November at Urukundo

November started of with a bang. A dental team of 3 came for 3½ days to take part in our dental program and also work with our head dentist Edmund at Kabgayi Hospital Clinic.

Brittany did scaling at our facility while the other two worked with fillings at Kabgayi. During her days here 34 patients were cared for and the kids got lots of love. During her stay with us she received a new name. She said jokingly with the kids 'My name is Potato' because they were having trouble remembering Brittany!  So her Urukundo name is Potato. I suppose she is a white potato. For sure she is a sweet potato!

Charmaine and Troy Michelson and Brittany made a super team. They are very special people. Troy played piggy back with the kids the night they arrived. That was fun especially for the kids. I think they called him a horse. This was play our kids had not experienced before!

Visitors

Katherine Murphy an intern at the US Embassy & her friend Henita came to spend the day with Urukundo kids.

Katherine Murphy, University of Pittsburgh ‘15. Political Science, African Studies, Public Service

Katy is from the Avis Area in Pennsylvania and her parents now live in Lewisburg, the home of Bucknell University where I first became involved in a mission to Rwanda to serve its children.

Heni is originally from Florida and works at the Embassy. She has been in Rwanda for 2 years.

Both girls were a joy for the children. They played with the older 6 & 7 year olds, fun games like Chickenfoot (dominos), picture bingo, four in a row and reading stories.

A Gift of Shoes from Holland

lEISBETH SMITH was traveling on the same plane with MARGIE KROGH and mentioned that she had shoes for Rwanda but did not know where they could be put to good use. Margie is from Pittsburg and a part of the family of Urukundo said that she knew the perfect place! We received the shoes of all sizes and also some clothes for the kids. You never know when or where wonderful things will happen.

Greetings from Urukundo Village for September 2014

September has been an interesting month with some good and some not so good.

I guess that would be considered normal in this place and time.  I wondered what I would have to write about this September.  Each month I think there is going to be nothing to write about until I start to write and there it is.

HMR Board member:

This month's visitor is very special. He is a board member for HMR and this was his first visit to Urukundo.  We are so blessed. The kids love Tom Nunnally.  He is the perfect grandfather image for them. It was a struggle to see who would sit next to him in Worship.

Tom showing the kids where he lives on our world map.

Visitors

Kaboss had special visitors in September.

Diane & Bill Currier, part of his sponsoring family, came to see him. They brought him two wonderful books and other surprises that he shared with all the kids.

Before they left Urukundo Village, Sam, Jacob, Chris and Sally Buck and Jonathon May gave a donation to have a stone placed on the PATH TO LEARNING at the school.  A gift to the education fund. Our path continues to grow, as does our school. 2015 will see the first P3 class.

Position on the path.

Visitors this Month

The Buck family - Mom Sally, Dad Chris, sons Jacob and Sam were visitors for 4 days this month. Jacob’s friend Johnathan May came with them. Moses, their Rwandan friend, made the group complete. Moses taught at devotions, the boys and Mom worked at the Preschool and Sam, Dad and Moses helped with a painting project at the Boys' Home. They were a great crew.

We were honored that Pastor Boyd and Shirley shared their visitors with Urukundo in August.  Their special delight was a visit from their son Matt. I am happy to be included in this family.

Three pals. Friends forever. UK, Rwanda, Germany.

Vincent returned to University in Uganda.

Chris is returning to England on August 30. Chris worked at the schools and taught Karate when the teacher was absent.

Lennart and his guitar are leaving for his home in Germany after an extended stay.

We will miss him especially at devotions where he played guitar and sang for the kids and for me. I am partial to guitar and singing young men, as my son Ted was such a man in his youth. He still plays and sings for me when I am home in the US.

Newsletter for July

Saturday Morning at Urukundo Home is special. There is no school so the children have an extra hour of sleep and then gather outside for breakfast.

I am sending you an invitation to join the children for a breakfast of porridge and chapati on the porch at the Girl’s House.

Jacob likes Chapati too.

Cups hold porridge.

You met Josh and Audrey from Canada in the June Newsletter.  Their visit extended into July.

This Month's Visitors

Bill Graf from Colorado, USA first visited Urukundo in 2007. He was with me when we started to clear the land for the chicken farm. It really was a jungle then. He found it quite different now. This is his third visit.

Pastor Alexi from Kigali accompanied him. We were happy to welcome both.

Chris Bailey from UK teaching Karate in the absence of our regular teacher.

Chris has been volunteering in the school, at Hope House and at devotions. He came June 26 and will leave us August 3. He will hate to see him go.

Come back soon Chris!

The kids had a birthday surprise for volunteer Lennart Westmark from Germany.

He was surely surprised. Lennart plays guitar and sings at devotions, He is very talented and sings in German. He teaches in our music program.

Vincent from Rwanda is here for 2 months. He is a third year student in Uganda and is here to learn from Urukundo about what volunteers do when they come to work with us. Vincent is working at the school library, He teaches English, takes part in devotions and works with our P2 kids in reading English. He is an asset to our foundation and is loved by the kids.

Talia, our sister from the US, has been a visitor each summer since she was 14 years old. Talia is a second year student at Penn State University. She is so much a part of our family. She is holding Jason in the picture.

Talia left for the US today, July 26,2014. We look forward to her return next summer.

Talia is ending her yearly visit earlier than we would like. She had only one day to spend with the older kids. Her new love is Jason.

The four young people who have been with us have not only participated in all the activities taking place but added programs of their own. It was good for us and for them to be here for an extended time. They surely are loved at Urukundo Home and Learning Center.

When you add the youth from AEE to these four long term you know how blessed we are.

Visitors

Bruce Krogh is a many time visitor at Urukundo Home, and CEO for Carnegie Mellon Rwanda. He actually had some rest time and came to spend some of it with the kids. He and his wife Margie live in Kigali City and are part of our Urukundo family.

Bruce does not sit still often so this was a real treat for him and for our kids.

SPECIAL TO US

You are not mistaken! That is a little blond head in the middle of all the dark heads. Folke is from Denmark and is in Rwanda with his Dad and Mom. His dad Michael is a pediatrician who has been serving in our local hospital for two years and has become our volunteer medical doctor. The kids love Michael, Olinda the mom and Folke. He is growing up with our babies. He will be 1 year old soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOLKE

15 RWANDAN YOUTH

Under the guidance of the youth director in our sector, 15 young people came to Urukundo to meet the kids, tour the village, visit the school and farm and spend time at the play ground.

They ended up in my living room sharing treats with the kids.

They  presented Mama with a gift. Writing on the beautiful plate reads GOD BLESS YOU.

It was an event to remember and they will be back. It is good for our kids to know all volunteers are not white. They are loved by so many. 

RETURN VISITOR

In 2008 a young man was traveling around our world on a bicycle. His  bicycling through Rwanda brought him to Urukundo. Needing some rest he stopped at Urukundo Home for Children asking if he could stay for a few days. We received him and he stayed with us for 4 days before he continued on with his travels. I did not hear from him again. His name was Joshua Foster . 

What a wonderful surprise when on May 24, 2014 I received this email:

‎Hello Mama Arlene!

My name is Joshua Foster and I visited and stayed with you and your family in the summer of 2008. I had been travelling by backpack and arranged to come visit for four days. My memories are fond of playing soccer, watching the new girls' home being built as well as dancing for the kids. 

I am now married and my wife and I are travelling the world for a year. I always dreamed of returning to Rwanda and now it has come true. We arrive in Kigali on June 8 and I am very hopeful that we can visit and/or spend some time there. 

Please let me know your thoughts. 

All the best. 

Joshua

Joshua and Audry.