Lauren Wright from South Carolina, USA, first came to Urukundo when she was with the Peace Corps and returned after finishing a degree in nutrition to visit her friends, the village and Urukundo. Love having her.
Lauren and her best friend Benita
Peter Zittel and his mom, Kim Zittel, came the middle of June. Mom stayed for a short time; Peter stayed longer as a volunteer helping out at the preschool. They are from Buffalo, New York, USA. Peter starts university in the fall. 
Didn’t get mom’s photo. Sorry, Kim.
Big kids challenge Peter in foote ball (soccer) match.
Come back soon, Lauren, Peter and Kim.
Time for cake
Mistakes are edible.
We ordered a cake from a shop in Kigali. The cake was delicious.
However, the writing on the cake had a mistake. It should have said, “New Family
Meredith, Alex & David.” Instead, it said, “New Family Marydith, David.” Alex didn’t make it to the top of the cake.
We did not have time to do the icing over, so there were no changes.The ice cream was melting. Sorry, Alex. We love you -- Mama, kids and especially David.
Meredith Lu first came to Rwanda more than eight years ago with the Peace Corps and has been David’s sponsor since he was a baby. She since has graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The newcomer to the family is Alex Nachis. Meredith and Alex visited Urukundo in 2017 so he could meet David. The cake celebrated their wedding on June 16, 2018.
Ice cream, cake and Fanta
Baby Jenny licked the bowl clean.
May visitor
Visitor Hannah-Nicole Crombie – better known as Nicole by our kids – is from Scotland and volunteered at Urukundo for two wonderful weeks with special art projects.
This one was awesome. The kids cut out their masks, decorated them and went around scaring everyone.
Such fun.
Nicole with one of her art projects with preschoolers.
Nicole’s Aunt Terri made and sent flowers for the Urukundo kids.
The children loved the colorful flowers and could pick their favorite color.
Thank you, Aunt Terri. Love you, Nicole.
Nicole also was on hand to meet a new mama and baby on Urukundo’s front porch.
Sad to say goodbye
Saying goodbye as Kyle Jerro returns to his home base in the United Kingdom was hard for him and the kids. Kyle was on his seventh visit and is a member of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors.
Primary 4 kids learn chess
Volunteer Bob Dove is doing a great job while he is here with us. Along with his other projects, he is teaching four of our Primary 4 kids to play chess.
Sarah, Johnny, Agide and Claude are having fun learning.
Sarah gets some one-on-one instruction from the master teacher.
Home at last
We are so happy to have Kyle Jerro home for even a short time. It’s the seventh visit for Kyle, who is from Nevada, USA, and is a lecturer of language and linguistics at the University of Essex in England. After so many visits, Urukundo feels like home, and it’s great he could return to spend time with the family. Kyle also is a member of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors.
Welcome home, Kyle.
On the lighter side
Barber does house calls. You are brave, Amy.
Volunteer Amy Dove meets the barber. I would say she has a new hairdo, but I think it is just a cut. It keeps her hair out of her eyes.
No washer and dryer
Volunteer Angelique from Germany does her washing in the backyard.
That is laundry at Urukundo.
Special visitor
Gertrude Mupfasoni, a member of the Urukundo Board of Directors, visited Urukundo Village.
Orange is not my best color.
So you know, Iím the short one with the gray hair.
Palm Sunday at Urukundo
Gathering
Walking and singing Hosanna
Amy Dove reading Scriptures; Bob Dove as speaker for the day.
Visitors in February
Linda and Theresa came from Germany.
Delightful visitors, but their time was very short.
Volunteers Linda and Theresa had dinner with the kids.
Day care kids got butterfly stickers with visiting teacher Cheryl.
Cheryl, from California, USA, spent the month of February teaching in our primary and preschool and spending time with our kids. Come back soon, Cheryl.
Of course, the kids had to make funny faces. That’s what kids do.
More December Visitors
Oversight from last month: A few hours was too short a time with these guests: Kaze Baranshamaje-Dulac, her son Kami Dulac and cousin Brian Katarebe.
Kaze and Kami are from New York City, USA. Brian is from Kigali, Rwanda. Hope they can stay longer next time.