Urukundo translated means love. Valentine greetings to all who love in all the world.
In my front yard grows a beautiful tree.The blossoms do not look like a heart, but my front yard is made beautiful with this flowering tree. It was a twig when I decided to trim it and pray it would come back to life. The poinsettia tree has survived, grown and is beautiful and in full bloom. Not for Christmas, as I remember the plant, but for Valentine’s Day.
Red is the color for love in any language or land.
Transportation Update
We at Urukundo Learning Center love our new bus for transporting children to school safely. Note the name on the front. The name was not on the bus in the January newsletter. White is our new color for our buses.
One more thought
Valentine’s Day is a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. Every day should be such a day.
Children give love freely, and they hope for love in return. Hug a kid this month and every month. Share love with a child.
The rewards are beyond belief.
Be my Valentine.
Mama Arlene
January 2020 Newsletter
From the Urukundo Foundation and Urukundo Learning Center, Happy New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Morning exercise for preschool
Check out the new video.
A new month and a new year. I am told that because it is an even year, it will be a good year. Superstition, and I am not sure I agree, but it sure is a good thought.
The year 2019 was a good year, and it was not an even year. Urukundo accomplished a lot.
Student progress
Here are the numbers:
• 140 entered preschool baby class.
• 122 kindergarten children moved into the primary class.
• 62 children graduated from Primary 6 and entered S1 (junior high).This is the start of the first three years of secondary school.
• 4 students graduated from universities: Tresor, Divine, Alexander and Lilliane.
Good News
Dorcas is recovering! Brave girl.
For you who do not know, Dorcas’s home was caught in a mudslide after heavy rain in Muhanga, causing it to collapse. Dorcas was crushed beneath the falling mud brick wall. These building bricks weigh 40 pounds each. A little girl nearly lost her life. She has fought back.
From this in October 2019
To this in January 2020
Dorcas and her walking stick
She is back. Here she is entering the school gate. We applaud her. I thank all of you who joined Urukundo in prayer.
I also heard some good news about Diescor, who has made additional progress at a rehabilitation hospital in the USA. He now can walk short distances on his own with a cane, is saying new words everyday and is gaining some movement in his upper arm. He is doing well enough that he has been discharged to outpatient therapy. He made a special point to send his love and a "hi" to the kids.
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
October 2019 Newsletter
October has been a mixed bag.
There have been good times, sad times and times to celebrate. Seasons are ever changing in Rwanda, and October is a month of torrents of rain. Sunshine, warm days, heavy rain and mud. Still a good place to live.
Heavy rain flooded the garden area. All planted seeds were washed away. We start over.
Walls do work wonders. Had the wall not been there, all the water and topsoil would have been in my house, plus much more. Retaining walls do work.
Rhubarb and tree tomatoes held the ground a little. A lot of rework to be done.
In process
The ground is ready for replanting. We have dug a ditch to have the water coming from the mountain bypass the garden. It was good to put more bricks in the walkway to avoid the mud caused by too much rain.
Thanksgiving
Many thanks.
I close this newsletter knowing that the month ahead is the month of Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful to all who have shown love and caring for the children of Rwanda in whose lives we have and will continue to make a difference.
Remember the tale of “The Tortoise and the Hare”? The hare is very confident of winning, so it stops during the race and falls asleep. The tortoise continues to move very slowly but without stopping and finally wins the race. The moral lesson of the story is that you can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily than by acting quickly and carelessly.
This describes Urukundo Learning Center. Slow but sure.
September 2019 Newsletter
Time for Christmas giving
September has come and gone. The end of 2019 is in sight. The Urukundo Learning Center is preparing for graduation for kindergarten, Primary 6 and the Sewing Center as well as our Christmas party for the community kids. Exciting and busy time for us.
Are you putting Hope Made Real and Urukundo on your Christmas list? Hope so. Gifts sent in November help us to meet and greet community children on our special day for them. Last year, there were more than 500 children at the party. Help us make it a Hope Made Real.