TRESOR our oldest YOUNG MAN & JACOB our 1 year old superman.
It is great to have a brother to point the way!
Sports at Urukundo
KARATE:
There are 20 kids in the Saturday morning Karate class. 9 are our kids, 11 are from the community and the group comprises both boys & girls. It is awesome to watch these kids and the master at work. It is work with dedication.
Our 5 first and 4 second graders love karate!
When the team is ready they will compete with other teams of their age.
Our master teaches as a volunteer.
We could not afford ready-made uniforms from stores in Kigali town so our Sewing Center took a pattern, bought material and made uniforms. They are great. Good work, sewing students! These uniforms are also available to the neighborhood parents. They can buy them for their kids at an affordable price.
I think the kids look great - comments from our readers are appreciated!
One of the neighborhood kids has a yellow belt. I'm not sure what that means in terms of advancement for children even though my son Ted is a black belt!
Volunteer Master & kids: Pete in a brown belt. He is very good with the kids.
Emotions of a Grateful Mama
What brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart? It is the simple things that make such a difference for our children. These gifts make my kids happy so I am happy.
Baby Jenny gets a doll.
She is a happy little girl!
Kavine likes a tea set for tea party play!
Little boys like Tonka trucks.
Little cars for little kids.
Fire truck made with Legos - what fun.
Girls like trucks and cars too.
Books and reading - children enjoying all the books that have been given to them.
Long Term Volunteer
Saying goodbye is painful. If you don’t believe it, ask Laura Rowland from Pittsburgh, PA USA.
Laura came in February to volunteer for three months at Urukundo.
Her work here has included assistant teacher at the Preschool/Kindergarten, helping out during playtime at Hope House and assisting at the start up of the Dental Initiative. There she was so appreciated. Her skills as a leader and teacher and her ability to relate to children were a blessing. The kids had trouble with the L and R in her name so she was called many different names while she was here. Never a problem - Rorla was the favorite I think.
The kids watch as Laura and the car drive away. Having them sit on the steps is the only way to make sure none are too close to the car and all are safe.
All of the kids would like to be in her suitcase. They will miss her so much. Her time with us was truly a blessing.
Gathering for pictures was a last fun time for Laura and the kids.
Greetings from Urukundo Village - March 2014
Hello everyone whereever you are.
Spring is just around the corner for many of you, but for us the weather is great. We are planting a second crop because the weather here is playing tricks - but in our favor. Imagine two growing seasons back to back with no dry season in the middle. Seems the climate is changing everywhere.
The children are fine. They have the ordinary scrapes, bumps and bruises. They run too fast, stop too quick and take headers, get up and run again.
Jacob is coming to Mama’s house on his own now. He is so little, but very independent.
He is not ready for soccer yet.
Looks like we have a new girl. (The dress code for children does not exist at Urukundo.). No, it is Jacob learning to run and keep his balance. Not easy on bricks and rough ground.
Visiting Mama's room.
Baby Jenett is now 4 months old and has discovered her hands. Watching a baby develop is awesome. She is not sure where they came from or if they are hers but she likes them. She has been using them to hold and grab for some time, but didn’t really see them till now.
I wonder as I watch this baby, how many things we take for granted but do not really see.
At my age I am still learning and many of the lessons come from children.
Jenett
Continuing the Gallery
Some of the older kids
Secondary school equals High school.
These were the little kids in 2006.
Abis, 16 years old, in Secondary 2.
Tresor has just finished Secondary School and qualifies to test for the MASTERCARD SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. He is applying for further education with BRIDGE 2 RWANDA to be better prepared to take the tests and then apply to a university in the US through the MASTERCARD SCHOLARSHIP program.
This young man can use some financial help to accomplish his goals.
Alexander, 17 years old, Secondary 6.
The oldest of our 3 Claudes, 18 years old, Secondary 1.
Divine, 17 years old, Secondary 6.
Olivier 16 years old, senior 2.
Liliane, 17 years old, Secondary 3.
Esperance. We have two young girls named Esperance. This is the older of the two.
19 years old, Secondary 6.
Note to Sponsors
Check your status. Your gift to sponsor a child is so important. Did you send your gift for 2013? Please check.
Will you remember to send a gift for 2014?
If your circumstance have changed please do not hesitate to let us know.
Knowing the economy in the US is iffy this gift must not be a burden to those who have supported Urukundo kids in the past years.
Much love and gratitude. Arlene
Addition to our Home
A baby girl has been added to our family. She arrived unexpectedly November 11, 2013. We placed her birthday on November 8, 2013. Indications were she was 3 days old on the 11th. She weighed 3 kilos, 6 lbs
In three weeks she is now 5 kilos.
The name chosen for her is Jenett. She will be called Jenny. I love nicknames, never having had one. There is just no suitable nick name for Arlene. Darn.
The administrator and head doctor from the MEDICAL CENTER brought Jenny to us. We are glad we are here to be a safe haven for these vulnerable babies needing the love we have to share.
Vestine, Mama in charge of the nursery, receives the tiny baby girl,
Our stats for children under 7 is now at 19.Growing Kids and Views from the School
I will send different pictures each month so you will know all the kids as they grow. I am in awe as they change so much and so fast. It would be my pleasure to send you pictures of all 48 kids at one time but the server would refuse because of volume.
The kids are well and looking forward to our seasonal holiday with no school until January 2014. This is a time when we are all together as a family at Urukundo Village. I love having all the kids home.
Agide 6 years. Graduated from Kindergarten to First Grade in 2014.
David, 6 years old, 2013 Graduate, Grade 1 2014.
Claudine, 6 years old, a beautiful little girl. In Preschool and received a special award at graduation ceremony.
Sarah, 5 years old, number one in her class. Kindergarten 2014.
Rebekah 4 year old, preschool, still missing front teeth.
Johnny 5 year old, Kindergarten 2014.
Kaboss, 4 year old, Kindergarten 2014.
Kenilla, 6 year old, Grade 1, 2014.After seeing the kids I want to share with you the beautiful land where we live in Rwanda. This is the view from in front of the primary school.
It will be interesting to see the new buildings develop on this land. The mountain view will not change.
View of the mountains.
Land for new classrooms.
Building area and view.
One day a secondary school.Greetings from Urukundo Village for September 2013
Hello from Urukundo Village & Learning Center.
September has been full of surprises. Some good and some not so good. Sharing with you is important to me. It lets me look at the events of the month and make adjustments where necessary.
Each evening after 7pm. I go up to the Boys' Home and share in devotions with the little kids. Last evening was rather special because Claudine said the prayer for the group. Last Sunday she sang a solo using the microphone. This is the child who was blind, had a hole in her heart and was expected to be mentally handicapped because of her early lack of care and nutrition.
She remains a miracle. In three years the difference is astounding.
What a difference three years have made!
Gasogi Secondary School
Lucie and Dada where part of a special event at Gasogi Secondary School. The school has a Worship Center and the girls were chosen to be leaders in the worship service. Lucie's goal is to be a Pastor some day and so it is fitting that she was chosen as a leader.
Dada has not shared with me what her goals are yet but she is a designated helper in the worship service. It is an honor for both girls to have been chosen by their colleagues.
This is a first step for Lucie.
It was a very colorful event.
I was there and sitting the the honored guest. Awesome.
Concerns of a Mama
His name is Claude. He is six years old and in first grade. He is number one in his class.
Love him dearly.
Now the CONCERN.
On the 27th August they carried an unconscious Claude from the school to my clinic. He had just put his head down on his desk and did not respond to efforts to wake him.
His eyes were rolled back in his head and he was limp as a rag. No response of any kind. We rushed him to the hospital. He was still unconscious when we arrived at the second hospital. The hospital did checks, started an IV, did some blood work and waited. I held his little hand and prayed. It was frightening to be able to do nothing. After about an hour of doing nothing he moved, turned his head, opened his eyes and said 'bete' (hi). mama and his eyes wondered why I was there and where he was. He seemed to have awakened from a nap. They kept him overnight and admitted they could find nothing wrong. He came home the next day with the admonition if it happened again, we should come back and they would give us a referral to CHUK Hospital in Kigali.
5 days later he was carried home again. Same procedure. Only this time after waiting for him to regain consciousness they sent him home and told us to come back at 8 the next morning for a referral to the other hospital covered my MUTUAL Insurance. We finally got the referral about 11 am. It was a bit late to travel to the hospital in Kigali but I feared to wait so we went.
We arrived a little after 12 noon and thank God the doctor was still there. He also could find nothing wrong but ordered a brain scan. The doctor wrote out the order for yet another hospital and signed it. We went directly from CHUK Hospital to King Faisal Hospital because they had the best equipment to do the scan. We expected to be given an appointment but instead they agreed to do the scan at once. They asked would we pay cash as a private patient. "No," the hospital that sent us was covered by our insurance. Now it seems the doctor should have had his supervisor sign the order and he did not so it was no good. Our insurance would not cover it and it was a lot of money by Rwanda standards. I was more than a bit upset and a woman in the office took pity on us and said she would help us because it was not our mistake. The scan ended up costing us 6,000 Rwanda Frw $12 USD. Imagine a brain scan for $12!!
We had to return the next morning as there was no one to read the scan. Another trip to Kigali but important. Claude was doing fine. The scan was scary for a little kid but he was brave and after the scan told me it was a funny bed. "But I wasn't scared Mama!" He laughed at the big blue apron Oswald had to wear to stand with him while Mama went into the other room to look at the photos the scanner had made of his brain.
We picked up the scan and went back to the CHUK doctor. The report read "Everything is normal." But now what? We saw a different doctor than the one who ordered the scan. This doctor decided we should have an EKG. This was to rule out any heart problem. It was now 6 pm and the EKG lab was closed for the week end. So another trip to Kigali on Monday morning.
Bottom Line
The EKG happened and a problem showed up. His heart is a healthy heart but it is too slow. The arrhythmia is off. A specialist was called in to read the EKG. We were blessed because Doctor Stephanie an American Pediatrician arrived at the hospital just 3 days before and was in on the consult.
Normal arrhythmia for a child is in the 60s, his is in the low 50s and during his quiet time it goes below 50 causing his body to want to sleep. The main concern is the length of time he is out. Should a breathing problem develop then we are in serious trouble.
An EEG was also done and it is normal.
We are going to treat him with caffeine as a stimulant for the present. Both episodes have been after lunch and during a quiet time in school. Coffee seems like a strange medicine but if it works I am ok with it. After lunch he will come to my kitchen for a cup of strong coffee. The hope is to stimulate the heart activity. He has no problems as long as he is active. His heart is healthy. The arrhythmia is the problem - something different and a bit scary.
It has been three weeks now with no further episodes. We are taking one day at a time counting our blessings.