Stories & Highlights
Keeping You in the Loop, One Story at a Time
Critical famine relief food deliveries continue!
Every minute that passes is critical to the severely malnourished children of Karamoja. Please join us in saving lives as we prepare to send another truck!
You can donate here: www.tcius.org/donate
Back In Uganda: Update from the field!
Dear TCI family,
Greetings from Uganda! We (Frank & Sue) arrived in Entebbe Uganda last Thursday from Israel and we have been on the move ever since! It is lovely to be back!
Our friend Craig Botha from South Africa joined us and took our TCI Uganda team through three solid days of highly successful Gospel training, team building, leadership development and strategic planning using the Strengthsfinder approach. Our team was inspired and refreshed.
We are so grateful for this amazing team. NOTHING would be accomplished without them - they are making a significant impact in the villages and primary schools.
This afternoon we had a wonderful time sharing with the 36 TCI sponsored students at Alpha Omega Secondary School. It was so good to see familiar faces, learn about the "family" they are becoming, get insight into their tragic lives and experience the gratefulness, joy and hope they have now. Thank you donors for giving them a chance in life! If anyone would like to join in their support go to: tcius.org/sponsor
We are SO VERY GRATEFUL to all who are supporting us!! Please pray for the next three weeks of our trip.
Blessings, Frank and Sue
The Young Generation leads the way..
The Young Generation are leading the way…
The young GENERATION in Karamoja is leading the way in providing a sustainable food source for the very FIRST TIME in this community! In the past, villagers have not responded to teaching on sustainable planting techniques, so this change in heart is AMAZING! Because of the drought there have been no crops to harvest but the children are enthusiastically making gardens and providing food for the families if there is a well nearby to draw water.
TO MAKE DONATIONS FOR SEEDS AND MORE WELLS -SELECT KARAMOJA ON THE DONATION PAGE Some villages are unable to begin gardens as there is no well nearby.
What an amazing month in Uganda!
New classroom with new desks!
Dear friends of TCI,
These have been an extremely busy couple of months and we are so grateful to the Lord and to you all for enabling us to accomplish so much. In Western Uganda, the Kiibanga primary classroom block was completed. The official “hand over ceremony" took place on February 27 with much rejoicing in the church, the local government and the community! Already the student enrollment has doubled which will be a great boost to the school. This little school will have a mighty future impact in this community. Thank you for your generosity which also enabled us to supply the school with 30 new desks!
In Eastern Uganda, there was also much rejoicing as we were able to once more take about 13 tons of food to the 5,000 starving and malnourished people in Karamoja. It is so wonderful to hear the grateful testimonies of mothers who had lost a number of children before we started taking food relief in August 2022. Since then, they tell us, they have lost none. Death from starvation has been stopped and rehabilitation of the severely malnourished is continuing.
Our team member Isaac is motivating and mobilizing the villagers to grow vegetables near functioning boreholes (wells). He has truly been guided by the Holy Spirit and the favor of God seems to be upon all that he is doing. There is a growing eagerness and a receptiveness to lessons from the Bible integrated with Paradigm shift principles. People are being mobilized to make gardens in an unprecedented way and currently 145 farmers from three different villages are making gardens. Longstanding barriers of suspicion and hostility are also breaking down between different villages and they are joining to pray and worship together under the same big tree which has never happened before!! We are excited about what the Lord is doing!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! None of this would have been possible without your generosity. PLEASE consider donating for THE NEXT FOOD RUN IN EARLY APRIL
God bless you all.
Student Sponsorship Opportunity!
Students with great potential-all they need is a hand up!
Education is gift. In the United States we are blessed with education that doesn’t cost us monthly. Education is also a tool that empowers and breaks the cycle of poverty by presenting opportunities for a future that without it was not an option. We have 35 students between the ages of 11-18 that are needing monthly sponsorship for their education. This is an amazing opportunity to provide quality education to teens that transforms their hopes and dreams into reality! What an opportunity to develop a future leader around the world.
What does this look like as a sponsor? $36 a month and every penny goes to the student. You will receive a biannual update about your student.
Click the button to see profiles of students and become a sponsor
If you would like more information/ have specific questions please click to email us below.
Famine Relief Phase 4 Update
The famine relief phase 4 is complete! Our team distributed 28,000 pounds of food to 540 families. During this effort our team assessed 308 people for malnutrition including some first time patients aswellas those those we are already monitoring and rehabilitating. 30 recoveries were assesed bringing the total number of people who have fully recovered to 67!! A total of 50 patients have improved markedly but are still under rehabilitation. We also registered a total of 40 newly diagnosed cases of severe acute malnutrition bringing the total of severely malnourished patients 103. These villagers are now under TCI treatment, monitoring and rehabilitation.
One of our Uganda team members, Isaac, who moved to Moroto, Karamoja reported the following:
“We want to thank God who is continuing to provide for His people to have hope to live and have a chance to thrive amidst the persistent dry spell and drought conditions. When we meet kids who had pot bellies and they have significantly improved, we are to thank God even more! The elderly are looking stronger than they were before.
The joy characterized by singing and dancing and melodies of the now hopeful elderly in their local languages significantly influenced our worship of God the provider. The wide smiles, the clapping, the laughter and musical expressions of the the people in Kamera and lokororiloti were so beautiful.
There is an outstanding rapport in the villages where we have distributed so far. At every village entrance handshakes are unavoidable with people expressing gratefulness for the food and most importantly that we remembered them.
Thank you for your support in making these efforts possible. What a privilege it is to distribute joy, along with food to those in need.
New FAITH Garden to kick off 2023!
Children are exited about growing vegetables!
We are so excited to share this update about a recent outreach. Pictured in this blog is a kitchen garden in a village around Moroto. It was the first garden to put up around Manyatas started on January 2nd!
There was a committed group of youth so we engaged them immediately! Pictured below you will see a group of people working hard to cultivate the ground in preparation for planting. Also pictured are people working with hoes after receiving FAITH Garden training, seeds, and watering cans. YOU make this partnership possible.
Upon returning to check on the gardens we were overjoyed to see that ALL THE SEEDS HAD GERMINATED. This was our hope as we provide training for the gardeners in sustainability practices! The seeds and watering cans that TCI provided have been put to good use.
We look forward to returning in the near future with more seeds and watering cans that are needed as this community is about 120 homes. Thank you for your support with transforming Uganda communities!
Transformation Continues!
Transformation at the most basic level continues. Meanwhile, back in western Uganda our team continues to work at our core values- to have transformed, healthy, empowered, food secure communities who take control of their lives and their futures. At the most basic level this is helping villagers provide food for their families.
Transformation at the most basic level continues. Meanwhile, back in western Uganda our team continues to work at our core values- to have transformed, healthy, empowered, food secure communities who take control of their lives and their futures. At the most basic level this is helping villagers provide food for their families.
The goal of these FAITH Gardens is to produce food for the family all year round. This can be done at no cost or very low cost by making FAITH Gardens (which stands for Food Available in the Household) to produce vegetables and crops around the house. By utilizing seeds from present local crops, exchanging seeds with neighbors and sharing the produce from the gardens, solidarity is built in the community and the cost is kept low.
Below one of our cooperative groups from Paradigm Shift training are receiving chickens in Brainstorm!
After the training they form groups and then each one of them put some money in and they buy somebody chickens one months then the next month another one gets chickens until all of them have received chickens. What an amazing way to build up your neighbors and share the blessings with others. This training and partnership is helpful in our vision of Transforming communities!
Justine pictured below is inspecting the FAITH Gardens in Kanara Village with Pastor Philemon.
Thank you for partnering in making these gardens and the transforming of communities possible! It is making all the difference for so many families!
Medical Assessment & Assistance for the malnourished.
Gilbert and other team members were performing assessments for malnutrition. They used standard anthropometric tools such as the weighing scale, height and length measurement, middle upper upper circumference ( MUAC) and calculated the BMI.
Gilbert and other team members were performing assessments for malnutrition. They used standard anthropometric tools such as the weighing scale, height and length measurement, middle upper upper circumference ( MUAC) and calculated the BMI. Those who qualified after assessment were issued a a substance called Plumpy’nut which is effective in treating severely malnourished people. This is the package you see people “snacking” on in the pictures.
The assessment was welcomed by all. In total we assessed 402 people priority was given children, elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers.
Of these 109 children, 24 pregnant women and 17 elderly were severely malnourished while 100 people were at a risk of malnutrition.
Thankfully, all of the severely malnourished children and adults passed the appetite test. This means they were able to eat Plumpy’nut and finish it and their condition can be managed from their homes by eating Plumpy’nut until their nutrition status is normal.
From the words of one team member, “God has stood to fight for the hungry and starving in Karamoja and he is just using us as a means to reach them! Tears were running from my eyes seeing skin to bone.”
Thank you for partnering with us in making these assessments, purchase the Plumpy’nut, and make it possible to show love and care to the Karamoja people. We get to be a part of making a difference around the world!
Hunger Relief Efforts Update 1
Our team has arrived after a 510 mile journey to Moroto, completed food and medical supply pick up and completed two days of distribution. This effort came together after our team in Uganda shared their heart for the starving in this area. Despite the circumstance there is so much JOY.
Our team has arrived after a 510 mile journey to Moroto, completed food and medical supply pick up and completed two days of distribution. This effort came together after our team in Uganda shared their heart for the starving in this area. Despite the circumstance there is so much JOY. That is our word for this outreach. We are providing nourishment for the body and encouragement and hope for the soul. Our team for this outreach/ relief work is made up by Isaac, Gilbert, Ubaldo, and Lucky.
Our team is targeting to feed about 422 families during this effort. The food relief sacks you see are holding “posho” maize flour (cornmeal). On the first day they distributed food to 122 households. From the pictures below you will see that some of the sacks are delivered to remote huts/ areas. Other times the truck is used and distribution happens from the truck.
THANK YOU for partnering with us to meet this tangible need and love His people. This outreach has provided amazing opportunities to be His hands and feet, pray for people, and bring hope in a dark time. Stay tuned for another update in the next day or two as it continues.
Uganda Famine Relief
Have you heard about the famine in Uganda? About 2 weeks ago, we received news from the TCI Uganda team of a terrible famine happening in Karamoja, the northeast region of their country. Our hearts were broken as we saw picture after picture from Uganda news sources of starving and desperate people.
Have you heard about the famine in Uganda? About 2 weeks ago, we received news from the TCI Uganda team of a terrible famine happening in Karamoja, the northeast region of their country. Our hearts were broken as we saw picture after picture from Uganda news sources of starving and desperate people. In the USA, we had not heard anything about a famine, so we were shocked at what our eyes beheld. We even wondered if the pictures were real. After doing some research and making a few phone calls, we discovered that the situation was in fact quite real and quite devastating. Drought and Covid isolation had thrown these dear people into an unthinkable crisis. The TCI team wanted to help.
Within a few days, Gilbert and Isaac from the TCI Uganda team were making the long journey to Karamoja, specifically to the district of Moroto and surrounding villages. They found desperate situations there. Mothers who had not eaten for days. Grandmothers too weak to stand. Many who had gone without so the children would have something. Children with stunted growth and distended bellies. One 3 year-old child whose development was so affected by malnutrition, he could not walk or talk. Over 1,000 children have died so far, and more are dying every day.
Gilbert and Isaac have since returned home, but as I write this post, they are preparing to leave again to bring food and supplies as well as medical intervention back to Karamoja. Would you consider donating to this effort? Would you also spread the word to help us raise funds?
Thank you for whatever you can do to help. We are truly grateful!
Happy New Years 2022!
Dear friends of TCI, As we approach the end of another unusual year we are so grateful for your gift of love and support. "Alone we go fast but together we go far" is our motto - and we've recorded a little video to share what we have accomplished together.
Dear friends of TCI,
As we approach the end of another unusual year we are so grateful for your gift of love and support. "Alone we go fast but together we go far" is our motto - and we've recorded a little video to share what we have accomplished together. We are excited for all the GOOD we will accomplish together in 2022!
Justine - From Shy School Girl to Program Manager In 10 years!
We first met Justine as a young teenager in Kiburara in 2010 (photos with Frank and Sue above, 2012). She was attending the Kiburara Annual Youth Conference and though she was a somewhat shy girl, she was bright, enthusiastic and willing to help wherever it was needed.
We first met Justine as a young teenager in Kiburara in 2010 (photos with Frank and Sue above, 2012). She was attending the Kiburara Annual Youth Conference and though she was a somewhat shy girl, she was bright, enthusiastic and willing to help wherever it was needed. On several occasions, she accompanied us as our translator when we travelled out to the villages. It is wonderful how God works! One of the US team members helped her to get a bachelor’s degree in rural development at Uganda Rural University. Now ten years later, we are thrilled to announce that TCI has hired her as our Program Manager. Her life’s calling is to stop the vicious cycle of poverty and to uplift the rural communities in East Africa. We are looking forward to all that we will do together.
Schools opened for examination candidates
We are so thankful that in spite of significant hardships, many of you have given generous support to our work in Uganda. We have been able to bring help to hundreds of families through food-packs and radio teaching even in the midst of the lockdown.
We are so thankful that in spite of significant hardships, many of you have given generous support to our work in Uganda. We have been able to bring help to hundreds of families through food-packs and radio teaching even in the midst of the lockdown. Some of the restrictions have recently been lifted and our teams are now resuming in-person training programs in the villages.
Ironically, the recent relaxing of restrictions has brought about acute hardship for private schools. Two weeks notice was given by the Ugandan government that schools would open on October 15, but only those students sitting for the national exams in the spring are allowed to attend. For Alpha Omega Secondary School, tuition will come from about a quarter of the normal number of students and will not be adequate to run the school (teacher’s salaries, a resident nurse, food for the students, etc., in addition to complying with all the new COVID operating procedures). Sadly, many private schools will be forced to close.
Alpha Omega Teachers gather for action after 6 months of no teaching!
We put out an urgent plea for funds to help. Thanks to the generous donors who made it possible for Alpha Omega Secondary School and Brainstorm Primary (elementary) to open and pass the Covid inspections. They would not have been able to open were it not for your help. There was so much joy for the teachers and students!
For One Woman your giving made all the difference.
The walls of the small hut were made of woven sticks plastered with mud and as they walked up to it, they could see the holes in the walls and patches where fresh mud had been attached to try and repair the damage. There was a roof, but there were gaps between the top of the walls and the roof.
The walls of the small hut were made of woven sticks plastered with mud and as they walked up to it, they could see the holes in the walls and patches where fresh mud had been attached to try and repair the damage. There was a roof, but there were gaps between the top of the walls and the roof. A heavy downpour with high winds the day before had made the damage worse and she had been preparing some mud to do further repairs. Moving into the hut, they saw that all she had was the bed she was sitting on, a small stool, a few jugs for water, one cup and one plate, a knife, some clothes hanging near the ceiling and a few other simple possessions. Her kitchen was a small fire-pit right next to her bed. As they began to talk to the lady, they learned that she was just 54 years old though she looked far older than that. She had been married and had given birth to twelve children but all of them had died. She is now a widow and when her husband died, he left her with no land which means she has no way to get money or provide food for herself. She lives all alone with no one to take care of her or provide for her. She said “I get food from those who intend to help me. If you feel mercy for me, you give me something to eat. I have no hope but I am just requesting help. Whatever you feel you can give, you can give me.”
They saw that she had only part of a bag of maize flour and she didn’t even know what she was going to eat for lunch. Fortunately, Lucky and his wife Shilla had brought some bananas for her so she said she would prepare that with some salt.
Out of the 130 families who were recipients of our food packs, this is the story of one of the women. Members of our Ugandan team paid her a follow-up visit. Thanks so much to those who supported us in providing funds for the food - these are the kind of lives you are impacting. To her, your giving made all the difference.
Flooding last night following harsh drought
As the Covid-19 pandemic has continued world-wide, Western Uganda has endured double challenges to the food supply because of drought during what should have been the rainy season. In the midst of this food crisis, last night in Kiburura and surrounding villages, a fierce rainstorm toppled trees and homes and caused tremendous floods, wiping out most of the meager food crops that had survived the drought.
As the Covid-19 pandemic has continued world-wide, Western Uganda has endured double challenges to the food supply because of drought during what should have been the rainy season. In the midst of this food crisis, last night in Kiburura and surrounding villages, a fierce rainstorm toppled trees and homes and caused tremendous floods, wiping out most of the meager food crops that had survived the drought. This is a continuing story. Relief funds are being collected to help them survive and rebuild. Please consider making a donation.
April 2020 – COVID 19 - REMEMBER THE POOR IN UGANDA!
Here in the USA the COVID-19 virus pandemic has us in various degrees of isolation; 6 feet apart, “shelter in place”, and under “lockdown” and we can’t easily buy toilet paper or wipes or masks. However, we still have many resources and comfortable homes to be quarantined in compared to our friends in Western Uganda.
Here in the USA the COVID-19 virus pandemic has us in various degrees of isolation; 6 feet apart, “shelter in place”, and under “lockdown” and we can’t easily buy toilet paper or wipes or masks. However, we still have many resources and comfortable homes to be quarantined in compared to our friends in Western Uganda.
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.” - Deuteronomy 15:7
Photo: Annah with 5 of her 6 children. Abandoned by her husband, she gets food by working in neighbors' farms and had just started her small FAITH garden. With COVID-19's lockdown order, she cannot go out to work in her neighbors' farms anymore to get food for herself and her 6 young children.
For a week or so, families have been sheltering in place in Uganda - the churches are closed and reliant on the radio to hear from their pastors if they are able. Uganda’s schools are closed but children in the villages can’t access school online. The economy is severely affected and many basic foods such as salt have tripled in price while the maize that rural farmers rely on for their income has dropped to about half price as markets in nearby countries have been cut off.
On March 25, President Museveni announced that all public transport by bus, taxi, trains and boda- bodas (motor bike) is prohibited. Markets are open for food items only – and nothing else. All these anti COVID19 virus measures are being strictly enforced by the authorities.
However, just prior to all this we at TCI got very encouraging reports from the ongoing village projects where the Paradigm Shift Personal Leadership training and the FAITH gardens had begun. This is a method of using all available land around the home to grow vegetables to ensure that there is Food Available In The Household (FAITH). Here are a few of the comments from some of the participants:
ANNAH- a single mother of six says: “TCI is good because in the past we were in darkness and now people in community they ask me where I got this kind of knowledge.” Faith gardens have helped her because she gets food to feed her children and people in community come to collect vegetables and it creates friendship.
EVERESTO, a village chairperson and father of 7 says: “TCI’S work with us is good because it has changed my old mind and community members are waiting for paradigm shift training and FAITH gardens have helped with food production and I even get money from people in the community after harvest.”
LAUBEN, a father of 8 children, is observing that there is now an increase of food security at home and also a little income from harvests to support family and tuition fees. He says that FAITH gardens have helped him to get vegetables and a balanced diet and also created friendship with people in the community as he has given them eggplants and seeds. “I wish every Individual in the community to learn from ideas given by TCI and the community people are very happy after seeing outcomes.”
“TCI is good because I gained a lot in changing my mind and people in the community are demanding trainings” says Kasembo Allen
With isolation of families, no groups allowed, and communities crying out for the TCI training – we have decided to use a two-pronged approach:
1. RADIO -We will use radio broadcasts to reach as many households as possible. Our team of Uganda trainers have mobilized for action and are in final preparation to launch the TCI training via radio on Friday April 3. They will share the Paradigm Shift / Leadership training materials and incorporate methods for FAITH gardens. In addition we will provide air-time for Pastor Moses to reach his congregation and related churches at this time. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Jesus and to spread our very practical messages to millions of listeners. These will help these communities in this time of confusion and great economic uncertainty.
2. FOOD PACKS – Many families are in need of relief right now and we will provide food packages containing Maize, beans, salt and soap for very needy families (identified by the local pastor of the villages) where we have been working.
We understand the difficulties that are facing many here in the USA but we ask you to please consider giving a monthly donation for our work among those who are in dire need in Western Uganda or else donate $25 dollars which will purchase one food pack. Go to this this site to donate online:
Abandoned But Not Hopeless
Abandoned by her husband, Annah was left to provide for her family. She works all day farming and is barely able to eke out an existence and provide 2 meals a day for her six children.
By Eda Cabaluna-Michaud
Abandoned by her husband, Annah was left to provide for her family. She works all day farming and is barely able to eke out an existence and provide 2 meals a day for her six children.
TCI staff encouraged her to attend the Transformational Leadership Training so that old, negative paradigms could be transformed into ones that revive hope, confidence and the right perspective to pursue her dreams.
“Little by little, one step at a time in the right direction toward your dream” was what the training taught her. Clarity of personal goals and a clearly articulated desired future for her family is key in the paradigm shift training. Once people value what matters most to them, they will be inspired to do positive, helpful actions that will continue to propel them to overcome poverty and reach their desired future.
When asked how she could change her present situation, she said: “If I can do better farming and get money from farming, I would achieve what I want for my children.” She added “Or if I can at least have money to start back yard animals to sustain my children’s basic needs.”
TCI currently helps participants of the paradigms shift training to start FAITH (Food Always In The Home) gardens in vacant plots of land around them. The FAITH gardens aim to help families have a continuous source of food while waiting for the harvest of their main crop or main source of livelihood.
To supplement the FAITH gardens, TCI is raising funds to help Annah and other poor families to start backyard animal raising. We invite you to journey with us through your prayers and donations.
TCI’s work: Giving hope for the journey of life
It was a fine afternoon. We were visiting a small village where one of our new friends, Caroline lives. As we entered the village, a group of children came running to greet us. We greeted them “Agandi!” (local term for ‘good day’). Some of them were carrying empty jerry cans and pointed to where they collected their drinking water.
By Eda Cabaluna-Michaud
It was a fine afternoon. We were visiting a small village where one of our new friends, Caroline lives. As we entered the village, a group of children came running to greet us. We greeted them “Agandi!” (local term for ‘good day’). Some of them were carrying empty jerry cans and pointed to where they collected their drinking water. We followed them for a distance and saw their main water source – murky, cloudy water emerging from a small drainage pipe underneath the road. We asked what they used the water for. “Drinking, cooking, washing and bathing, everything,” their mother answered.
It’s easy to conclude that they are in a sorry state, yet, we do know that there is something they can do about their situation. Just boiling the water and washing hands before eating would eliminate so many of the water-borne parasites. In addition, utilizing the vacant plots of land around their homes for food crops and vegetables is a simple strategy to implement as part of lives to help break the cycle of poverty and poor health. This is one example of how TCI works with communities. We begin with where people are and help them look at their situation with eyes and minds of discovery. Through our training and workshops, we facilitate a paradigm shift in their thinking: We help to open their eyes to see that what they thought was a hopeless state, is not. When they think that help from outsiders is the only solution leading to happiness, we lead them to discover that they can do so much more for themselves. So many villagers think that they have very few resources but we show them that they are surrounded by under-utilized land and when they think there’s no way to escape their poverty, we share with them that there is so much they can do in their situation. And more so if they work together as a community! They only need to know how!
Our work is very new, yet, we have already received very encouraging responses from four villages that have committed to start FAITH gardens (FAITH stands for Food Always In The Home) around them and encourage their neighbors to do the same.
Please join us as we journey in giving hope to those who have less in life, starting with the people of Jerusalem’s four villages.
TCI Training and Launch in Kiburara - A Great Success!!
For the past four weeks, Eda and the Local Ugandan TCI team have been enthusiastically training students, teachers and villagers in Capacity Building and Leadership development along with preparing for the TCI Launch.
For the past four weeks, Eda and the Local Ugandan TCI team have been enthusiastically training students, teachers and villagers in Capacity Building and Leadership development along with preparing for the TCI Launch.
On Saturday November 9, the official TCI launch in Kiburara was attended by about 500 very supportive local residents. The rain miraculously held off for the fundraising Run/Walk and students and townspeople eagerly participated in anticipation of winning the prizes.
Students of Alpha Omega School prepared and served food for the guests, participated in the run, organized an eating competition and a poster design competition. They also put on an excellent drama depicting the effects of community transformation.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the official opening of the TCI office was carried out by the Vice Chairman of the Local Council who wholeheartedly endorsed the strategy of TCI and is committed to support Pastor Moses and TCI as long as he is office! What a great beginning!
