Newsletter for May 2021

Children are missing, families are separated and refugees run for their lives. Twice in my lifetime.

The news of the destruction caused when Mount Nyiragongo erupted on May 22 in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo brought memories rushing back to me. My concern and prayers are for the children and those who are suffering as a result of this current disaster.

The last eruption happened in 2002. Now just 19 years later, it is hard to believe the deadly volcano Mount Nyiragongo erupted again.

If you have read my book “Hope Made Real” you know the horrors of the volcano I experienced.

Here is my recounting of that horror, from pages 21-27 in my book:

As darkness approached, I stood with the others on the balcony of the hotel. I was in an extremely dangerous place and yet fascinated by the spectacle I was witnessing and living firsthand. Explosions shook the earth. Vibrant yellow, red, and orange hues lit up the sky. Great fireballs of white gas exploded. A river of orange and red lava ten feet thick could be seen spewed from Nyiragongo’s mouth. From our viewpoint, we could see fires everywhere hot lava touched. Everything in its flowing path was razed.

We tried to remain rationally calm. Then, as fires caused by the scorching lava drew closer we were told to leave. Now we realized how close we were and how much danger we were in. The hotel was closing. We too were refugees fleeing for our lives.

My thoughts and prayers are with those children and their families. May those who grieve find solace and may separated families be reunited.

Back with the children

A very good day for Mama. During a bout with cold and flu-like symptoms lasting too long, I had chosen to stay away, not wanting to pass the illness to the children.

I am pleased to say finally I am no longer contagious and back on my feet. What a wonderful morning!

My escort Benjamin did the photo op. I share these photos with you.

Children everywhere. Joy to behold!

Word is out. Mama is on the field. They came running to greet me. My pleasure.

The discussion was about foote ball (soccer). A young girl said to me, “I don’t like to play foote ball.” My response was, “Neither do I, but I like to watch.” It was agreed it is OK not wanting to play and watching is good. Wish all problems were so simple.

After a playground visit and high fives, the bell sounded and the kids returned to class.

I love recess.

March 2021 Newsletter

Vaccinations!

Urukundo certainly marched into March with gusto. What an exciting month!

The first week in March will live in my memory. This was the week Rwanda received the Covid-19 vaccine. The first vaccine was to be distributed to health centers on March 5, with the first vaccinations to be given on March 6.

Not being a Rwandan with just my passport for ID, I was not on any listing to receive it. I understood that I would have to make contact, I then would be added, and it would take weeks or maybe months before I would receive notice to go to a health center to be vaccinated.

I had no problem with that. There are so many who are in greater danger.

Much to my surprise at 6 a.m. the very next morning, I received a text telling me I should appear at the Kivumu Health Center that very day (March 6) and the vaccine would be given to me. As is normal, I was being given special treatment. This time, I was grateful for it. Most times, I resent being shown preferential treatment.

Covid-19 vaccine administered in Kivumu in the Cyeza sector on March 6.

Sorry to say I had a very bad reaction to the vaccine two weeks to the day, but knowing travel will never be possible unless you have the vaccine, I am glad I received it and I encourage others to receive it also. It is time to return to sharing hugs and kisses. The vaccine, masks and love make that possible.

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.

Heads up

Mama’s book went to the publisher on Feb. 26.

Soon it will be available on Amazon as well as in bookstores.

Some of the photos from the book

Hey, I, Mama Arlene, was a little girl long ago with a mom and dad and later children of my own.

Hope Made Real is the final chapter of my life, and “Hope Made Real” is the name of the book. My family now includes children from my adopted country, Rwanda.

Read all about it. Proceeds from the book go to the Urukundo Foundation and Learning Center.

After publication, I will travel to the USA for book readings and signing events. To host an event with me, contact: Patricia Brown: pdbrown@spiritworks.org.

Improvements on the Urukundo campus

We had many improvements in the last year.

Communications
A big improvement was Wi-Fi was installed to cover the school, dental clinic and all of Urukundo Village. The village includes the business offices, farm office, pastor’s office, guest houses and Mama’s house

Protection
Lightning arrestors were installed on the school grounds, including the play area and the entire campus.

The football (soccer) field was filled and leveled, making it a safer play area for the school children.

Transportation
A second big school bus was purchased in January 2019. With earned income from the buses, we now have enough to purchase a third big bus. We have sold the minibus and are applying that money to the purchase of the third big bus. The minibus is too small for the number of children needing transportation at this time. It was a great starter bus, but it has outlived its purpose. Not enough seats.

Good looking bus. In service on January 29, 2020.

It is good to know the profit from the vehicles improves our ability to supply safe transportation for more children.

Sewing Center
Twenty-four sewing machines were purchased and added to the Urukundo Sewing Center.

A classroom large enough for the Sewing Center was built and desk-chair combinations were purchased for student use.

Library
A new extension was added to the school library.
The library now has space, tables, chairs and electrical outlets for computer classes and can accommodate older children and adults.

Yes, it was a very good year.

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.

December 2019 Newsletter

Another birthday

December, what a month!

First, I want to thank everyone who took the time to wish me a happy birthday. Really, 89 birthdays seem like a lot, but I am looking forward to my 90th birthday. Thank you all.

One of my birthday wishes was a love letter. I received this card, beautiful message and flowers from Johnny, my flower child for many years. Johnny always has given me flowers since he was old enough to walk to my garden and pick the best blooms. Johnny is now known as John, his choice because he is growing up. John is in Primary 6. He lives with Josephine, his foster mother and our day care employee. We meet his expenses, thanks to his support person. He brought the flowers to me with his heart in his eyes. What greater love could I wish for!

John

The flowers.

November 2019 Newsletter

What a month!

So many things happened in November. It’s hard to decide what to put in the newsletter. Bear with me because this has been an exciting month.

It was heartening to start November with an afternoon service in prayer and thanksgiving for the Primary 6 students who will be taking the National Exam.

Sixty-two Primary 6 graduates are on the left. Younger students are in the back and on the right.

The teachers and I remember when these graduates were in preschool. Oh, how they have grown and matured! Time does play tricks on us. Our children do not remain babies.

It was my pleasure to share the prayer time with the students.

Pastor Yves spoke to the children about Soloman’s request for wisdom, the greater gift.

From 2 Chronicles 1:10: “Now grant me wisdom and knowledge.”

Students on their knees before the Lord with Pastor Yves and the teachers standing and supporting them in prayer. It was an awesome sight.

Urukundo’s choir sang “Every Hour I Need Thee” and “Jesus Loves Me” for the service.

The students in Primary 6 spent the next three days taking the National Exam. They had mixed feelings, but as a group they told me they think they did well. The test was not hard. So they say. We will see in December when the grades come out and schools are assigned. How well each student does determines which school they are going to attend.

Graduation at last

While we wait for the National Exam results, we have our own graduation celebration. All children from preschool to Primary 6 and the Sewing Center students invite their parents and friends to come and see what they have learned in the past year.

The day starts very early at the school. Kids and parents gathered with the graduates at the school for the walk to the main road and up the street to the Urukundo main gate and then to the site set up for the graduation.

The march from the school to the site of graduation is a spectacular parade.

Blue and gold are the colors of the kindergarten graduates.

Awesome sight. What a parade! The graduates sing as they march to Mama’s gate. They enter and proceed to the soccer field where many tents are erected to protect guests from the sun and possible rain. This is the rainy season, you know.

We were blessed with a no rain day.

Primary 6 in caps and gowns. Each group has different colors. Black and green is Primary 6.

It is about one city block on the main road from the road to the school to Mama’s gate. Neighbors come out to watch and cheer the graduates on.

Sewing Center students bring up the rear. We are so proud of these young adults and their accomplishments. White and blue really stand out. One of the school projects is to make their own caps and gowns. They did a good job.

Entering mama’s gate. Teachers walk with the kids.

Greeting Mama and Pastor Yves. What joy! Until last year, I walked with the children and loved it. It is hard for me to not join the march, but age has a way of slowing us down. So I wait at my home gate and greet the students as they enter. I am honored to have Pastor Yves there with me, also greeting the kids.

Older grads wait while kindergarten kids are seated. It is quite a process. My home is in the background.

I do walk from my home to the celebration and make a grand entrance.

Left to right: guests of honor were Fortune Mukagatana, Muhanga vice mayor of social affairs; Florence Marie Uwanyirigira, Rwanda Parliament deputy; myself; my assistant, Olive Nyiracumi; Clare Effiong, leader of Esther’s Aid Culinary Arts School; Jean Marie Ntwari, executive director of the Urukundo Foundation, and Angelique Westmark, a volunteer from Germany.

What an interesting group! We were honored.

The Primary 6 graduates of last year were special guests.

Our university students came to support the younger students and to share in the program.

It was such a thrill for me to see so many of our university students arriving. They seldom are home together, so it was special for them also.

What a group!

This year at graduation we featured the development of the music program, starting with the All School Chorus.

The All School Chorus led us in the national anthem

Music is appreciated in our school. Being able to introduce music to our students is such a blessing.

This young girl learned to play the keyboard. This is an accomplishment worth doing.

African drums and guitar add to the music program and are so special. Drums are a part of the culture.

These drums were rented for the occasion. Some day we will purchase our own. They can be purchased here in Rwanda. We encourage both types of drums as great musical instruments.

Our orchestra is made up of flutes and violins. Wonderful music was presented by our own students. Parents were impressed. More instruments are needed.

Last but not least in the music program, our children respect their heritage and learn cultural singing and dancing.

We are very proud of our progress in developing the music program.

Developing an art program is next on the agenda.

This group is amazing.

Precision marchers from Primary 4 and Primary 5

In sync

Certificates were presented to kindergarten graduates. Each was signed by Mama and Headmaster.

Primary 6 students receive certificates after National exams. The Sewing Center certificates also are given at a later time.

The Tom Nunnally award for an outstanding student in the Sewing Center went to 22-year-old Germaine Iradukunda. This award is given each year by the Forest Hills Rotary Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, in honor of deceased Rotarian Tom Nunnally.

Presenting the award is head of the sewing center, Theresa Mukabanana, and Florence from Rwanda Parliament.

It is difficult to get a really good group picture of all the graduates, but we tried.

Christmas Wishes

Dear Friends and Family,

As you approach the Christmas holiday, remember the reason for the season. Love one another and share your love with the unloved, the sad and the lonely. Have a heart full of joy and gladness.

Merry Christmas in the Rwandese language: Noheli Nziza.

Much love,

Mama Arlene

Upcoming graduation

Graduation is on the horizon.

We are ready. Preparations are in place. The Sewing Center makes the caps and gowns for graduation.

The colors of the gowns show the level of the students.

White and blue: Sewing Center

Solid blue: Kindergarten

Black: Primary 6

The caps on chairs have tassels, different for each level.

White: Sewing Center

Yellow: Kindergarten

Green: Primary 6