Visitors for April

Jessica Cobbett returned to DC, She is missed.

Julia Kent Lewis, a short-term visitor with the Water Authority, included Urukundo in her time in Rwanda.
Claude made a new friend.

Meredith's mother Ellen Chu was with us a very short time. Meredith was a very happy girl to have her mother come and meet everyone and see her at work in Rwanda . Meredith and her family are from Seattle and Meredith is a volunteer with the Peace Corps.

Todd has arrived. Welcome Todd to your home away from Home.

Visitors for March

The Youth Choir from Gitarama Presbyterian Church

Pastor Leonard and the youth choir from the Gitarama Presbyterian Church came to worship with us and were a blessing and added to our worship service.


Pastor Leonard, Youth Leader Gitarama Presbyterian Church


Pastor Antoine and his family from the UMC join us for our Palm Sunday service.


A very happy Mother.

I have been blessed with so many wonderful visitors and I love them all but this visitor is indeed special.
My daughter Rev. Dr. Patricia Brown traveled from snow covered Pittsburgh, PA. to sunny and warm Rwanda.
She admits she hopes the snow is gone when she returns to the US after her visit here.
Patricia carried many needs for Urukundo but the most important was the American girl doll for Esperance from her mom in America Yvonne.

Visitors for February

Danice Brown, no relation, was our very first volunteer. Urukundo opened on May 1st 2006. Danice arrived June 3rd 2006. We were so pleased to see Danice after such a long time.
She was surprised to see the little girls she new are now as tall or taller than she is. Her arrival was a celebration as she did not have enough arms to hug all the girls at once. Danice was with us before the boys became a part of our family.
Welcome home Danice.

Danice's comment 'Urukundo’s rate of progress is downright miraculous'.


Pedja Jurisic
This young man is a immigrant to the US from Bosnia. His home in America is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He has been with the Peace Corps and stopped to visit Urukundo on his way back to the US. He hopes to go to Graduate School to study Political Science.

Visitors for January

Jessica Cobbett
Jessica is from many places. She was born in South Africa, Moved to England and currently lives in DC, USA.
She has come as a volunteer and will be with us for three months.
Jessica helps bath and feed the babies, attends the Library, has a sports program with the kids. She likes to run and they join her. Great exercise especially running up a mountain. For me walking the mountain is exercise enough. Way to go Jessica.



Sandy Walker, Leslie Hafner, Ed Keller
This team's was with us a very short six days. The six days were very busy days and we were blessed.
They visited the Kings Palace, National history Museum, Land of Joy farm, Gatagare Hospital for Handicapped Children (this hospital specializes in making and fitting prosthesis for Children) and the Batwa Pottery Village.

Visitors for November

Pastor Sharon Landis, President of the International Board of Directors of Hope Made Real, and a three-time visitor to Urukundo Village arrived at Kigali Airport with her husband Tom Landis, who is visiting us for the first time.



This was also Tom's first time meeting his "in house" adopted daughter Salonge.

Fundraising for Urukundo

These are two women from St. Marks UMC in McAllen, Texas. They walked 14 miles to raise funds for Urukundo Kids. This project was started with seed money following the scripture Matthew 25, verse 16.
We at Urukundo are grateful.

Visitors for September, 2009

Cindy Grieshaber from Bethlehem, Pa. Cindy has been in the Urukundo family from its beginning and is known and loved by all at Urukundo Village.

Visitors for August, 2009

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Ruthie is a return visitor and expects to come every year as long as God is in charge of her travels. Ruthie is a singer and teacher and had several DVD's out. She gave us some for our enjoyment. She has a beautiful voice. She is also a craft person and very creative. Her visit was for 3 days much too short. Thank you for coming Ruthie.

Visitors for July, 2009

Cortney Bower from Saint Johns/Newberry, Williamsport Pa. (my home church) a second year nursing student spent a month helping out at the clinic. Cortney, Brittney(a two month visitor) and Bridget (pictured below) did an inventory of all new medicines and spent time sorting Band Aids and placing them in boxes to make life easier for me. She helped serving meals, reading to and with the kids and playing Volley Ball until the poles broke and basket ball. She can pump up a basket ball without breaking the needle. Sounds simple but believe me it is not. I enjoyed Cortney’s visit very much.



Bridget Campbell from Liberty Bible Church, Liberty, Pa joined us for two weeks. Helping in the clinic, teaching English to the kids, and helping where ever she was needed. She and Cortney worked as a team while they were here. I learned about a sugar bandage from Bridget. It really works.



People to People Delegation



Doctor with People to People Checks out Claudine

A New Tradition of Trees

It started with Betty Brown from Bloomsburg who asked could she plant a tree. Then my grandson Tim also planted a tree. Because we need the trees and want to have a growing testimony of volunteers who have honored us by coming and working in the village, a tree is planted in their name.

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Team Visit

We welcomed our second team from Wesley UMC in Bloomsburg, Pa. Some members of the first team in 2008 returned and were startled by the progress made in little over a year..
This team consisted of 3 adults and 6 young people. Their Building project was to help construct a protecting wall for the soccer field. They did camp projects crafts, games and a music camp for the kids. They leave July 2nd. The kids and I will hate to see them go.
Included in this team was Ed Keller the International Board President of Hope Made Real and his wife Lisa and sons Nathan and Nicholas. We were honored by their visit.





While leading a mission team to Urukundo Home for Children in Rwanda Africa, DR Ed Keller presented Mama Arlene with the Bishop Frederick Wertz award for outstanding service in the faith. This award is presented each year to one person by Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pa. The award was presented to Dr Patricia Brown in the absence of her mother at the Central Pa annual conference of the United Methodist Church.

This choir needs a name. Suggestions requested.



Natete, Aline, Belise and Annah. Laki appears to be directing.



We purchased the sweaters to help a womans group get started helping themselves.

Three Volunteers in Service, Plus 1

Friends are made at UHFC.



Nadine Baranshamje from Washington, DC
Andi Goldberg from New Jersey
Meredith Lu our Peace Corps Volunteer
Brittney Gonzolas from Florida