Mama’s house

Still in the process of decorating and adjusting to the new residence. I am so feeling the security and comfort of my new lifestyle. Staying with cultural art has been wonderful.

New artwork over kitchen cabinets. I love the Rwandan animals.

Rwandan design. Perfect wall covering for my living room.

Also good for photoshoots.

Benita, Claudine, guest Drew Kahn and Soso do a photo op in the new space. Ollie never misses a chance to pose. She likes the camera. Our guest posed with the kids for this farewell photo before traveling on to Kenya.

From my window

Last night, I watched the most beautiful sunset out my office window. It dazzled the senses.

This residence and my window are opening a whole new world to me.

In the early morning, I watch the children on their way to school. They are such a happy bunch.

All morning long, I see the playground full of children and their activities. Kids of all sizes and shapes participate in many activities.

Today I watched a game of passing the baton. That game consists of two equal teams on opposite ends of a field. The goal is for each team member to carry the baton and run as fast as possible around the opposite team, return to their team, pass the baton to the next runner and continue this until all on the team have made the run. Of course, the team that finishes first is the winner. I remember playing this same game when I was a kid. I hope you do too.

When I do not go to the dining room to help serve the kids lunch, my window is the perfect place to watch hungry children come running to get to the food waiting for them.

It is fun to see older children taking the hands of younger children and walking them to lunch.

Outside the lunchroom, they wash their hands and shake them dry.

Then they go into the dining room where their food is already waiting for them. There are no pre-arranged seating positions. They are seated as they come in. Amazing to me is the fact that there is no “I want to sit here” or “I want to sit there” or “I want to sit with so and so.” They simply set where our manager Delphine guides them. These kids are wonderful.

I can also watch my dog on her adventures.

Ollie walks Soso to school and returns to guard my office door.

Ollie is a protector.

During the day and into the night, my window is the showcase for the drones that deliver medicines, blood and strategic supplies to many parts of Rwanda. It is best after 6 p.m. because it is dark, and the red and green lights on the drones flash across the sky.

The drone was there, but it was faster than my finger on the button. The evening sky is beautiful.

My window into the world is amazing. Don’t you agree?

Not Men’s Day in Rwanda, but …

It is the tradition in Rwanda that when you build and move into a new house, you invite friends and neighbors to come and share a drink and a bit of food.

Women's Day gave our women that opportunity. OK, the men might feel cheated, so we thought the men should also enjoy Fanta and sambusa and a tour of the new residence.

If you would like to see Mama’s new residence, virtual tours are available using Zoom, Skype or Facetime by contacting Mama Arlene through email, arlene@hopemadereal.org.

Closing Thoughts

Ending the month of March, I share this with you:

I am not into fasting. Nevertheless, I do believe truly in these fastings. Think about them, please. This has been widely circulated on the Internet; some attribute it to Pope Francis.

Fast from hurting words – and say kind words.

Fast from sadness – and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger – and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism – and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries – and trust in God.

Fast from complaints – and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressure – and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness – and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness – and be compassionate.

Fast from grudges – and be reconciled.

Fast from words – be silent and listen.

Climate change

The violent storms we are experiencing are beyond any I have witnessed in the 20 odd years I have been in Rwanda.Tropical storms are expected, but wind and rain, mixed with lightning, rumbling claps of thunder, and hailstones big enough to dent your car are a little much. The storms are truly testing my new residence and the hilly land around the Learning Center.


Damage in front of the preschool.

Rwanda’s flag is no longer surrounded by mud.

Benjamin and his crew went to work, and the mud is no longer a problem. Safer for the kids. Now the children can run and play without mud. I am happy.

Living on a mountain is always exciting. Rwanda is all mountains. There is no choice.

Watching a mountain erode in the form of a mudslide behind the primary school. Retaining walls are a must. We cleaned up the mud, but it will take some time to build the retaining wall to prevent further damage. We know each storm will make it worse. The ground is so soft.

Sports Day

Feb. 19 was Sports Day at Urukundo Foundation.

Volleyball and footeball (soccer) were the games to be played. The teams were made up of teachers and parents.

Teachers’ volleyball team

Parents’ volleyball team

To play on the parents’ team you must have a child enrolled in Urukundo Learning Center.

Teachers in black, parents in yellow. Notice the referee standing on a chair. It was a close match. The parents were the winners.

A group photo. I got to pose with both teams.

Teachers’ soccer team.

Parents’ soccer team.

This game ended in a tie. That was good for me. No winner. No loser. Just good exercise.

Closing thoughts

My thoughts for February are in line with Margie Krogh’s thinking about music.

I finish the February newsletter with this quote from Lou Rawls, American record producer, singer, composer and actor.

“Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don't understand the language that you're singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.”

Mama

January Newsletter

The highlight of 2022: Mama has a new home. Its completion was a very special event. This building will be the home of all future directors of Urukundo and the guest house for visitors and volunteers who wish to spend quality time at Urukundo Village and Learning Center.

Here’s what I could see looking out the window of my old residence. Yes, it was rather bleak. This was the view from my old residence.

Compare this with what I now am able to see from my new residence.

Sliding board, swings, merry-go-round in play area

Basketball court

Basketball

Volleyball

Soccer field

I can view all of the activities, and I am a happy Mama.

Awesome. I feel less isolated and, more importantly, I have contact with the children. I no longer have to climb the mountain to see the kids at play and visit the school.

Here’s a tour of my new home. Small door is my office entrance. Double doors are the entrance to the living quarters. In all the years I’ve been at Urukundo, this is the first time my bedroom is totally private. Wow! What an accomplishment! The shape of the home is a tribute to Rwandan history and culture. It's the shape of the King’s Palace Museum, which is a reconstruction of the 19th century traditional royal residence.

A beautiful art canvas by a local artist, a gift from Urukundo cleaners. Look for it hanging in my new office.

The moving week began on Jan. 4.

Installing kitchen cabinets

Kitchen completed

The dining room drapes open

The dining room drapes closed

Dining area and kitchen. I love the openness of this floor plan.

Relax and enjoy our living area. Great place to greet friends.

Wide-open space includes living area, dining area and kitchen with cathedral ceiling.

Looking straight up.

My greatest joy: zebra, birds and paintings are all Rwandan culture art.

Guest room. The beds are comfortable and the covers will keep you warm.

My office. Imagine an office that does not have a bed in it!

Thank you for touring Urukundo’s new residence with me. I hope soon you can come to Urukundo Village and spend some time enjoying what so many of you have helped build.

A gift that keeps on giving

Carol Falke, our Hope Made Real Board International president, is at work. Her love of books and the Urukundo Learning Center library reaches out to others who have like passion.

A book sponsorship was held at Park Forest Village United Methodist Church in State College, Pennsylvania, USA. Children and adults selected a book or two and wrote a message inside for Urukundo Learning Center’s children’s library.

Continuing in the spirit of Christmas giving, a book sponsorship was an event at Trinity Lutheran Church in State College. (L-R) Pastor Ron Miller, Vicar Ted Williams, Linda Leslie and Lacey Sheaffer represented the congregation in this worthy project. What better gifts than books to open young minds to new adventures?

Side note: Carol chooses appropriate books, and others sponsor the books chosen. She then ships them by UPS to the Urukundo Foundation. You can do your part as well. Help is always needed and appreciated to cover the cost of shipping.