Urukundo kids are in prayer at worship.
The drum is a vital part of our worship as are the many community children who come to worship with us.
Choir director for the community children in action.
My journey begins
Here it is March 15, and I am in the USA.
Believe it. I slept most of the journey home and was greeted in the USA by friends from Reston, Va. I was taken to breakfast. It’s not unusual for me to have no camera. This time, I left it in Rwanda for assistant Olive to use to send me photos of my kids.
First photo from Olive. My kids waving to me.
Saying “Hello mama.”
Second photo. Love this.
New in Mama’s rock garden.
Awesome!
Here are some kids in my world in the USA. Remember, all under 65 are kids for me.
Thank you friend, Bruce, for sharing. His wife, Margie, took the photo. She’s on the board of Hope Made Real. A wonderful time seeing them, their children, grandchildren and guests at their home in Penn Hills, PA, USA. Hey, how do you like the new haircut???
An evening spent with the Waverly Presbyterian Church mission team from Pittsburgh. Their visit was a memorable one. This one includes our newsletter editor Eleanor standing next to Mama.
It was great to be with this happy group once again.
Happy news
Come join the fun. A gala fundraising event in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28.
Interested??? Contact Mama or Patricia
Emails are arlene@hopemadereal.org and pdbrown@spiritworks.org .
Or phone 412-522-6450.
Can’t be there? Donations can be sent to:
Hope Made Real
P.O. Box 3222
Williamsport, PA 17701
USA
Fashion Show
Now last, but not least, I give you an Urukundo fashion show.
These Urukundo fashion treasures will be part of the celebration in Pittsburgh on April 27 and 28.
Come meet and greet me, Mama Arlene, and learn more about Urukundo, the foundation based on love. Translated, Urukundo is the Rwandan word for love.
Mama Arlene
Ready to support the children???
Sports at Urukundo
We are honoring the martial arts this month.
Our karate kids are looking good.
On my right is Eugene, Urukundo’s farm manager and instructor for the karate students.
Black belts are hard to earn. From our karate school, we have eight. I have yet to even be given the proper clothes so I have no belt.
What makes P6 boys happy? Of course, a gift of much needed sports balls. These arrived and are so appreciated.
We are grateful.
Volleyball, basketball and soccer balls.
An unexpected gift from in-country
Joseph, his wife and daughters started Urukundo’s year on Jan. 1 with a special gift of provisions from his employer, Gorilla Feed Co. Ltd. Its theme is “Let’s Grow Together.”
The gift included rice, baking flour, maize flour, corn oil, packaged milk and wash soap.
This gift of provisions is so appreciated.
Special Notice
On March 15, 2019, I will arrive in the USA. I am looking forward to spring in Pennsylvania.
March, April and May are special months as it is a time of renewal after a long winter.
This visit is basically for visiting Urukundo and personal friends and my family as well as for telling the continuing story of Urukundo Foundation and encouraging others to become part of our support system for this mission.
My home base will be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with my daughter, Dr. Patricia Brown.
I hope to see many of you during the two and a half months I will be home in the USA.
More details as plans continue to progress.
Good news
Starting the new year, nine of our children remain in our home.
Three of them -- Claude, Aline and Luki -- are waiting for their national exam results and then will be going to secondary boarding school. They will return to Urukundo for school holidays. As is normal, we will share them with their families.
Claude, Aline and Luki.
David has been given permission from his foster family to stay home with us and attend Primary 6 here rather than disrupt his education in the last year of primary.
Of the children who have moved on to other families Jacob, Prince, Kevine, Banita and possible Rebekah will live close enough to be students at Urukundo Learning Center.
Much ado about buses
In 2017, Urukundo purchased its first bus. We had money for only a small bus.
It has been our policy to purchase only what we have funding to pay for. We purchased this little bus (minibus).
Then we were able to purchase a big bus. With the big bus plus the minibus, we are able to plan field trips, sports events and special outings for our school children and staff.
A third bus was needed.
The news just got better.
Thanks to Rotary Club of Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, USA, and The Rotary Club of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, funding has arrived to purchase another big bus.
Starting the school year in 2019, we will have a minibus and two big buses for transporting our children. The buses also are a source of revenue as rentals on weekends.
The new bus is now in the garage being painted, and we are in the process of hiring another driver. It will be in service for start of school on Jan. 14, 2019.
The parking space at the school for the new bus will have a plaque saying, "In memorandum of Tom Nunnally, donated by the Rotary Clubs of Forest Hills and Willkinsburg, Pa.”
Special staff event
A special event in 2018 was for the Urukundo Village support staff. This included office staff, home mamas, kitchen staff, farmers, guards and cleaners. Two big buses were needed for the trip to the King’s Palace in Nyanza and dinner after the tour. This was the first time for many of the staff to visit this wonderful part of their history.
Special dancing cows at the palace.
Sport Event
We do have an active adult Foote Ball (Soccer) team. This was a competition between our staff and the Sunday Foote Ball Club.
Our team and fans. The team is made up of teachers, guards, kitchen crew, our Pastor and office staff. They are an awesome bunch.
