Special attention, please.
Due to some changes, my dominant email address has changed. Please use
The address using hopemadereal.com is no longer valid.
Worship
Pastor Yves and co-pastor Chantel had the pleasure of presenting Bibles to our two P6 graduates during the worship service.
Presenting Bibles
Sunday School resumes
In 2020, all group gatherings were stopped to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In late 2021, groups were allowed to meet with distancing and masks, but children under age 12 were not allowed to be in those gatherings. Now it is 2022, and we rejoice. Our young children are again in our midst. Sunday School resumed as a part of our worship.
This was our first Sunday School since covid stopped all children under age 12 from coming to worship.
It was so great to welcome the children back.
Sunday School must have a teacher. We welcome and thank teacher Donatille.
August 2022 Newsletter
No one is indispensable, and I am delighted to share with you, my followers, that the Urukundo Foundation functions very well when I am not functioning.
August has been interesting. Healthwise for me, it was scary. I have had many cough and cold episodes. In Rwanda, it was seasonal. With so many seasonal changes in Rwanda, the bug did not just go away as it usually did. It decided to hang around and introduce a friend. That friend’s name is pneumonia. Yes, I have had the pneumonia shot along with many other shots and that shot probably helped me survive. But it did not keep me from the infection.
Being a stubborn woman, I chose not to seek medical help and so allowed the infection to become severe. Two weeks after a hospital stay of six days, I am back home and healthy again.
Lesson learned: At any age, do not be your own doctor.
The proof is in the pudding.
Plant life in Rwanda
Remember this plant? The plant supplies palms for Palm Sunday.
It had to be saved. Now it has a new growing space.
New location
Pretty setting and it has survived the move.
In closing
Dear Donors,
The visits of children enhance my joy any day. Because of you, our donors, these children will have an education and a brighter future. One person cannot make this happen. It takes the love and caring of all of us together to make it possible. I am well aware of how much this ministry depends on its generous donors. I am humbled by your generosity.
I am in your debt.
Mama/Arlene
May 2022 Newsletter: Advocating education
The focus of this May newsletter is a journey in our library.
A school library should be a place where children want to go and experience learning through reading and activities. Urukundo Learning Center’s library is such a place.
Library in action.
Train leaving the station. All aboard.
This train goes to the library where we will meet librarian Assumpta and assistant Viateur, who is a teacher, to keep us on track.
Assumpta and Viateur lending a hand.
Reading and being read to are, of course, first and foremost on our journey.
Reading materials, research materials and teaching materials are available for both children and teachers.
Library books are so important for all age groups.
A good area for study and research is also important in a library.
Along with the academic aspect, we also use visual and hands-on learning.
Preschoolers and numbers. Magic with a whiteboard easel.
Domestic animals, life on a farm and tractors are new concepts, but learning ones.
From domestic animals to African safari animals to the vehicles used are exciting.
Teachers get educated on different animals and vehicles and how hands-on can be a fun way to teach.
Moving on
Hard hats and jackets are worn as we learn about construction. The person in the white hat is Carol Falke, president of the Hope Made Real International Board.
Building as construction workers or just kids with a dream, our kids get to test their imaginations with different construction materials.
A new kind of car?
Bendable parts and an imagination.
Tinkertoys
Now to the domestic angle.
Shopping, cooking and eating.
Dressing up to go shopping.
Shopping carts are necessary.
Pizza, cupcakes or cookies, anyone?
Vegetables and fruits make a healthier diet.
Let’s cook.
Time to set the table. Let's eat.
Now we pretend to eat a delicious meal. Imagination and pretend make a delightful experience.
Creative educational toys make our library a place of enjoyment while learning takes place.
Creating objects with Play-Doh is a step toward life skills.
Pottery is good practice.
This one with flowers added is unique.
Play-Doh can also be used to make animals. There is just no end to ideas.
Message from Mama
May ended with a bang. Well, not really a bang, but a nasty cough. Went immediately for the Covid test. It was negative. Now treating flu-like symptoms and am on the mend. Even in Rwanda, the flu bug exists and takes time to go away.
Enjoy the spring and summer months wherever you are.
Mama Arlene
A quiet time with Mama
As I look into the future of Urukundo, I see a domino effect. One change leads to another.
Think about this. Our Learning Center continues to provide education for more and more children. The new residence leads to expanded facilities for the Dental Clinic which leads to better dental care. That move lets us expand the daycare so that more infants have a safe and loving place to be cared for. So it goes. God in charge.
All of this is making life changes possible in the community both educationally and health-wise.
Please do keep Urukundo and me in your thoughts and prayers.
Mama Arlene
March Newsletter
The storms have stopped. For how long we are not sure. The weather pattern in Rwanda has changed, so we don’t know what to expect anymore.
National Board meeting
With pleasure, we welcomed the National Board of Directors of Urukundo Foundation at its annual board meeting.
Our president, Oswalde Ruremesha, presented the accomplishments completed in 2021, and the hopes and goals for 2022. Those goals include two preschool classrooms, moving the dental clinic to the new location nearer the road, adding orthodontia to the dental service and refurbishing the kitchen. Big goals. Funding needed. God in charge.