Newsletter for November 2020

Giving thanks

November is a time for giving thanks. I share with you this poem by Joanna Fuchs. It says it all so much better than I.

Thanksgiving is the appointed time

for focusing on the good in our lives.

In each of our days,

we can find small blessings,

but too often we overlook them,

choosing instead to spend our time

paying attention to problems.

We give our energy

to those who cause us trouble

instead of those who bring peace.

Starting now,

let's be on the lookout

for the bits of pleasure in each hour,

and appreciate the people who

bring love and light to everyone

who is blessed to know them.

You are one of those people.

On Thanksgiving,

I'm thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Rwanda. It is just another day. School as usual and so I remember past Thanksgivings. I will share the story with you of one Thanksgiving I remember.

I do not like candied sweet potatoes. My candied sweet potatoes are the best and traditionally I make them for my family. The kids wanted to give me a break, so it was decided that I would travel to Harrisburg on that past Thanksgiving and my daughter Patricia would have the feast instead of having me cook. I asked if I should bring the sweet potatoes and was told no. Patricia had a new recipe and she wanted to try it. That was OK by me as I don’t eat them anyway.

The meal was prepared. The food was delicious. Nothing would satisfy my daughter until I agreed to try the sweet potatoes. She was so insistent, and I felt it necessary to at least try her new recipe. Well, to my surprise the potatoes were delicious. The flavor was different. Not only did I try them but had a helping and then a second helping. They were very tasty. The kids were tickled about something. Seemed they had pulled a joke on Mom. After the meal was over, I commented on the fact that those were the best sweet potatoes ever. Tricia started to laugh and informed me the recipe called for rum and she doubled the amount called for. I was a bit of a prude and so not used to alcohol. My kids had a good laugh at my expense. Yes, the joke was on me. Love those kids. Do not eat candied sweet potatoes no matter what the occasion.

Everyone should have memories that make them laugh.

This year on Thanksgiving, I was able to talk to all five of my kids in the USA at the same time on Zoom. The sharing was great. I am thankful for Zoom along with my many other blessings.

Think on this

Every day is a day of thanksgiving. Be thankful that in a troubled world, you can make a difference. It is your choice.

If you make a difference for just one person, you are making a difference for the whole world. Do you want to make a difference?

Reaching out in this month of Thanksgiving to all of my readers. I'm so thankful for each of you.

Celebration

Urukundo had a staff wedding.

Evariste, our poultry farmer, became a groom. His bride, Grace, is lovely. Their reception was hosted at Hope House.

Fanta (soft drink) was the drink of the day. The bottle of champagne was special, a gift for the bride and groom.

Simple but beautiful. Not the usual Rwandan wedding. Restrictions of the pandemic were met.

July 2020 Newsletter

The month of July is a month of celebration in Rwanda. On July 1, Independence Day is observed, and it is a public holiday. July 4 is celebrated as Liberation Day. On this day, we commemorate the end of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Because of the pandemic, there is little celebration in Rwanda this year. We celebrated in our hearts and not on our streets because of the coronavirus and social distancing.

July 4 is also independence day in my homeland, the USA. A dear friend, Clare Effiong, baked me a special cake. Clare is director of Esther’s Aid, an NGO and culinary arts and career school in Kigali. Clare is also a US citizen from New York City.

She also brought juice, and we celebrated Rwanda’s Liberation Day and our country's Independence Day with cake and juice for the staff and kids at Urukundo. The icing was delicious. I like icing better than cake. I think it is the kid in me. To observe distancing and show respect for the danger of the virus, kids and staff were invited to drop by whenever convenient and not in groups. It worked well.

Mama’s book

For some time now, I have been sharing with you the expected birth of my book. Yep, it is like giving birth. The process takes too long and the labor pains seem to go on forever. Finally, the book is produced. Like with a newborn, I am hoping and praying all is well and everyone will love the new (book) baby.

So, OK. Because I am 89 years old, a baby is not possible, but a new book is. Hope you all like my creation.

My manuscript is “Hope Made Real.” It is now a book and is available in ebook and paperback. While the book can be purchased in several locations, here is the Internet address for people to order my book directly from the bookshop where we earn a great deal more on each book sold. https://store.bookbaby.com/book/hope-made-real

Please note all proceeds from the book go to the Urukundo Learning Center Education Fund.

More information is available on the website. Check in there, please.

Book front cover.

Celebrations

With the shutdown lifted, Hope House is again a place for weddings. A wedding party can only have 30 guests and the bridal party.

For the first time, a wedding party asked if they could take photos in my garden (front yard). I was delighted. Not wanting to impose, our photographer took two photos and backed away.

I really like this photo outside the living room window.

Celebrating Easter

Palm Sunday has been set with tradition at Urukundo. The branches on this plant were stripped, thorns removed and preparations were made for the morning service.

Last year, in 2019, the children walked to the Worship Center, waving the palm branches and singing.

Because of the virus, this year was different. The plant was not denuded, and I watched with fascination as this new growth appeared. This is the plant on April 12.

Waiting to see what will develop. This new life may be our symbol of the new hope of life given for us on the cross.

Watching the change taking place. OK, I think a good pastime during shutdown is watching a plant grow. This is the plant on April 25. How exciting can that be?

Mama’s book alert

I look forward to when the book “Hope Made Real” is published and I can come to the USA to share it with you. I will be available for book signing and sharing my favorite passages. Bookings later.

Hoping it will be in the fall or early spring. A lot depends on this very contagious virus. In the meantime, I would like to share excerpts I feel appropriate with you.

It seems this segment from Page 112 about a time when I was a speaker in the worship service fits well with April and the Easter season:

While I was still serving as the speaker, a special Sunday in April was a challenge. Each April the country sets aside a time of remembrance for those who died during the genocide. It is such a sad time for the Rwandese. By government decree, there are to be no festivities or celebrations during the entire month of April. Weddings and parties are taboo. Singing and dancing are prohibited.

Yet, every four years this mournful national observance falls at the same time as the Christian celebration of Easter. My kids and the worshipping community look forward to the fun and joy of Easter morning. The older girls practice for weeks to present a traditional dance and the children’s choirs practice new selections. This year we had to tell the children that none of this was allowed. The younger ones could not understand the reasoning for this gloom.

As luck would have it, I was to give the Sunday message. I tossed and turned all night deciding what I could say that would respect the Rwandan observance of remembrance yet still celebrate the risen Christ of Easter. The next morning rising up from my chair in the front row and stepping up onto the platform here is the essence of what I said.

“This morning we, with our country, feel sad for people who died during a very troubled time. None of you children had been born yet, but it is important for you to know what happened and to honor those who died. We also feel happy because it is Easter when we celebrate the risen Christ. None of those living today were born when that happened either. We can feel both sad and happy at the same time; sad for those who died, and happy to celebrate Easter. We grieve for what is lost and rejoice for what is gained.”
Thank goodness, as I sat down the children rescued me by launching into the song, Because He Lives in English and then in Kinyarwanda. I was so pleased. Afterwards, the service ended in silence and everyone departed quietly.

One more thought

Valentine’s Day is a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. Every day should be such a day.

Children give love freely, and they hope for love in return. Hug a kid this month and every month. Share love with a child.

The rewards are beyond belief.

Be my Valentine.

Mama Arlene

January 2020 Newsletter

From the Urukundo Foundation and Urukundo Learning Center, Happy New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Morning exercise for preschool
Check out the new video.

A new month and a new year. I am told that because it is an even year, it will be a good year. Superstition, and I am not sure I agree, but it sure is a good thought.

The year 2019 was a good year, and it was not an even year. Urukundo accomplished a lot.

Student progress
Here are the numbers:
• 140 entered preschool baby class.
• 122 kindergarten children moved into the primary class.
• 62 children graduated from Primary 6 and entered S1 (junior high).This is the start of the first three years of secondary school.
• 4 students graduated from universities: Tresor, Divine, Alexander and Lilliane.

Good News

Dorcas is recovering! Brave girl.

For you who do not know, Dorcas’s home was caught in a mudslide after heavy rain in Muhanga, causing it to collapse. Dorcas was crushed beneath the falling mud brick wall. These building bricks weigh 40 pounds each. A little girl nearly lost her life. She has fought back.

From this in October 2019

To this in January 2020

Dorcas and her walking stick

She is back. Here she is entering the school gate. We applaud her. I thank all of you who joined Urukundo in prayer.

I also heard some good news about Diescor, who has made additional progress at a rehabilitation hospital in the USA. He now can walk short distances on his own with a cane, is saying new words everyday and is gaining some movement in his upper arm. He is doing well enough that he has been discharged to outpatient therapy. He made a special point to send his love and a "hi" to the kids.

Urukundo Worship Center

A donor blessed us with funding to purchase Bibles for our community youth graduating from Primary 6. Having a Bible to take with them as they leave home for the first time is the perfect tool to help them along the way. The Bibles are of good quality and with a hard cover. They are in the Kinyarwanda language.

Pastor Yves placed in the Bible the name of the child, the date and reason for the gift (graduation). Some time later, he also signed the Bibles for those baptized.

These seven beautiful people accepted Christ as their personal savior, were baptized and received a Bible with their name and date of baptism on the inside cover.

The older gentleman said, “I am happy to have a Bible even though I can’t read. Maybe I will learn to read.” I wish him the best as from experience I know learning a new language is harder to accomplish as you get older.

We are so pleased. Pastor got a hardly used new suit.
He sure looks handsome. It is a good color. Blue.
Everyone knows that is Mama’s favorite color.