August 20, 2026
Today Annet who looks after Hope House plus 3 of the girls living there
got a new dress from Canada plus a shirt that was donated to us from
Wesley Acres where Cheryl and I spend our summers. Also, thanks to a
generous Canadian Remah is getting solar power. God is Good.
August 18, 2026
I arrived safely in Uganda. Thank you for your prayers. These children
received clothes from Canada. Tommie Cheryl is on the right. Klassen got a
school bag.
August 17, 2026
Dear friends and family: I just arrived in Addis Abada, Ethiopia at 7:15
am local time. It is 31 degrees at 7:30. It was a long 13 hour flight from
Toronto but arrived in Ethiopia early. The plane to Uganda is on time- a
2.5 hour wait.
I appreciate your prayers for the 5 weeks I will be in Uganda. W I S H
Wisdom Integrity Safety Health.
Pray for Cheryl also attending to business in Canada.
Blessings Tom
June 4, 2026
I received this email from Julius in Uganda. Rejoice with Julius and pray
for him. Julius is one of 5 children from a very poor family. When we
first met his family the children could not attend school because their
single mother could not pay. When Julius and his sister were in their last
year of high school I visited the family in August of that year. Their
mother was cooking pumpkin that a neigbour had given them because that was
all they had to eat. They rented a house a long way from school so Cheryl
and I gave our bicycles to Julius and Maria. The next year HCTH bought a
house for the family so they would not have to pay rent. A sponsor from
Napanee paid for Julius to go to university to study civil engineering.
Now he has this opportunity in South Korea to do his Masters in
engineering. A miracle started this process 2 years ago when Julius met a
woman from South Korea who worked for the South Korean Embassy. In his
email you can sense Julius's excitement. This is another miracle to see
God working in Julius and his family.
P.S. The 3 oldest children have graduated from university, Dorah is in her
last year of university and Erin is in her last year of high school.
Dear Tom and Cheryl
It is with joy that I inform you of my acceptance into the prestigious
Global Korean Scholarship (GKS)
I passed the 2nd and 3rd round selection and this August I will be flying
to South Korea to pursue a masters degree.
This program is fully funded 🤩🤩 thank you for your prayers and
encouragement and support.
Wow I am still overwhelmed with the joy in my heart right now. I might have
cried a little haha.
Blessings
Julius Makanga
June 2, 2026
We began the month of May
grateful to God for His faithfulness and care
during this time, and for all the experiences shared
with Javier. This month we celebrated 17 years of
marriage and of walking together in ministry,
accompanying the growth
and development of individuals and families.
We visited some of the families supported by HCTH,
sharing special moments with each of them.
The family of Emiliano and Rosita, their sons Alonso, Fernando, and Saúl.
Emiliano works in maintenance at a nursing home, and Rosita stays home with her sons,
taking special care of Fernando, who is
autistic. He is 15 years old and has experienced many changes in his behavior; he stopped going to school and spends more time at home and in
workshops for his development.
Alonso is in his second semester of veterinary studies at the university , and
Saúl attends school; he is 11 years
old and enjoys Bible studies.
Emiliano is making some
modifications to his house, and Javier has been helping him
We also spent time with two families:
Margarita and her children, and her sister Nelly with her husband and daughter
Valeria. We met at Nelly's house and shared lunch; it was a very special time to talk with them.
Noemi received support from HCTH; she studied
pharmaceutical technology. Sarita is studying
nursing technology. Valeria is in high school.
It fills us with joy to see families develop
and grow together.
We continued distributing Bibles;
this time it was for a woman who completed the discipleship study. At the end, she received
a Bible and was very excited and grateful for the gift.
Thank you for your prayers
and your support
of the HCTH ministry, which
transforms lives.
May 12, 2026
Paul is a young boy in Uganda sponsored by HCTH. He has a degenerative
bone disease. His legs are severely curved. He recently broke his femur.
Dr. Maureen performed the surgery on Paul. HCTH is blessed that even
though Cheryl and I are in Canada the ministry continues. Dr. Maureen
completed medical school through HCTH sponsorship. Paul"s mother Brenda is
with him in the picture. Paul has a twin brother called Peter.
April 24, 2026
Dear friends and family: Cheryl and I are in Entebbe, Uganda. At 8 pm we
will leave for the airport. It is 7:15 now. Our KLM flight leaves Entebbe
at 11:50 pm for the 8 hour flight to Amsterdam. After 4 hours in Amsterdam
another 8 hour flight to Toronto arriving at 1:20 pm Saturday in Toronto.
Thanks for your prayers during the almost 4 months in Uganda. God has
blessed the ministry of HCTH. Thank you again for being an important part
of this ministry. God bless each of you. Tom and Cheryl
April 18, 2026
Another amazing working of God. Last night we had a nice visit with
Kenneth. Kenneth was one of HCTH's early university graduates. He was
saying that his wife Agnes could not come because she is 5 months pregnant
and the doctor has ordered complete bed rest. The doctor is afraid that
the birth could come any time and a birth at 5 months would be very risky
especially in Uganda. Kenneth said he prays that they could see a
specialist as they are just seeing a general practioner. I said to
Kenneth, God has already answered your prayers. Two months ago Cheryl and
I met Dr. Daniel who was helped by HCTH and is now a gynecologist in the
capital city Kampala. Dr. Daniel said to us, "If you ever have one of your
people who needs a gynecologist I will come to Mityana free of charge
because I appreciate what you did for me." God answers prayers in many
amazing ways. Pray for Kenneth and Agnes as they contact Dr Daniel.
April 16, 2026
This is a picture of Cheryl and Rev. Emmanuel taken yesterday
April 16, 2026
Yesterday we had a nice visit with Rev. Emmanuel. Emmanuel was the first
person who looked after the HCTH sponsored children starting in 2006 when
we were in Canada. He was the first person to live in the house when we
were in Canada starting in 2007. He helped HCTH until he went to
university to get his Masters of Theology and became an Anglican priest.
Emmanuel is a natural evangelist. He has won hundreds to the Lord. Last
year someone from Canada bought him Bibles. The first one he gave out was
to a moslem who accepted Jesus. He said he has been very selective about
who he has given them to and has 3 left. He trains workers who accompany
him on weekend crusades. If one of these people doesn't have a Bible he
will give them one. This weekend he is going to a village for 3 days. They
do door to door evangelism during the day and an open air service at
night. Emmanuel said that in December he had a crusade in a village and
the first night 3 moslems came forward to accept Jesus. The next day
Emmanuel baptized them. In May Emmanuel is going back to that village and
he said he can't wait to see them. He has kept in contact and they still
are serving God and not Allah. Pray for Rev. Emmanuel this weekend.
April 12, 2026
We just returned from our church program. Each Sunday 30 to 40 meet to
sing and hear Bible stories. Today we talked about Jesus love for children
from. Matthew 19:13-15. I never counted the songs we have taught them
until this morning. Every Sunday now we are singing 55 songs and choruses.
We continue to be visiting families. Remah is moving into her new house
today. Gloria and Kenny are back to school after the death of their
mother. Helping with medical issues continues to be a big need. Since I
came on January 6th I have paid $6,500 for malaria, typhoid, blood
transfusions, infections, cyst on an ovary, measles, child birth, hernia
and lots of dental work. One girl just recently described her night with
tooth problems as " like hell". Ritah was telling us that her mother never
told her what happened to her real father until just recently. He was
digging in a gold mine and the hole caved in burying him. Ritah was the
oldest of 5 children. She told about just before she met us the 3 oldest
children would walk around selling yams and other vegetables. One day
Ritah aged 14 and her brothers 13 and 11 each had a big box of yams. They
sold them all and had about $28. They had been walking all day so stopped
to buy water and a chapati for $2. When they had gone part way home they
realized they left the money where they bought food. They ran back but the
shop owner said it was not there. I was thinking that $28 would be like
our children losing $1,000. God has blessed them since that time. Just
today the mother has a medical issue. Cheryl thinks it is a frozen
shoulder. In spite of everything God is Good. All the time. Pray for our
last 12 days in Uganda. Thank you for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl
P.S. We are being blessed. Ritah and Joseline are coming at 2 pm today to
prepare lunch for us.
April 10, 2026
Dear friends and family: Time has gone fast
Two weeks from today we will be leaving Uganda. The almost 4 months has
gone fast. Many people have been blessed. This morning I received an
email from Beatrice in Zambia. I have not heard from her since we last
went to Zambia in 2020. She was at that time in her last year of
university through HCTH support to be a teacher. Beatrice is now a
teacher. When we met Beatrice she was 11 years old. She had never been to
school but could speak English well. HCTH had paid to build a school near
her home. I asked the principal if she could skip grade 1 and start in
grade 2. She did and at the end of the year she was number one in her
class. I said to the principal can Beatrice skip grade 3 and go to grade
4. She did and was number one in her class. I said to the principal can
she skip grade 5 and go to grade 6. She was number one again. In 3 years
she completed grade 6. We sent her to a better school in grade 7 because
it is the final year of primary. She was number one again in grade 7. She
now has completed university and is a teacher. Before we met her she had
lived a very difficult life. Once her step father locked Beatrice her
mother and sister in a thatched roof home and was going to set the roof
on fire. Neighbors heard their screams for help. A HCTH board member
sponsored Beatrice through school. We serve an amazing God. Thank you for
your prayers.
April 10, 2026
Someone in Canada gave us 24 plain fluorescent orange hats to bring to
Uganda. I gave them to Joan. She had her shop logo put on them and is
going to give them to her best customers. Today when we were at her shop
she had an order worth about $2,400 Canadian.(mostly 50 kg. bags of rice.
The person with this order was from a town about 1.5 hours away. Joan's
business is doing well. She certainly is a HCTH success story. Joan stays
in our house when we are not in Uganda. When we are here she stays with
her mother. Through HCTH sponsorship Joan completed a university degree in
Business then started her own business through HCTH support.
April 6, 2026
Rachel, a young lady graduated from a fashion and design course at Kampala
International University through the help of a HCTH sponsor. Rachel
designed and made this dress for a bridal show in Kenya. She took this
dress plus a shorter dress to the show. She sold each dress for almost
$200 Can. A Ugandan model based in the U.K. is wearing the dress. It is
not Rachel. The model did not charge Rachel for modeling it. Rachel is now
working. As she sat in our home today she expressed her thanks to HCTH for
changing her life after growing up in a very poor family with a single
mother.
April 1, 2026
This is the March report from our workers in Peru.
Dear friends,
I'm sending you the March report.
I also wanted to let you know that Javier had to travel to Colombia
because his mother is hospitalized with heart problems. We are praying for
her health.
Karina
March 26, 2026
Dear friends and family: Last Saturday we took Esther to Entebbe for her
flight back to Canada. Cheryl and I and the people of Uganda were blessed
to have first Atul for 2 weeks then Mike for 1 week and Esther for a week.
They each were a great blessing. Cheryl and I knew that we now have to
concentrate on getting sponsor letters and pictures. On Sunday after
church we visited families and got 20 letters and pictures. Today we got 5
letters at Ssingo Secondary school. Tonight 3 children are coming for
school backpacks. These are the last 3. We have given out 50 this year in
Uganda. Sickness continues to be a big part of the ministry of HCTH. Today
we visited 11 year old Eva in the hospital whom is sick with malaria. In
the past week Adrien needed treatment for malaria. Her sister Joyce is now
sick. Christine needed help from an allergy to a bee sting. 10 year old
Judith needed dental work. Teo has typhoid. Claire has malaria. All in the
last 7 days. It was sad last Thursday when the mother of 2 children
sponsored by HCTH died. Her daughter Gloria has only 2 more months to
finish her course in cosmetology. Her son Kenny has cerebral palsy. There
are 2 younger children whom now have no mother or father. Pray for this
family. Cheryl just informed me that our gas ran out so we have to buy a
new tank. Thank you for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl
March 25, 2026
Yesterday we visited Reverend Tembo. He asked me if I had a watch to give
him because the watch I gave him a few years got spoiled. I took off the
watch I was wearing and gave it to him. He was very thankful. The card he
is holding is a Christmas card with a Bible verse I gave him. Reverend
Tembo is having chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer. He has 3 more
treatments. This is his second round of chemo. HCTH sponsors his 2
youngest children- Tom in grade 12 and Patience in second year of
university. Pray for Reverend Tembo.
March 21, 2026
These are some of the 15 Ugandan women who attended a
morning seminar at
our house on Tuesday and Thursday. Esther led the seminars dealing with
Personal finance and budgeting on Tuesday and Basics of small business on
Thursday. Everyone said that the seminars were very beneficial. Esther did
a great job.
March 20, 2026
Esther visited Joserines new church with her. We visited the
new house
project where the workers were mixing cement. We visited Ritah who was
getting her iron ready so she could iron her clothes.
March 14, 2026
Today we attended the graduation dinner for Hope Angelica. Mike and Esther
started sponsoring Hope when she was in grade 5. She graduated from
Kampala culinary school as a chef. Her and her parents spoke of their
thanks to God, HCTH and her sponsors Mike and Esther. The family posed
with the new watches that I gave them.
March 12, 2026
Yesterday Mike Shurtliffe arrived from Canada. He had 2 suitcases of items
to bless the people of Uganda. Today we took eyeglasses to Reverend
Emmanuel and his wife Grace. I also gave them each a watch. Emmanuel was
HCTH's first worker in Uganda. HCTH helped him get his Masters of Theology
degree. He later got a second Masters degree in Pittsburgh, USA. He is the
missions coordinator for the Mityana Anglican Diocese and when he speaks
he takes the glasses.
Thanks to Napanee Optical and many others who donate used eyeglasses.
March 10, 2026
Today we went to the market to buy items for Remah in her new house. She
was very thankful
HCTH bought her mattresses, blankets, sheets, pillows, basins, Jerry
cans, mosquito nets, a charcoal stove, utensils cooking pots, dishes and
cups, a knife, towels and padlock.
March 9, 2026
This is the house project on Sunday. The main in the orange is Solomon our
builder. Two of Remahs children were with her- Paul and Lynet. Her
youngest was not there.
March 7, 2026
Hope Angela got a new pair of glasses through HCTH sponsorship. Mariam
mother of 6 children was happy when we delivered 2 metal poles for 4
clotheslines. Today Atul and I put up the poles for her. Up until now she
dried her clothes by laying them on the ground.
P.S. I totalled up the amount HCTH has spent on medical issues(malaria,
typhoid, infections, ulcers, dental, eye glasses and more) since I came to
Uganda on January 6. It totals over $5,000 Canadian.
March 3, 2026
This is the house project after day 5. Remah is very, very thankful. Today
she said to Cheryl and I "Who am I to own my own house? I prayed to God
every day.
To me it is a dream to have my own house." Remah in a red shirt is
standing in front of the house.
March 3, 2026
Susan never owned a watch before
She didn't know how to put it on her arm( whether) the 12 was at the top
or bottom. She was from a village about 1.5 hours from Mityana. She had
only seen a muzungu(white person) once in her life before Cheryl and I.
March 1, 2026
Today we visited 2 families outside of Mityana. They were selling avocados
from their trees. They get 100 shillings for the big avocados and 2 for100 if they are smaller. 100 shillings is 4 cents Canadian. They gave us
bananas mangoes, avocados and a pineapple from their land. HCTH has built
a house for each of the 2 families.
March 1, 2026
The workers are progressing well after only 2 days of building. Remah is
very happy.
February 27, 2026
We delivered a bed to Anisha today. She was sleeping on an old mattress on
a cement floor.
February 23, 2026
Henry( no shirt) digs the hole for the latrines HCTH builds. I gave him a
Lufkin tape measure from Canada. Henry is holding the one he was using.
Henry loves to read even Shakespeare and the Classics.
February 21, 2026
Another amazing story. Dr. Maureen sent these pictures of a little child
who came to her a month ago with club feet. 2 pictures are of a month ago
and 2 pictures are of today after Maureen performed surgery. Maureen is an
orthopedic surgeon because of a generous HCTH sponsor.
Dr. Maureen now has her own clinic.
February 20, 2026
I saved the best email for last. Please read the 2 examples. You will be
blessed. 1)Today we stopped in Namukozi. A car stopped on the opposite
side of the road and aman shouted out, Hello Mr Tom. Cheryl and I didn't
recognize him. He started to talk. He said," I am Daniel. You helped me
about 16 to 18 years ago. I used to come to your gate and you gave me
school books pens and other school needs plus helped me with school fees.
Once Tom you even gave me your shoes. I still remember the Canada shirt
you gave me. I am now a gynecologist in a hospital in Kampala. I often do
surgery on the poor for free. Just yesterday I took 2 large tumors from a
woman. The doctors wanted 3 million shillings($1200 Canadian). She could
not pay so I operated for free. I have a wife, 3 children of my own, 2
adopted children and 7 sponsored children. If you ever have anyone who
needs an operation I will come and operate for free. I also dig wells in
poor villages. We just came from a well today. I am paying back for the
good that people like you did for me. I also do Christian counseling with
women in Kampala."
2) Today we bought school uniforms at a school for 3 students. We have met
the head mistress(principal) many times. We started talking about
children. She said she has quadruplets 1.5 years old. She said she was
barren for 22 years but all that time her and her husband prayed plus many
friends. When she was 50 years old she got pregnant and had 3 girls and 1
boy (quadruplets). She is now 52 and they are 1.5 and very healthy.
Amazing stories.
February 20, 2026
This is the sight of the house project which is just beginning. When the
latrine hole is completed it will be about 15 meters deep. The house is
for Remah and her 3 children. She was telling Cheryl about her 2 years
working in Saudi Arabia. She told me before it was a horror show. She told
Cheryl today it was like a bad dream. She said she was a slave for a
wealthy family deprived of food, sleep and frequently physically abused by
her boss. She came back to Uganda sick. She had to go to the police in
Saudi Arabia to get her passport back from her boss before she could leave
the country. She said she was so very happy when she landed in Entebbe
back in Uganda. Again this is so similar to many others whom have told us
about their experience in the Arab countries as workers. She is very
thankful that she will soon be in her new home.
February 20, 2026
The mango is from our tree. We have papaya growing in our yard also. These
are the first green beans from the seed I planted them on January 9th.
February 19, 2026
Today Winnie came. She wanted to show us her graduation picture from
teacher's college. She is now a qualified teacher and is working in a
school. When we first met her she thought her dream of being a teacher was
over because a boy talked her into having sex so she spent her last year
of high school pregnant. I encouraged her to continue towards her goal
even though she had a son she called Good Luck. With HCTH sponsorship
Winnie completed teacher's college plus owns a hair salon called Tom and
Cheryl's Hair Salon. She has always been very thankful for the help.
The video is Jane who was getting pictures for her resume. When we first
met Jane she had lost hope of finishing high school. A generous Canadian
helped her complete the last 2 years of high school. Her dream is to be a
stewardess (cabin crew) for an airline. HCTH helped her complete the
course where she finished number 1 in her class. Pray that her dream is
fulfilled by Jane getting a job for an airline. Thanks for your support
and prayers.
February 14, 2026
Cheryl got flowers for Valentines day.
Faridah has been helped by HCTH for many years. She was a Muslim but I
have been talking to her since I came in January and Faridah is now a
Christian. Yesterday Faridah told Cheryl that she is now a Christian. She
is very happy. Cheryl and I are happy too.
February 14, 2026
Kenneth came to visit us tonight with his wife Debbie and son Keith.
Kenneth's sister Winnie also came. They are HCTH success stories. Because
of sponsorship Kenneth is an engineer with his own company. Winnie is a
head nurse in a hospital. Kenneth drove to visit us in his own Subaru car.
They are doing very well in life and are so thankful to HCTH. They realize
that without help they never could have achieved their dream.
February 11, 2026
Today Cheryl and I visited 5 schools and paid school fees for 13 children.
We also paid for Ritah who is studying tailoring. We gave about 200 pairs
of eye glasses to Grace. Grace and her husband Emmanuel conduct our eye
glass ministry. Emmanuel is an Anglican priest. They have 5 children all
starting with the letter T. Grace is holding the youngest named Treasure.
Cheryl is with Gloria. Gloria is in grade 1. She doesn't know her age or
birthday. Her mother sent her out of the home to find a job when she was 9
or 10. She is now in the care of HCTH and lives at Hope House and has a
sponsor through HCTH.
February 10, 2026
It is 67 km. from Mityana to Kampala. During that drive you face the
gauntlet of at least 5 police random stops. Traffic the last 15 km before
Kampala was awful. At times I joined the middle row of traffic on a 2 lane
road and hope there are no police before you force your way back into the
correct lane. That is not easy because Noone wants to let you in. I
avoided the 10 stops coming and going but Entebbe was a different story. I
got stopped 3 times. Twice by the same police man. The first time he asked
the usual questions about seeing my driving license which he doesn't
understand because it is from Canada. He was nice so I gave him a Canada
pin. The second time he specifically asked me for money. In fact he said
"You need to give me money." He then corrected himself to say you should
give me money. The third stop was 30 seconds after the second one. This
police said I went through a red light at a light he could not even see.
His reasoning was that I was the only car coming so the other cars must be
stopped at the light and I must have gone through the light. The problem
is that I came on the main road from a side street and never even passed
the light. I finally after calling him stupid once he realized I was right
and let me go. Such is the experience of driving in Uganda where there
are very few rules. Thanks for your prayers for safety.
We got back to Mityana at 10:30 am. We have visited 4 families, handed
out 4 backpacks Cheryl brought and given money to a girl who has a
medical issue. In addition Cheryl got a phone number and data. Today
Annet went with Dorah who is starting her studies in midwifery. On Sunday
Claire goes back to school starting her last year of nursing. Tomorrow
Cheryl and I will be visiting 4 schools to pay school fees. It is nice to
have Cheryl with me in Uganda. Thank you for your prayers. Tom and
Cheryl
February 9, 2026
In case you need proof that Cheryl arrived safely I sent a picture. No,
the one in black beside Cheryl is not Tom
Thanks for your prayers.
February 8, 2026
The children at the church program on Sunday enjoyed the balloons. There
were 38 present.
So far 18 children have been helped to go to school through money raised
from recycling cans and bottles in Canada. Thank you Wayne.
February 8, 2026
I will soon be able to say Tom and Cheryl in Uganda. Pray for Cheryl as
she flies out of Toronto tomorrow and arrives in Entebbe Uganda late
Monday night.
It will be great to have her here even though she will probably miss the
cold and snow. I have been very busy paying school fees for primary,
secondary and post secondary students. I paid for over 40 children this
week. Education is very expensive here. At Ssingo SS. I paid 18.4 million
shillings for 16 students for only 2 terms. ( 2.5 million is $1,000 Can.
dollars) I have visited lots of schools also. There are still schools to
visit when Cheryl comes. Today I met with 2 brothers who did very poorly
in grade 9. They are leaving school. One wants to be a painter and the
other a car mechanic. Every day many people ask for help because school
starts next week. One mother with 5 children came to the gate yesterday.
Many people continue to need medical help. Every day someone we know is
sick or has dental issues. Today Claire has typhoid. Yesterday Morris had
malaria. On Thursday Brenda was sick. Gloria from Hope House was crying
every night because of bad teeth. Today I visited a home and it looks like
one child has measles. So far since I came in early January I have given
almost $1,000 Can. for medical/dental issues. Yesterday I gave Jefferson
880,000 for new glasses. We are blessed to be able to bless others. There
is a great need here. Thank you for your prayers. Tom
January 29, 2026
Today I visited Mariam. Our granddaughter Emma sponsors her daughter
Stella. I didn't know that Mariam had a 4 month old daughter named Kayla
which I am holding. Mariam was on family planning so when she got pregnant
she told the doctor she wanted to abort the baby. The doctor was a
Christian and told her not to abort. Kayla is a beautiful little girl.
Ritah came to show me the dress she made today. Through HCTH sponsorship
Ritah has been studying tailoring for 1 year and is already very good.
January 28, 2026
Brenda is a hard working single mother of 3. She lives in a house provided
by HCTH and cultivates 2 plots also provided by HCTH. HCTH bought her 1
goat. Now she has 2. She sold coffee and potatoes and bought the calf.
January 28, 2026
Yesterday at Hope House there were 5 young children all looking for a
sweet. There was Klassen, Tomi Cheryl Precious, Renah, Arial. The
children in the second picture is named Apple( not misspelled). I forgot
to ask if Apple is a boy or girl.
January 25, 2026
HCTH gave money to Vincent to buy firewood to burn the 6000 bricks that he
made. He uses the money from the bricks to pay for his last year of high
school. The family also grow coffee which they put in the sun to dry. HCTH
bought 2 goats for them. Now they have 4 goats.
January 25, 2026
It has been very hot and dry here in Uganda. It is a big contrast to what
is happening in North America. Today there were 40 at our Sunday
fellowship. I have been busy paying school fees and visiting families. On
Thursday I went to Kampala to meet with 6 families. For those 6 families
alone HCTH paid out over $6,000. So far 5 children have been helped to go
to school through money raised by can recycling. Our friend Adrien has her
own hair salon. She has a 16 year old student from the village. She only
had money to complete grade 6. She said that before she saw me she had
only in her life seen one other white person. HCTH continues to help many
with medical issues. The most common is malaria and typhoid. This week a
single mother of 3 needed financial aid for dental surgery. Many people
suffer because they can't afford medical help. On Saturday I met with 2
students attending university because of HCTH sponsorship. Thank you for
being a part of the ministry of HCTH. God bless each of you. Thanks
especially for your prayers. Tom
January 18, 2026
Praise the Lord that the internet is back on in Uganda. It was off from
Tuesday 6 pm until late Saturday night. The election was Thursday. There
was some violence in Mityana but I stayed safe away from problems. Thank
you for your prayers. I just returned from our little church program.
There were 42 present singing and hearing about God and Jesus. This week I
paid for the food program which helps 17 families. It costs a bit more
than $500 per month but is a great blessing. Joram who used to work for
HCTH here in Mityana came to get reading glasses. He said he couldn't read
his Bible any more because of poor eyesight but he was happy to get new
glasses( they were new). I went to visit Remah who years ago was the cook
at Hope House. She went to Saudi Arabia for 2.5 years as a maid. These are
her words." It was a horror show. I was beaten almost daily. I didn't eat
well and got little sleep. Those people do not have good hearts." I asked
her about pay and she said she got about half of what she was promised.
She said there were other maids from Kenya Ethiopia, Bangladesh but they
only stayed 3 months. She thinks they tried to poison her. We have
personally in our house here talked to at least 4 others all with similar
stories. I call it the modern slave trade. Thousands go from poor
countries of Africa and Asia to the Arab nations of Saudi Arabia UAE
Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait and are treated very badly. But in all God is Good.
Thank you for your prayers. Tom
January 13, 2026
About 1.5 years ago Steven planted pineapples for Cheryl, Tom and Atul. He
called me to tell me they were ready so I picked them up today. They taste
so much better than anything ever imported into Canada. I took TommyCheryl
and Gloria from Hope House with me. Galiraya is about 15 minutes away by
motorcycle.
January 12, 2026
Today I visited with 9 different families. Annet who works for HCTH and is
the parent at Hope House liked her Peru shirt. Tommy Cheryl and Klassen
liked their new clothes from Canada. Claire is starting her last year of
nursing. Her cousin Sarah lives with them. Her mother abandoned her at
birth and the alcoholic father left her alone in the house so Claire's
mother took her. Last year she was afraid of me. Claire said that after I
left she would ask, Where is uncle? He gave me candies?
Claire said her last training was in a military hospital in Bombo. The
student nurses stayed in a school. There was no water so they had to fetch
water from a pump. If they made a mistake on the floor they had to work 24
hours. If they were late because of a line up at the well they had to work
a double shift.
Also, a mother we help named Brenda came because her mother is in the
hospital
in Kampala. They have no money. The doctors prescribe the medicine then
leave until the patient buys the medicine often from their own pharmacy.
Many people die because they can't afford treatment. Maybe Canada isn't
such a bad country after all. It was a very busy day. Thanks for your
prayers. Tom
January 10, 2026
Dear friends and family: It is hard to believe that I have been in Uganda
for 5 days but it seems like it is more. A lot has been done in those 5
days and many have been blessed. Already I have met with 5 post secondary
students. Mary and Claire are starting their last year in nursing. Dora is
in 2nd year at Makerere university. Juliet is in her last year of teaching
college. Emily is in her 2nd year of university studying medical lab
technician. 5 people have been helped with medical issues- motorcycle
accident, malaria, infection, dental, illness. HCTH has helped a single
mother pay rent for her business and another to complete construction of
rental units. Food has been given to 8 families Hope House has 7 children
living there. They needed supplies like basins, Jerry cans, plates. 3
mosquito nets were purchased for a family. Yesterday I planted beans at
our home. In 6 weeks we will have green beans to eat. Please pray that I
get my 3 suitcases from KLM tomorrow. I called today and Entebbe airport
baggage claim said they are on the plane from Amsterdam arriving tonight.
I have decided to drive myself to Entebbe to get them. I can use the
peanut butter and other food I brought from Canada. It is hot here. It was
31 degrees yesterday. Thank you for your prayers. Tom
January 4, 2026
Dear friends and family: As always, I ask for your prayers for a safe
flight to Uganda. I fly out of Toronto at 6:30 p.m. today arriving in
Entebbe, Uganda at midnight Monday night.(8 hours difference). Pray for
safe, on time flights, no luggage issues and the ministry of HCTH while in
Uganda until April 24. Also, pray for Cheryl as she is busy until her
arrival in Uganda in early February. Cheryl is accompanying our son Rick
on a trip to the Dominican Republic for 9 days at the end of January.
Thank you for your prayers and support for the ministry of HCTH. Thanks
and God Bless Tom and Cheryl
P.S. I want to leave you with a quote from a text I received last night.
It was from a person whom has visited Cheryl and I in Uganda and Peru.
"What a legacy you both have created and tremendous difference you have
made for many over the years. I wish all charities were modeled like
yours."
December 27, 2025
Sorry to bother you again but I forgot an interesting fact about the
ministry of Helping Cope Through Hope that I sat down to figure out. When
I fly into Entebbe, Uganda on January 5, 2026 it will be my 40th time
flying into Entebbe to minister to the people of Mityana, Uganda. As well
I have flown into Lima, Peru 23 times and Lusaka, Zambia 17 times. In all
of those flights HCTH donations have never paid anything. One of the
directions given by God in 2005 was that Cheryl and I pay for all
flights. God has blessed Cheryl and I and we know that we can never out
give God. Tom and Cheryl
December 14, 2025
I woke up early this morning with thankfulness on my heart. Thank you to
each of you for your financial and prayer support for the ministry of
Helping Cope Through Hope plus for some of you your visit to the work in
Peru or Uganda. Having recently returned from Peru it is easy to see the
amazing ministry of HCTH. The lives of many families were changed. Two
families had major improvement to their houses plus another family has the
promise of a new house next year. 15 suitcases full of clothes, dolls,
teddy bears, school supplies and more were given out. 35 of HCTH children
are going to a Bible camp for a week. 60 Bibles were purchased for Bible
studies. When families are visited often food is purchased for them. 37
children are sponsored. Some are in post secondary eg. Alonso who is
studying to be a veterinarian.
Now Cheryl and I have to prepare for Uganda. Even though we are in Canada
every day we receive emails and What's app from Uganda. On Friday,
December 12 I received a message from a young man of about 23 whom HCTH
helped through primary, secondary and apprentice as a motorcycle
mechanic. His name is Solomon. Solomon said he had been in the hospital
very sick for 3 days with Mpox. On Saturday, yesterday, he texted to say
he was chased from the hospital because he had no money for treatment.
His mother who is very poor and friends were trying to get money. Later
in the day I texted Solomon to tell him HCTH would give him $64 for the
treatment. This was Solomon's reply. "Mr. Tom and Mrs. Cheryl thank you
so much. My mother is crying because of what you did. Crying because she
was stuck. God bless you for that. I love you in my life. I do not know
what to give you in my life but after sickness I will do you something
from my heart. I promise you."
Yesterday afternoon we went to the Christmas musical at our church. When
we returned I had a What's app message from the family in Uganda HCTH
built a house for this year. At 3:42 (11;42pm) they sent a message
saying, "We are very happy." They had just purchased rabbits and hens
from money given by a generous HCTH supporter. At 4:44 pm. (12:44 a.m.)
they texted to say," We have a problem. There are people outside who are
trying to break into our house. We have called the chairman. Pray for
us!" I did pray for them. At 5:23 they texted to say all was ok.
At our church last Sunday we shared about the ministry of HCTH in Peru.
At the end of the service a lady came up to Cheryl and I speaking in
Spanish. She was from Peru. She and her husband had come to Roblin church
because God told her she needed to go there. She had only been to the
church once before. She told Pastor Bert and I something interesting. She
said, " There are many missionaries in Peru but not many are working with
families and changing lives like HCTH is". She said her and her husband
might want to come to Peru with HCTH next year.
It even amazes Cheryl and I what God is doing through 2 old timers like us.
Cheryl had her 78th birthday in Peru. Mine is later this week. I thank God
every day for God's blessing on our lives. Thank you for being a part of
that. God Bless and Merry Christmas Tom and Cheryl
December 6, 2025
Check out this You Tube 4 minute video made by Ben Wilkins who came to
Peru this year with his wife Keri on their honeymoon.
Hi guys,
Welcome back Tom and Cheryl. I hope you flight went well.
I wanted to let you know I created a video from all the pictures I took and
the ones I received.
This is the YouTube link to watch it.
I you want to use it when you do your presentation, feel free.
Peru 2025 <https://youtu.be/hL8uQE0qOF0>
Ben
December 4, 2025
Thanks for your part in making the 6 weeks in Peru such a great blessing.
We are safe now in our home in Napanee arriving at 10:10 pm. It is about a
40 degree difference in temperature. Cheryl said that I should not have
given my coat and sweatshirt away in Peru. Fortunately, I did have a
sweatshirt I bought from Lydia, a lady HCTH bought a sewing machine for
last year. She is doing very well. She wanted to give it to me but I could
not do that. I was happy to pay her for it and I needed it over the only
teeshirt I brought back from Peru as we waited for the airport bus to
bring us to Napanee. One month from today I am off to Uganda. God Bless!
Tom and Cheryl
December 2, 2025
Dear friends and family: God has blessed HCTH again.In fact, over and over
again. As of today, we now have all 30 children paid for to go to camp for
a week in their summer- January and February. In fact HCTH will be sending
33 to camp because when we visited BCM yesterday they told us that for
every 10 that we pay for 1 could come free. Since we now have 30 paid for
3 extra will go. We are stopping at 33 because that is enough for Karina
and Javier to coordinate between camp and families. Thank you to all who
helped financially and through prayers. It is a great blessing.
Even how it came about less than 4 weeks ago is amazing also. It was
because of a 'chance' meeting( divine appointment) when Cheryl Kathie
and I met a missionary on a bus then the next day a visit to BCM. Now 33
children of families helped by HCTH are going to camp. God blesses in
amazing ways. HCTH has been especially blessed during this 6 weeks in
Peru. Pray for our last day in Peru tomorrow then as we return to a
little cooler weather in Southern Ontario. Blessings Tom and Cheryl
November 30, 2025
Sorry to bother you on this beautiful Sunday morning of 20 degrees. I
forgot an important point last night. The cost for 1 week of overnight
camp with food and everything is $60 Canadian per week. Blessings Tom and
Cheryl
November 29, 2025
Tonight we went to Karina and Javier's Bible study. 35 were there. The
pictures show Karina with her class and Javier with his. The families all
shared how HCTH has changed their lives. The best news is that 22 children
from these families want to go to a Christian camp for a week in January
or February. We have other families to ask tomorrow so that number could
be 30 children which HCTH is going to sponsor to camp if funds are
provided. That alone could change lives of these children. This week one
of the visitors from Canada left money to send 6 children to camp. The
other blessing is that is the camp where the 5 young missionaries work
that Cheryl and I worked with in 2002 and 2003.
November 28, 2025
I spent about 9 hours over the last 2 days translating about 50 letters
from sponsored children. That big bowl of strawberries cost about $1 Can.and they taste great.
November 27, 2025
This little boy with Cheryl and I in the Kids Alive Children's Home in
Lima was 3 years old when this picture was taken. Renzo is now a 22 year
old married missionary at Bible Centered Mission BCM in Pica Piedra,
Peru. Renzo is a lot older looking now.
November 26, 2025
Yesterday was a blessed day. We visited the family HCTH is building a
house for next year. Judy, her husband Diogenes and aunt Inemia have never
owned a watch before. Inemia is 59 years old and has severe and painful
arthritis. Judy has her and her husband's watch on because Diogenes was
working. Judy's family of 5 total live in 1 room of the aunts house. The
aunt also has a daughter and granddaughter living in the house. Jennifer
Janice and Erin brought the watches in the extra suitcases they brought.
November 26, 2025
Yesterday we delivered a chest of drawers to a 15 year old boy named
Esteban. He kept his clothes in 2 small plastic boxes and a few hangers
from the ceiling. Jennifer, Janice and I rode in the back of the delivery
truck. Esteban's step father was at home. The floor of his bedroom is
stone and dust. HCTH is going to give him a cement floor. It will greatly
improve his living conditions.
November 26, 2025
Today we visited a home that HCTH built in 2018. Saulo is standing beside
the door frame which shows damage from a large rock which rolled down the
mountain and through the roof of their house only a few feet from where
they were sitting at their kitchen table. We also visited Mahanaim where
we stayed from 2018 to 2023. Notice the tree growing through the roof of
the house next door. The picture was taken from the top floor of Mahanaim.
November 24, 2025
Today Katty came to visit us. Every year just before Christmas Katty goes
to the mountains of Peru to sing with the children songs she learned in
the children's Bible club she was in as a child. She spends 2 or 3 days
with the children. HCTH gave Katty 2 suitcases to take full of clothes and
teddy bears and shoes. She also buys panetone and treats for the children.
It is a blessing for HCTH to help Katty each year.
November 18, 2025
Tonight Karina had a birthday party for Cheryl. She invited the 2 families
HCTH helped with house projects plus the family that will be blessed with
a new house next year. It was a beautiful time together. Each family
danced as they presented a birthday gift to Cheryl. There were dances from
different parts of Peru plus a special dance couple that Karina invited.
We feasted on pollo a la brass (grilled chicken and chips).
November 18, 2025
Today we saw a cat on A HOT TIN CAR. Today HCTH through a generous donor
blessed Liam in his new bedroom with a new bed, mattress, dresser, pillow,
blanket and new sheets. Liam was very happy.
November 17, 2025
Tonight I climbed up the mountain near our house with Jennifer, Janice and
Erin. The sunset was beautiful.
November 15, 2025
HCTH is almost finished the second project for Carlos, Elizabeth and their
2 children. When Lana was here she bought a Bible for Elizabeth. We told
Elizabeth the importance of reading her Bible every day. Elizabeth as a
child was raised in a Christian orphanage where the Bible was read often
but as a couple Carlos and Elizabeth were not attending church. They very
much appreciate HCTH building a room and bathroom for them. Today Carlos
and Elizabeth told Javier that they want to be part of a Bible study with
him. This is a great answer to prayer. Pray for Carlos, Elizabeth, and
children Liam and Annia.
Also, pray for Jennifer, Janice and Erin who arrive Sunday morning and for
Rocco who flies back to Canada on the same plane. A special thank you to
Rocco who directed the 2 building projects for this year in Peru.
Thank you for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl
November 15, 2025
Today we went to visit Judy and her husband Diogenes family of 3 children.
We had told them earlier that HCTH was thinking about building them a
house next year. Today we told them that HCTH is going to build a house
for them in October 2026. Judy said that every since we told them of the
possibility they have been praying that God would answer their prayers for
a new house. Judy cried when we told her. Presently they live in 1 small
room in their aunts small house. They have land and a small building on it
presently. We also have a sponsor for their oldest son Alexandro.
Blessings
Tom and Cheryl
November 12, 2025
Today we had a house dedication for each of the 2 building projects for
this year. When giving thanks both Carmen and Elizabeth were very
emotional. Carmen the lady waving in the photo was volunteering today in
a community kitchen which feeds about 80 poor people every day for 80
cents. If anyone can't pay that is ok too. The 2 children on the bus were
happy to receive teddy bears.
Pray for Ben, Kathie and Glen as they return home to Gananoque early
Thursday morning.
November 12, 2025
Last night was such a blessing and very emotional for Cheryl and I. To
think that we had a small part in the lives of these 5 young missionaries
is humbling. Marlon Stefanie Karina Josue Renzo. Josue told us that
when he was 4 and Renzo was 1 their mother died so the 2 plus older sister
Karina came to Kids Alive children's home. Their father was not in the
home. When Josue left the home he found his father but his father was not
happy to see him but Josue had an opportunity to tell his father that he
was a Christian and his father needed Jesus in his life. His father was
not interested but 2 years ago his father called Josue to say that he had
accepted Jesus into his heart. The children had been praying for him for
years.
Also, the only one of the 10 who had a watch was Marlon who now teaches in
the seminary. He had a sports watch so he said he would now have a good
watch to wear to church. God bless Tom and Cheryl
November 11, 2025
Tonight we visited BCM- Bible Centered Ministry. These 5 young
missionaries and their spouses are former children in Kids Alive
Children's home which Cheryl and I worked with in 2003 and 2004. They
prepared Peruvian food for us. I was able to give the 10 of them a watch.
Only 1 had a watch before.
November 8, 2025
A truck is delivering materials to the new construction site building a
room and bathroom for Carlos, Elizabeth and 2 children. They have lived in
this location for 6 years and never had a bathroom. They use the bathroom
of Carlos mother located about 50 meters down the mountain.
November 8, 2025
Recent pictures of the construction site. We are starting the second
construction project today.
November 5, 2025
Today in Manchay we gave out some of the clothes we brought from Canada to
poor families. After Karina was saying that she would like to start a
Bible study with them. The families were very thankful.
November 5, 2025
Some of the women who came to get clothes for their families. They were
very happy.
November 3, 2025
Today we visited a young family of 5 with 3 children ages 10 3 and 1
month. They live in one small room. HCTH is praying about this being a
possible building project for next year. As you can see the location is
quite high up the mountain. Yes, we did walk up there today.
November 2, 2025
Last night the families had a surprise party for us. Almost every family
helped by HCTH was there. It was very emotional. They were celebrating 20
years of HCTH ministry in Manchay, Peru. To see some of the first children
helped who are now adults was such a blessing. Sometimes it is easy to
forget all of the lives that have been touched by the ministry of HCTH.
They had a slide presentation showing pictures from 2005. Many showed
pictures of people from Canada whom had come to Manchay over the years.
Each person had left an impact on the lives of the people of Manchay. It
made it so clear that it is God who deserves all of the glory. God has
directed in every way over the last 20 years. Thank you for your part in
the ministry of HCTH through your finances, your prayers and your presence
while you were in Peru. To God be the Glory.
Tom and Cheryl
November 1, 2025
Today we visited 4 families. Xiomara has a pet. She says that some parrots
live to be 80 years old. Lana is sponsoring Elizabeth's daughter. Lana
bought her a Bible plus wearing gave clothes and shoes to them.
October 31, 2025
Today HCTH supporters bought 30 Bibles for Karina and Javier. Javier has 5
Bible studies each week plus this year they ministered for 2 weeks in 2
towns in the mountains. The pastors there said nobody had ever taken them
Bibles before and they were so happy.
October 28, 2025
Today we visited Roxana's grade 4 class and Shirley's Day Care. HCTH
sponsorship sent Roxana to university to be a teacher and Shirley to study
speech and physio therapy. Shirley has many children with special needs.
The children were hugging Lana to thank her for the craft she did with
them. We also visited the children's clinic to hand out teddy bears and
candy canes.
October 26, 2025
These pictures are from higher up on the mountain.
October 26, 2025
I climbed up the mountain near where we stay to get a picture of the house
we are staying in.
October 25, 2025
This is where the first construction project is taking place. Their
daughter Maricielo is cooking rice for the workers.
October 25, 2025
This is how we get up and down the mountain to and from where we stay.
October 24, 2025
This is the location where the second building project will take place. It
is adding one more room plus a bathroom. Celeste loved her new doll.
October 24, 2025
This is the location where we are staying this year in Peru. As you can
see it is in the Andes mountains and is very dry. The house is an Air b&b
and is a great place to stay. It has 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. Thanks
for your prayers. Tom Cheryl Rocco Lana Greg Debbie
October 24, 2025
Today we visited the Centro Prenatal. We took them baby clothes we brought
from Canada. This Centro is located beside a university so if students
come who are pregnant they are given an alternative to abortion. They are
always appreciative of items we are able to give them when we visit each
year.
October 23, 2025
Thanks for your prayers. We arrived safely in Peru. Today was a full day
after very little sleep on the plane. We should sleep well tonight. At
least there is no time change. Tom and Cheryl
October 22, 2025
Dear friends and family: It is that time of year again. We are at the
airport in Toronto waiting for our flight to Peru leaving at 11 pm. We are
in Peru until December 4. Pray for Cheryl and I plus the 12 people who are
joining us. 5 others are on the same flight as us. Pray for the 2 building
projects plus choosing a project for 2026 as well as the many activities
with schools, hospitals prenatal clinic, sponsored families and much
more. Thank you for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl
September 25, 2025
Dear friends and family: I slept well from 10 pm to 3:30 a.m. I woke up
and my body was saying, What are you doing in bed? It is 10:30 a.m. So I
got up to pack suitcases for Peru. I also wanted to share a great Uganda
story. Jane is a young lady whom HCTH helped to finish high school and now
training to be a cabin crew on a plane(stewardess). I have never seen
anyone as passionate as Jane is to fulfill her dream of being a cabin
crew. On Tuesday, the day I left Uganda Jane wrote her final IATA exam.
Interestingly the International Headquarters of IATA is in Montreal. Each
student writing the exam from all over the world does it with a personal
proctor in Montreal. Each student has 3 hours to complete 100 multiple
choice questions. The proctor was surprised when Jane finished after 36
minutes. Some of her classmates who were also writing thought maybe she
was sick or upset so was leaving the exam early. She was praying that she
would get a distinction(90+ per cent). I was praying this for Jane as
well. Jane received word from IATA that she passed with distinction. She
thinks she got at least 96%. Another HCTH success story. Pray now that
Jane is able to achieve her dream of getting a job on an airline. Thank
you and thank you for your prayers Tom and Cheryl
P.S. Jane is a great young Christian woman of faith.
September 25, 2025
Thank you for your prayers. I landed safe in Toronto. I got through
customs and got my luggage in record time. 30 minutes after landing I was
waiting for the airport bus. I was the first person off the plane after
first class and one of the first at customs. My one suitcase came off
about the 10th suitcase. Also, I thought how nice it would be if nobody
sat in the 2 seats beside me for the long flight from Ethiopia to Toronto.
In fact that is what I was praying. Cheryl was praying the same thing but
I didn't know it. I was seated in the plane with 2 empty seats beside me.
I think the last 2 people to board sat in those 2 seats. The plane was
delayed a few minutes loading the last luggage. For some reason, God
answered Cheryl's prayer. The 2 got out of the seats and found seats
somewhere else. I laid down much of the 16 hour flight. God answers
prayers. I arrive in Napanee at 4 pm. That is 35 hours after leaving our
house in Mityana, Uganda. Again thank you for your prayers. Now there is 4
weeks to prepare for ministry in Peru. Blessings Tom
September 22, 2025
When I came to Uganda I showed them my Canada miracle and now I am showing
you my Uganda miracle of hair growth. On a serious note time has gone
fast. Tomorrow I leave Uganda about 6 pm and arrive in Toronto Wednesday
morning having lost 7 hours. I arrive in Napanee about 4 pm. It will be
good to be home then 4 weeks before leaving for Peru. Thanks for your
prayers for safe travels.
Tom
September 13, 2025
If you can listen to the message from Erika Kirk on Jesse Watters show.
Just 2 days after her husband's murder. It is very touching. Just punch in
Erika Kirk on Jesse Watters show. You will be glad you took the time.
Tom waiting at Stanbic Bank to meet Mary to take her to term 3 of her
nursing course about 2 hours away. She is already 10 minutes late. Pray
for a safe drive. I am taking Claire also. Blessings Tom
September 12, 2025
Today I visited the triplets who will be 8 in October. The birth order is
left to right. The one on the right is named after me. Their mother was
one of the early HCTH University graduates. I also went to see the
construction work on a house owned by HCTH where Brenda stays with her
mother, twins Peter and Paul and daughter Eva. The house had a big crack
plus the foundation was eroding. It looks like the workers did a good job.
Today I also visited twins Morris and Tracy but no picture.
September 10, 2025
I am home because of a heavy rain. Uganda needs the rain as the rainy
season is late arriving. I got home just before the rain started.
On cue, the power just went off.Earlier I visited Joan's shop. Joan stays
in our house here when we are in Canada. HCTH sponsors allowed Joan to
graduate from Makerere University in Commerce. She has a very successful
business. Today this motorcycle was delivering products from her shop.
She said it was about 400 kg of goods. This motorcycle would make 4 loads
like this to a retail shop 15 km. away. The 4 loads were for 1 customer.
September 9, 2025
Today I gave a watch to Patience the insurance agent and Gertrude who is
with her sister. Gertrude has never had a watch before. I told them it is
a gift from God through a friend in the U.S. and God loves them so they
need to thank God. Patience said to tell that friend in the U.S.that she
will pray that God blesses him like she has been blessed. Thank you Don
from Nevada who twice each year sends watches to take to Uganda and Peru.
September 8, 2025
Today I got a call saying that my car insurance is due. The picture is the
agent typing out the sticker to put in the car. In case you don't know.
She is using a typewriter. You have probably seen one in a museum. I don't
mind paying the insurance. It is $30 per year. A boy we help in grade 10
just came to the gate. I gave him a Ford hat I brought from Canada. He
didn't know what a Ford is. I told him it is a car company. Obviously
there are no Ford or GM in Uganda. Nearly all Toyota and a few
Nissan.Amazing how different the world is but God is Good. Tom
September 8, 2025
Dear friends and family: On Saturday I spent 4 hours with Julius who
visited me from Kampala. He is a young man who graduated from university
engineering through HCTH sponsorship. He wanted to spend some time with
me. We visited 5 different homes. Julius has a job promised in Northern
Manitoba and is waiting for his visa to enter Canada. Yesterday there were
35 at our church program in Adriens house. They love to sing. After the
last song I said we were finished and one little girl said, "We need to
pray before we go." After I met with Rachel who is starting her last term
in university for fashion and design. It was a blessing later to visit a
family and tell them that HCTH has a sponsor for one of their children, a
12 year old girl in grade 4 named Rhona( pronounced the same as the store
in Canada). I visited a home owned by HCTH. It needs repair work. There is
a crack in the wall and the foundation is eroding. Work will start today.
It is always a joy to visit Annet and the children in Hope House. I took
one of the children with me to purchase an item for the house. Sunday was
a blessed day but it is a let down when you come home after a long day and
there is someone who wants help waiting at the gate. It is especially
frustrating when you have told them before that you can't help them even
though you know they are needy. That is very common. On Saturday someone
was at the gate at 7:45 am. God is Good all the time. Thanks for your
prayers Tom
September 1, 2025
I had to buy a new Ugandan lawnmower(slasher). My old one wore out. It is
made in Birmingham, U.K. and the model is a Martindale. I slashed all our
grass today inside and outside the gate. It took 90 minutes. The weather
here is about 28 each day and 20 at night. Yesterday at the church program
there were 35 present. One family of 6 who come every Sunday were not
there because their father and stepfather died. He was only 38. Thanks for
your prayers. The second picture is the grass after it is slashed.
August 27, 2025
Today something happened that puts everything into its proper perspective
after paying school fees building houses, pay medical fees etc. I was
talking to a20 year old young lady. She said she was a Muslim. I asked her
why she was a Muslim and she said because she has a Muslim name. I asked
if her parents were Muslim and she said she never knew them. I asked her
if the Muslims told her about Jesus. She said he was a good man but he
died. I told her Jesus died but He rose again. I told her that
Christianity is the only religion that worship a Savior who never died. I
told her there was lots of historical evidence of the resurrection. It is
a longer story but after talking for a while she said I would rather be a
Christian than a Muslim. Praise the Lord.
August 25, 2025
God answers prayers. Thank you. Dr. Maureen's x-ray machine is completely
paid for. This is a great answer to prayer for Maureen. She is a very
Godly young woman who has been greatly blessed by God. Tom
August 25, 2025
Today Annet and I visited 3 schools to pay school fees for term 3.
Education in Uganda is very expensive. For that reason many, many children
do not go to school. At Ssingo Secondary school HCTH has 17 students.
Today I paid almost $3,000 Can.for these 17 students for only 1 of the 3
terms in a year. It is sad that some children never attend school. Nearly
all schools are private so are primarily concerned about profit. Tom
August 24, 2025
Dear friends and family: I woke up this morning feeling blessed of God. So
often we think of the problems, setbacks and negatives and overlook the
amazing blessings of God especially through the mission of HCTH in Uganda.
At least a dozen families are living in new homes. At least 2 dozen have
graduated from universities and colleges including a doctor, many nurses,
many teachers and graduates of finance and much more. There are plumbers,
a welder motorcycle mechanics, a car mechanic 2 have their own hair
salon. Many have successful businesses. 6 families are living in homes
owned by HCTH. 12 are growing crops on land provided by HCTH. 5 children
are living at Hope House and so much more. Thank you for your part in this
successful ministry. Dr. Maureen talked to me this week. She has opened
her own orthopedic clinic. She was asking for help to complete the
purchase of an x-ray machine. She lacks about $3,000 Can. to complete the
purchase. The total cost of the machine was about $10,000. God bless each
of you on this sabbath morning. P.S. I am picking up 6 to take to church
this morning. I am teaching them the song, "Soon and very soon we are
going to see the King". Thank you for your prayers. Tom
August 20, 2025
Dear friends and family: The joys of adjusting to a 7 hour time
difference. It is 3:30 am in Uganda and I am wide awake. I slept for about
4 hours then couldn't get back to sleep. Power is off. We have only had
maybe 4 hours of electricity in the last 24 hours. Tonight I ran out of
water. I think the upper tank is empty but I need power to pump it up.
Hopefully in the morning. These issues are only minor compared to what
many are facing here. It is unbelievable that I have only been here 2 days
and met maybe 5% of the families HCTH is involved with. Today I visited
the family of a girl who is studying to be a nurse. There was a little 2.5
year old girl in the home named Sarah. Her mother left her with the father
who had a problem with alcohol. He would leave Sarah in the house alone
crying. Finally the neighbors told him he had to do something so he
brought Sarah to his sister in Mityana. Sarah is from western Uganda so
does not speak the local language here. Another family we help has 6
children. The single mother is HIV positive and needed a gall bladder
operation which she had. The family couldn't pay so the doctor took the
National ID of the mother and 2 children until they pay. Another single
mother of 6 borrowed money from the bank to start a business and pay rent.
In a year she is only paying the interest so the bank increased the
already high interest. Another single mother of 3 also borrowed money for
school fees and other needs. She can't pay and is 3 months behind in rent.
The people she borrowed from is demanding that she pay. This mother is a
teacher. Today a girl we helped called from a clinic needing money to pay
for medication. Others have called and want to see me which always
involves asking for help. That is why I need wisdom. Thank you for your
prayers. In the summer Cheryl and I have a trailer at Wesley Acres. We
look after the garbage and recycling. Maybe that is not such a bad job
after all. We get paid by collecting the soda cans and bottles which sent
20 children to school in Uganda this year. I don't think you can call my
time here in Uganda a vacation. You never know what tomorrow will bring
but you do know there will be sorrow but in all God is Good. God answers
prayer and God gives Wisdom Integrity Safety Health. The taxi that brought
me from the airport to Mityana had a car. It was a Toyota WISH. That is a
common model here. Blessings and pray that I get a bit more sleep before 7
am. Blessings Tom in Uganda
August 18, 2025
Thank you for your prayers. I arrived safely in Uganda today. Flights were
only a few minutes late and all luggage arrived safely. People are calling
already about university and nursing classes starting. It is 6:40 pm. I am
tired but can't go to bed for a few hours. My body thinks it is 11:40 am.
Thank you for your prayers. Tom in Uganda
August 16, 2025
Dear friends and family: It is that time of year again. I am off to Uganda
for 5 weeks. Mark and Cheryl are taking me to Toronto today. I fly out of
Toronto early Sunday morning on Ethiopia Air arriving in Uganda on Monday.
HCTH has about 15 students in Post Secondary including university,
college, vocational courses. Term 3 school fees need to be paid for about
100 students. The food program give food to 17 families every month.
Medical issues are always a problem in Uganda. Thank you for your prayers
for W.I.S.H. (Wisdom-Integrity-Safety-Health) Tom
P.S. Pray for Cheryl also as she is busy on the home front.
April 27, 2025
Thank you for your prayers. We arrived safely in Canada and are now in our
house in Napanee. Time went fast. I left Canada on December 30. It is good
to be home but we certainly will miss Uganda. God blessed our time in
Uganda. We were able to bless many people. We will now be busy in Canada
speaking in 2 churches in May, getting our trailer ready at Wesley Acres,
preparing and planting our garden around May 21, visiting our son in
Edmonton in early June and then getting ready to return to Uganda in
August and Peru in October. We know that we make our plans but God
determines our steps. God Bless! Tom and Cheryl
April 25, 2025
Ritah and her family moved into their new house today. They were very
excited. The truck is delivering new beds, mattresses, sheets, blankets,
mosquito nets, table and chairs, plates, cups, glasses, spoons. The 6
children have never slept in a bed before. Now they have their own bed and
a new mattress.
April 22, 2025
they had a fire in their home with $500,000 damage. Rick is in the
Dominican Republic until Friday. Our grandson Kyle aged 24 was the only
one home and was sleeping. He is a sound sleeper and escaped just in time.
He was awakened by what is best described as an angel and had to escape
through the fire. His pants started to catch fire but Kyle extinguished it
and had no injuries. Kyle graduated from McMaster University in Commerce
last fall. Every day including that Easter Sunday we pray for God's
protection for each of our family members. Pray for Rick as he fills out
lots of paperwork from the Dominican Republic. Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl
April 17, 2025
Klassen is helping me to drive the motorcycle. Marian and her 6 children
will soon be moving into their new house. The house was completed today.
The family will move in on Friday April 25th which is our last day in
Mityana. Praise God that someone has given money to buy beds, mattresses,
blankets mosquito nets, a small table and chairs for the family. Today
Ritah whom is 17 years old said that she has never in her life had a bed
to sleep in. Now all 7 sleep in one small room. The family is very happy
and thankful to God.
April 17, 2025
Today Cheryl went to the graduation of Victoria at Kampala University. She
is now a nurse. HCTH gave her a watch which was given to us by a friend
from Nevada.
April 15, 2025
Dear friends and family: It has been a while but God is still alive and
well in Uganda. The house for Marian and her 6 children is almost
finished. They are planning to move in on Friday, April 25th the day
before we leave Uganda. Presently they live basically in 1 small room and
all sleep on the floor so are moving to the new house with no chairs, beds
etc. As you would expect they are very happy. Medical issues continue to
be a big issue. Since I came I have paid out $4,743 for medical. Yesterday
Sylvia came for a visit. HCTH put her through university. She appreciates
so much the help God provided to her through HCTH. She brought us a bag of
passion fruit she grew on her 3 acres. She sells passion fruit to markets
around Kampala. On Thursday Cheryl is going to the graduation of Victoria
who now is a nurse. Victoria was only allowed 2 guests so Cheryl is going
with Victoria's mother. Victoria wishes that her sponsor from Kingston
could have been here. Last Sunday there were 42 at our church program. I
read the story of Palm Sunday and it's significance. I have taught the
children at least 50 songs. Next Sunday will be our last Sunday here.
Adrien has invited us for an Easter meal at her home. There are always
issues to deal with. Tomorrow Annet has to go to a meeting of about 50
land owners. Someone is claiming to own a large chunk of land including
where HCTH has 6 families growing crops. Annet has to take our paperwork
to show land ownership. No problem but not uncommon. Thank you for your
prayers. Only 11 days left in Mityana. God has allowed the ministry of
HCTH to bless many many people. Thank you again for your prayers and
financial support. God bless. Tom and Cheryl
April 4, 2025
The new house project is progressing well.
March 29, 2025
The house project is coming along well. It has had some delays because of
rain.
March 23, 2025
These were some of the 42 who were at our church program this morning.
There were 3 new adults who came today. One of new attendees sang a song
for us. Our Bible story was about Jesus feeding the 5,000. The service was
from 9:30 to 11 am. Thanks for your prayers. In the afternoon we visited 6
families to get child sponsor letters.
March 22, 2025
Annet's son Klassen enjoyed sitting in his chair. He is 16 months old.
March 22, 2025
Joserine made the 2 dresses for a customer. Ritah has only been studying 2
months but is learning fast. She made the 2 dresses for her younger
sisters. Today Victoria visited us. With Atuls help she is now a nurse
working in a clinic. I gave Victoria a white watch from our friend in
Nevada.
March 21, 2025
A single mother and her 6 children will soon have a new house. We decided
to build the latrine first.
March 21, 2025
We are so proud of Dr. Maureen now and orthopedic surgeon. Thanks to Atul
for helping her to achieve this goal. She came to visit us at 6 last night
after work in the hospital but at 7 was called to go back because she had
to amputate a finger. She shared briefly how she struggled all the way
through primary and secondary school to pay school fees but how God was
with her. She is in the process of starting her own clinic.
March 20, 2025
Some of you might have a truck or even drive a big truck but we saw a real
truck. Steven is showing us the pineapples he planted for us last year.
March 16, 2025
It rained heavily in the night and was still raining in the morning.
Cheryl said that maybe there would not be many at our church program. We
drove the car and even picked up 6 to take with us. There were 46 in
attendance. PTL There was a 19 year old girl who is a Muslim there for
the first time. She sang with us many songs about Jesus and listened to a
Bible story about Jesus. Pray that the message she heard this morning will
speak to the heart of Faridah. Thank you for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl
March 15, 2025
These 3 children received clothes Cheryl brought from Canada. The little
boys name is Tom.
March 15, 2025
Dear friends and family: We continue to be busy here in Uganda. It was
probably a typical day leaving home at 8:45 am and finishing at 4:30. At 9
we met Annet at a home to deal with an issue. We then met with Dorah who
just finished high school. She is leaving tomorrow to work in a shop with
her aunt and wanted to say goodbye to Cheryl and I. She called us her
heroes and her families saviour. She told us her family story. Her father
died when she was 5 and her younger brother was 2. Her mother married 2
years later. When the next child was born her mother tested positive for
HIV. Her mother's sister had a baby 1 week later and the sister died in
childbirth so Dorahs mother breast fed both babies. Then the second
husband got very sick and tested positive. Dorah said he was a good
husband and father until then and turned to alcohol so lost his job and
became a burden to the family. Another sad story. In the afternoon I
repaired a clothes line at Hope House and put up a new one. We took
matooke to 4 families living in houses on HCTH land. We then took a
sponsored child to the market. We took her home and got 2 more children to
take to the market. It is such a blessing to be able to bless others.
Thank you for being a part of that. I am looking forward to our church
tomorrow. Pray for Atul who flies out of Toronto tomorrow and arrives in
Entebbe Monday night. Thanks for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl
March 6, 2025
Today Annet and I went to Kampala. We met with 2 young ladies whom have
been blessed through the ministry of HCTH. Jane is studying to be a flight
attendant(cabin crew). Her teachers are encouraging her to be the class
leader because of the positive qualities she has shown. Victoria has
completed her classes and now is a nurse working in a clinic. Her
graduation is in April.
March 5, 2025
showing us a dress that she designed and made.
March 3, 2025
Annet has been working with this 13 year old girl named Christine and her
mother. We thought Christine was staying with her mother but on Saturday I
asked Christine where she was sleeping and she said,"on the street". Her
step father wouldn't let her stay in the house any longer. On Sunday I
asked her to show me where she was sleeping at night and she took me to
the location where I took pictures of her. She slept in her dress on the
concrete. It was very dusty. She said she cleaned off a space to sleep
with grass. I asked her if it was dangerous and she said Yes. She is now
staying at Hope House. Cheryl and I took up bedding and a mosquito net for
her. She is very happy and now is safe.
February 26, 2025
At Adrien's salon she is now selling shoes. Her sister Joyce took a course
last year to be a seamstress. HCTH was able to bless her with her own
sewing machine so she can support herself and her son. Thank you for your
support and prayers. Tom and Chery
Uganda has been hotter than normal in the month of February. Every day is
over 30 degrees mostly 32-34
February 25, 2025
Ritah's mother got a new cook house to replace the one that was destroyed
last week. She is very happy.
February 20, 2025
I just returned from Kampala. It was a long day leaving home before 7 and
home at 6:30
4 hours of that was in a taxi van. I was able to see 4 post secondary
students and help 2 of those with dental needs.
Our devotion this morning was entitled" You will be Rewarded for it".
Romans 8:18 "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." In 1857 David
Livingstone whose body is buried in Westminster Abby but whose heart is
buried in Africa gave a speech at Cambridge University. He said" People
talk of the sacrifice that I have made in spending so much of my life in
Africa. It is emphatically no sacrifice. Rather it is a privilege. When
you serve the Lord you always get back more than you give up. And if you
get back more than you give up, have you really sacrificed anything at
all." The only regrets you will have at the end of your life will be that
you didn't seek and serve God more and seek and serve Him sooner. Amen to
these good words.
February 19, 2025
Today Cheryl gave Ruth a nice skirt and top from Canada. Ruth is Annet's
sister. 3 years ago when her little boy died it affected her mind. She now
has a little girl 1 year old. Ruth repairs shoes. She did a good job on my
old shoes. We had heavy rain and wind on Sunday and Monday. Ritah's
mothers stand where she cooks items to sell was destroyed.
February 16, 2025
Dear friends and family: It is 3 pm here in Uganda. We got a little wet on
the motorcycle but got home just before a heavy rain. As they say here,
the rain is disturbing us because we had things we wanted to do. Today we
helped 2 boys with medical issues. Morris a 7 year old boy got injections
for issues related to measles. Jovan is receiving treatment for malaria
and typhoid. Since I came January 1st I have paid for 27 separate medical
issues totaling $1,765 Canadian. This is a big part of the ministry of
HCTH. Yesterday I gave money to a mother of 5 children we help. She is HIV
positive and ARV's have always been free but when she went for her drugs
on Friday they told her if she wants them she had to come back next week
with money. In the past US Aid paid for the ARV's. HCTH has at least 4
single mothers of sponsored children on ARV's. Today we had a good
program with 31 in attendance. Just before the rain we delivered clothes
to 5 families. Thank you for your prayers. Jennifer and Erin are safely
back in Canada. Blessings from Tom and Cheryl
February 15, 2025
This little girl named Elizabeth is going to school this year because of
money from recycled cans. Thank you Wayne. Elizabeth is 7 years old but
her mother doesn't know when her birthday is. Her father was a fisherman
and drowned 5 years ago. She is happy to be able to go to school.
February 13, 2025
A mother just came to the gate with her little girl. The father died and
her mother can't send her to school. It is a story we hear a lot. Today
Erin helped a little boy named Trevis. His mother died when he was very
young. His father was killed last week. His aunt says he cries every night
for his father and because he can't go to school. Erin paid for him to go
to school. Jennifer is also helping a little girl named Ratifa whose
single mother struggles to keep her family of 5 fed, clothed and a roof
over their head. Jennifer and Erin have been a great blessing to the
people of Uganda. Pray for them as they traveled today to Entebbe and will
fly out of Uganda on Friday. Thanks for your prayers
February 13, 2025
More animals from Murchison Falls National Park.
February 12, 2025
Cheryl and I plus Erin, Jenn and Joserine went to Murchison Falls park. We
saw these animals and many more.
February 12, 2025
A couple more animals plus Murchison Falls.
February 9, 2025
Another family received clothes from Canada. At our church program this
morning there were 38 in attendance. Joserine designed and made this
dress. It is a blessing that HCTH can help someone as talented as
Joserine.
February 8, 2025
These 4 sisters got new dresses from Canada.
February 7, 2025
Emmanuel preached in an all night meeting last night. This man received
the first Bible. Praise the Lord.
Thanks for the gift
Blessings!
Emmanuel
February 7, 2025
Emmanuel was the first person that helped HCTH when it began in 2006. He
had to stop in 2010 when he started his Masters of Divinity. The Bishop
sent Emmanuel to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to get a second Masters a few
years ago. Emmanuel is now married and has 5 children.
February 7, 2025
This morning at 7:15 am. Annet, Jenn, Erin and I went to the taxi park in
Mityana to go to Kampala. As we boarded the taxi a motorcycle pulled up
with our friend Rev. Emmanuel on it. He was also going to Kampala. The
amazing thing is that a few days before I was in contact with a friend in
Canada who wanted to buy Bibles for Emmanuel. At 6 am. this morning I had
an email from Canada saying this friend was sending money for Bibles. I
thought I would have to go to see Emmanuel on Saturday but God allowed me
to spend two hours with Emmanuel on that taxi. Emmanuel has a great gift
of evangelism. He has won thousands to the Lord. He told us that he
preached January 1 in Mityana and 70 accepted Christ. Every Thursday he is
discipling them. He showed us pictures of a witch doctor that he witnessed
to. The witch doctor cursed him but in the night God spoke to him and
Emmanuel led him to Christ and showed us the bags of devil worship items
they burned. Emmanuel says he especially wants Bibles for Moslems who
become Christian. As missions coordinator for the Mityana Diocese of the
Anglican church he preaches in a different church every Sunday. Emmanuel
also coordinates the distribution of eye glasses for HCTH. Pray for
Emmanuel's ministry.
February 4, 2025
Today we took about 250 pairs of eye glasses to Rev. Emmanuel and his wife
Grace. Emmanuel distributes them to those who need them. HCTH purchased
goats for Annet, Julius and Jovan. Adrien was busy today doing someones
hair in her salon. Cheryl Jenn and Erin have had 2 busy days.
January 31, 2025
Dear friends and family: It is 7:15 am in Mityana and 11:15 pm in Toronto.
Cheryl, Jen and Erin are at an airport hotel in Toronto and flying to
Uganda Saturday morning arriving in Entebbe Uganda on Sunday morning.
Please pray for them that all will go well with their flights and luggage.
Pray especially for Jen and Erin as it is their first time coming to
Africa. I know that it will change their life. Pray especially for safety
and good health. It will be nice to have Cheryl here with me. Jen and Erin
are both former students of mine at NDSS so in a way it is good to
continue their geography lessons 35 years later. Thanks for your prayers.
Tom
January 29, 2025
I had the second last mango off our tree tonight. It looked better after
it was peeled. I have saved the last mango on the tree for Cheryl. It
tasted very good.
January 29, 2025
Today I helped Jennifer send her 3 children to school throughmoneyfromcan
recycling. The father of the children died in a car accident. Today Annet
and I went to the high school where we send our grades 8 to 11. I paid for
17 students for only 2 terms. It was 17,190,000 Uganda shillings or almost
$7,000 Canadian for 17 students for only 2 terms. I will pay for term 3
when I come back in August. That is why multiple thousands of children are
not going to school.
January 28, 2025
This 11 year old girl named Oliver (not a spelling mistake) has a twin
brother named John. Oliver is with her mother Rachel. Today I was able to
pay for them to go to grade 5 with money from recycled cans. Two years ago
the mother came to me asking for help because the children were living
with their father who was a fisherman but when he drowned they went to
live with friends. When the mother went to see them she said they were
living like mud children not going to school. She brought them to live
with her but she is herself very poor. Another sad story but because a
friend in Canada has a ministry of recycling cans and bottles children
like Oliver and John can attend school. Thank you Wayne. God bless you.
January 26, 2025
Our church program this morning we met in Adriens cook house. There were
35 in attendance. Don't count the shoes because some came barefoot. One
little boy made a vehicle complete with headlights and a license plate.
Sadly, there is a good chance he doesn't even go to school or will even
complete primary.
January 25, 2025
Tracy made herself a new hat. Today I took Claire and Maria back to term 2
of nursing. Maria's sister Dorah also came plus Jane, Annet and Tomi
Cheryl.
January 23, 2025
Yesterday Annet called me to go to Hope House because a lady wanted to see
me. It was a mother with about a 6 year old son. There were also 3
children ages about 4 and 5 and 6. The lady said she woke up in the
morning and those 3 children were sitting outside her door. She doesn't
know who they are or where they came from. She was asking for help. Today
I took them a 25 kg bag of maize flour from Joan's shop. When I told Joan
the story she gave a bag of salt, cooking oil and small bag of rice. This
is an example of why wisdom is so essential. Thanks for your prayers Tom
January 22, 2025
Dear friends and family: You have not heard from me for a time. I have
been very busy. When I first come to Uganda everyone wants to see me.
There are families to visit personal and family issues that seek my
advice and HCTH programs to work on. Every 20th of the month 17 families
receive food. Yesterday I went to Kampala. I met with 6 families and paid
sponsorship and school fees for 9 children. It takes 2 hours to travel to
Kampala so I was 4 hours on a crowded taxi van then a chaotic crowded city
of Kampala. It was good to be back in Mityana at 4 but many had called
wanting to see me so I was in the house for 5 minutes then off to visit 4
families. I had a small gift to take to Morris and Tracy for their 7th
birthday. Today I have a long list of people who want to see me. I can go
soon because the rain has stopped. Thanks for your prayers. If you could
experience Kampala you would know why prayers are so important. You
literally are taking your life in your own hands by traveling on a
motorcycle taxi.
I want to end with 2 stories-one bad and one good. I have told you before
about an industry in Africa of scammers mostly young men who spend the day
on social media convincing people all over the world that they are helping
people in Africa then when people send money they first buy a sporty car
then houses and land. On Monday at Joan's shop one of these scammers came
to buy food. On his fancy car in bold letters he had printed PRAISE GOD.
It was so sad. I have many personal stories of this because one of our
girls got involved in this and we had to go to the police who are part of
this operation. I will end on a Praise God. Yesterday I met with Agnes and
Viola and their children. We met them first in 2006. Yesterday they said
to me," Do you work out? You don't look any different than you did in
2006. How do you do it?" I said it is because people here say that they
are praying that God instead of growing us old will grow us young. We know
that life does not happen that way but God does keep us. I thank God for
that. Pray for Cheryl in Canada but leaving February 1 for Uganda with
Jennifer and Erin. Blessings Tom Now that the rain is over I am off.
January 18, 2025
Today I went to The Sewing Sisters shop with Tomi Cheryl and Gloria. Tomi
got a new dress and Gloria got new shoes. Gloria is the little girl I
first met in September. At 10 she was the oldest of 5 children so her
mother sent her out of the home to find a job. She is very happy now
living with Annet at Hope House. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Tom in Uganda
January 17, 2025
Today I met a young girl named Christine. She doesn't know how old she is
or when her birthday is. She doesn't know her father. Her mother married
another man who doesn't want Christine in the home so Christine stays with
another family but when that family has no food they send Christine out.
Annet says she often comes to Hope House for something to eat. She is
about 14 and just finished grade 4. She is sad that she can't go to school
again this year. I took her to The Sewing Sisters shop to buy her a dress
and shoes. She said she has never had a new dress and new shoes. One of
many sad stories. Also today the mother of Ricky Martin gave me 2 mangoes.
January 16, 2025
Richard has made a toy cars. If you notice carefully it even has 2 rear
view mirrors. His brother(the first picture) is in the process of making
his toy car.
January 14, 2025
Another family is getting 2 new mattresses.
January 13, 2025
These are the beans I planted one week ago. They came up quickly. We will
have fresh beans to eat in 4 to 5 weeks.
January 12, 2025
There were 32 at the church program today. They love to sing. They also
look forward to the treat after.
January 10, 2025
Today this man named Innocent did some work on our solar system. I gave
him a watch for his work plus 30,000 shillings or about $12 Canadian. He
was happy.
January 10, 2025
Today I picked mangoes from the tree in our yard. In the two pictures of
the tree there are at least one mangoes that you can see in the tree. Can
you find the mango in the last picture?
January 9, 2025
of old mattress. One boy was out collecting firewood. Today they have 2
new mattresses and 2 new blankets. The family is very happy and thankful.
It is hard to believe how some people live.
January 5, 2025
We took our little church program to a village about 20 minutes away by
car. Coti, the lady in the yellow dress on the left buried her husband
Tony last Sunday. He was 91. They appreciated us coming.
January 4, 2025
Tomi Cheryl is with her new goat and it's baby. Annet and Klassen are with
their goat. Because of sponsors Emily can study to be a medical lab
technician and Abraham can study to be a plumber.
January 3, 2025
Today I gave away 6 watches. Adrien liked her new clothes which included a
shirt from Peru. She is a Manchester united football fan.
HCTH purchased 2 more goats today.
January 2, 2025
Hope Angelica is with her father Michael. Because of good sponsors from
Canada Hope is starting her last term to achieve her dream of being a
chef. Also today HCTH bought 4 goats and 6 chickens for families.
January 1, 2025
Annet got a new shirt purchased in Peru. Her son Klassen got shorts made
by ladies in a sewing group from Brockville. The 3 girls Favor, Gloria and
Tomi Cheryl got a new dress. Gloria the taller girl is the girl whom came
to the home just before I left Uganda in September. Her mother chased her
from her home because she was 10 and needed to find work because her
mother would not feed her any more. She is happy now. Tom
P.S. Klassen did get a Tim Hortons soccer shirt.
December 31, 2024
Let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year when it is 2025 in
Uganda. Thank you for your prayers. I am safely in Uganda. It is 12:30 am.
on January I here but only 4:30 p.m. of December 31. Thanks for your
prayers. All went well with planes plus 3 large suitcases, 2 heavy carry
on that included 2 computers plus 2 extra cell phones to give away and a
paneton I brought from Peru to Canada to Uganda. Plus wearing 2 tee-shirt,
a long sleeve shirt, a heavy hoodie and a coat plus a pair of shorts under
long pants. Yes, a little uncomfortable in the short term but worth the
effort. As expected, my sleep schedule is off. I was very tired, slept for
3 hours then wide awake. Continue to pray the W.I.S.H. Wisdom, Integrity,
Safety, Health. Pray for Cheryl in Canada but coming to Uganda with 2
others on February 1.New Year and God bless. Tom in Uganda.
December 25, 2024
Dear friends and family: Merry Christmas to each of you. Thank you for
being a part of the ministry of HCTH. It truly is an International
ministry. In the last 2 days we have received emails, donations from
Hungary in Europe, Zambia and Uganda in Africa, Peru and Colombia in South
America(our grand daughter is in Colombia), from Florida and Kansas in the
U.S. and from Alberta and Ontario in Canada. God has blessed greatly HCTH
in 2024 and we are looking forward to God blessing it more in 2025. I
thought it was a good day to email since it is a relaxing day for me
because we are celebrating Christmas with our big family meal tomorrow. It
is not relaxing for Cheryl as she today is preparing pies, turkey, baked
beans, carrot casserole and much more. I emailed a friend this morning who
recently sent money to buy goats in Uganda. I told her that HCTH is
successful because Cheryl and I are doing what God has called us to do and
you people are doing what God has put on your heart to do. I emailed this
friend that the goats she gave money for are already waiting for me to
arrive. I have contacted 6 people who will get the goats when I arrive
next week. Then I can send pictures to her. Thank you for your prayers. We
feel your prayers every day when we are in Uganda and Peru. I was thinking
that if you want somebody to pray for you then ask Cheryl instead of me.
For example, I sent a large sum of money to Uganda on December 19 to be in
the bank when I arrive on December 31.
I told Annet to let me know when it arrives. I have been praying that it
gets into our account but not yet. This morning in our devotion Cheryl
prayed that the money would arrive in our account. 20 minutes later I
checked my email and Annet emailed to say we got the money. Praise God!
This money will pay school fees for over 130 children(at least 15 in post
secondary), buy food for many families, help people in business, pay for
medical issues and much more.*I just got an email from Uganda that Tony is
very sick and needs to go to the main hospital in Kampala. Tony is in his
mid 80's. Of course the family needs help. Pray for me as I go to Toronto
December 29 then fly out in the morning of December 30 arriving in Uganda
December 31. Pray for Cheryl as she will be in Canada for the month of
January but leaving on February 1 for Uganda. Two other women will
accompany her. We are in Uganda until April 26. Thanks for your
generosity. We have been blessed in 2024 by your financial support. Thank
you for your prayers. They are most important. God Bless you all and Happy
New Year
Tom and Cheryl
December 1, 2024
Thank you for your prayers. We are safely in our home in Napanee. We are
thankful that Rocco was well enough to travel. I now have to turn my
thoughts to Africa as I will be leaving for Uganda the end of December.
December 1, 2024
We are at Lima Airport waiting for our 8 hour flight to Toronto leaving at
7:45 am. Pray for a safe flight and drive to Napanee. Pray especially for
Rocco who is not feeling well from a stomach issue most likely from food.
Thanks for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl with Rocco and Renee and Sharon
Mackenzie
November 29, 2024
It is hard to believe that Saturday is our last day in Peru. Today I
handed out the last of the over 100 dolls and teddy bears. The children
love them. It is one of the many ministries of HCTH Peru. Yesterday we
took bandages to the Children's hospital in Manchay plus gave out dolls
and teddies and small toy cars.
November 27, 2024
Two more children on buses got dolls and teddies.
November 26, 2024
Today we handed out teddy bears and dolls. We met 3 sponsored children on
the street coming from school- Zulika, Benjamin and Josias. We met Celeste
at her aunts house so we gave her a doll. We gave out a lot on the bus.
The children are very thankful.
November 26, 2024
Javier and Roy are putting the roof over Ana's outdoor restaurant. They
were setting up her broaster. She hopes to start selling food on Saturday.
November 24, 2024
Today was a blessed day. It started with a church service at 9. After that
we visited many homes handing out shoes and clothes and more. HCTH gave
Lydia money to buy a sewing machine. She started to cry when we gave her
the money. We gave Katty another suitcase full of clothes to take to
families in the mountains for Christmas. I also gave her money for
transport and food for the people. I also gave her a computer for her
sister Katty who wants to start studying Graphic design in college. Cheryl
had her 6th birthday cake today at church. They had a cake for people who
had birthdays in November. Maricielo is starting her studies to be a
police woman. HCTH gave her a computer which came from Canada. Pray for
our last 6 days in Peru. Blessings Tom and Cheryl
November 23, 2024
Today HCTH bought food for 4 families, handed out dolls to little girls
and toy cars to little boys plus the last of 38 watches to Maricielo. Also
today their was a house dedication for Raphael and his families new house.
They are very thankful especially for the Canadians who came to Peru to
help with the project.
November 22, 2024
This is at the house built by HCTH last year for Ana. Remember it was
Ana's husband who died one year ago hooking up the electricity. Ana wants
to have a small restaurant in front of her house so HCTH has built a
cement pad. A roof will be installed. She will have 3 tables with chairs
for clients.
November 21, 2024
The house project is nearing completion.
November 21, 2024
Today I handed out teddies and dolls to some children on the bus.
November 21, 2024
Today we visited one of Shirley's 2 day cares. The children enjoyed a sweet.
November 20, 2024
After a hard day of work these 2 Gananoque men enjoyed a time of rest.
P.T.L. the house project is almost done. They finished the painting today
and are hanging the doors and installing windows. The men have worked
hard. Pictures tomorrow.
November 20, 2024
Every year near Christmas Katty goes to her ancestors home in the
mountains to sing with the children, tell Bible stories and hand out
clothes, shoes, blankets, candy canes plus paneton. HCTH gave her this
suitcase full of the above items. We will give her 1 more suitcase later.
This year she is going December 15th to 20th. The children on the bus love
candy canes.
November 18, 2024
Cheryl had her 6th birthday cake today on her real birth day.
November 17, 2024
Cheryl had her third birthday party today and her 5th birthday cake. P.S.
Her birthday is not until the 18th.
November 14, 2024
The new house project is progressing well. The second picture is the house
they are living in now. Raphael and Nancy have 4 children.
November 14, 2024
This picture was taken today in Cieneguilla Peru.
November 13, 2024
Today we visited the hospital for the poor to hand out baby blankets,
toys, candies and buns for the mothers. We gave out 40 buns.
November 13, 2024
HCTH was able to buy 2 beds and 2 mattresses for a family today. P.S.
They are not set up yet.
November 12, 2024
Today HCTH bought 12 Bibles for Karina and Javier's Bible study classes.
Later 2 large folding tables will be purchased.
Thanks to our friends from Kingston Mills who gave money for these purchases.
November 6, 2024
Cliset made these 3 outfits. She has her own brand of clothing.
November 6, 2024
The children on the busses loved the stuffed animals.
November 6, 2024
The children in Shirley's day care loved the candy canes and toys. They
hugged Lana and Brooke and Maddie because they are leaving Peru tomorrow.
Pray for their safe travels.
November 5, 2024
The children in Shirley's day care liked the candy canes and little toys
we gave them.
November 4, 2024
Today HCTH gave food to 4 families. The little boxes you see on top of the
mountain is some families home. Our travel agent was really helpful so we
gave her a watch.
November 3, 2024
Today they had a birthday party for Cheryl plus others with birthdays in
November.
November 2, 2024
These are some of the 25 watches that were given out today. Most of these
people have never owned a watch before. A large quantity of clothing was
also given to these poor families.
November 1, 2024
The house construction is coming along well.
November 1, 2024
These are some of the suitcases that came to Peru. Today we are going to
an area to give clothes and shoes to poor families. It is a public holiday
today in Peru- the day of the dead.
October 30, 2024
Yesterday we visited Shirley and Leo in their day care. We sang with the
children. Shirley made a Canadian flag out of paper.
October 30, 2024
Today each of the 6 of us took a backpack and 2 bags of teddy's. We went
to the hospital for poor children and handed out teddy's and buns and
blankets and candy canes. Then we went to the Centro Prenatal to give them
baby clothes, baby bottles and other baby items. The pictures are of
babies in 2023 that otherwise would have been aborted. It is a great
ministry. We have been very busy the first 3 days. Thanks for your
prayers.
October 30, 2024
This was the house project after 1 day. We are building the house for
Raphael(the short man) and his family.
October 28, 2024
Thanks for your prayers. We arrived safely in Peru. Rocco is buying
material today to start the building project. Yesterday we arrived in Peru
at 6 a.m. and had a full day. We slept well last night. God bless.
Tom and Cheryl and Rocco and Greg and Debbie and Lana and Brooke and Madison
October 25, 2024
Dear friends and family: Thank you for your prayers and financial support
of the ministry of HCTH. Tomorrow, October 26 Cheryl and I travel to
Toronto then to Lima, Peru. We return to Canada on December 1. We are
blessed to have 15 people joining us including 2 from Alberta(one is our
grand daughter Ashley). 6 of those are flying on the same flight as us
tomorrow. 8 of the 15 have never joined us before on a missions trip. Pray
for each of these people that they will be blessed as they bless others. I
have personally packed 12 suitcases for Peru filled with toys, teddy
bears, school supplies, watches, shoes, flip flops, clothes for newborns
to adults and much more. Pray for Safety and good Health for all. God
Bless and thank you for your prayers. Tom and Cheryl
*On Sunday a mother and teenage daughter said they want to go to Peru next
year. Another lady is getting her ticket soon to visit us in Uganda in the
new year 2025.
October 19, 2024
Karina and Javier have arrived safely back in Peru after their 5 week
visit to Canada. Karina and Javier live and work in a very dry area which
is really a desert. Any green is where people have to provide their own
water. I mention this to show how different their experience in Canada has
been. When I asked them many times what stood out most to them about
Canada they repeated 4 points: 1)So many trees 2)So much water 3)How big
Lake Ontario is and 4)How nice the people of Canada are. Now I am going to
sound like a geography teacher. Almost everywhere they went Lake Ontario
was mentioned. They stayed on Beaver Lake and went on a boat ride on this
lake and Salmon River which flows into Lake Ontario. We took them to the
Napanee River and saw men catch 2 big salmon. We told them this river
flows into Lake Ontario and the salmon spend their life in this lake. They
picked apples at an orchard very near Lake Ontario. They stayed with 2
families in Kingston visiting the Lake Ontario waterfront and even a lunch
cruise on Lake Ontario. They visited 2 homes on the St. Lawrence River
which flows out of Lake Ontario. They visited Amherst Island by ferry on
Lake Ontario. They visited West Lake and went on 2 boat rides plus walked
from the sand banks to Lake Ontario. To go to West Lake they crossed the
bridge at Deseronto over part of Lake Ontario. They travelled on the 401
seeing Lake Ontario in a couple of places. They went to the CN Tower and
saw Lake Ontario. They went to Niagara Falls crossing bridges at Hamilton
and St. Catherines then to see the Niagara River flowing into Lake
Ontario. On the QEW Highway they could see Lake Ontario in many places.
Niagara Falls allows water to go from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Then they
visited the Welland Canal which allows boats to go from Lake Erie to Lake
Ontario. I don't think they believed me when I told them that Lake Ontario
is one of the smaller of the Great Lakes. On the drive to Plevna they saw
the beauty of the leaves changing colour plus many lakes and small rivers.
Thank you for everyone who made their time in Canada such a blessing. They
appreciate all of your prayers for them and their work for HCTH. Pray for
Cheryl and I and the other 15 people who are joining us in Peru. God
Bless! Cheryl and Tom
September 25, 2024
Thanks for your prayers. I am in the airport in Toronto waiting for the
Megabus to Napanee. I should arrive in Napanee about 4 pm. The plane from
Ethiopia left Ethiopia on time but a planned refueling in Rome Italy took
2 hours instead of 1 hour so we were on that plane 17 hours. Glad to be
almost home. Blessings Tom
September 24, 2024
Dear friends and family: I am at Entebbe airport starting the long journey
home. I leave Entebbe at 6:35 pm and fly to Ethiopia then after a short
wait the 16 hour flight to Toronto. Thanks for your prayers. God has
blessed my 5 weeks in Uganda. Home in Canada for about 4 weeks then 6
weeks in Peru. Blessings Tom
September 22, 2024
Today at Adrien's she made a good meal of rice, matooke and chicken. They
eat all parts of the chicken. The white bowl on the right is for me and
the purple plate is for 6 year old Tracy. Adrien cooked beans I had given
her from our garden. Adrien is the one who planted the beans.
September 22, 2024
Today after our children's program I went to a village outside of Mityana
to see Stephen. He lives in this house which is falling down. They sell
products which they grow on their land. A lady was there buying avocado's
from them to sell in the market. I had to ask 3 times because when I asked
how much they got for the large avocado's I could not believe it but they
assured me it was right. They get 40 cents Canadian for 30 avocado's.
Adrien has invited for lunch at 1 of rice, potatoes, matooke. It is 12:20
now. The day started at 7:45 with 2 sponsored children at the gate wanting
help for medical. Have a blessed day. Tom Monday is my last full day in
Mityana
September 21, 2024
Two days ago this little girl named Angela came to Hope House. Annet found
out about her through a friend. She is from Eastern Uganda about 5 hours
away by van taxi. Angela does not know how old she is but we think 10 or
11. She was in grade 2 but her mother could not pay for her to go to
school. She is the oldest of 5 children. Her mother told her that because
she is the oldest she had to go to work and help the family by sending
money home. She came only with this torn dress sandals and 1 pair of
underwear. A sad story. Now she is safe.
September 21, 2024
I was interrupted when sending the last email. Someone called and wanted
to see me. Sadly, stories like Angela's are common. Because education is
getting so expensive more and more children are not going to school. After
1 day Annet asked Angela if she wanted to go back to her mother and she
said No. When Annet took a picture of me with Angela I had tears in my
eyes.
September 17, 2024
The road to the equator and where we saw the lions is a 6.5 hour drive.
About 1.5 hours of that is on by far the worst highway road I have ever
driven on. It makes the road to Picton which we regularly travel on to
Wesley Acres look like the best road in the world.( Highway 49 is
regularly voted as one of the worst roads in Ontario). I was going to stay
an extra night but after having my phone turned off all day I turned it on
to take the picture of the lions. I had 14 missed calls and 12 missed
texts all from people who wanted to see me so I decided to return to
Mityana.
I have my list of people whom I need to see tomorrow. Thanks for your
prayers.
September 17, 2024
Today I was at the equator- 0 degrees latitude. The yellow line is the
exact line. At one point I was standing with 1 foot in the northern
hemisphere and 1 foot in the southern hemisphere. A man there explained
how in the south water goes down a drain in one direction and the opposite
in the northern hemisphere. Directly on the 0 line water goes straight
down not spinning. I have been on at least 7 safaris before and never saw
a lion. I hope you can see the 2 lions just lying in the open field. We
also saw lots of hippos, lots of water buck, lots of Uganda kob, lots of
cape Buffalo, lots of wart hogs plus 2 Nile crocodile, 2 monitor lizards,
1 hyena, monkeys and a large herd of elephants.
September 14, 2024
I had my first green beans from the garden today.
September 14, 2024
This morning Hajara and her daughter Shamira came to the gate. In 2006
Hajara and her husband Sulah became Christians. It was difficult
especially for Hajara because her father was an Iman. They were both
strong Muslims. When we talked to them I asked if they would read a Bible
if I gave them one. Sulah asked if I would read his Koran which I did. A
few days later Sulah and Hajara said they wanted to accept Christ. Sadly
about 5 years ago Sulah left Hajara for a woman he met at the Pentecostal
church they attended. Hajara now came to invite Cheryl and I to her
wedding to a man she met at her church called Zion Worship Center. I was
happy to know that Hajara is still serving Christ. This was very good
news. Her wedding is next May 10. Hajara and Sulah had 4 children
including a little girl named Cheryl. God bless. Tom
September 11, 2024
Today I met Maureen. She said thank you for your prayers. She thinks the
operation on her breast last sunday was a success. She has just finished
her internship as an orthopedic surgeon. She has applied to some hospitals
for employment.
September 10, 2024
Joselyn one of the sewing sisters made this dress for Adrien. She is a
very good seamstress. Dorah is in her graduating year of secondary school.
She has a leavers party this weekend. She now has a nice watch to wear to
her party. Just after this picture Dorah went to Adrien's salon to get her
hair done.
September 10, 2024
Today I visited a family where 4 children are helped through the ministry
of HCTH. Junior received a new mattress. The other pictures show what he
has been sleeping on.
September 9, 2024
Today while visiting one of five schools I saw these children returning
from digging in the garden. Today I paid the yearly car insurance. It has
increased by $1.20 from last year. It is now $30 per year. Tom
September 7, 2024
This morning I went to the home where this young boy was milking the cow.
At the home I bought 10 chickens which I delivered to 10 families on my
motorcycle. Later in the day I delivered a bunk bed to a family. The 13
year old twins a boy and girl before slept in the same single bed. Pray
for Maureen who just completed her internship as an orthopedic surgeon.
She has an operation on her breast tomorrow. She asked for prayer and a
few times said she was very scared. She knows the medical situation in
Uganda. She had an operation before which was not very successful. When
Annet and I visited a school on Thursday we met the teacher who has 2
children called Genesis and Exodus. I asked her where Leviticus was and
she said Leviticus is on the way. Another girl there is named Possible.
Before I returned to Mityana Adrien had planted beans around the house.
They are in blossom now. I should get a few before I leave Uganda. Thanks
for your prayers. Tom
September 4, 2024
Joselyn the girl on the right made a dress for Tomi Cheryl and pants for
Klassen. Barbara, mother of Jane and Teopista got a new watch. I checked
on the internet and it is selling for $54 US or about 200,000 shillings in
Uganda. She is standing in front of her stand along the main highway where
she sells food items. She said she is only going to wear it on special
occasions such as going to church. She had been living with a man for many
years. A few months ago their church had a special day when 18 couples who
were living common law were married in the church.
September 2, 2024
This butterfly landed on my step today. Today I went to a high school to
pay for 15 students only for 1 term. The amount I paid for only term 3 was
$2,580 Canadian. Education costs have doubled in the last 6 years but the
money people earn has not changed. That is why many children are not going
to school.
September 1, 2024
Dear friends and family: My day started early as Stella came to the gate
at 7 am. This morning I went early to the children's program because
after I took Adrien and her twins plus Annet to visit Claire and Maria at
their nursing school
It is about 1 hour 45 minutes away through a gauntlet of police stops.
There are 6 to 7 places where police set up between Mityana and Kampala.
When we got back Annet said that God answered prayers as we were not
stopped. That is how the police make money. Going to Kampala in a taxi
van last week the vans were stopped 3 times. The driver jumps out walks
to the police, gives them a 5000 note($2) and comes back to the bench.
My devotion this morning the verse was Psalm 4:8 "I will lie down and
sleep in peace, for you alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Thanks
for your prayers.
August 29, 2024
This is the 4th day in a row that I have taken someone to the dentist. I
thought you might like to see the dentist office and especially the dental
chair. Interesting that as I send this Cheryl is probably in a dental
chair in Napanee. Hopefully her chair is more comfortable.
August 28, 2024
I went to Kampala on Monday to meet with 5 people helped by HCTH. It is
always a long day as it is over 2 hours 1 way on a crowded taxi van. I
have had people ask for help with dental work now 3 days in a row. All of
them were in a lot of pain. Today the day started early with a student at
the gate at 7:30 am. Then non stop until 1:15 pm. I actually bought a
slice of pizza at 12 but didn't get to eat it for over an hour. I was on
my way home when I passed the God's Mercy electrical shop. The electrician
was there so I brought him to the house to replace a switch. The switch
was $2 and his labor was $2. Before he left he sat on a chair. He said a
Buganda custom is Before leaving a house you have to sit down because if
you leave before sitting when you leave the blessings on the house will
leave too. I gave him a watch and $4 for labor. I told him it was God
blessing him through a friend in the U.S. I also gave Betty a watch for
her daughter Susan whom I met last week. The little girls name is Miracle.
They are standing beside their house built through the ministry of
HCTH.God continues to bless this family. Juliet the young lady is teaching
kindergarten and a couple from Ottawa and Wesley Acres is paying for her
to go to Teachers college between terms. I was at the bank hopefully for
the last time today. They assured me all is well with the account. God
bless you all and thank you for your prayers. Tom
August 25, 2024
Today there were 29 at our church program. I told them about the wise and
foolish man then taught them the song. They were happy to see me back.
James now is a plumber through HCTH help. He has never had a watch before
and now has a coca cola coat from X
Canada. Thanks to our friends from Nevada for the watches.
August 22, 2024
Adrien's children received toys and clothes from Canada. Morris and Godwin
love cars. They said they were going to build a garage to put them in.
August 22, 2024
The twins Peter and Paul loved their new toy. Brenda liked her shirt and
toque(head sock) here. Brenda needed money to go to a hospital that deals
with snake bite. She was bitten a few weeks ago but still has venom in her
body. She was bitten on her finger as she bent down to plant a seed.
August 22, 2024
God does answer prayer. I was able to get the money from the account
today. The manager in the picture was good. The problem was the head
office. I really appreciated her help. I gave her a watch, a pen from
Canada and a key chain from Roblin Wesleyan church which said, " I will
fear no evil for you are with me". She was very thankful. Thank you for
your prayers.
August 21, 2024
Dear friends and family: Every day even in Canada I try to bless at least
1 person every day. In Uganda it is not hard to reach this goal. Today I
counted up 35 people that were blessed by the ministry of HCTH. This
included clothes, toys and shoes from Canada, food, candies, school and
more. Thanks for your prayers re. the bank issue. They assured me I would
have access to it by Friday. I told the bank manager that many people are
praying about this. I have spent most of the 3 days here working on 4
students- Patience going to Makerere University, Emily going to Gulu
College of Medical Sciences, Claire and Maria going to Mildmay Nursing
school. Now I can concentrate on the other 116 students. Something
interesting happened today. A man came to me today. He had bought used
pants in the market. In the pocket was a good condition Canadian $20 bill.
I gave him Uganda shillings for its value. Also I visited Adrien's salon
which HCTH helped her to start in March. She had 2 customers and is now
training 3 girls. It was a blessing to see her busy.
Thanks for your prayers. Tom
August 18, 2024
Thanks for your prayers. I arrived safely in Mityana. Planes were on time
and my suitcases arrived as well. Tomorrow is the beginning of a busy
time. Blessings Tom
August 16, 2024
It is hard to believe that it is that time of year. This morning I took my
2 sons to Toronto airport to fly to Alberta to visit their brother Paul. I
am staying in Toronto tonight and leave for Uganda Saturday morning. I
will be very busy. 2 are waiting for me as they start university. 2 others
started nursing school 6 weeks ago and need some things. Over 100 children
need school fees paid for term 3 which means visiting at least 15 schools.
Above all day 1 I need to go to the bank and probably day 2 to go to the
head office of the bank about 2 hours away. Our bank account was frozen so
I have no access to it and can't send money. It is not the first time this
has happened. Also, I can't wait to go to our little church program. I
have 2 new songs to teach them. "The Wise man built his house upon the
rock" is one song.
Pray the W.I.S.H.- Wisdom-Integrity-Safety-Health.
Pray for Cheryl with many responsibilities at home.
Thank You and God Bless
August 16, 2024
We just found out that our HCTH missionaries from Peru-Karina and Javier-
are visiting their friends in Canada. They will be here from September 19
to October 16. This will be their first time out of South America. Please
pray for this special time for them. They are very excited(emocionate in
spanish).
Thanks for your prayers.
Tom and Cheryl
June 8, 2024
We received sad news this week. An 18 year old boy named Shafic passed away. He was helping a friend cut down a tree and the tree hit Shafic on
his head. We have helped Shafic since kindergarden. This year Shafic
graduated from high school. During covid when schools were closed Shafic
helped a builder and wanted to go to college to study carpentry. I was
going to talk to Shafic about this when I return to Uganda in August. HCTH
has put his 2 older sisters Sylvia and Jackline through university. It is
very sad for the family. Pray for the family. Thank you and God Bless!
Tom and Cheryl
May 28, 2024
Two days ago I spoke at a local church. I talked about the miracle of
changed lives we have seen in Uganda and Peru. Today I got this email from
our friend Joram in Uganda. His son Elijah was born on April 1 with
Hydrocephalus. He had an operation when only 8 days old. We have been
praying for them. It is an answer to prayer to hear Joram say they are
seeing a miracle in little Elijah.
*The dictionary defines a MIRACLE as" That which causes wonder and
astonishment, being extraordinary in itself and amazing or inexplicable by
normal standards." Read Joram's email below.
Hello Cheryl and Tom,
How are you doing. Hope your doing well. We are fine by God’s Grace
Elijah is doing well Hallelujah we have believed God for His healing power
upon how Son and we are seeing a Miracle. Thanks for your prayers we know
that you have also stood with us in prayers for Elijah’s health.
We wish you well and may the Grace and Peace of God be with you all
Yours
Joram, immaculate, Enoch and Elijah.
April 28, 2024
HCTH is helping the Sewing Sisters Aminah and Joselyn to start a training
center for young women to learn tailoring. Women from a church in Nevada
sent money to purchase the sign, repair 3 Sewing machines and pay for
Catherine who is the first student. We pray that this ministry prospers.
Pray for the Sisters. Also, HCTH paid for 2 young ladies to train as
hairdressers at Blessed Beyond Measure Salon.
April 27th, 2024
Thank you for your prayers. We are safe in our home in Napanee. We arrived
about 5 p.m. All flights were on time. We are tired but happy to be home.
I left Napanee on December 30 so was away for almost 4 months. Our son
Mark met us at the airport in Toronto to drive us home. God Bless each of
you.
Tom and Cheryl
April 26, 2024
Today HCTH bought a bed for Ruth and her baby. They have been sleeping on
an old piece of sponge on the floor. I realized that she needed a
mattress also as the sponge was old and worn. Ruth was very happy and
thankful. We are going to miss the mangoes on our tree. They are not
quite ready yet. Adrien and Joan will enjoy them.
April 26, 2024
Dear friends and family: It was a relaxing last day in Mityana. Not really
but we are waiting for the taxi now to take us to Entebbe. This morning at
8 am I went to get Joan's clothes. She has been staying at her moms but
stays in our house when we are not here. I then went to Adrien's house
taking her food we had left over. I then brought her to our house to talk.
She looks after the yard when we are not here. I then took her to her
salon. I then went to see Jane. She had bananas for us Her mother has a
food stand. She keeps extra food eg. potatoes in a room plus she had
350,000 shillings($140) in a leather pouch. Jane showed me how the rats
ate into the pouch and ate the money- just pieces left. It was money she
needed to buy food to sell. I went home with the bananas then to
Namukozi. I took plastic bags to a shop masks to Dr. Maureen and daily
devotionals to the Sewing Sisters. I went to buy a bed for Ruth. The
motorcycle carrying the bed followed me. I realized that Ruth needed a
mattress so I took her to buy one. All of this was done on the motorcycle
in light rain. I bought 2 samosas and 3 small doughnuts each for Cheryl
and I for lunch. A total of about 80 cents. After lunch Cheryl and I got
gas in the motorcycle, money from the ATM, took garbage and plastic
bottles to Joan's shop, went to see Adrien at her salon then took Cheryl
to see Ruth's bed and mattress then to Annet's in Kiyinda. Annet does our
work when we are not here. Then home to pack and prepare the house for our
departure. Actually it was not very relaxing but I prefer to be busy.
Thank you for your prayers. The taxi will be here soon. We will land in
Toronto about 29 hours from now. God has blessed our time in Uganda. I
arrived in Uganda on December 31. Time has gone fast. Blessings Tom and
Cheryl
April 22, 2024
Dear friends and family: We keep busy in Uganda but time is running down.
We leave Mityana on Friday and fly out of Uganda around midnight of April
26th arriving in Toronto about 1 pm on Saturday(9 pm Uganda time). Usually
the last few days are busy as people know we are leaving soon. Yesterday
it rained all morning so we had to take the car to the program with the
children and few adults. We park the car near the road and walk about 5
minutes. When wet the side road is as slippery as ice. It is a clay that
coats the tires and they are smooth. In spite of the rain there were 33
there. A mother came for the first time and said she wanted to come back.
Unfortunately it is our last sunday. Some of the children said they did
not want to sing songs
about Happiness or Joy because they were sad that we are leaving. They
said it was a sad day.
Pray for our last few days in Mityana and safe travels. Thank you for your
prayers. Tom and Cheryl
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 theright. The reason I took this picture is that all 3 are calledNalongo(mother of twins). Brenda has twin boys and Adrien and Maria have aboy and girl twins. Twins are very common here. A father of twins iscalled Salongo. If a boy is born second he is called Kato. A girl bornsecond 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, allnight and all morning Monday. It is now noon and Power is off. Thenewspaper said Uganda has increased electricity exports to Kenya.
April 7, 2024
Dear friends and family: This morning at our church program there were 43present. They love to sing and are learning English at the same time asthey 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 fromCheryl. Her scan said she has a problem with her gall bladder. Then Joramcame with his son named Enoch who is almost 2. On April 1st his secondson Elijah was born. For the birth his wife Immaculate had to go to ahospital 300 km. away because the scan showed the child had a brainissue. Elijah was born with water on the brain and is supposed to have anoperation on Monday at only 7 days old. Pray for Joram, Immaculate andElijah. Then the sewing sisters Aminah and Jocelyn came with their cousinCatherine. They left at 8:30 pm. We are working with them to start atraining center for young women to learn sewing and fashion and design.Pray for this project also. We have delivered to them the sewing machinesHCTH purchased last year. Adrien's Blessed Beyond Measure Salon is alsogoing to be a training center for young women to learn a skill. Cheryland I will be taking the first 2 students there tomorrow. Pray for thisas 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 andJennifer. This picture was taken after the 3 had already worked on Janefor 6 hours and still 2 hours to go. Brenda was hoping to get her hairdone also today.
April 5, 2024
Cheryl went to Adrien's Blessed Beyond Measure Salon today. Do you thinkthis makes Cheryl look older or younger? Many years ago Cheryl's hair wasclose to this colour.
March 31, 2024
Our Easter Sunday gathering. I taught them a new song. Teopista the girlholding the new song started high school this year. We gave her a ride inthe car to the program. She was serious. It was only her second time everriding in a car. It was only about a 3 minute ride for her. With thechildren 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 theirnew dresses on. Morris and Godwin wore their new pants and shirts alsomade 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 ofReverend Tembo an Anglican priest. Ab16 years ago Rev Tembo was expectinga child. He said if it was a boy he would call him Tom. I told him I wouldprefer he had another name. When we returned to Uganda there was anotherTom in the country. Tom is now in grade 10. His father can't work nowbecause he is recovering from colon cancer. He is very thankful for thehelp of HCTH in his family.His daughter Patience will be going touniversity 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 wesaid we were honored but hopefully he could think of a better name. Wealready have a hair salon called Tom and Cheryl. Their daughter Patienceis rearing chickens to earn some money. We were there to buy 6 chickenswhich 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 happyto have a new cook house.
March 23, 2024
Grace got 2 new dresses made by Aminah and Jocelyn. Today I took Tracy andConsulanta to get measured for a new dress. They picked out the materialthey 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 ourfriends in Nevada. James is working on the house his family lives in. Itis owned by HCTH. Water from rains was damaging the wall. HCTH has helpedJames become a plumber, his brother Timothy a welder and younger brotherAbraham studying to be a plumber.
March 21, 2024
The new cook house for Ruth at Lutaaya school is progressing. Contrast theold 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 afew days ago.
March 20, 2024
These 3 young ladies received new watches today. Sisters on the leftAminah and Jocelyn and cousin Catherine. The sisters have a shop wherethey make clothes and sell material. The watches come from our friend wholives in Mesquite, Nevada. Catherine who is 20 never owned a watchbefore.
March 20, 2024
The project at Lutaaya school is going well. This house is being cementedover the bricks inside and outside to make 2 bigger classrooms plus cementfloors.
March 18, 2024
The next HCTH project. At Lutaaya school a house is being renovated tomake 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 foronly the third time I wrote down my to do list. At 8:20 I went to thebank. For 4 days I was unable to use my bank card. My account was frozenbecause I needed to update documents. They could have told me. I hadabout 15 pages to fill out plus use my signature over 20 times.I had toget a passport photo then return to the bank. They said to wait 20 minutesso I left to complete some tasks. I returned 70 minutes later after takingCheryl home. The bank said Cheryl had to sign everywhere I signed. I tookthepapers 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 getCheryl'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 acourse she wants to take. We went to a primary school to get a sponsorletter then toast secondary school to get 2 more letters.We visited 2HCTH construction sites. I went to see Annet. A boy doing a car mechaniccourse needed coveralls. Later Annet called to say the 2 year old twinsof Brenda swallowed weed killer and were at the hospital. Another girlneeded money for medical issues. Maria called and came to our house . Shehad papers from the college she has been accepted to for nursing. We hadto pick up 2 dresses we had made for a sponsored child. I had to sendmoney to Catherine who is in her last term of college. After supper Islashed and trimmed grass for an hour. Hopefully tomorrow is a quieterday. 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 thefamily named Ruth has a 2 month old daughter named Patience who haspneumonia. Ruth was very concerned because her only other child a 4 yearold boy died a year ago. She took the baby to a clinic but needed $20 formedication but only had $4. Thankfully HCTH was able to help her out. Theman in the picture is Stanley the builder not her husband who provideslittle 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 thesudden passing of Rick Poulin. Your prayers for Cheryl and I and Rick'sfamily are a great blessing. Today would have been Rick's first day withus in Mityana. We did have a lot planned for his time with us. He wasgoing to spend a day with his sponsored boy Jeremiah and his family. WhenI 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 berewarded in heaven for what he did on earth. Now he is resting in the armsof God." I will miss Rick's dry humor. I still remember when Rick visitedus in Zambia in 2008. As we left our rented house to walk across the fieldto the village we worked in, Rick said, "So this is what they mean whenthey 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. Ourfriend Rick Poulin who was scheduled to arrive in Uganda on Wednesdaynight passed away from a massive heart attack last Saturday. Please prayfor his family. His mother in her mid 90's is still living. I was emailingwith him making last minute plans only 2 days before his death. Thanks foryour prayers.Tom and Cheryl
March 11, 2024
Please pray for Rick Poulin as he starts his long journey to Uganda onTuesday. He will be flying from Winnipeg to Calgary to Amsterdam then toEntebbe,Uganda arriving late Wednesday night. He will stay in a hotel inEntebbe Wednesday night then will have a 2 hour drive to Mityana Thursdaymorning. This is Rick's first time to Uganda but he has visited theministry in Zambia and Peru. Pray for a safe journey. Pray for his time inUganda. Pray that Rick will be blessed as he blesses others. Thanks foryour prayers. Tom and Cheryl
March 8, 2024
Today in the country Stephen let Cheryl and Atul plant a pineapple. Atulgave 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 hadnever been to Lake Victoria or to a mall or never had eaten at KentuckyFried chicken. It was good for Joan to get away from her business for ashort time. She works very hard. Her business is doing very well. When wegot back to Mityana at 2:30 many clients were waiting for her. She isanother HCTH success story.
March 7, 2024
This is the building project taken today Thursday. One picture shows howthey 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 wantedto share her dream with us.6 years ago in April this same young mother came to our gate with a 15year old girl to translate and her 4 young children. She was in adesperate 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 inrent. No food. The 5 year old wanted to go to school. The mother knew noEnglish. We never saw this young woman again for 10 months and at thattime 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 beenaway from her abusive husband for 5 years. She lives in her own home sopays no rent. Her children are all in school. She has a small garden plus7 pigs. Last fall she completed a course in hair dressing. Now she isfluent in English and has even translated for us.What is Adrien's dream? Adrien wants to start a training center for younggirls to learn hair dressing. Many would be from villages where schoolends after grade 7 and their is no future except pregnancy. Adrien wouldfind a room for them to stay in near the training center. After 1 year oftraining they would return to their village with a skill they could use toearn money and feel good about themselves.When I took Adrien home after the meeting she was very happy and said, " Iknow 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
March 4, 2024
Today we visited Lutaaya school. The owner Ruth helps the very poorchildren. 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 theschool had to use the neighbors latrine.
A seamstress was there makingschool 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 Christmasfor them as they were given clothes. The children had fun with theirballoons.
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 housewhere 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 preparedfor the workers.
February 19, 2024
Uganda has many different ideas that we don't necessarily agree with. Thismorning at 8 Stanley came to see us. On Saturday and Sunday he had afamily meeting with his wife and her parents. His wife is 27 but is livingwith her parents. Stanley got her pregnant when they were both very young.Their son is now 14. The parents took their daughter from Stanley becausehe was poor and the parents wanted better for their daughter. Stanley is avery nice man and he loves her and she loves him but the parents arekeeping them apart. The parents say that if he pays a dowry of about $4000he 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 forAdrien's pigs. Stanley is making charcoal.
February 18, 2024
I woke up this morning early thinking that the pictures I can send arebeautiful but they don't tell the whole story. Yesterday the service wasgreat with the children. Someone called it a Sunday school which it iscloser to since there is no ordained fully credentialed pastor but only 2old 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 ourgrade 11 graduates. We have to meet with 9 who just wrote their grade 11national exam. There have to be some difficult decisions as some will notgo on to grade 12 and 13. After the program a young father of 2 wanted tosee us. He was upset. He was unfaithful to his wife and now she hasanother man and has left him and the children. We then went to see thefamily who gave Cheryl the dress. They are very thankful for the help ofHCTH but want help to finish their house. The living condition is notgood. Later a woman came to the gate who needs lots of help. Saturday wetalked to 2 grade 11 graduates and 2 more today. Also, Annet who helps usis going to Kampala today with a grade 11 graduate. Her mother abandonedher shortly after birth. Faridah just met a woman a few weeks ago whothinks she is her mother who left her daughter 18 years ago. The mother iscoming from north Uganda. They are meeting to get a DNA test to see if itis her mother. If it is the mother wants to take her. HCTH is paying forthis. 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 builderis coming to the gate at 8 this morning. That is why I got up at 6:30. Itwill 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 wehelped made this dress for Cheryl. Godwin has a new, expanded car repairshop. Our neighbour has a large avocado tree. They gave us 4 big avocadofor 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 femalename. Grace was6 weeks premature and weighed 1.5 kilos. He is a youngerbrother of triplets Eldon, Ethan and Evans. Godwin was doing mechanicalwork on his cars in his repair shop. He has a car I gave him a year ago, acar Atul gave him a year ago and others that he made. Children are verycreative 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 Patriciahelped me. Today Cheryl and I are helping Adrien plant beans in hergarden. 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. Oftenwe hear of trucks like this over turning with many fatalities andinjuries. 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 littlenotebooks and 6 pencils. She wants to go to school. Judith is the littlegirl 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. Healso put on a shirt that we gave him 15 years ago. He has had to retire asan Anglican priest after 4 operations for cancer. He is on medication butthe cancer is gone. He is very thankful to God.
February 11, 2024
Dear friends and family: God has blessed again. God has used someone whohas 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 65:22and Psalm 92:14. "They shall still bear fruit in old age." " My chosenones will long enjoy the work of their hands."*Pray for Cheryl as Monday is her brother Maurice funeral. Cheryl wouldwant to be there. Of a family of 7 there are only 2 left- the oldest andthe 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 andplans to go to university with support from her sponsors. She was notexpecting this gift. At first she was almost in shock and then started tocry.
February 7, 2024
Today we went to visit Maureen. She came back to Mityana because she had amedical appointment. She had an operation on one of her breasts and duringthe operation they pinched a nerve which is causing her a lot of pain. Shehas been an intern for 6 months and has been intern of the month at thehospital 2 times. The hospital gave her the sofa she is sitting on as agift. Maureen was telling us that sometimes wealthy patients inappreciation give her a bit of money. She uses it to help patients who donot have money. She told us of a little 10 year old boy named Martin whowas hit by a car while walking. He hurt his head but mostly his leg andknee. His mother abandoned him in the hospital because she has no money.Maureen has been looking after him and cooking the same amount of foodshe usually eats but sharing it with him. He needs a major operationwhich will cost about $1000 using pins and screws. The operation costs$1600 but Maureen thinks because of her they will do it for $1000. Withoutthe operation he will never be able to bend his knee. There are many sadstories like this.I think we have all the school fees paid. Now we need letters from thechildren. Blessings Tom and Cheryl
February 5, 2024
Today we delivered 15 Good News Bibles to secondary students supported BYHCTH. They were purchased through the ministry of recycling cans by ourfriend Wayne in Napanee. So far this ministry has also sent 16 children toschool whom otherwise would not be able to go to school. I delivered themon my trusty 17 year old motorcycle. Also through the Gift Certificateministry 6 pigs have been purchased, 15 hens a bicycle, medical help, 2mattress 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 butare sending the other 4 to school from money earned through recyclingcans. They made a basket for us filled with fruit- oranges apples,bananas, passion fruit and a mango. All of the family helps when theyfetch 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 Cherylhad not seen me in 3 weeks I thought I should have a sign and wear my hatwith my name on it. God bless.Tom and Cheryl
January 29, 2024
Through HCTH gift certificates Adrien was blessed with 4 pigs and Julietgot 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 sodecided to get up at 5. I thought that I needed to explain a bit moreabout yesterday so you will better understand the ministry of HCTH. Thetraveling and talking to people is the easy part. The difficult decisionsare the hardest. Sometimes wise decisions affect good people negatively.Last year HCTH had 15 students in a high school. The head teacher turnedout to be corrupt, dishonest and greedy. The girl was crying because sheis in grade 11 which has a national exam and rightly so does not want tochange schools but I refuse to give more money to this man so he can buy abigger 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. Heis a good boy who has done well and has his own plumbing company but needsa bit more help. Thieves stole his stock so he had to pay the wholesalersplus he was in a bad taxi van accident. How much help do you give? Onegirl I visited yesterday did very poorly in her last year of primary. Shefailed the same grade last year. Now we have to tell a 15 year old girlthat there is no point in going on to school. Vincent who is making brickswrote a letter. His bricks are not dry plus he does not have firewood toburn them. He is in grade 11 and his school is demanding these students gointo boarding so the school can make more money. Of course he can't payfor school. Barbara wrote a letter yesterday and asked for help to sendher daughter to secondary school. She is a single mother and twice saidthat I want my daughter to have a better life. She borrowed money to buildher house and has no money to send her daughter to school. The motherworks hard selling fruit and vegetables. The daughter named Teopista didvery well in her primary leaving exam. This does not include many callsyesterday from parents of sponsored children wanting us to see them nownow. You are going to think I am making all of this up but it is not easyas 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 enoughbecause he is starting secondary school. On Friday I got a call from SaudiArabia. The mother of 2 sponsored children is working there. The mainexport of Uganda right now is people working as servants in the middleeast. I told 2 head teachers on Friday that the difference between theaverage 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 ifnot the worst. Again we are not on a vacation. Doing God's work is notoften the easiest route to take but it is the most rewarding. We areblessed 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 fora holiday. This morning we left the hotel in Entebbe. In Bulenga we metwith Joram and family for about 45 minutes. Joram had to sign papers fromour lawyer re changing the name on HCTH properties. We got to Mityanaabout noon and went to see Annet who works for us then to see Joan wholives in the house when we are not here. After lunch and some unpacking Iwent about 10 minutes on the motorcycle to see a student going into S4which is a year they write a national exam. She was not happy with ourdecision and was crying. I then went to find out primary school finalresults for 2 childrenThey both did well. I then went about 20 minutes in the other directionto visit 3 families to get the results for 4 students graduating fromprimary school. 3 of these did well. I went to take a card from sponsorsto Patience plus talk to her father about his son Tom re. school. Irushed home. Winnie and her son Good Luck were here to get sponsorshipmoney. 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 togive sponsorship money to a boy named Christian. This includes lettersand pictures. Stanley came with the budget for a house constructionproject. I took him into Mityana and went to the market to buy onionscarrots and a mango. The big mango was about 55 cents. It is now 6:30pm. Time to relax. It is great to have Cheryl here. It was nice not tohave to cook supper. Thanks for your prayers. Tomorrow starts a busy timeof visiting schools and paying school fees. It is nice to sign off withTom and Cheryl
January 25, 2024
A young boy named Vincent is making bricks to pay his school fees. He has5000 made. He has to pile them and burn them to make them hard. He hasdone this for the last 3 years.
January 24, 2024
In spite of the height difference these are the triplets. I ask Eve to putthem in Alphabetical order so left to right- Eldon Ethan Evans Eve is aHCTH university graduate who has her own business.
January 21, 2024
There were 27 at our church program this morning. I taught them a newsong. That was the basis of my message for them this morning. Check it outon YouTube. The song is Thank you Lord for your blessings on me by Danand Amanda. I told them that in worldly terms they might not have much butthey still are blessed by God because they have food to eat, a roof overthem, 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 beenvery busy here. I have 2 contractors busy on separate projects- Solomonand Stanley. Yesterday I met with Florence and her 4 years old daughter.She wanted help to send her little girl Precious to school. Florenceteaches at a Daycare and gets about $40 per week. We do not have a sponsorbut I was able to help Florence through money we received from recycledcans. So far I have paid for 5 children to go to school for the yearthrough 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 awatermelon. There continues to be a lot of medical needs. On Friday Maureen took 2 children to the skin clinic in Mulago hospitalin Kampala. We moved Brenda a mother of twins to a new house owned byHCTH. James moved out. Brenda has 3 children including twins Peter andPaul. Today we are having a birthday party for twins Morris and Tracy whoare 6 today. I bought a cake for them.Pray for Cheryl as she leaves Canada on Friday for Uganda. She won't missthe cold weather. It will be nice to have her here. We will be payingschool 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 asuckered to these 2 little girls then I took a picture of the one littlegirl and her mother. Julie the little girl is 2.5 years old. The mother isnow 15. She was 12 years old when Julie was born. HCTH paid for solarpower 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 gaveout the last of the Tim Hortons bracelets for camp day. Thanks Peggy. Itrained while we were having church. God bless. Tom
January 14, 2024
Blessings on this beautiful Sunday morning. I want to share some from aletter I received yesterday. It is from Emily a girl who just completedsecondary school through HCTH support. We met Emily first about 10 yearsago. She was in a home for orphan girls. The home was not run well so wehelped out. When Emily finished grade 11 the home stopped helping herbecause the organization said education was getting too expensive yetEmily was a very good student and had dreams to go on to grade 13 takingmath, chemistry and biology. She came to HCTH asking for help to achievethis dream. We found a kind and generous lady in Napanee who agreed tohelp Emily. Thanks Margaret, this letter is for you too. Part of herletter says, "Praise be to the Almighty God who has kept us when we arestill alive. I take this opportunity to thank you and mummy Cheryl for thesupport that you have provided to me towards my studies. I am so happy andgrateful for the work that you have done for all of us. It is really hardto find such kind people like you and I pray to the Almighty God tocontinue granting you blessings, divine mercy and protection upon you andall your family. Words cannot express what you have done for me but I ampraying to God to keep you always and live to see the goodness of God asyour reward. God bless you and keep you safe always. Greetings to mummyCheryl."Now I am off to our house church program. It is almost 9 am in Uganda but1 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 HopeAngela. Barbara is an amazing story also. When we first met her she wasgoing to an orphan school but now has a university degree and a goodbusiness. Her father had 6 wives all of which died of HIV. Barbara'smother was a prostitute. What a blessing to see her doing well. Barbaraand 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. Hewas born shortly after our son Rick left Uganda last year in earlyFebruary.
January 9, 2024
Today I met with Maureen. I gave her a new watch. The watch I gave her 3years ago was stolen. I gave her money for her next 4 months ofinternship. She said it is like a dream to know she is now an orthopedicsurgeon. She remembers being chased from primary and secondary educationmany times because she had no money to pay fees. She interns in ahospital 4 days then travels 4 hours to her home to volunteer in her localhospital for 3 days. She says she doesn't want to miss a minute oflearning. Thanks to her sponsor in Canada and the watch from the UnitedStates. God is Good. Tom
January 8, 2024
I picked 2 mangoes from our tree today. They don't look great but the oneI had for supper tasted good. A mother and daughter were happy to getclothes and shoes brought from Canada. Today we visited a family. Theyshared 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 5eggs, mangoes, 5 oranges, 2 bunches of bananas from other people. In theirpoverty 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 niceto resume our little church yesterday. There were 29 there. They love tosing. Since Christmas was only 2 weeks ago I started with the birth ofJesus and in April will talk about the significance of Easter. This is theonly church for all of these mostly children. There were 3 adults andabout 5 teens.I am busy meeting with HCTH sponsored children who are in university orcollege. The courses range from Orthopedic surgeon to nursing to Businessto fashion and design. Others are in courses of apprenticeship. Many ofour 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, forfood start a business and much more. It is important to make decisionsthat give people hope. That way they can cope with life. Decisions have tobe made in relation to the ministry of HCTH also.Saturday I helped the second sponsored child since I came who has malariaand typhoid.In any spare time I like to keep the property neat by slashing grass andpulling out weeds. This morning I am helping a family to purchase a carbattery which they will use for their solar power system.Thanks for your prayers. My sleep pattern is gradually getting adjusted tothe 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 inher 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 aglass. I left the glass on the table. In the afternoon I poured a glass ofwater and took a big swallow. When putting the glass down I noticed amultitude of small ants floating on the water. The good news is that Ididn'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 agreat relief for me. It rained for an hour at noon and is raining againnow at 2:40. Tom
January 1, 2024
Annet and Adrien helped me clean the house. They liked the shirts webought 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 wasabout 1 hour and 45 minutes. I even had time to do some yard work. It is6:15 now and I am very tired. Pray that we are successful tomorrow when wego to the bank. The money I sent on December 18 was not in before NewYears. One girl is going back to university on January 6 and anotherJanuary 8. God is Good. Blessings Tom in Uganda
December 31, 2023
Thanks for your prayers. I arrived at the hotel in Entebbe 5 minutesbefore the New Year. There was fireworks near the hotel. I am tired butHappy to be here. We left for Toronto Airport at 8:15 Saturday morning andgot to my room at midnight in Entebbe or 5 p.m. Sunday in Napanee. It is along time to go without sleep and not much food. I feel better not eatingthan when I eat plane food. Hopefully I get some sleep tonight. It mightbe 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 aninteresting last 2 weeks. 1)On December 14 we applied online for our entryvisa to enter Uganda. You can not even get on the plane in Toronto withoutit. It usually takes 1 or 2 days to hear back but because of a smallglitch it took 5 days. 2)On December 18 we sent a substantial amount ofmoney to our bank account in Uganda. It usually takes 3 or 4 days to getinto our account. This money is to pay for school fees for over 100students in university, college, primary, secondary; a food program formany families; medical; house construction and more. As of today thismoney is still not in the account. 3) On December 19 I was born 76 yearsago. 4)On December 26 we attended a family gathering. On the morning ofDecember 27 the hostess called to say she had just tested positive forcovid. She knew I was leaving on Sunday for Uganda. At least I thought Iwas. 5)At 1:30 p.m. on December 27 I checked my e-mails. I could notbelieve what I saw. I thought it was a scam. It was from KLM Airlinessaying, "Your flight on Sunday, December 31 has been cancelled. I calledmy travel agent then went to Maritime Travel. It was true but the agencyhad not been informed yet. It took a while but I am now leaving Toronto onDecember 30 instead of the 31st. I think you can see why we need your prayers. It would be much easier tosit at home and rest our weary bones but that is not what God wants forus. Too many people still need to be blessed and to see God's love atwork. Pray for Cheryl as she will be in Canada until January 26. Pray forWisdom 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 thelady whose husband died December 1 while hooking up the electricity intheir new home built by HCTH. She has twins aged 10 and a little girlnamed Fernanda who is 7. Just after it happened Ana was crying because nowshe 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 pagebelow. 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 prayersfor this situation. This year HCTH was blessed to help a young mothernamed Ana with a new home for her, her 3 children and recent husband namedKeiner. They were living in a 8 foot by 10 foot room. We got to knowKeiner well especially Rocco who worked with him every day. Even though heworked at night he was there helping most days. When we had a new housededication and prayer a week ago Keiner spoke with emotion about how thiswas changing his life. He was excited and for Christmas bought his newwife Ana a new fridge and stove. He could not wait to get electricity inthe new house. When Rocco and Renee left the site on Wednesday Javier hadonly a few things left to do to complete the project. Friday while Javierwas completing the bathroom Keiner insisted on completing the electricityhook up. In this process Keiner was electrocuted and died in the ambulanceon the way to the hospital. This is so very sad for a family that was soexcited about their future together. Please pray for this family, for ourworkers in Peru Javier and Karina and for Rocco and Renee Liscio who gotto 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 wentwell. 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 peopleobviously thought that their first priority was building a toilet beforeanything else was built.
November 27, 2023
Cheryl likes this kind of a palm tree. Our friend Martin is taking acooking course. Today he carved this from a watermelon.
November 25, 2023
More happy children. I only have a few candy canes and suckers left andmany 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. Theyare 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 andher 2 daughters and family. The family owns a trout restaurant. I hadtrout 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 dormantvolcano called Misti. Arequipa is in the Andes mountains. Some of themountains still have snow on them.
November 19, 2023
Today we visited Katy, Cliset, Kelly and family. It is good to see Clisetdoing well with the course she took in college. She is making clothes withher brand name Alaska and is selling sports shoes online all over Peru. Ona good day she sells 10 pairs of shoes. She had made an order of 40 teeshirts.
November 17, 2023
I just got this letter from Abraham in Uganda. He just completed highschool. He wants to be a plumber like his older brother James. InSeptember he did a job for me at the house where he and his family livewhich 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 rainingheavily these days but am glad to say that the water connection I did lasttime is working well we nolonger have water inside the house and when thetank is full the water just moves in to the pipes I connected in ground tothe big passage and am also glad to inform you that we are done with ourfinal UCE exams ,we thank you for your care and support we love you and mayGod bless you abundantly 🙏Abraham
November 16, 2023
We just received this email from Douglas in Uganda. He and his brotherjust completed university through HCTH support. We have also helped hismother Sarah and family since 2006. It shows how grateful many of thepeople there are.Tom and CherylHi 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 happenin our lives, life is complicated that sometimes we take them for granted,sometimes it's because of age, that we cannot realize how importantsomethings or people were, upto an age when you have grown up and get areflection of how life was. Sometimes i sit and reflect on what life was inmy early years. Sarah being a single mother and having all theresponsibility 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 animportant message to share with you, "that the good you have done will comeback to you in large numbers." So allow me prophesy about your life, thatyou and your generations shall live a life of abundance in Jesus Name. I'mlooking forward to walking into the footsteps you have set.May God bless you ðŸ™
November 16, 2023
I took these pictures while on my walk this morning to buy buns. No matterwhere we go where we work we are surrounded by the Andes mountains yet weare only a few kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. It is very dry and grassand trees only grow where they are watered. The last picture is the LurinRiver near us which seldom has water in it. It is amazing the contrast tothe landscape of Uganda with so much green and lots of rain. God made itall! Cheryl and Renee are visiting a home to teach some cooking. Rocco isbuilding. 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 forManuel and his family. Manuel is in 4th year studying statistics inuniversity. He has 1 more year. To earn money he teaches mathematics andsciences 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 whereMaureen came from. This is her graduation as a orthopedic surgeon inUganda.
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 nowteaching at a government school and receives a good salary. She thankedHCTH again. She said she could never have gone to university without help.She especially thanked her sponsor Judy. I knew she was taking universitycourses but did not realize she has almost completed her Masters degree inEducation.
November 6, 2023
Today we visited Centro Prenatal. It is called "Life and Hope". They workwith young girls who are pregnant. They are located near a university.They give the girls an alternative to abortion. We gave them baby clothesfrom 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 havebeen blessed by the ministry.
November 5, 2023
These 4 plus 1 other lady got new watches today. The first picture is ofLucio who had a stroke in June.
November 5, 2023
Tonight Karina arranged a party for us to meet all of the sponsoredchildren and families plus say goodbye to Peggy, welcome to Rocco andRenee and Happy Birthday to Cheryl. These are 3 of the 5 cakes they hadplus food from different parts of Peru.
November 3, 2023
Dear friends and family: Pray today for Rocco and Renee Liscio for safetravels to Lima. They fly out of Toronto this afternoon to Atlanta thenarriving later tonight in Lima then a 1.5 hour drive to where we arestaying. 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 Canadafor Peggy late Tuesday night arriving in Toronto on Wednesday. She hasbeen 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. Hislarge brick house was built through HCTH help financing and labour. Wewere 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 2of 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 awatch before. Thanks to Don and Vicki in Mesquite, Nevada.
November 1, 2023
We gave clothes and shoes to Miriam and her family. HCTH sponsors helpedMiriam to complete training to be a speech and physio therapist. What ablessing 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 Brisinois 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 completeuniversity to be a teacher. We sang with them for about 25 minutes. Aftersinging about 6 songs I asked them which song they liked the best. Theysaid, All of them. We gave each of the 34 children a candy cane and a cardwith a Bible verse. Roxana was very happy that we visited her class.
Today we visited Rosita in her house built through HCTH support 5 yearsago. We were able to buy the family food. The location in Manchay is astark contrast to yesterday in Miraflores near the Pacific Ocean.
October 29, 2023
Today we visited Rosita in her house built through HCTH support 5 yearsago. We were able to buy the family food. The location in Manchay is astark 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 verybeautiful. Many people were surfing.
October 28, 2023
Today we visited Alejandro and his family. They are happy in the housebuilt for him in 2019 by HCTH sponsors and labour. As you can see from thefirst picture new neighbors are moving in. They even have street lights byhis 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 watchbefore.. She has worked for 7 years at Bembo's which is the Peruvian equivalentof McDonald's. She earns about $3.60 Can. per hour. Today she was workingfrom 6 pm to 4 am. She appreciates so much the help her sponsors fromOntario 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 wework in Manchay.
October 24, 2023
This is certainly a good news HCTH story. A friend of Peggy helped Shirleyfinish primary and secondary school then study physio and speech therapy.She now has 2 pre school locations and a Montessori school. Her husbandLeo and his mother have a restaurant and hotel in Manchay. On Sundaynights Shirley, her mother Leo and Leo's mother plus others have a Biblestudy 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 abathroom.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 abougainvillea from her plant.
October 21, 2023
Dear friends and family: We arrived safely in Peru. Thank you for yourprayers. The flight to Lima was not without incident. The plane fromAtlanta to Lima was 1.5 hours late because the luggage door would notshut. Then when we arrived in Lima 1 hour late the luggage door would notopen. No exaggeration we waited almost 3 hours for the luggage to start onthe 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 teachan English class to about 15 teens at a Korean church. It went well. Wethen went to buy a Sim card for our phones, to exchange money and get somegroceries. It is 8:50 and we are tired after basically no sleep lastnight. It is nice to see Karina and Javier. They are a blessing to theministry of HCTH. Karina just finished radio therapy for cancer yesterday.Before that she had chemo therapy. She is doing well. Pray for Karina andJavier.Blessings Tom and Cheryl
October 19, 2023
Dear friends and family: It is that time of year again. Tomorrow October20 we are off to Peru for 6 weeks to minister to the people of ManchayPeru which is on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. It is an area of extremepoverty. 2 of the big projects are a house for a single mother named Anaand improving the home of a single mother named Veronica. In both casesHCTH sponsors the children. We will be visiting and helping the familiesof the 35 sponsored children. Pray for Cheryl and I plus for Peggy Hallwho is travelling with us and Rocco and Renee Liscio who are coming in 2weeks 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
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.
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
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
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