Arrivals and Departures

Kate the Peace Corp Volunteer comes to play with the kids!

Kate the Peace Corp Volunteer comes to play with the kids!

And saying 'Bye'...see you soon.  Our resident Peace Corps person Meredith Lu returned to her life in Seattle, Wa.  Her time with us (two years) and the work she did was so appreciated.  The kids, staff and I miss her very much and look forward to her return - hoping it will be soon.

Louise Medland Returns from the UK for a Visit

Louise spent weekends and special times with the Urukundo kids.

Visitors for December

Urukundo welcomed home our first son from his journey in America.

Kevin Uyisenga became a part of Urukundo as translator and body guard for me in April 2006.

After a year of service it was made possible for him to acquire an Education Visa to further his education in America.

Kevin is now in his fourth year at Lindsey Wilson College, Kentucky USA

We were so happy to have Kevin home even though his visit will be short.  He is a good example of possibility to all the brothers and sisters at our home.

Rhegan Zavala from Tucson, Arizona is a return visitor to Urukundo. Her Christmas wish was to come spend Christmas with the Urukundo Kids. Rhegan is a EMT/ Paramedic Student Cochise College in Sieria Vista Arizona.

My New Year's prayer for Urukundo Home and Village is for the funding to arrive for the water project and the funds to get the foundation dug for the Day Care center. God in Charge.

Visitors for November

M. Ed. Jan Brown from Bethlehem, PA. Jan is part of the faith family of Wesley UMC in that city.  She is an Early Childhood Educator and her visit, God in Charge, comes just at the time Urukundo has petitioned the District and been approved to develop a Christian English-based Daycare/Preschool.

Jan sharing a book with Kenny and Kenile

Jan and Hildebrant (Soso)

Nurse Nancy and her Fans

 

Due to leave October 10th, Nancy prolonged her stay to be here a week after my return on October 12th. Thank you Nancy! The kids love her and that love was returned. Nancy had my couch recovered and replaced my table and chairs. What a wonderful surprise and welcome home gift. Nancy will be back in 2011. She is priceless.



Visitors for October

 

Edison Reyes and his parents Lydia & Fernando

Edison is from New York City.

Edison is in Rwanda with Peace Corps and visits Urukundo whenever possible - it was good to meet his parents.



Visitors for September

Joe and Michelle Halonen came back to visit Urukundo Home for children in September on their return trip to Rwanda. The Halonens are from the same area of Arizona as Todd and Andrea and have known Todd and Andrea for a long time.

Visitors for August

The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada brought a team of doctors to Urukundo. After a tour and dinner the children put on a talent show. Later the doctors presented Urukundo with a Certificate of Appreciation and a suitcase full of toys for the kids. Thank you so much!


Yvonne and her son Edu, came to stay for a few nights. They are from Spain and came to Urukundo through Volcanoes Safaris Tour Agency. Edu enjoyed playing football with the boys.


Kathy Lesnar is Todd Ellingson's high school classmate - she is also Immaculee Ilibagiza's personal assistant. Kathy and Todd reconnected on Facebook recently and found out they had a similar love for Rwanda. So Kathy brought her tour group with Immaculee to Urukundo. Immaculee wrote the book "Left to Tell" on her survival of the 1994 genocide. We were so blessed to have Immaculee and her group visit. In this picture everyone is checking out our baby Hillie!


Ornella Umubyeyi stopped by on her way back to Wisconsin's Ripon College. She is from Rwanda but has been attending school in America since the age of 16. Each summer she returns to her home country to donate and volunteer. She stopped by Urukundo to donate a suitcase full of clothes. Thank you!

Kids Play International

Kids Play International, led by Tracy Evans, a three time Olympian, is a nonprofit organization who use sports to educate and empower youth. Urukundo was fortunate to have them come this summer and bring with them hundreds of dollars of donated sports equipment. Not only did they make a lot of Urukundo kids happy but also local schools and neighborhood kids also benefited from their visit. Kids Play International (KPI) spent hours donating their time helping the children learn new skills and better their self esteem. They taught Urukundo children skills in basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer.

KPI also set up a "Sport's Room" where all the donated equipment will be neatly kept for years to come. Already we have seen the excitement grow in our children from the use of all their new equipment. Thank you KPI for making so many children's lives that much better! www.kidsplayinternational.org.


the girls show off their new football (soccer) uniforms

Deborah ready to hit!

July Visitors at Urukundo

Part of the team from England stayed at Urukundo's Hope House (the two women stayed at Real Motel). The team from a community church in England spent their days traveling to schools and other places to share the love of Jesus through puppets and games. On their final Sunday, Sam shared his testimony of how God's grace had been passed down through his grandfather. The picture above shows the guys playing football (soccer) with Papa John. The children enjoyed running circles around some of the "old timers" on the football field!


Talia was one of our summer interns. She and Sarah were enjoying watching the football game when this picture was taken. This is Talia's second trip to Urukundo. She is now a sophomore in high school and found that loving the children at Urukundo was such a great experience last year that she came back for an entire month this summer. Thanks for all the loving you gave to the children!

Visitors for June

We were delighted to welcome a team of young people and two adults accompanying Andria from Arizona to Rwanda. Andria is the wife of Todd, the missionary God has sent to Urukundo.


Todd was most happy to see her. She joins Todd and Urukundo in Mission.


Rhegan Zavala from AZ will be with us until August


Nahil and her mother Sherrie They are gardeners and started the foundation for the nursery
Rhegan and Andria pitched in and the work went well.

Nurse Nancy escaped the camera.


Talia from Bloomsburg, Pa, brave young woman.

Talia has returned for her second visit. She is proof that a young person can travel alone and arrive safely in Rwanda to Urukundo Village. The kids where so happy to see her. She won their hearts last summer. Her stay will be longer this time, and we are delighted.

Visitors for May

Angie Kilp - a Physician' s Assistant from Michigan USA, who manned the clinic during her stay. She and Suzanne traveled together. We reaped the blessings.


Polly Newall from the UK and Switzerland. Polly spent 4 days with us at Urukundo and plans to return and stay longer next time.

Todd and Clementine from EOS and our visitor Margit Zingg from Switzerland standing on the mountain.

Margit enjoying the view from the Tiki Rest Hut.