General

An Aha Moment!

Walking from the library at the end of a day, I peaked in David’s preschool class. One group of preschoolers were using the building set, Straws and Connectors, that I left in August. When I saw how they were using it, I understood I should have taken the time to go one step further by opening the box and showing them the potential for building.

You see they didn’t know the connectors were supposed to be pulled apart to allow them to build “BIG” things. They used the connectors as a platform.

Notice the fun they had when they realized all the possibilities they had.  Even David, the teacher,  was having fun!!

Greetings for March 2013

Well Dear Friends and family writing this newsletter is rather exciting. We are all fine at Urukundo and thanks to all of you the news is great.
Our baby Jacob is thriving.

Big brother Claude and Jacob

Deo is back in school
We have had interesting visitors and taken another step in education. March has been another month in the history of Urukundo worth writing about.

 

February Greetings from Urukundo

Hello from Urukundo Village, Mama and The Urukundo Kids.

Please take note: the date on the camera has been fixed AGAIN. Hope it stays correct this time. February is the month of LOVE and this fits well with our program.  Urukundo translated means LOVE.
Our mission here is to share love. Our village and our Learning Center are built on love. Thank you all for the love you have shown to me and all the vulnerable children in Rwanda. You are making such a difference in the lives not just of the children but also of their families.  

January Greetings from Urukundo Village and Learning Center

January started off with a bang.  After Christmas our kids went to visit extended family and so New Year was a bit quiet, but there was celebration in the boys' house when the New Year came in. However 2013 arrived with no help from me. I and the little ones thanked the Lord for our blessings and went to bed about 8pm. The older kids and mamas ushered in the new year with juice, sumbosa, donuts and a movie on VHS. I think it was 'The Lion King'.
Welcoming the 45th child into our family on January 4 was an unexpected pleasure. He will need a sponsor. If you're interested, please get in touch  arlene@hopemadereal.org

Waiting for the results of the National Exams and school assignments was a bit tense. How you preform in the exam determines where you can apply for further education. There was so much activity as we searched for Secondary Schools for 23 kids. Changing schools was not as traumatic as I had thought. It amazes me how these children adjust to what ever the circumstances and keep a positive attitude.

With all the secondary kids gone back to school our house hold is very different. The time had come to move our 4, 5,and 6 year olds from the nursery into the big kids' house. They think that is great. It is much like a graduation and the criteria for such a move is no Invura (rain) in the bed at night. The boys have a bigger problem with that than the girls. I seem to remember that from when my kids were little. Then, I was dealing with one at a time. Now I am dealing with 11. They really want the move so the incentive is there and they are doing well. All but two are moved and they will move soon. The nursery will then have
four babies, Jacob, Kavine Nelly, Diane, and Soso.

EXPRESSING A NEED
Children's one-a-day chewable vitamins with iron.

Water

Too much water is bad not enough is worse. We now have experienced both. With a torrential downpour we discovered what too much rain can do. I have lived in the flood area in Williamsport and had my home damaged by raging creek water but this experience was more frightening. Crops were washed away, homes gone and we feared for the Solar Panel building and the source tank.

Again God was good. We had some damage with fences down and debris everywhere but our foundation was strong and the house stood firm. Repair took two days. Urukundo paid for the stone and cement but the
community provided all the labor. We are blessed to have such a good relationship with our community.


The pictures show the damage and the project after repair was made.

Greetings from Rwanda for December 2012

Hello from Urukundo.

As I write this message Christmas has come but is not yet gone.The excitement of the season is winding down and that is as it should be. The spirit of Christmas should never be gone. Urukundo (Love) truly is what Christmas is all about. Now we set our sights on the New Year. The last year has had so many surprises and I am sure there will be many more in 2013.

Open your hearts and let the future begin. Be like the "SMALL PEBBLE IN A BIG POND" Start your day with a smile and watch it ripple and swell as it touches others.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM URUKUNDO
                  to
 ALL THE EXTENDED FAMILY