My chauffeur the month of November was Jerry Brown, chair of the Hope Made Real International Board and my son.
From Vermont to New York
My hostess in Buffalo, New York, was a delightful woman. Barbara Nelson and I spent many happy hours sharing stories and life experiences. It is my hope one day Barbara will come to Urukundo. Her many talents would be such an asset to Urukundo Learning Center.
At SUNY Buffalo State College, the audience was enthralled by speaker Sophia Veffer.
Sophia is a survivor of the Nazi campaign (Holocaust) that orchestrated the slaughter of more than six million European Jews during World War II. She is one of the few survivors of the Holocaust living today and is a very special woman.
Andrew Kahn is founder of the Anne Frank Project at Buffalo State College and a member of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors.
I was honored to be a member of this panel. The discussion was centered on the Nazi Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide -- very different tragedies and in so many ways very similar.
At the podium
Another familiar face
Oct. 23
A bit tired but so happy to be with Terry Masch, who flew in from Florida for a too short visit. Terry was one of the original members of the board of Hope Made Real.
State College churches
Oct. 24
A warm welcome from Pastor Greg Milinovich at St Paul's United Methodist Church in State College, Pennsylvania. We shared a mission moment with the congregation.
In the afternoon, sharing time was at Mount Nittany United Methodist Church, also in State College.
Mount Nittany UMC Pastor Chris Passante was gracious and accepted a copy of my book.
What a beautiful background!
Judy Geschwindner represented St Paul's UMC in our afternoon meeting.
Connie Cousins came from St John Lutheran Church in Bellefonte to hear an update about Urukundo. Connie has visited Urukundo several times.
Barb Stapleton attended this session representing McConnellstown UMC. This photo is of Barb when she visited Urukundo in 2016.
My age group
Oct. 25
Morning session
The Community Room at the Village at Penn State retirement community was the perfect place to be with senior citizens my own age. It was a great pleasure to meet, greet and share with this elite group.
Because I am one of them, I think older citizens are the greatest.
Nancy Gamble was our hostess. A delicious lunch was served with continued conversation.
Next stop: Kiwanis Club
Oct. 25
I spoke at an evening session of the State College Kiwanis Club.
Ready to listen and share.
Penn State Circle K is a collegiate service organization sponsored by Kiwanis International.
Penn State University students and me: James Hanagan, Paige MacConnell, Ban Nguyen and Dylan Freeman.
Joining me were Jerry Wettstone, Jeff Seamans, Jane Wettstone and Kathryn Mackes.
More ahead
Oct. 26
Two events today, and tomorrow heading for the Williamsport area.
Traveling from Sept. 1 to Dec. 5. Come on along. Stay on board and enjoy the ride. It is an exciting trip.
Happy to have you on this journey with me.
Mama
USA trip
Now the journey begins. USA, here I come.
Jean Marie (acting director), Juliette (human resource), Eric (office secretary), Oswald (president of the national board), Olive (personal secretary), and Viatuer (Learning Center administrator).
The first leg on my journey to the USA. Administrative staff bidding farewell. Hey, the new pantsuit was a product of the sewing school.
Lucky, Claude, Divine and Aline also came to say, “Have a good trip Mama. See you in December.” Love those kids.
A beginning. Please travel with me on my journey.
First stop United Christian Parish in Reston, Virginia.
Pastor Marcus Leathers quizzes Mama about Urukundo and how hope is made real at Urukundo.
Next stop Pittsburgh
Lunch with my oldest grandson Christian and his lovely wife Sarah, What a day!!!
Two of my daughters, Jacque and Patricia. So happy to be spending some time with them.
Being pampered. Yep, getting my haircut and styled. How good can it get?
Book signing with these lovely ladies, members of Beacon Hill Book Club. They had all read the book and asked interesting questions. They were delightful.
Second book signing in Pittsburgh. Hosted by my daughter Patricia.
Moving on
Sept. 19 found me in Christ Church McKeansburg, Pennsylvania. Pastor Sunny Stock invited me to deliver the sermon, share time with the children and speak about my book and Urukundo at Sunday School. It was a full morning.
Pastor Sunny and husband John. Sunny and John were the host family when Lilliane, one of my girls, came to the USA for education.
What a wonderful day!
That evening, we met with the youth pastor Mark Shellhamer, his wife Jane and several of the youth. Pizza for all. Jane has visited Urukundo.
On the road again
Sept. 20 found me on the way to Philadelphia.
Katie and Pierce Keating and their son Luke were my hosts. Hope for photos later. I need to remember I have a camera on my phone. Their daughter Katrina works with an NGO in Philly and invited me to accompany her to a community meeting. I was honored to take a small part in a “community unity” meeting. While there, I met this remarkable young man. He is a talented artist and promised to visit and share his love of art and of children. He will be most welcome.
Mama and Patrick, an artist with a future.
On to West Chester University for an evening of conversation and book signing.
The PowerPoint presentations are so helpful in telling the story.
Erin Friday was the host there.
Erin, a CPA and is CEO for the Thousand Hills Accounting in Rwanda and Main Line Accounting in the USA, is a frequent visitor to Rwanda.
Had my first visit to an Irish Pub. It was Kildare’s in West Chester. Wow! That was interesting. Proprietor Dane Gray joined us at our table.
Meeting a Rwandese gentleman in Philadelphia was an unexpected pleasure. Eric Sutera is in the USA on business. He actually came to hear me speak. I was honored. We had met in Rwanda earlier. It’s a small world.
Meeting with Jordan Schugar, an associate professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and my hostess Erin before the presentation. Dreaming new dreams and setting new goals.
On the road to Lemoyne, Pennsylvania
Some of my family live in the Harrisburg area. Double the pleasure.
My daughter Barb and her husband John.
Great-grandson Nate.
Strong women. Three generations: my daughter Barbara, me and my granddaughter Becki.
I arrived the day after Pastor Jason Schwartzman of Grace United Methodist Lemoyne was ordained.
His wife Michelle and children, Dante and Jahnavi, were there to support him. I was honored to be the speaker in the worship service on that Sunday.
Sunday morning found me at Grace United Methodist Church in Lemoyne.
I spent the afternoon with Pastor Jason...
and Michelle.
I was blessed to have Dr. Linda Rhein from Florida, Ruth Cox from Carlisle, and Ruby and Jim Sosa from Maine make special trips to hear and share the story of Urukundo today. The day was full of surprises.
Another book signing and then on the road again, back to Pittsburgh.
Note from Mama
Visiting and sharing with friends and family in the USA.
A September I will long remember.
Looking forward to more adventures in October.
Mama
August Newsletter
Anticipating my Sept. 1 journey to the USA, I am finding suitcases; purchasing crafts as gifts for friends and family; and preparing PowerPoint presentations to share my love (Urukundo) story. In a few days from writing this, I will be on my way.
My phone number in the USA, as of Sept. 2, is 412-636-8452. My itinerary is downloadable from this link.
Important collection: Want to invite your group to bring something tangible to your event? Mama is in need of medical-grade masks for Urukundo’s dentists, workers, teachers and staff: N95, KN95 and surgical N95 respirator masks. (No cloth masks or other paper-filtering masks.) Thank you.