Hope Made Real

Greetings from Mama Arlene for June, 2009

Mama Arlene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:41:09 +0000

Greetings from Urukundo Village. June has been a wonderful month. We have had 19 volunteers arrive ready to work. Vacations have started and so our volunteers come and they are most welcome. They came one at a time and stay for as long as they can be here. Some come for two weeks, others for as much as 3 months. Two others for two days and 3 came for just an afternoon. All are appreciated.
We welcomed a team of 9 from Bloomsburg, PA for 10 days. We put them to work along with our other volunteers playing baseball, soccer and other sports with the kids, working with the babies, teaching bible study, speaking in worship, helping with laundry, cooking and cleaning, building a retaining and divider wall around the village. One visitor is teaching Taekwondo, two others English as a second Language, another Piano, and yet another is teaching Guitar. A nurse came and worked in the clinic for several days. So the activities have been wonderful and are many.
Our visitors visited the Genocide Center in Kigali, Kings Palace in Inyanza, The Natural History Museum in Butare and the Farm at Inyanza. It truly has been a good month.

A New Tradition of Trees

Mama Arlene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:21:32 +0000

It started with Betty Brown from Bloomsburg who asked could she plant a tree. Then my grandson Tim also planted a tree. Because we need the trees and want to have a growing testimony of volunteers who have honored us by coming and working in the village, a tree is planted in their name.

A New Sport: “Baseball”

Mama Arlene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:44:10 +0000

Our kids were again introduced to baseball. Tim Brown first introduced baseball when he brought gloves and a ball last year and now Tracy and Mike have introduced T-ball. The kids loved it but unfortunately we have no equipment. They were on the way to set up a sport center and had to take the equipment along because it was promised. I am sure this is not the end for baseball but Tracy, Mike, our boys couch, Debora, Kofi and baseball.

Just the beginning.

Aline takes a swing. Not bad for a first try.

Debora Wins an Essay Contest

Mama Arlene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:12:02 +0000

Debora is our hero. In her school of over 900 kids, she is a winner.
An essay contest was held in all the Primary schools in Rwanda. The essay was on Fruits and Vegetables and how good they are for our health. Debora took first place in her school. She then moved on to the District level and won there and now is going to the nationals. A congratulations are in order for our girl.

She was given a T-shirt, chocolates, vegetable seeds that we will plant, and a small sum of money from Papa John for being the winner.

The Urukundo Farm

Mama Arlene — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:45 +0000

John has acquired a piece of land in another location and we are moving part of our farm from the village to that new location. This will give us more land at the village to develop for housing and schools. The chicken farm will remain where it is but the cows, turkeys, goats and sheep and larger animals will move to John’s location. There is just not enough ground in our village to expand or to allow for grazing animals and so another location is necessary. This allows John to own and develop a land and home for his children while working with Urukundo Village. There is just not enough ground in the Urukundo Village to expand for animals and John has agreed to grazing and caring for our animals. John has not given the farm a name yet maybe “Urukundo Land of Joy farm”. Hokey???

This location will also one day be the new ‘Home for widows with no means of support”. This is John’s vision fulfilling his dream to repay the women who sheltered him in his youth. The new area is in Inyanza, South Province and is about an hours drive from the village also in South Province. Pray for this to be a wise move. My prayer is for wisdom all the time. “God in Charge.”

Grazing for the cows. This farm is part of our commitment to serve the Lord and his children.

Our own source of water at the farm. Further development is needed. Water on our property is a pure gift from God.

Support for the farm can be designated as “farm development” through Pay Pal on the web site or a check to Hope Made Real, Pittsburg address OR Saint Johns/Newberry.

Team Visit

Mama Arlene — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:55:19 +0000

We welcomed our second team from Wesley UMC in Bloomsburg, Pa. Some members of the first team in 2008 returned and were startled by the progress made in little over a year..
This team consisted of 3 adults and 6 young people. Their Building project was to help construct a protecting wall for the soccer field. They did camp projects crafts, games and a music camp for the kids. They leave July 2nd. The kids and I will hate to see them go.
Included in this team was Ed Keller the International Board President of Hope Made Real and his wife Lisa and sons Nathan and Nicholas. We were honored by their visit.

While leading a mission team to Urukundo Home for Children in Rwanda Africa, DR Ed Keller presented Mama Arlene with the Bishop Frederick Wertz award for outstanding service in the faith. This award is presented each year to one person by Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pa. The award was presented to Dr Patricia Brown in the absence of her mother at the Central Pa annual conference of the United Methodist Church.

This choir needs a name. Suggestions requested.

Natete, Aline, Belise and Annah. Laki appears to be directing.

We purchased the sweaters to help a womans group get started helping themselves.

Three Volunteers in Service, Plus 1

Mama Arlene — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:00:09 +0000

Friends are made at UHFC.

Nadine Baranshamje from Washington, DC
Andi Goldberg from New Jersey
Meredith Lu our Peace Corps Volunteer
Brittney Gonzolas from Florida

Greetings from Mama Arlene for May, 2009

Mama Arlene — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:49:48 +0000

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.

A New Child is Rescued

Mama Arlene — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:49:38 +0000

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?

News from the Girls

Mama Arlene — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:49:31 +0000

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.