A Fantastic Update on Claudine

For you who may not be familiar with Claudine’s story here is a refresher.

Late one night my friend Dr Pietre, a volunteer Ophthalmologist from Belgium here in Muhanga for two years and working at Kabgayi Hospital, called to ask for help. He had a little girl patient 2 1/2 years of age who was blind and needed cataract surgery, but because of her health she could not survive the anesthesia. “Arlene would you be willing to take her for a few months and see if you can get her in better health for me.”

I liked Dr Pietre very much and wanted to help him so I said “of course she can come here and we will do our best."

This child was not a 2 1/2 year old. She was an infant. She was wrapped in dirty material and tied to an old woman’s back. When I took her in my arms, her body and clothes did not weigh 5 lbs. This is a 2 1/2 year old child?

With good food, much love and prayers, in 6 months Claudine’s health has improved and a specialist Anesthetist was flown in from Belgium to be sure Claudine had a chance. Before allowing the surgery to take place, John and I decided to have her examined by a doctor in Kigali. We knew she had a heart problem but did not know what caused it.

Here is the best part. All tests affirmed she could survive the eye surgery. She has a hole in her heart that is causing trouble. The doctor who did the Ultra sound informed me that there is a team of Heart specialist coming to the hospital in Kigali and he would put Claudine on the list of candidates for them to consider. He seemed to think we have a very good chance of being selected for heart repair. They will come in November. He said he will be in touch with us by the end of September. There will be a cost of $1000 USD plus about $200 for time in the hospital and I know God will provide what is needed. We are asking for prayers that this door that has been opened will remain open and good things will happen for Claudine.
God is awesome.



Surgery over our little girl is swathed in bandages. Cataracts were removed from both eyes.



The bandages came off the second day. She did not open her eyes for another day. The pictures below are on the third day after surgery and you will see she is opening her eyes a little. The doctor is not sure how much vision she will have but we know she will have more than she had and they will work with her in with contact lenses and she will probably wear glasses. We can deal with that. I will be very happy when she has vision and can see the children who love her so much. Urukundo kids have been praying for her to see and it will happen.



I think she is doing real well.



The team who operated on our little Claudine. Doctor Sarah & Doctor Pete. We are so grateful for their being here.

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.

Greetings from Mama Arlene for July, 2009

I am fully recovered from the surgery and I thank you for all the prayers on my behalf.
July has been a busy month. We are into our winter. That means no rain or very little. The fields and gardens are turning brown and flowers are wilting. Water becomes precious during this time. No long showers, our source for water has been good so far but we are conservative. The kids have a month off from School. This is called a holiday. It is good to have them all home. The last term of the school year begins on the 10th of August.

A Project in Progress

The last two weeks in July saw the beginning of a “House of Worship.” Until now we have worshipped first in the Teki Hut, outgrowing that we moved into the recreation & living room in the boy’s home. This limits our ability to reach out and invite the community to worship with us. Thanks to a gift received we have now completed the foundation to a permanent place of worship and there will be enough room for others to join us.



Help is needed to complete this project. Bricks, Cement, Lime, Sand, Windows, Doors and a Roof are needed to complete the structure. When finished this will be a multi purpose building. If possible it will have a second floor accommodating a library, Computer Learning Center and the start up of a Day Care Center.

We are Raising Heroes

Our secondary school students were very pleased to be home with the family. Debora went all the way and won the National competition! She is now Number One in Rwanda! Her essay on Fruits and Vegetables and why they are good for children was judged the best and she was given an award by the minister of Agriculture.
The award is 200,000 Rwf. This amount equals $400 USD. This award is now in an account for her education.

Introducing to Rwanda a Protected Burner Barrel

This project has three compartments. 1 for cans and bottles, 1 for Compost and 1 for burning paper. It’s a step in the right direction. NGO (non government Organization) Food for Hungry came to check this one out.

The Mountain

It is still part of the vision to build schools that will aid the poor in the neighborhood and our own children. We have the land for the Day Care Center and Kindergarten. The land for the Primary school is on the mountain. That land is needed to complete the vision. It does not belong to Urukundo Village.
The talk at the present time is that a big hotel will be built on the top of my mountain. This makes no sense to me as our Urukundo Village sets between the main road and the site designated for the hotel. “God in Charge”



I can not visualize a hotel on this land.

Preparing for the future we, with the help of a team from Bloomsburg, have constructed a fence to separate the Soccer field from the road that will be used to build that hotel.



The road is a public road so we can not block it as we did the road next to the boy’s home. The openings in the wall will have metal but for now it looks ok and is protection. There will be a gate leading into the village. One day it will have a sign that says “Urukundo Village.”

A Gift

Natete likes the exercise ball a gift from Karen Lake-Champain.


Anett tries for push-up. Not doing too well.

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

Visitors Learn History

Our visitors enjoy a trip to see the Palace of the King and learn a little of the history of Rwanda.



The King's Palace



Keena & Cortney inside the palace

At the Farm

Building with mud bricks

Progress is slow but the animals don’t seem to mind.



Cows and Sheep roam the hills together



Our first baby turkeys
Cute and little. I am told they grow fast.
I thank John for caring for our animals on his farm.

It is good to have a caretaker and pasture for our cows and Turkeys without taking play area from our kids in the village. Urukundo does supply a supplement to John's grass land for food and care of our animals.
Animals need more than just pasture. They need salt and mash etc.
We have one milk producing cow at the village. The milk from this cow (Dolly) takes care of the babies and those who require milk in their diet for health reasons.
Counting Dolly we have we have 4 cows. At the farm we have a 7 month pregnant cow named Pansy. Her baby will make number 5. We are hoping for a girl calf. We have a one year old calf, and a one 5 month old calf, all females. We hope soon to have enough fresh milk and butter for all the kids and some to sell.
I am learning a lot about the care and feeding of livestock.
In the long run it benefits our kids.
We now have our own milk, eggs, and limited meat.

Our little girl Claudine is growing up

We are so pleased with her progress. She is now eating people food. She does not try to sit up alone but when you set her up she can sit with no support. Slowly her legs are getting stronger. The time frame for her eye surgery is late August or early September. As her surgery comes near please support this little three year girl in your prayers.