Hope Made Real

Cake, drink and games.

BUILDING A ROAD IS HARD WORK!
The kids spent many hours gathering rocks to have a solid road without mud as its base.
The road is the passage way between my office and residence and the Home for Children.

They did a great job. Work in progress.

Stones gathered by kids

OUR FIRST LAMB
Urukundo Village farm is growing.

VISIT HOPE HOUSE AND ENJOY:
Story Books, blocks, color books, crayons, puzzles, little cars, indoor balls, etc.
All ages benefit and Betty is Caregiver in charge.

Jessica Cobbett returned to DC, She is missed.

Julia Kent Lewis, a short-term visitor with the Water Authority, included Urukundo in her time in Rwanda.
Claude made a new friend.

Meredith’s mother Ellen Chu was with us a very short time. Meredith was a very happy girl to have her mother come and meet everyone and see her at work in Rwanda . Meredith and her family are from Seattle and Meredith is a volunteer with the Peace Corps.

Todd has arrived. Welcome Todd to your home away from Home.

The time is drawing near for my trip to the United States to see all of you. I am excited. Even though it is three months away, already we are making preparations for my time away from home. Todd and Andria Ellingson from Arizona are scheduled to come beforehand to train so that they will be the managers in my absence.

There is one need that I must bring to all of you my friends. As you know, in Rwanda I do not use any of the money you send for the children for any of my expenses or travel. Instead I live on (and share) my pension. Therefore there is not much left for my air travel expenses to and from and while I am in the United States. Approaching 80, I no longer drive so I will also need friends and supporters who can transport me to and from places and people I need to meet and visit with. I look forward to seeing so many of you, both individuals and churches as well as the school who have prayed for me these many years. If you are able to help me with my travel, either with funds or with your vehicle please let me know. Any funds sent should be designated as “TRAVEL FUNDS”.

Last year at this time we were out of water and using our vehicle to transport drinking & cooking water for the village (our own use). This year the dry season did not happen. Climate changes.

Excessive rain this season has done damage to Urukundo property. Many died in Rwanda due to mud slides. The first photograph shows where our cement and ground started to wash away because of a heavy torrential downpour. The septic for the little house is right there. Any further erosion from the rain would be a disaster for Urukundo.
Thought you might find a few pictures worth a thousand words.


Ground preparation

Hard labor transporting the rocks in a homemade wheelbarrow

Almost finished.

Sarah’s first Afro hairdo, thanks to our volunteers Jessica & Meredith. Meredith is the photographer while Jessica stands nearby to make sure Sarah is safe. She loves to pose for the camera.

Esperance receives a generous gift from her Godmother Yvonne Kaufman in Reston, Virginia.
Thank you Yvonne. Dolls are so precious here.

Kidding of course. These hats came in a box and our kids loved them. They take turns wearing them. Even the boys take a turn.

Aline & Aline Molly