Worship the Sunday before Christmas

The kids did a great presentation from the view point of the Shepherds - interesting concept.

The Halos kept slipping.
The dvd player was a Christmas gift to the kids from Pastor Sharon and Tom Landis - the thought is dvd's are lighter and cost less to send.

Angels and shepherds.

Johnny did not appreciate being a stand in for Baby Jesus.

Update on Claudine

This has been a glorious month. Claudine's vision is improving and her eyes are bright with recognition. Praise God.
This picture was taken in her hospital crib before her heart repair surgery. She won the hearts of the surgical team from Australia and hospital staff. They have asked to see her when they return next year.
The pink lion is a gift from Louisa, our friend from the UK who works in the Government Offices and visits Urukundo every weekend.





After surgery



My helper, Divine, at the hospital taking care of both me and Claudine. We are blessed.



Lou Lou Lion and Claudine

Claudine spent the first week after surgery sleeping with me in my room to be sure she was ok and now she is back in her own crib with the other babies.

Our Babies in Pictures

Baby number 6 arrived Monday October 26, 2009. A little girl. Abandoned.

She is 6 months old, but has developed only as far as a 1 month old. She weights 2.6 Kilos. Under 6 Pounds. She is healthy, but very small. She is in newborn diapers. She needs love and food.

We have named her Rebekah Anita, with a last name pending, available for in-house adoption.

We have bought two more cribs ($40 each) like the two shown in last months newsletter.
They are solid and very strong and will serve as a youth bed as our babies grow. This gives us four cribs and with Claudine's and Rebekah’s coming, we need another. Six babies means six cribs are necessary.

Mama & Rebekah

Sarah & Johnny

Luki, Rebekah & Vestine

David & Claudine

A Challenge in Faith: Building a Nursery
We surely do need someone or a group of someones who love babies to accept this challenge.

Building a nursery for Urukundo is such a worthy project.

Sarah & Johnny

Prayers please.

The Urukundo Kids (minus the 7 at secondary school)

They are beautiful and getting strong and tall. Girls home and dinning room in the background. We plant and and terrace to hold the land for future use. Heavy rain can wash it away otherwise.

The Latest on Claudine

I'm keeping you current as to where your prayers and thoughts are needed.

I received a call on Friday, September 25th to have Claudine at King Faisal Hospital at 9:30 Sunday morning. No details, just be there. I was so excited because this means she is being considered by the team of Heart specialists from Australia for surgery to close the hole in her heart. I was sure they would not have called if this were not so.
Our visit to the hospital on Sunday Sept 27 was a Preliminary visit.

Claudine was seen by three doctors who examined her from head to toe to heart. They then ordered blood work done and said we would hear from them the first week in November as the team would arrive November 11th. I am guessing that is a “YES”. The doctors said there are two options to fix the hole that should have closed at birth.

The two possibilities:
1. They will go in with a catheter and fix the hole or
2. They will do an incision.

This will be determined after a study of the ultra sound and blood work is completed. The one that is safest for Claudine will be chosen.

I expected her to scream when the blood work was done but not so. That dear child cried when they inserted the needle in her tiny hand and then sat quietly in my arms while they pumped her hand to get blood flow. Most of the terror for babies and small children is seeing the nurses in white and the needle and blood. That is frightening but Claudine’s vision is not that good yet, so she was not afraid.

Her eyes are now clearer as the film of white cataracts is gone.




We are seeing progress as she heals. She looks away from bright lights and responds to me before I speak, telling me that she can see my features and knows it is me. She is sitting up by herself and sitting alone for a longer time without falling over. She follows the spoon and cup when being fed and is making baby sounds. She does not grasp objects yet, but does pull her socks off.

I am encouraged and I know she will continue to improve. We need a good therapist to help strengthen her legs and hands.

David's first birthday celebration!

He walks and talks. David is 1 year old. The updated David.

A Fantastic Update on Claudine

For you who may not be familiar with Claudine’s story here is a refresher.

Late one night my friend Dr Pietre, a volunteer Ophthalmologist from Belgium here in Muhanga for two years and working at Kabgayi Hospital, called to ask for help. He had a little girl patient 2 1/2 years of age who was blind and needed cataract surgery, but because of her health she could not survive the anesthesia. “Arlene would you be willing to take her for a few months and see if you can get her in better health for me.”

I liked Dr Pietre very much and wanted to help him so I said “of course she can come here and we will do our best."

This child was not a 2 1/2 year old. She was an infant. She was wrapped in dirty material and tied to an old woman’s back. When I took her in my arms, her body and clothes did not weigh 5 lbs. This is a 2 1/2 year old child?

With good food, much love and prayers, in 6 months Claudine’s health has improved and a specialist Anesthetist was flown in from Belgium to be sure Claudine had a chance. Before allowing the surgery to take place, John and I decided to have her examined by a doctor in Kigali. We knew she had a heart problem but did not know what caused it.

Here is the best part. All tests affirmed she could survive the eye surgery. She has a hole in her heart that is causing trouble. The doctor who did the Ultra sound informed me that there is a team of Heart specialist coming to the hospital in Kigali and he would put Claudine on the list of candidates for them to consider. He seemed to think we have a very good chance of being selected for heart repair. They will come in November. He said he will be in touch with us by the end of September. There will be a cost of $1000 USD plus about $200 for time in the hospital and I know God will provide what is needed. We are asking for prayers that this door that has been opened will remain open and good things will happen for Claudine.
God is awesome.



Surgery over our little girl is swathed in bandages. Cataracts were removed from both eyes.



The bandages came off the second day. She did not open her eyes for another day. The pictures below are on the third day after surgery and you will see she is opening her eyes a little. The doctor is not sure how much vision she will have but we know she will have more than she had and they will work with her in with contact lenses and she will probably wear glasses. We can deal with that. I will be very happy when she has vision and can see the children who love her so much. Urukundo kids have been praying for her to see and it will happen.



I think she is doing real well.



The team who operated on our little Claudine. Doctor Sarah & Doctor Pete. We are so grateful for their being here.

We are Raising Heroes

Our secondary school students were very pleased to be home with the family. Debora went all the way and won the National competition! She is now Number One in Rwanda! Her essay on Fruits and Vegetables and why they are good for children was judged the best and she was given an award by the minister of Agriculture.
The award is 200,000 Rwf. This amount equals $400 USD. This award is now in an account for her education.

A Gift

Natete likes the exercise ball a gift from Karen Lake-Champain.


Anett tries for push-up. Not doing too well.