey was good and great.Im fine
here.
     Dan, allow  me to take this opportunity  to account some few things to
you. Initially, let me start by giving great thanks to your parents for
bringing you up  as such an essential and generous instrument to God and and
the world at large. wherever they are, may our God almighty continue being
with them and may you continue  being blessed  more  than you give.
       On 22 February ,2017, I went to Dr Jain for my ear flash out. He did
the flash out that I'm now completely okay, no  more sought  of pains and
blockages, nothing. I'm fit now that you can even  whisper  out there from
Uganda but I can get you clearly (joking dear but  I'm very  okay).

     He (Dr Jain) charged  K400 hence from the K520 you helped  me, I was
left with a K120 which I did likewise. I gave half to Moonga, a K60 and I
got half as well. Upon giving  moonga  the money, I went with  the paper
where  you wrote for evidential accountance and gave him the paper and read
it.l shaded more light to him about it and finally gave him the money and
left.I went to a certain  family  where the Holy Spirit  directed  me to,
and found  the bread winner home.It is a deceased family and is ran by an
old woman who has a short sight but keeps  five( 5)  grand Children, and
three (3) of them are in school although it's just  some times and it's few
times Dan due to the financial  support. I asked the old woman  about how
she's at times enabling  the young ones in school and she said that at times
she goes down in the street  and beg for money using the same kids.
It's very  amazing Dan, it's very complicated  but I got many photos  and
made some video shots although  you can't understand what is being  said as
it is in Tonga Language.
On the other  side, Dr Jain gave  me some tablets  and a continuation ear
drop, but you will see them in the photos  as well.
Yesterday  I passed  through  Moonga and asked  him about  who he helped by
the same  money and he told me that  he used  the money  to solve  his own
problems. That's  all, I just  said okay I just  wanted to combine  your
help  and mine  so that we  send  the photos or videos to Dan for him to
have seen the extension  of his help as you can't help everyone  but
everyone  can help someone. I mean it may happen  that Dan ran out of time
to be going  through  Mwapona but us who will be  available should continue
the mission  as there is nothing little for other,sometimes those little
things occupy the biggest  part of heart. In this case Dan,i felt bad to
what moonga did over that money seriously because  the same money we shared
I bought  a 10 kg of mealie meal at K46,2 packets of boom, 2 tablets of
soap, 1 bottle  of cooking  oil, a candle  and matches. These all costed
up-to K100 of which  I added my K40  which is still okay.
Thousands  of candles can be lighted up from a single candle and  it's life
will be shortened, therefore Dan your  help provided a good  meal for six
people imagine  and before I conclude,the same old woman at times collects
maize in town at depots and in certain  pictures you will see the maize
mixed with  sand which she wanted to make  mealie  meal from. Upon giving
her the things you provided,she threw everything.
Great  thanks  to you  for being  a beacon of light in that family's darkest
times especially  the school  going  children  because  as you know that
poverty is like  a punishment  for a crime  you didn't commit ,hence they
had no choice  to be born  in such a poor family ,moreover, they are all
opharns.
Thanks for hearing  the cries of such a poor family and I am very sure that
even your  cries for help is being  heard by the heavenly Father,(proverbs
21:13,)whoever is generous  to the poor, lends the  and God will repay him
for his deeds,(proverbs 19: 17.). We never know the love of a parent until
we become  parents ourselves.
This is what I had to say dear Dan. I really know  the  impact  that the
same family  is feeling  at the moment  because  we were as in such  a
critical  situation until  through a small group of thoughtful committed
people, Tom and Cheryl came and changed our lives of which I mean it Dan.
As I conclude,please Dan pass my heartfelt and tender greetings  to the
entire  team of thoughtful  people, Tom, Cheryl, Dan himself, Nancy,
Margaret  and  Jackie.
May our Heavenly Father  continue  guiding, guarding and providing  good
health and also supplying  all your needs as well in accordance  to his
richness  in glory.
AMEN

YOURS DEARLY
NCHIMUNYA MOSES MULOONGO

Sent: February 25, 2017 2:16 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe we have only been in Uganda
4 full days. We have paid for 53 children's school fees. That means visiting
their schools sometimes a few times. Today was our 4th time at Central
College. In addition we have met with 7 who are in post secondary and given
them money as well for school.
We have delivered 30 chickens to families. These were from gift certificates
purchased in Canada through Margaret and Jackie.
 Yesterday we visited the family furthest away from Mityana. It rained on
Dan and I on the motorcycle on the way there. It rained harder after we got
there so I half jokingly asked Sarah to pray that the rain would stop. Sarah
went to the door, looked to the sky and prayed. Two minutes later the rain
stopped and we were on our way. Cheryl and the ladies were at St. Anne
school paying fees. Jackie used her puppets for over 400 students.
We have put lots of miles on the motorcycle.
Tomorrow will be our first church service in Uganda. The English service at
Busimbi Anglican church starts at 10 a.m.
 Thanks for your prayers! God answers prayer. This morning our devotion was
on "God has a heart for the poor and blesses those who help the poor.
 Have a blessed Sabbath day!   Tom and Cheryl



Sent: February 21, 2017 1:03 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Mityana, Uganda

Dear friends and family: It is 9 p.m. We arrived in Mityana, Uganda about
1:30 p.m. today after leaving Lusaka, Zambia at 2 a.m. I was Praising the
Lord when I was able to get the motorcycle started. I went to the bank and
was over 1 hour waiting in line to get out money.
 Cheryl, Dan, Nancy, Jackie and Margaret cleaned the house and unpacked.
The rest all went to bed early.
 Tomorrow will be busy with children and school issues. Jackie is going to
plant yellow beans in our small garden.
 Today I spent some time with Ronald whom is a boy in the children's home
operated through HCTH. I promised him when I was here in September that if
he slashed grass at the home until we returned in February I would buy him a
bicycle. Today we looked at bicycles.
 Thanks for your prayers. All planes were on time and luggage arrived
safely.
 God Bless!   Tom and Cheryl


Sent: February 18, 2017 2:26 AM
Subject: Last days in Choma, Zambia

Dear friends and family: It was 6 weeks ago today we arrived in Choma. We
leave early Monday morning for Lusaka then at 2 a.m. on Tuesday to Uganda.
 It is truly amazing what God has accomplished in that time through the
ministry of HCTH.
 Construction was a major part of the ministry this year. Irene needed a
room built on her house because she is taking in 3 orphan teenagers. Then
her latrine caved in with the heavy rains. She now has both. A widow named
Mildred with 3 children had her house collapse. Now she has a new house.
Help was given to a young lady to build her house. Nchimunya is putting on
an addition because he is keeping 2 of his younger brothers and sisters. A
house was built for Winter whose father died just before it was completed.
Joel, our carpenter , now has a new house. Morris, our other builder , is
also extending his house.
 Many people were blessed through Gift Certificates including some pigs,
14 goats, 4 mattresses, many Bibles, blankets and mosquito nets. Two young
children are going to school. School supplies were bought as were clothes
and gardening tools. Many werre helped through medical gift certificates.
Right now Dan is at the doctor with a young man. 6 bicycles were purchased.
 6 new children have been sponsored which brings the number of sponsored
children here to 50.  Others who are not sponsored are being helped to go to
school. 6 new families are being helped.
 There will be 11 families getting a bag of corn meal each month- 9 last
year.
 6 people have been helped in their business which ranges from making and
repairing bicycles to selling vegetables and fish plus land to grow crops, a
hair salon, wood for Joel to make items etc.
 The compassion ministry helps widows and orphans. One widow and children
will receive money each month to help the family.
 3 graduated from university this year. All are now teachers. In addition,
Evelyn graduates in nursing in June, Stedius will finish this year and
Precious is starting Teacher training.
 We have had 4 join us in Choma. They have been a blessing also Jackie has
presented a puppet show of Bible stories in different schools. They have
helped a lot at Esperanza farm. Dan and Nancy have blessed many people
especially taking a single mother and her 3 small children into their care.
Also they have helped many other people through their generosity.
It is truly God at work.
 Thank you for your prayers during this 6 weeks. Continue your prayers as we
spend the next 9 weeks in Uganda and entertain 4 more from Canada who will
bless the people of Mityana, Uganda.
 God Bless each of you!   Tom and Cheryl
It is another cloudy and rainy day. It rained heavily in the night.

 This pretty well shows the ministry of HCTH.

Sent: February 16, 2017 3:11 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: It is another rainy morning in Choma, Zambia but in
spite of the rain Dan and I went into Mwapona(with gum boots) and now into
Choma. We did not get too wet. We brought a young girl named Song to the
tailor to get another school skirt made. Later we have to meet with
Nchimunya. He is hoping to finish Mildred's house today. He wanted to work
on the latrine but the rain will delay him.
 We are gradually completing our tasks here. Yesterday I had to buy a
calculator and math set for a student and dictionary for another student.
This morning $15 for computer lab fees plus a book.
 Yesterday Cyrus and Prisca arrived with 4500 fingerlings for the fish pond
at Esperanza. In the morning Cheryl, Dan and Nancy rode to Esperanza to get
pictures of the goats and pigs. They now have 27 goats and they are doing
well. Their meat hens are ready for market in 2 weeks. They have also
planted vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, beans, carrots, beets etc.
 We will travel to Lusaka on Monday and fly from Lusaka at 2 a.m. on Tuesday
morning for Entebbe and then Mityana, Uganda.
Pray for our last days here and safe travel to Mityana.
 God Bless each of you!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 13, 2017 2:08 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: Next Monday early in the morning we will be leaving
Choma for Lusaka. It will be sad to leave our friends here but we are
already getting e-mails from Uganda from people anxiously awaiting us.
It is amazing that with only 1 week left there are still so many projects
going on through the ministry of HCTH. There are a great many people and
family still being blessed. Joel is making a shelf for a family which has no
way presently to store clothes. Joel's house is now done and he
shifted(moved in) yesterday. He is asking for $60 to build some furniture
for his new house.He is very happy with his new home. Naomi's husband is
completing a more secure shop for her hair salon. We will see his progress
after the Internet. Irene's house is almost done and yesterday they were
digging the hole for her new latrine. Monga is progressing well on his new
shop to repair and make bicycles. Morris is completing a job for Catherine
and then will be constructing an addition on his house. Nchimunya is keeping
his younger brother and sister at his home. He is building an additional
room on his house also. Mildred's new house should be done by Friday. To
save issues, we try to have everything done by the time we leave. I hope
that you can see the amazing things that are happening through the ministry
of HCTH. I even stand in awe that God would use Cheryl and I and our friends
to such an extent. Thank you for your part in this ministry.
 Nchimunya has come the last 3 nights. Cheryl and Nancy are doctoring him.
He has an ear infection. Cheryl has been going every other day to dress
Mildred's toe which she cut on a piece of tin.
 We visited our friends Amos and Brigit from the U.K. They offered us
ants(flying ants) that they had just roasted. Cheryl and I tried one but not
Jackie and Margaret. They were ok but I would not change my daily diet to
accomodate this delicacy.
 Please pray for Jackie and Margaret as they travel to Livingstone and
Victoria Falls today until Wednesday.
 On their safari in Chobe Park in Botswana Dan and Nancy saw 5 lions, many
giraffes, rhinos, many elephants and hippos, cape buffalo and even a leopard
in a tree. Their vehicle was charged by an elephant which came very close to
them. They were protecting a baby elephant. They knew that God was
protecting them.
Yesterday we had a good church service at the United Church of Zambia. The
music was great. The message was "You can make a difference." After Jenny
from the U.K. invited us to her home for scones and coffee or tea.
 Thanks for your prayers. WE know God is watching over us. Our devotion this
morning was Psalm 91.
 Many blessings- We pray for you each day!    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 10, 2017 2:45 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: It rained heavily in the night and again this
morning. As they say here, the rain disturbed us. Our best friends are our
gum boots and umbrellasa.Right now Jackie, Cheryl and Margaret are in a
children's home reading to the young children. A few days ago they used a
flannel graph with the children there to tell Bible stories. This afternoon,
weather permitting they are going to a small school with about
50 children to do a puppet show plus flannel graph plus choruses.
Yesterday Margaret and I visited the school and sang with them. The children
also sang for us. The school only goes to grade 1. At the end the children
recited the Lord's prayer.
 I got a call Wednesday night. The LATRINE OF A FAMILY WE HELP HAD
COLLAPSED. Fortunately a young girl had just exited from it a few minutes
before- another job for HCTH. 2 days earlier Mildred's house had collapsed.
All of this because of heavy rain. We are thankful that it happened while we
are in Zambia.
 Margaret and Jackie continue to be a blessing to the people through the
HCTH gift certificates people purchased through them. Yesterday they bought
heart medicine for an HIV Positive man named Tom. They also handed out 10
mosquito nets. Today they are handing out 10 blankets. These are all a great
blessing. Yesterday as well we purchased 2 mattresses.
Mildred's mattress was destroyed when her house collapsed as was her bed.
Joel is making a bed for Mildred and for her son Derrick. We carried them
back to Mwapona on our bicycles. I had to ride with one hand and hold the
mattress with the other through very sandy, rough terrain and around many
puddles. God provides the energy.
 Thanks for your prayers.    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 7, 2017 2:44 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: We continue to be busy here in Zambia. The rain
continues also. Yesterday Jackie and I rode our bicycles to the Internet in
the rain. I steered with one hand and held an umbrella. Fortunately it was
not windy. When we ended e-mailing we had to wait 30 minutes for the heavy
rain to abate. After Jackie and Margaret went to Esperanza. When they
crossed the hand made bridge, the water was still well over their gum boots.
Jackie dropped her camera and lost her pictures she had taken plus future
use of the camera.
 Right now Cheryl, Jackie and Margaret are in the market with Justina buying
her clothes and shoes. At 10 they are meeting a girl named  Song to pay her
school fees and buy her school uniform etc. She is 12 years old and could
not go to grade 8 because her mother and father had no money. Her mother in
Lusaka sent her to her father in the village but he could not pay for school
so she came to Mwapona to live with her aunt.
Thankfully, Jackie and Margaret had money from a friend in Canada who
wanted to help a child go to school. Now   Song has a new song to sing.
She is very happy.
 Today also Jackie and Margaret are buying 4 more goats from gift
certificates. That now totals 14 they have bought. They also will be handing
out many, Bibles, mosquito nets, blankets etc.
 On Sunday we all helped with the children at church. Jackie used a flannel
graph and puppets. We sang songs then made bracelets with the coloured beads
telling the gospel story. There were about 60 children. We also gave them
pictures with Bible verses.
 After lunch we visited families in Mwapona. The ladies from Canada were
blessed because Aleck was ready to pour molten aluminum to make pots.
Jackie asked for a medium sized pot so Aleck made it there. This process was
fascinating for them.
 I need to meet the women now.
 God bless each of you!
 I His service in Choma, Zambia    Tom and Cheryl

Sent: February 4, 2017 2:23 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl in Zambia

Dear friends and family: Jackie and Margaret arrived safely in Lusaka
yesterday. Thank you for your prayers. They are to arrive at 12:30 today in
Choma. Pray they have a great ministry here with HCTH.
Yesterday at 5 p.m. we returned from 2 days in Livingstone. We took Dan and
Nancy for an 8 day holiday. They are going to Victoria Falls, Chobe National
Park etc. We just sat down to eat and a knock at the door. Jalvin had the
forms for his payment at school. Then Winnie and Derrick came.
Winnie finished high school this year and wants to enter nursing. Back to
the normal routine.
 Here is the reason you pray for us for road safety. There are 2 main bus
companies in Zambia- Mazhandu and Shalom. On Monday a Mazhandu bus in Zambia
hit a transport head on with 10 killed and many injured. It happened at 5
a.m. The same bus and driver had an accident at 7 the night before. On
Thursday morning the government suspended their license to operate buses. We
left for Livingstone Thursday morning on a smaller bus.
It was to leave at 9 a.m. but left at 10:25 a.m. Our bus returning to Choma
was to leave at 2 but left at 2:30 p.m. I asked if it was the same bus and
driver who just arrived from Lusaka. They said it was the same bus but
different driver. It was the same driver which meant he left Lusaka at 6
a.m. and would not get back to Lusaka until at least 8:30
p.m- a long day. Also, the speedometer did not function so he had no idea
the speed he was going. Pray for road safety.
 Also, the newspaper headline yesterday- not a joke.  "Polygamist dies at
93 leaving 130 wives and 206 children". No comment needed!
 Pray for our last 2 weeks in Zambia. There is still a lot to do.
God Bless!   Tom and Cheryl






Sent: January 31, 2017 2:41 AM
\Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: Just a short note to let you know that all is well
in Choma, Zambia.
 While I am at the Internet, Cheryl is in the market with Jerome buying
school supplies. She then has to go to the bank to pay his school fees.
Yesterday we were at the same bank paying school fees for Gladys. When we
took the ticket with her number 406 the ticket said there were 53 people in
line ahead of her.
 Actually, I had a bank scare on Sunday. I tried to take out money from the
ATM and it said not sufficient funds in the account. It bothered me because
we have had many bank problems in Africa including $6,000 U.S.
stolen from our account once in Uganda. There are many other issues to
numerous to mention. We got it straightened out after going to the bank
yesterday morning. Because I took money out Saturday as well they included
Sat. and Sunday together so I had taken out the maximum. I was saying Praise
the Lord.
 Yesterday was the first day without rain since we came although it did rain
hard for 5 minutes in the night.
 Another great blessing! God is good. We met a 17 year old girl named
Gladys. She completed grade 9 in the village and did very well. She moved
into Mwapona to live with her brother and hopefully go to grade 10. Her
family could not help her and we did not have any more sponsors. I opened my
e-mails yesterday morning and someone in Canada wants to help a child in
Africa to go to school. We went to see Gladys to find out that she had been
crying much of the night because she had no hope of going to school.
The school had told her if she did not pay by that day she would lose her
place in grade 10 because others wanted to go. She is the girl who happily
waited an hour yesterday at the bank to pay her fees for the year. God
answered her prayer.  God is good!
 I need to go and meet Cheryl. OH YES, I do have to go to the ATM again.
 Thanks for your prayers. Don't forget to tell God how great He is!
Tom and Cheryl

sent: January 28, 2017 2:57 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: More rain in the night and this morning as we rode
our bicycles to the Internet. We have been in Choma now 22 days and it has
rained every day sometimes many times in a day.
 Yesterday Cheryl took 3 children to the market for school needs. That only
leaves 3 more to go. Jerome still does not know what school he is going to.
He should know when we go to Mwapona today.
 Our 2 builders each have a project they are working on. It is difficult
with all the rain.
 Today is Dan's 70th birthday. Cheryl made him a birthday cake. It is hard
to believe that we became friends when his family moved near us in 1959.
We would never have believed then if someone had told us we would be
celebrating his 70th birthday together 58 years later in Africa. We serve an
amazing God!
 This Thursday we are traveling to Livingstone for 1 day. We will buy some
items to bring back to North America to sell. Dan and Nancy will stay a few
days to see the sights, visit Chobe National Park in Botswana etc.
This corresponds to the arrival next Saturday(1 week away) of Jackie and
Margaret who will be in Zambia about 2 weeks then go on with us to Uganda.
 Thank you for your prayers! God answers prayer!

Tom and Cheryl Sent: January 26, 2017 3:38 AMr
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: WE continue to get lots of rain. Yesterday we all
got caught in a heavy rainstorm for about 90 minutes. From where I was under
a roof I saw a river of water going right in the front door of a house. I
walked to where Cheryl, Dan and Nancy were and we waded home through at
times water 1 foot or more deep. It was an experience. It sure beats the
normal retirement.
 Dan and Nancy are seeing first hand the great blessings and at the same
time the great challenges. Yesterday we visited our 2 contractors who were
finishing the homes they are building. This morning I met with one builder
who is now building a small 2 room house for Joel. We know from experience
it will be a challenge because people want more than our plans or money
allow. We then went to the next project Nchimunya is building.
It is an extension on Irene's house because she is taking in some orphans to
give them a place to stay. The problem is when we went there Nchimunya was
laying out an addition more than twice what we were thinking. You can't
blame them for trying, I guess! Such are the joys of working in Africa.
 Dan and Nancy have given money for Monga to start a workshop beside his
house. He is the man who is making bicycles. Now he needs more money also
for things he forgot in the original quote.
 Most of the school fees are paid now. We have to take 3 more to the market
probably tomorrow. Also, there are still 3 who need school fees paid. We are
waiting for them to give us the information.
 I had better end on a positive note. It is great to be able to bless a lot
of children and families. We have handed out a lot of clothes, pens, pencils
brought from Canada. Through money that Dan and Nancy brought we were able
to send 3 children to school. Their single mother could not afford to pay
their school fees.
 Right now Cheryl and Nancy are with a young lady who needs a stove to cook
on. They are looking to bless her with a new stove.
Thank you for your prayers. God is keeping us safe and healthy.
 Actually, there is one big Praise the Lord! The last 3 days my hearing was
very poor. I can not hear from my right ear anyway and my left ear was
blocked by wax. I went to the doctor at 8 a.m. this morning and he cleaned
it out. I can now hear normally again. It is scary when you have only one
good ear and your hearing decreases. God is Good!
 Many blessings!   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 23, 2017 3:07 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: Last night we met with Hustings who made our
bicycles. He was telling us his life story. It was very interesting. His
father stopped paying his school fees after grade 3 so he stopped school.
He worked for his father fixing bicycles but got no pay. Even after he was
married, his father still did not pay him. He started drinking and smoking
marijuana. He said he had no friends so drank alone. His wife was a
Christian but he was seeing another woman from her church. His girlfriend
was at a camp meeting or crusade so Hustings went to see her knowing his
wife was also there. He met the pastor at the gate. The pastor told him he
needed to change his way of living. He thought someone must have told the
pastor about his affair. He went home, started drinking and went back to
fight the pastor. When he saw the pastor he was paralyzed and could not
move. He went to the crusade that night and his life completely changed.
He immediately stopped drinking and doing drugs. His problems did not end.
He found out his mother was HIV Positive. His wife left him and took the 5
children because she said she did not want to be around anyone with Aids nor
her children. She moved about 4 km. away. The children including the 2 year
old girl walked at night back to be with the father Hustings. Now they are
all with him. Hustings re-married because he said he needed someone to help
him. He said,"I still love that first wife." You feel bad for him. Hustings
has a great attitude about life. He wants to pass on the blessings he
receives to bless others.
Also, we received a letter from Floribert, a boy we have sponsored now
through Teacher's college. This letter is to his sponsors. He said, "I greet
you in the name of the Father. I am happy that I have completed my 3 years
of teaching. THank you for the help you have rendered unto me. My family
would not have managed to take me to college. Thank you very much for the
good works of your hands. May God reward tyou a million times. I am ready to
serve as a teacher with passion. I will always remember you in my life and I
have dedicated my diploma to you and your precious family.
You have laid a solid foundation in my life. You have brought joy to my
family THey thank you very much for the tireless work you have done. May the
showers of blessing be upon you with your family." It is a great blessing
for us to see the thankfulness of young men and women like Floribert.
 There are a lot more Floribert's in ZAmbia, Peru and Uganda thanks to the
ministry of HCTH. Thank you for your support!
Blessings!   Tom and Cheryl




sent: January 17, 2017 2:55 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Some things don't change. Catherine is in the bank
paying school fees for 2 children, Cheryl is in the market with a girl and I
am at the Internet.
 Also, we had a heavy rain in the night. It is getting muddy. It rained a
little yesterday. We have had rain every day.
 This morning Morris, one of our builders was at the door at 8 a.m. just
before we left for Mwapona. Yesterday we washed clothes(by hand) at 7 a.m.
The boy named Winter we are building a house for came at 7:15 a.m.
After washing we left for Mwapona and to meet a lady and daughter to pay
school fees and go to the market. She said to meet at the market. She came
after 10. We were to meet another girl at 1 p.m. I left at 1:30 when she did
not come. She showed up at our door at 6 p.m. Another boy was to come at
4:30. He came after 5. Such is dealing with another culture.
 In between we paid many school fees. At one school we paid for 20 children.
That actually makes it a lot easier for us.
Today at 11 we are meeting another boy to buy school needs. We met our other
builder this morning. He wants to see me so I will visit that job site
later.
 We are keeping our carpenter Joel busy also. Yesterday HCTH paid to build
27 desks for Lugwasyo school. Thank you to our friends from Tamworth who
diligently recycle metal to provide for these desks. Thanks B. AND M.
 We still deal with human issues also. One mother and daughter came to us
saying that the daughter was sick so they went to a so-called prophet who
asked for money then told them that a jealous relative put a curse on the
daughter. We told them that God is the healer and if they go to any person
go to a registered doctor. This is common also. Many things are blamed on
curses and evil spirits. It gives us an opportunity to talk about God to
them.
 Thank you for your prayers.
Pray for Dan and Nancy. They are now on their way to Zambia. They will be
tired when they get here so pray for their travelling.
One great blessing! We just got an e-mail from Dan and Nancy. I left my
power cord for my razor at the Hotel we stayed in near the airport on
January 4. Dan and Nancy were able to get it. Praise the Lord! I bought one
here but it is not rechargeable so when there is no power there is no razor.
It seems minor but is a big blessing!
Thanks for your prayers! God is Good!
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 13, 2017 4:38 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: Lots of rain. This morning we waited at home until
10:30 a.m. for the rain to stop. Yesterday I bought gum boots. Right now
Cheryl is in the market buying boots.
Yesterday we got 6 more letters and pictures from sponsored children.
We are busy with our builders. We have 2 starting houses for very poor
families. Joel, our carpenter has been busy from day one making household
items for families. There is no end in sight.Thank you so much for your
financial support. All this would not be possible without you.
 Yesterday we counselled a young man who was going the wrong way in life.
We shared with him Proverbs 11:3 which talks about being upright. We feel he
is serious about changing. He became a Christian through the ministry of
HCTH a few years ago.
 We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our friends Dan and Nancy next
week. They arrive in Lusaka Jan. 18. Pray for their travels and time in
Africa until the end of March. They will probably also need to buy gum
boots.
 We continue to see lots of need and to need wisdom in our decisions.
Thank you for your prayers.
 One man we met yesterday wanted help. He said,"Mr. Tom, I could not cheat
you because cheating you would be like cheating myself." The problem is, he
has cheated himself many times before.
 God Bless! Cheryl just returned from buying mosquito nets and gum boots.
She says it is raining again.
 Blessings!    Tom and Cheryl
 Yesterday we visited a building site. Catherine killed a fly biting her.
She said it was a tse tse fly but they are not deadly now like when the
first Europeans came to Africa.
 So far not too many mosquitoes but I killed 2 in the house last night.

Sent: January 9, 2017 2:29 AM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl IN Zambia

Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe we have only been in Choma
less than 2 days.
Thank you for your prayers. The money is safely in the account in Uganda.
Things are well at the farm here-Esperanza. The goat project, fish ponds,
pigs, chickens are all doing well. Praise God! They have grown some nice
cabbages and onions.
 Yesterday we met with Eva who will finish nursing in July. We are very
proud of her. We even gave her 130 cards with Bible verses on them. 1 for
each member of her class. We also gave her a nurses watch we brought from
Canada plus some clothes. She was very thankful. She has a tooth that is
very painful but she is afraid to go to the dentist. Cheryl talked to her
about the importance of good teeth.
 Last night we met with Mildred and her 2 girls Winnie and Verily. We gave
them clothes plus presented Winnie with a blanket made by the grade 7/8
class of Tamworth Public School. It was beautiful. Winnie just finished
grade 12 and we will send her to university. Her father died of Aids 3 years
ago and after testing Mildred and Verily are HIV Positive also.
What a beautiful gift for her. Our grand daughter is in that class.
 We picked up our Tom and Cheryl bicycles. They are very good. Bicycles Dan
and Nancy are almost done.
 We gave money to Nchimunya to repair Irene's house. It was damaged by
vandals during the election. 30 of 32 window panes were broken. He will
finish the job today then has some work at Esperanza.
 Joel is busy. He has already made 2 beds for us and is now making 4 other
items. HCTH gave him money for tools also.
 This morning was busy already. I rode to Mwapona at 7:30 a.m. to get our
bike builder to bring him to the house to do some welding. He is coming at 1
p.m. Cheryl is busy looking for items for the house we are renting.
We now have to go to the bank-not a fun thing.
 Thanks for your prayers!   Love   Tom and Cheryl

Sent: January 6, 2017 12:54 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Thanks for your prayers. We arrived safely in
Lusaka, Zambia today at 3:15 p.m(8:15 a,m, in Napanee. We rushed around
getting new Sim cards for our phones, getting money exchanged and a few eats
for breakfast. Tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. we are leaving for Choma.
 Always when we come there is a worry about if the money from Canada arrived
in the bank. We sent the money on Dec. 30.  We received word today that the
money is not in our account yet in Uganda but is in the head bank branch in
Kampala. Hopefully it is put in soon. We have 8 needed money for university
there plus 4 in college. Pray that the money is in the account in Zambia
also.
We will keep you informed. God Bless!   Tom and CherylSent: January 2, 2017 8:22 PM
Subject: Tom and Cheryl

Dear friends and family: Happy New Year to each of you. Tomorrow we are
sending out or personally delivering the HCTH tax receipts. It shows how
generous you are and what a great God we serve. We have already sent the
money to Zambia and Uganda which will be used there. Many people will be
blessed. In addition to the over 100 children sponsored there we have
sponsors for 3 more children. There are 20 children in university and
colleges. Many non-sponsored children will be sent to school. We know that
there is at least 1 house in Zambia and 1 house in Uganda to build. Over
$5,000 in gift certificate items will be purchased eg. goats, pigs,
chickens, medical needs, blankets, bicycles etc. There is much more as you
will read in the e-mails from Africa.
 It will be busy with 4 people going to Zambia then continuing on to Uganda.
Then 4 more will be coming to Uganda. We are excited about the blessing that
they will be to the people.
 Pray for W isdom  I ntegrity  S afety  H ealth  (W.I.S.H.) Thank you and
may each of you have a blessed 2017!
 Tom and Cheryl

Sent: December 30, 2016 8:52 AM

This is another nice letter from Nchimunya in Zambia. He is looking after
his younger siblings because his father will sell his daughters as wives(he
has already sold 4) and  put Myova Nchimunya's  youngest brother to work
instead of school. Hustings is the man making us bicycles.
Nchimunya does not even know he is making bicycles for us. We helped
Nchimunya through school and college, to start his construction business and
now he will hire Hustings to weld with the welder we bought Hustings in
February, 2016. God is good! Nchimunya built Irene's house through HCTH but
it was damaged during the Zambia election in August. Hustings welded it free
but told Irene to help others. WOW! Hustings does not know that we have
helped Irene in her own business also. We even bought Irene a bicycle. It is
interesting what Nchimunya says about the quality of Hustings work and
desire to some day have a factory to make bicycles. Wow again! Great to
think we will be in Zambia talking to them in 1 week.
Thanks for your prayers! Tom and Cheryl

Dear the Martins,
     Greetings to you in the precious and mighty name of our lord Jesus
Christ.I'm fine here and still doing fine too.
      I received and read the mail you sent on my other
account,therefore,great thanks for  keeping on remembering me the Martins
from all the aspects of life.Lets really keep on remembering each other in
prayers cause we will remain united no matter what as where Brothers and
Sisters in christ are,the Devil doesnt feel confortable hence tries to
destruct.
     Dear the Martins, may i also let you know that my sister Fernister made
it out to the next grade or level.she passed with 309 marks,which enabled
her to move to the next 10 th grade as said. As a
matter of fact, she didnt do that alone     but through putting up
your heads  together to finally decide that she should stay somewhere safer
which is in my hands cause it also enabled me to be teaching her where she
seemed not to understand to what she knew and what she didnt.But finally,she
atleast  ddin't emberassed me that much. It is just the begining of my
trying over these two pupils,Miyoba and Fernister and I will continue
working even extra harder on them for production of more good results.Great
thanks to the wise decision that you made.Im greatly happy that she made it
out,but she will remain at Choma day secondary,until her final 12 th grade
in my opinion but we
will talk it when we meet.                 Miyoba also will be
writting his 7 th grade exams this year and this one,i promise he will have
to do better than any one else in the family cause i have ample time of
being with him.
    Irene's  door frame hinge is functioning proper and well.I fixed it
together with Hustings,who just volunteered himself to weld it and when he
got done,he asked Irene that have you ever been helped by someone? and if
you were,then will you also help others?. he endorsed that i have just
helped hence i dont need to be paid.Im greatly happy to how the man is
currently doing. At home he's even making surprising bicycles for
selling,they are good and stronger.He's creative and i even told him that if
God blesses me with some  constructional projects,then i will be hiring you
to be making the doors and window frames for the structures just to continue
earning a living and at times getting your own desirably tools for your
upcoming industry or factory.He's neet in his products that at times you
can't even believe it.  Thanks for taking time to  go through my mail and
let God continue blessing you in all the aspects in the coming year,2017.
With Love to Tom and Cheryl, looking forward to seeing you in less than two
weeks time!.




Sent: December 23, 2016 8:54 AM

We just received this e-mail from Zambia. It is a great Christmas gift for
Cheryl and I. We started helping this young man only in February of this
year. What a blessing to see that he is using his God-given talents and
using wisely the resources he has been given. We got to know him this year
when he did such a good job of repairing our bicycles. We got to know his
young family also. We pray that this will bless your Christmas also.

Hi Tom,  Greetings to you in the wonderful and precious name of lord
Jesus Christ.This is   Br Moonga from Zambia,choma,mwapona Compound.
It may be a surprise to you for me to email you but i have to do it cause i
have some other things to surprise you from my talent if possible.The above
mentioned  things are just two(2)  brand new man made bicycles, branded with
your names Tom; Cheryl.The one for Tom is already done and its blue in
colour but as for Cheryl its still in process and as for the colour,im not
yet decided as i dont even figure out but probably,when it finishes. The Two
Bicycles are well designed for you,lighter and stronger and if possible i
will send you their pictures. I thought of doing so due to the capital you
invested in me and to let you know that im capable of giving out my special
abilities in one or other ways in order to continue earning a living since i
stoped working after my bosses left me with littlerlly nothing and great
thanks to you for the amazing miracles.