Our Baby Calf is Born

At last our baby has been born. She is beautiful and looks like her mother Blossom. Her name is Daisy.

An Update on Turkey Time

Well, as you all know it was my desire to have all white turkeys on the farm. Too that end we bought a white Tom for breeding with the white hen. I also bought a black Tom and several hens to be our Christmas dinner. Sounded like a good plan.

Didn't work.

The day before Christmas I sent word to the farm manager to slaughter three turkeys for the Christmas dinner and he did as directed. However he wanted me to have the biggest turkey for our dinner and so the white tom was selected and is no more. Needless to say Christmas dinner was not good for me. The kids had no such problem and enjoyed the meat very much.

Our turkey population is growing as we now have 6 chicks hatched from our own eggs and I hope one of them is a white Tom. We shall see.

New Soccer Uniforms

Our kids were blessed with their very own uniforms for soccer.  Sarah and her son Tom from Seattle came to work and deliver uniforms and shoes to our kids.

Don't they look great?

Progress at the Village

The larger kitchen necessary to feed kids and staff is completed. I'll have a picture next month.  We do one project at a time. 

Next Project in the Vision: Education

Ed Keller & Sandy Walker from Bloomsburg, Pa along with two of our boys break ground for the first class room in our efforts to build a school for our kids and the community.  This first building will be our first attempt at a two story building. (need prayers). 

The first floor will be a class room for English as a second language.  English is now the preferred language in Rwanda.  The second floor will have two rooms one will house a library, the second a Computer Learning Center.  All necessary for the future of the kids and the community.   

Progress so far: The foundation must be strong and deep.

If your interest rests in Education come and help build and support this project with gifts as you can. We need partners to help us grow. Short term and long term visitors are welcome.

In Our Favor: a New Guest House

John Kayitare, our administrator, his family and the ministry have combined resources and we now have a guest house on site in the Urukundo Village.  It is beautiful.  We  have the facility to care for teams who want to come and help build for the future.  This new home eliminates the rent we paid at the old guesthouse. It also gives visitors more time to be with and get to know our kid.  Make your reservations now.  We look forward to having you.

Our first Scholarships for 2009

I am preparing an end of the year report and will send that progress report in January 2009, but for now December has been a wonderful month at Urukundo village.

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We are able to award sponsorships for education in a new neighborhood of children.

Johnny, a youth leader in our area and two mothers receiving the scholarship gift. 26 kids in this poor community will attend primary school 2009. We are making a difference.

We are very close to reaching our goal of 300 orphans and poor children living in South Province and Kigali City. I am sure those gifts are on the way. I will be pleased to announce our success in the progress report in January which should be finished soon.

We have posted many pictures on the web site. These kids are a few more and the caregiver from Mpushi who loves them.

I do want to thank everyone who opened their hearts and gave so that these children and others will have an education. The Spirit of Christmas was evident as many gave education gifts to our children as a gift to honor family members and friends.

This is one grateful mama.

An Update on Laki and David

Laki

A healthier happier boy. The hair is coming back and his legs are stronger.

David and Esperance

David is sitting alone and trying to stand.
Thank you for prayers and gifts sent for both of our baby boys and for all the children connected to Urukundo. We shared some of the dolls, marbles and stuffed animals with our neighbors. This was a special day for them because of the gifts you sent. Thank you

Our Visitors in December, 2008

A delegation from People to People

We were visited by a delegation out of Canada from People to People on December 1st, getting our month off to a great start.

Adrian Shultz

A world biker from Germany stopped and spent three days at Urukundo before continuing his journey South. Adrian started his world trip 8 months ago in his home land Germany and will continue on into North America, Mexico, on to Australia and heading home. I am not sure how all that works. His bike is his transportation. Our boys were very impressed.

Nox Ntuli

Noxi is a young lawyer from South Africa. She came to work at Urukundo over her Christmas break from her office. We were so grateful for her help while she was with us.

Progress on the Home for Girls

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The girl's home is still a work in progress. The inside needs shelves, curtains, more tables, etc. The outside needs spouting, a tank to catch and hold water and beautification. God is good and so the girls have a very nice home that will only get better.

Thanks to all who have made this possible.

A Christmas Pageant

To celebrate Christmas, the kids put on a Christmas Pageant. It was great fun as the kids had to do the whole thing with as little adult help as possible. They did an amazing job. It was enjoyed by all.

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I shared with the children the tradition of giving a gift to someone you love and the fun of the tree. Explaining that the tree is part of our culture. They had fun decorating the tree and each receiving a package from mom. The white bags are back packs and flip flops part of school supplies.

Improvements to the Clinic

Thanks to gifts from our partners at Wesley in Bethlehem we now have an exam table and a work station for the microscope.

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