Hope Made Real

May started with a trip to a local hospital. It was minor or major surgery, depending on your point of view (related to aging I am told.) Surgery went well and I was home after 2 days.

I walked to the top of my mountain with no discomfort two weeks after the surgery. Miracles do happen. Prayer is the healing tool for me.

I want to thank all of you who kept me in your thoughts and prayers during this scary time. The cards and letters have started arriving and they refresh my spirit. Knowing so many care is a pick-me-up for me. Thank you for taking the time to send me your love and encouragement.

A Chair for mama from her kids and staff.

Mama Arlene with Sarah

While walking to work early in the morning on May 20th, a man heard a strange sound coming from a falling down mud house in a deserted area. He listened and heard it again. It was a very weak cry from a hurt animal, or so he thought. He walked to the door of the dilapidated mud house and peered in. There on the floor lay a tiny naked baby. He picked up the child, wrapped it in his shirt, and went to the nearest cell leader. The cell leader then took the baby to Alyce, Vise Mayor of Gender & Family for the District.

Alyce called us. In this district, we alone will accept these throw away babies. Thank God we are here. The baby is beautiful and may be about 5 days old.

Yes we have a baby girl. Claudine, David, Johnny and Lake now share the nursery with this little gift from God. She has quite a family: 40 in all plus the mamas. She will share the love and space.

We have named her name Sarah. The nursery needs to expand. We need to expand so that these children are not lost. What can you do to help?

Annah and Belise

Our kids are growing up. Annah and Belise decided they want to go to school with the rest of Urukundo kids. That would mean cutting their hair off and a different uniform, carrying a back pack and having sport shoes. Here they are ready to be one of the “BIG KIDS”. They were both really excited. It’s so wonderful to see them excited about the next stage of their lives.

Meredith

Meredith comes to Rwanda from Seattle, Washington.
She is one of the first volunteers to return to Rwanda with the Peace Corps after an absence of 15 years. We welcome Peace Corps back to Rwanda and are pleased that Meredith choose Urukundo Home for Children as her second project. Meredith is posted in our sector and has become a member of the Urukundo family.

The safety wall is now finished. It is now safe for Laki and the kids to play in safety. Thank you for helping make this real.

Cait Stadler, Sheri Brown, and Steve Geier visited from Kansas City Missouri.

Andria Ellingson doing what she loves best with Baby Sarah. Todd and Andria are from Scottsdale Arizona.

Todd and Andria on top of the mountain with mama.

Look at Todd in our Sunflower Jungle.

Some of these plants are 10 to 12 feet tall. We have our own Sunflower jungle thanks to Betty Grunstra from Pennsylvania.

When you come to visit look for the sign. We are now official and the sign points the way from the main road.