April 2021 Newsletter

Greetings from Mama Arlene

April is the month of new beginnings. Well, for Urukundo, it is a month of developing a new system for our kitchen. Thanks to some early gifts, we were able to start. We will continue as funding becomes available. After much discussion, the decision was made. Considering the health problems for our employees breathing smoke and the environmental effects of destroying our forests for firewood, we decided to go ahead with installing the propane gas for cooking.

We will rebuild the kitchen when funds are available. Yes, it truly is a new beginning. For months, I have been anticipating what changing from wood to propane gas might be like. Well, dear friends and family, here in pictures is the answer. In capital letters, I declare: ANOTHER HOPE MADE REAL.

Propane tank arrives.

It takes a lot of men to lift such a heavy object.

OK. Job well done. Tank off of the truck.

Celebration of another Hope Made Real.

A platform was built. The tank now has a permanent resting place.

We must protect our neighbor and secure the land where the propane tank rests. It would not be good to one day find our tank sitting on our neighbor’s property. Yes, a retaining wall and a fence to protect the tank for safety reasons are necessary.

Tanker arrives for the first time to fill our tank.

We have gas.

Protection for the tank.

The tank has its protective house. Painted blue, of course.

Visit from our princess

Baby Chloe is 11 weeks old and finally came to visit her muzungu grandmother. Covid-19 has had control for too long. It was such a blessing to finally be holding this precious baby girl.

She was born Jan. 3. Her papa, my Rwandan son Amin, and his lovely wife Claire were delighted when, thanks to the prayers of so many, a healthy baby girl was born. Olive visited her at home, but because of Covid-19, it was not safe until recently to visit Mama at Urukundo Village.

February 2021 Newsletter sent with love

February is all about love, caring and sharing. Urukundo’s family is also all about love, caring and sharing. Of all the virtues, love is the greatest.

Meet some of our kids sharing the love. They are all my valentines.

Olive with Jacob and Rebecca

Olive went to visit Jacob at his new school. She asked Jacob if he knew his sister Rebekah was in the same school. He did not, and Rebekah did not know Jacob was there. The reunion was an event to behold.

Baby Edith is the center for this group. She is their valentine special. Her mama is HR manager Juliette. Sharing the love are big brothers Edison and Jerry; adopted cousin Emma; and foster sister Livine.

Couldn’t resist those missing two front teeth.

Love enough to go around in Pastor Yves’s family.

Papa Ishmael, chairside dental assistant, has a valentine. Her name is Audrey.

More love. Chantel, our daycare helper, shares the love with Sabrine. Her mama is teacher Salonge.

A newborn baby and his mama.

Welcome, Chloe

Giving birth can sometimes be a challenge in Rwanda. For Amin and Claire and Urukundo, this birth was very special. Amin, the dad, is one of our boys. We are happy to welcome Chloe Agahozo Niyonkuru into the Urukundo family. Thanks to the prayers of many and good medical care, our little girl and her mama are home and doing well. Papa is very happy.

A month of birthdays

December is so very special for me and the world.

For me, this is my birthday month, and I share it with my son Jerry, his wife Janet and my grandson Chris, who missed being born on my birthday by about two hours. Most of all, we and the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. Who better to share a birthday month with?

Creche at worship service. Cradle for baby Jesus.

Thank you to everyone who made my 90th birthday special. The original plan was for me to be in the USA. The plan had to be changed because of the Covid-19 virus all over the world.

Birthdays are even more special when you reach 90.

A precious gift on my birthday

Many of you have been with me in this journey from the time our first babies started to make their presence known. David arrived first, then Johnny.

Johnny, who now is known as John, came to Urukundo when he was 3 months old. He was our second baby to arrive. As soon as baby Johnny got his legs working and could walk to my house, he would pick a flower along the way and bring it to me. He always found the prettiest flower, usually from my flower garden. Johnny is now 11 years old. Through the years, he never stopped bringing me flowers. I love them and him.

Celebrating my 90th birthday was special. Josephine, his foster mom, helped him to continue in this flower tradition. On my birthday morning before he went to school, John brought me beautiful flowers. He wrote a message in the card saying, “Thank you for being my mother.”

Thank you, John, for being my son.

Excuse the bed hair!

90th birthday celebration

I was touched when Juliette and Libby arrived at my door to escort me to a special time of celebration commemorating my 90th year.They came to make sure I attended. There was a gathering in Hope House with distancing and masks and a most special luncheon prepared in our Urukundo kitchen.

Soft drink (Fanta) and food ready for the celebration.

A beautiful cake with icing in my favorite color, blue. A candle that acted like fireworks was part of the decoration. Blowing out 90 candles would be a little much.

Urukundo Learning Center students from Primary 5 and 6 sang “Happy Birthday” to me before moving to the dining room for a special lunch in my honor.

Special visitor Aicha traveled from Kigali with Divine for this day.

Aicha is founder and CEO of Kandaka Naturals. She also is a PhD student at the University of Bayreuth in Germany in ecological modelling. Over the year, she lives in the Sudan, Rwanda and Germany. She creates hand-made soaps, lotions and all the natural cosmetics for Kandaka Naturals. Our daughter Divine is employed by this non-governmental organization.

Delighted to have Divine and Aicha at my celebration.

The celebration did not stop with only one day.

Day 2 of celebration was three days later.

A second cake, this one with icing in white and dark chocolate. Thanks to Clare Effiong and Esther’s Aid Culinary Arts School, this cake arrived and was a gift from the international board of directors of Hope Made Real. The board also met with me on Zoom and sang “Happy Birthday.” What a wonderful birthday surprise! It was glorious. Thank you, board.

Clare Effiong, director of Esther’s Aid Culinary Arts School, came with her Chef Din, bringing me bagels, banana bread and cookies and, of course, the cake. Fatsville for sure but oh so good! Chef Din took over my little kitchen and made me a “for real” delicious hamburger prepared just the way I like it. I was on Cloud 9. Clare is from New York City, serving in Rwanda. An amazing woman.

I received many messages from friends and family members, both here and abroad. I share only one. The message is wonderfuI. It came from an employee.

“Be happy! Today is the day you were brought into this world to be a blessing and inspiration to the people around you! May you be given more birthdays to fulfill all of your dreams!”

Birthday messages came from all over the USA and also from Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Uganda, Rwanda, Switzerland, Finland and Australia. I am humbled by the love shown to me on my special day.

Christmas photo

Mama and kids at home this Christmas Day

Front row: Claude, Soso, Forever, making it jolly. Silly boys.

Back row: Sarah, John, Claudine, Benita and Mama. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

Christmas treat in the afternoon: Fanta, cookies and later a lollipop. I was blessed to have seven of my younger kids home with me for Christmas. Claudine, Forever, Sarah,Claude, Soso, John and Benita.

We are hoping that all the kids can come home for this special holiday next year.

Thank You

Christmas with love the focus.

Noheli Nziza : Merry Christmas

As an often repeated quote says, “Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your age by friends, not years.”

Happy New Year

2021

Thank you all.