Visitors day at secondary school

First visit to Claude and Luki in secondary school. Visitation is allowed the second Sunday in the month. The St. Bernadette Secondary School is a half hour from Urukundo Village and easy to get to.

Students wait for family and friends.

This month, Luki hurt his shoulder playing sports, and we were able to bring him home for a few days. If he were in a school several hours away, this would not have been possible. His shoulder was only bruised, and he returned to school after three days.

Our boys are growing up.

Big brother Diescor, our medical student, home for a break, visited with the boys.

Solange becomes a US citizen

Solange Nirere came to Urukundo in 2006. She was 12 years old. One of the first of my girls. She moved to McAllen, Texas, in 2012 for health reasons (asthma), finished high school and graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She is currently enrolled in its graduate program in political science. She expects to earn her master’s in political science in 2020. She is now 25 years old.

On Jan. 9, Solange took an oath and became an American citizen.

Solange and her best friend and lawyer, Ana Villegas, celebrate this momentous occasion.

So proud Solange is now an American.

December 2018 Newsletter

Happy New Year 2019!

December is a special month in Rwanda. It is a time when all students are on holiday from school and play is on the agenda.

Our kids thought making a new word would be a good way to start December. In Mama’s rock garden.

The birth of Jesus is a very important event for Urukundo kids and the world.

New word for December. Precious stones.

Our poster girl for December.

Wearing the stocking is more fun than hanging it.

Raziella in day care at Urukundo thinks so.

A necklace is decoration for tree. The hat is a bit big but even more fun.

Birthday surprise

My 88th birthday turned out to be a total surprise. Who would ever expect a party at 6 am in the morning. When called to the living room that early in the morning I expected one of the children was sick so I quickly put on a cover dress did not comb my hair etc. Imagine this wonderful greeting.

Not just the children, but teachers and staff were there to sing happy birthday to me.

Sure I cried. Tears of joy. Olive brought my housecoat so I would not be cold, and we toasted my special day with coffee, tea and African donuts

The kids presented me with a lovely card and lots of love.

My gift from the staff was a new party dress.

It is beautiful. Too early in the morning for modeling.

Birthday thanks

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the many friends and family members who sent me birthday wishes on Facebook and especially email (my favorite way of communicating).

To those of you who cared and were willing to help fund my trip home in March, I am so grateful.

My ultimate goal is still living until I am 110 + years. God in charge. A lot to ask, I know.

It will take that many years to be sure the foundation laid here is solid and the children are the unique people God intends them to be.

Community Christmas on Dec. 21

Christmas for community children was a bit overwhelming. We knew it would be more than last year, but the over 600 who attended was more than we expected.

Kids arrived early, waiting for doors to open at 1:30 p.m.

Seating plan went well.

Hope House is full and runneth over.

Overflow. On outside retaining wall and steps.

All children were served inside and outside.

We decided that we could not use chairs this year. Mats were placed on the floor in Hope House. Benches were along the far wall for teens. Chairs on platform were for mamas with babies.

Ok now we are ready. We think.

Boxed milk, meat sumbosa and juice for those who cannot tolerate milk were the treats for the day.

Entertaining so many children, it was necessary to have not only a system to serve refreshments but also to give gifts and have an exit setup so that there was crowd control. Interesting!!

Plan A. Give refreshments, collect trash. Girls line up for Door No. 1.

Boys line up for Door No. 2.

Receive gift, exit building. It worked.

Didn’t need Plan B.

Door No. 1 girls.

Door No. 2 boys.

Executive secretary Eric and Johnny.

Claude, Luki, Aline, David, Soso and John helped serve the kids and did the outside cleanup after the finish. They did a great job. Thanks, guys.

Ready for Christmas

Claude, Aline, Luki, Claudine, Egide, John, David, Diane and Soso

Sunday before Christmas

Urukundo kids’ choir includes Kenny, Kenilla, Kevine and Benita, who are home for Christmas. So happy.

Community kids’ choir

Christmas Day service

Cast takes a bow.

Narrator: Claude

Mary: Aline

Joseph: Bosco

Soldier: Kenny

Angel: Claudine

Innkeeper No.1: David

Innkeeper No. 2: Kenilla

Shepherds: Diane and Luki

Wise men: John, Egide and Soso

Star: Kevine

University choir

Divine found a friend.

Sharing Christmas

Sharing the love. Older brothers and sisters (university and secondary) were chosen by a younger one to receive and open their gifts together. The joy on the younger kids faces tell the success of this.

It’s all about Jesus.

Our permanent residents, at least until April.

Graduation 2018

All non-graduating and graduate students gather at school for the parade to the foote ball field.

Students and graduates coming together.

Starting the parade to the site of graduation. Ready, set, go!

Kindergarten Graduates and the Preschool teacher, Erneste.

Primary 6 graduated, pictured with the Primary English teacher, Ignace.

Sewing Center Graduates with the teacher of tailoring, Desire.

Walking the distance from the Learning Center road to Mama’s gate.

Mama & Pastor Yves join the Kindergarten parade at Mama’s gate. We’re so happy that the road was completed before this event.

Primary 6 graduates, Mama and Pastor Yves.

Sewing Center, Mama & Pastor. The walkway beside Mama’s house leading into the compound from the main road.

Entering the Foote Ball field.

The Kindergarten is seated.

After seating the Kindergarten class the parade proceeds, with P6, Sewing Center & undergraduates arriving at the field.

Music Program and the New Music Director, Emmanuel

Recorders and flutes in the school P5 & P6 chorus.

Students show their skill on the violin, the bells, and the xylophone.

Drums.

The Director of Music struts his stuff. Good job.

The drum set we rented. Next year we hope to have our own.

P1 through P4 chorus.