Praises & Prayers: Howeths’ Uganda Journey

Praises

Greetings from a very dry and dusty Uganda! It changed quickly after sending the last P&P. I’m not sure if I spell these two correctly but in the local Rutooro it would be called achocho and in Luganda fufu. At any rate it translate to dust. The nice thing is the masks were introduced in covid and everyone uses them now in this season.
I mentioned we were out of the shoots as the new year came I’ll share what I can here and some of the pictures. I’ve got to train myself to start taking more photos again. Not sure why but it seems I’m more focused on what is being said and going on and find myself going back to take pics.
You’ll see where the removal of the structures on the site where the girls dorm will be was accomplished and the grading was started. Since the new school year just started and there are so many other activities we will start again later this month on the official paper work and governmental processes.
We are off to a good start at the school with the majority of teachers hired but still lacking a couple of slots which we hope to fill soon. One of the school board members has offered to be the chapel overseer and is trustworthy so a sigh of relief there that we can start on that as soon as some of all these other activities slow down.
The efforts for an Early Childhood Development Center was decided on for the babies home. There is just no way to start an orphanage through the government without the contingencies that would be almost impossible to overcome. There are good reason for it as well. As much as you want to see the children taken care of you find that many are not orphans but abandoned.
Also as you see in news everywhere, children become a commodity that is abused and used. Too many incidences that have been uncovered and not just the locals. So with all of that said the babies home will be for day care and with a sliding scale but we hope to have it self-sustaining with the excess going back to the core business of schooling the primary children at Feed My Lamb Kabarole.

Above: Might be a bit hard to make out but the left side is what’s left of the brick building being knocked down. That was adjacent to the animal shelters. Those were all pulled down and now the materials are seen on the right in front of block 1 at the school. This is a pano pic so a bit distorted.

More Praises & Challenges!

Girls Dorm Fundraiser!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We will continue to work towards getting this accomplished but will be taking our time and assuring the funds are well spent and accounted for. We’ve been here now long enough to see the need of intentional and consistent oversight! I haven’t heard that the government has been back yet, but could be because its always a little crazy at the start of the year as well.

Bill’s FMLK class before school started, just at the end of January.

Prayers

 Please pray for the new staff at FMLK to be honest and upright.
 Pray for another couple of streams of funding for FMLK. This is an ongoing prayer. We certainly see God providing from these young Spanish volunteers and even in this there are parameters and stops.
 Pray for the fundraiser for the Dorm & Fencing (not on the docket yet?) needed as the requirement from the government.
 Please continue to pray as Bill teaches and shares and has these new opportunities to speak to not only leaders but the youth as well. We also will be meeting with another couple here soon on partnering in another youth activity that I have had on my heart forever!!
 Please continue to pray for the Muslim community that we (several of us believers) have communication and surface relationships with. Pray for the Lord to invite these friends into a deeper relationship with the Christian community, dreams/visions, and the Lord Himself.
 Pray for the Muslim woman I love and having great Spiritual conversations with and that it is all worthy of her considering Christ. We stay in contact and she is such a delight!!
 Pray as we serve to see with Spiritual eyes and boldness in these days. Pray that our every effort will make God known and pleasing to Him.
 Join us in prayer, for all of us to see Him as the author and finisher of our days and the desire to fulfill His purpose for each of us!!
 Pray as Bill has his sciatica addressed. We’re praying for no surgery and the chiropractor to treat him long term. It is promising, yet she is all the way to Kampala. He does have a PT here in Fort Portal that he is seeing.
 Pray as I address the injury from Princess. It is slow and I’m not great at being so slow. Nor at taking pills.
Above: Another exciting project. The Vocational Center. Starting soon we will have a local woman I’ve known and have watched for sometime to come in and oversee this area. She’ has an incredible story and will be helping revamp this program and area. She will help us identify the potential leaders from the center and then continue to improve and grow, change up the status quo. We haven’t had the ability earlier with Clare so busy but I will oversee the oversight but I see this as an incredible opportunity for us both. More photos soon.
“For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail. Job 14:7
Above:

Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind. Nathaniel Hawthorne

What a perfect quote for everything that has happened at Tumaini Children’s Home over the past two years! The shadow that has been left behind due to the generous hearts of our supporters has been inspiring. We understand that your giving to this ministry does not come without sacrifice and our hearts are grateful. We praise God for the work he has allowed us to be a part of.
We are often asked what it takes to run a ministry that supports a children’s home in Africa. We would like to share with you the impact your donations over the last couple of years have made.

Currently, 81 children and 9 volunteer staff live at Tumaini Children’s Home. Of those, sixty-nine of the children are registered under TCH, 11 children belong to our security guards, and our youngest belongs to Kennedy and Christine, our directors. All our volunteers live at the home to care for, nurture, and provide security for all the children. We believe God has orchestrated how this family came together, and we are continually amazed by His movements.
In 2023, your donations helped us provide daily meals, necessities, and education for TCH. We treated medical emergencies such as malaria, epilepsy, impetigo, bacterial infections, pneumonia, and skin diseases. We also farmed, raised livestock, and provided 24-hour security for the children’s home.

During 2023, we were blessed with the funds to complete our water well project. A team of volunteers hand-dug a well. A local mason bricked the well, fabricated a lid, and built a foundation for the water tank. A local welder fabricated a stand for the 10,000-gallon water tank, and local volunteers hoisted the metal stand and tank into place. With the help of a solar pumping system, more than 1000 people in the community now have access to free, fresh clean water. This water also irrigates the farmland that provides TCH with fresh produce year-round. We also paid a local welder to build a beautiful metal gate to protect our land and crops.

Right before our trip to Kenya in June 2023, a local church in Independence, Kansas, took on the challenge of raising funds to provide greatly needed bedding for this home. When we arrived at Tumaini Children’s Home later that month, we purchased a new waterproof, bed bug-proof mattress and set of sheets for every bed, and provided each child with their very own blanket.
A local dentist from Independence, Kansas, provided toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other dental hygiene products for the home. Additionally, several churches, school groups, individual donors, and fundraising efforts, made it possible to make much-needed building repairs, kitchen and drainage upgrades, and shower installations. We also replaced all mosquito netting.
But most excitingly, we shared God’s love with over 500 children and elderly women who showed up for our Community Outreach Day. We planned for 250, but God had different plans. We were blessed to watch the story of the Five Fishes and Two Loaves unfold in front of us. The children enjoyed a day filled with games, music, food, and love while the elderly women consulted individually with a local doctor.

Furthermore, through the generosity of our donors and a miracle from God, we purchased a 10-passenger van for Tumaini Children’s Home. This van has provided reliable emergency transportation for our children, for elderly and disabled community members to attend church, and for handicapped children to attend the annual Day of the African Child event.
God continued to show His hand in 2024. For two years, we have been exploring what it would take to build a new children’s home, and we have been waiting for God to open the right doors. In 2024, a local Kenyan man who was encouraged by the work of Tumaini Children’s Home approached our director, Kennedy, with an exciting offer. He offered to donate a piece of land and fi nancially back the construction of a new children’s home on the property with the option to rent-to-own. Our current children’s home is falling into disrepair and the bank that owns the mortgage is pressing to increase our monthly rent. Both our USA Board of Directors and Kenyan Board of Directors explored this rent-to-own option and felt that this was a good opportunity for Tumaini Children’s Home. A Kenyan lawyer drew up the contract. We were blessed to enlist the help of a corporate professional and a lawyer in the United States before Tumaini Children’s Home’s Kenya Board of Directors-not our USA Board of Directors- signed the contract.

This construction project is currently underway. The new children’s home is being built on approximately 1 ½ acres and consists of two separate buildings. The first building will house four three-bedroom apartments. Each apartment will sleep approximately 16 children and one auntie. The second building houses two three-bedroom apartments, a one-bedroom apartment, and a multipurpose room that will function as a kitchen, dining room, recreational and worship space. Additionally, each apartment will include an indoor bathroom and gathering space. Construction of men’s and women’s outdoor toilet facilities is underway, and a brick wall is being built to provide added security surrounding the buildings. The total perimeter of the property will eventually be fenced with chain link. The borehole for freshwater has already been dug, but we still need to construct a stand for the water tank and install a solar panel pumping system. In the future, we hope to add a playground as well. We plan to share God’s love and minister to the community by providing access to fresh water and the playground. The monthly rent and utilities for the new property will increase by about $100 each month. In 13 years, Tumaini Children’s Home will own the property. We hope to pay off this debt earlier as soon as possible.

Rescued children are now attending university!! We proudly announce that Tumaini Children’s Home had 7 students complete their 1st semester at University. After returning home for Christmas break, they are now back on campuses across Kenya. Their bachelor’s degree programs include computer science and statistics, sign language, hospitality and hotel management, criminology and justice, psychology and social services, fashion and design, and business administration. This happened because of donors like you who shared their financial blessings with others…others they have never met. Attending university is a fraction of the cost compared to the United States and will help these students escape poverty. If you feel led to give towards their next year’s tuition, please let us know.
Tumaini Children’s Home has come so far since we started Be Their Hope Ministry in 2018. It is nothing short of a miracle to see what God has done in the lives of these children. Because one man, Kennedy Mbaja, heard God’s voice and obeyed this calling, a family has been established in Kenya. God reached across Kenya to a small Kansas town and touched others across the United States like yourselves. What a testament to His love for us. We stand in awe!
Again, thank you for donating to this home. We ask that you continue to pray for this ministry and ask God to show you where you fit into this beautiful tapestry He is putting together.
Sincerely,
Breeze Jones & the TCH USA Board
Be Their Hope Ministry, Tumaini Children’s Home

Renewed in the Spirit of your mind

One day a man returned into our fellowship who had been away from the Lord for many years. On his fourth or fifth service he took several Bibles in our library that were shuttered and needed some fresh up and brought them to the book repair shop. The next Sunday these Bibles were standing solid with renewed and repaired covers. Such attention and respect to God’s Word struck my heart. Some of these Bibles were new when he was doing his first steps in faith. Jesus teaches us that until we get to heaven, our journey on this earth is not finished. He gives a new beginning to a person who returns to him.

“For All Club”

We had a meeting in January with a Christmas theme. Several of the parents of our children came for the first time. It is a big step for us. These were heart-hardened people trying to steer clear from all Christians. Please remain in prayer for the hearts of our people that their hearts will soften more to be able to receive the truth of God’s Word.

Praise and Prayer Points

Our trip to West Asia region in December went well. We met with prospective leaders and taught them how they could use a house church method in their reaching of their nations for Christ. Please pray that those leaders continue to make disciples in an effective way.
We had a Christmas special service on January 7th here in Ufa. Yes, Christmas is celebrated here on a different date. The worship hall was full. Some of our friends came, mostly those with whom we maintain relationships. Pray for those who come so that they can make a decision to follow Jesus.

Friends and Family

Tomorrow we are going to resume our school year. As we do the home schooling, those assignments are becoming more and more complex. Sometimes it takes significant time for us to get prepared. Pray for the wise scheduling and stamina as we help them to be prepared. Thank you for your prayer and support. Thank you, Grace Church, Northville BC, Maryland Ave BC, and Richard Purnell, for making our trip possible! Happy New Year!

You can make tax deductible contribution to Ufa Bible Ministries which is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit entity. Make checks payable to:
Ufa Bible Ministries
PO BOX 1761, Columbia, SC 29202

Praises

Greetings and Happy New Year!!!
The time goes too quick I tell you! I thought there would be a little more time for Christmas movies and relaxing but we are officially out of the shoots and on the run! December was a nice break even if it has come and gone!
We had a lovely cooler December than usual. I noted in the last P&P that the dry hot season was back. Well, that lasted only a short time and the cooler rainy season hasreturned. This made the time a bit more seasonal for us, I don’t think so for the nationals.
Rinnah and I participated the beginning of December in the market which is usually end of month, but December it was the first weekend. We thank God for that because of all of the activities the end of November and beginning of December had everyone running. Rinnah runs her school closer to the USA schedule, the breaks are similar here. The Christmas event was in December.
You’ll see in the photos some of the cuties in the Christmas program. Of course there was the getting ready for Christmas. One of the other things is the last of the rains had the outside garden fence come down which became our early December project.

P1 & P2 at Nazina—We Wish You A Merry Christmas!! The angels on the tree were one of the bible and art projects I did with the children.

More Praises & Challenges!

Girls Dorm Fundraiser!
We will continue to fundraise and attach the flyer for updates when we send out the P&P’s as well as the status of that only! Thank you all who have given and please if you could continue to pray for success, we trust that the Lord hears and will answer!! I must confess my joy and appreciation!! Thank you, Thank YOU!!

We did receive a sizable donation, we just haven’t had validation from TMCI. I mentioned some donations take a bit longer in their systems. We still have a ways to go but I’m so encouraged at the progress. We will at minimum contact the graders to come and start that process sooner than later so the government will see some progress and hopefully let us get this done without too much interference. It’s interesting that they seem to want help but only in their way and then they can be very demanding on how you help. Some of it I understand but when you have a school doing good work, they will threaten to close you for a dozen or more reasons it seems, it is not just us. And we’re hearing more and more stories where as they are trying to control and take advantage of those doing good work. The children, the country and the development is what is hindered and the ones that lose. But this could just be falling under that category of more and more birth pains as we get closer, only God knows and He is still in control!!

Prayers

 Please pray for FMLK , I understand the teacher that was at the helm of all the shenanigans is in prison. Clare is reporting that we should have plenty of interviews that will start shortly. Pray we get the right teachers according to His will and that He will give us wisdom and insight into this process and each of these that will be interviewed. Prayers for all the staff to be righteous and honest and that there will be an-other chapel leader in the near future.
 Pray for another couple of streams of funding for FMLK. This is an ongoing prayer. We certainly see God providing from these young Spanish volunteers and even in this there are parameters and stops.
 Pray for the fundraiser for the Dorm & Fencing (not on the docket yet?) needed as the requirement from the government.
 Please continue to pray as Bill teaches and shares and has these new opportunities to speak to not only leaders but the youth as well. We also will be meeting with another couple here soon on partnering in another youth activity that I have had on my heart forever!!
 Please continue to pray for the Muslim community that we (several of us believers) have communication and surface relationships with. Pray for the Lord to invite these friends into a deeper relationship with the
Christian community, dreams/visions, and the Lord Himself.
 Pray for the Muslim woman I love and having great Spiritual conversations with and that it is all worthy of her considering Christ. We stay in contact and she is such a delight!!
 Pray as we serve to see with Spiritual eyes and for boldness in these days.
 Join us in prayer, for all of us to see Him as the author and finisher of our days and the desire to fulfill His purpose for each of us!!
 Pray as Bill has his sciatica addressed. We’re praying for no surgery and the chiropractor I see, he has started going to. It is promising, yet she is all the way to Kampala. Pray as I address an injury from Princess pulling me to the ground as she chased a cat. It is painful and a long healing injury. No more of me holding on to her leash, she is just too big and strong for me.

Bill was quite busy up until early December as well, he and George agreed this group in Kyenjojo might have been their very best group so far. For being organized and hungering for the Word!! Love that you can see their passion!!