Mission Outreach

A well for the community at Nyanza was constructed and is in operation.
This was developed on John's land in Nyanza for the benefit of the community and his land.
Over 300 children are attending Primary school because Urukundo Foundation is in Rwanda.
  The really big news was construction of the Nursery.
 

On the farm, we now have one cow and a young calf, five sheep (2 males and 3 females). We have goats, but they are currently on John's land in Nyanza. We hope to bring them home to Urukundo farm as soon as possible.

 Urukundo Foundation was given official  status as a Non Profit Organization and Mama Arlene was given a permanent Visa by the Immigration Department.

Our first visitors in 2011 have included two working teams of 9 and 18 boarding volunteers, some long- and short-term visitors as well as several day visitors wanting to know more about Urukundo.


Our Goals for the Year Ahead

 In process:
  • Urukundo Home for Children is no longer an organization. The official organization is Urukundo Foundation which is now staffed by employees not volunteers.
  • Urukundo Foundation pay Social Security and income tax are deducted for all employees starting January 2011.
  • It is our desire to produce more of our own food by building kitchen gardens on our own land - 3 are already built.  We intend plant beans and peas in open fields not being used for construction at present.
  • Constructing a well to serve the community and Urukundo village year round and during the dry season.
Thoughts for future income: 
  • Restocking the Chicken Farm.
  • Purchasing a second milk cow.
  • The start up of a Cyber Cafe in Cyeza sector. None exists at present.
  • Construction and start up of an English-centered Preschool on property already owned by Urukundo Foundation.  
  • Developing Hope House as a community center (for weddings, meetings etc) along with its many other purposes.

Photographs - January 2011

The memory card for my camera has died so I have no pictures from Urukundo Village to share this month. Luckily, Meredith did get some new pictures of the babies which are posted through this Newsletter.  I think they are great - they make me smile! 

 

Future soccer team for Urukundo Home for Children.

Aline, Molly and Claude.

Aline.

Luki and Claude - potential stars.

Volley Ball - another challenge.

Neighborhood kids join in.

Off to preschool - Claude, Luki and David.

First and Second and Third Graders!

Boys at home.

Girls at home.

Thoughts from Mama

As in any family everything does not run smoothly; there are ups and downs.
We take each day as it comes and place our trust and hope in the Lord.
2011 is a new page to be written on. 
Hope Made Real and Urukundo Foundation are built on a firm foundation, not on sand, but on a rock (our mountain) - the welfare of Rwanda and its children are our main concern.
We are nurturing the future leaders of Rwanda.   Their lives must be blessed with education and the preservation of their culture and Urukundo is here to build and preserve what the Lord has established.
I invite all who love children and want what is best for their future to join Urukundo as partners in mission for the children of Rwanda.  Thank you for a wonderful year 2010 and a bright future in 2011.



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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for December 2010

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Greetings!
December has come and gone and what a month it was. 2010 is on its way out. We look forward to greeting the NEW YEAR,  2011. I had a birthday. Usually we have cake and juice for birthdays on the last Saturday in the month but this month the children and I celebrated our December birthdays together the first Saturday  to allow time the end of the month for Christmas and New Years' celebrations.
The children made many cards. These are on the wall in my reception room for all to see and enjoy. The art work of the children is beautiful.

The children made many works of art and gave me a bouquet of flowers.

The cake and juice were very good.

There is no way I can express my appreciation to all who made my 80th birthday special. 

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From the Nursery

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 A sand box in Rwanda which we designed ourselves.  Yep, it is made of bricks, sand and cement. 
Now that should be simple - but it is not! Sand comes from water sources like oceans, lakes and rivers. We have none of these close to our mountain.  It was necessary to travel a distance to a small creek and buy bags of dirt called sand here.  The sand used in contruction was too coarse. 
The kids love to play in the sand!  We're also looking at a wading pool which will be constructed along similar lines to the sand box.  Not sure how that will work - but kids love to play in water.
 



Thank You from Urukundo!

Arlene Brown spoke this fall at Wesley Church about her work at the Urukundo Home for Children in Rwanda. As a result, Jan Brown spent two weeks in November and December at Urukundo, helping establish an early childhood program.

Arlene and Jan are grateful for the support of the United Methodist Men and Women at Wesley who contributed funds, medical supplies, learning materials, insights, and transportation to assure the success of this mission trip.

Playing the 'Hands Together' Game



Christmas at Urukundo

Nativity in the Worship Center.

The Kids' Program : Joseph, Mary and the Angel

The Precious Gems choir singing 'Jesus is Born'.

After the Christmas worship service the children gathered around the traditional Christmas tree (yes even in Rwanda!) and received a gift special for them.

Staff and visitors received gifts from the kids and there was Sumbosa and Fanta for all!
It was a wonderful day. We celebrated the birth of the Christ Child. We celebrated his love for us and the love we share for each other.
We also thanked God for all of you who make it possible for this ministry to continue. God Bless you all.

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.
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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for November 2010

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Hello from Urukundo Village and Urukundo Home for Children.

Gee that sounds nice. Urukundo is growing and as we are moving toward 2011 it is awesome what God is doing here. Starting out with a rented house and one child in Gitarama Town in 2006, the changes that have taken place can only be from the Lord. The Lord has given us a home for boys, a home for girls, a nursery, Hope House, a multi purpose house, and a small piece of land dedicated to chickens, four sheep and a cow and her baby.  We call it a farm. Small but productive - we are so blessed. 

The wet season is upon us and I am cold at 70 degrees. Normal for me but when I remember winters in PA, I know I have no reason to complain. 
Wonderful things are happening at Urukundo Home for Children. Three new babies, Kenny, Kenila,and Prince. Claude is home and Ezekiel may be back soon. We now have 42 children in our family - 19 boys and 23 girls. Our maximum capacity is 50.  
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Education Sponsors

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We believe that child development is dependent on love, care, and spiritual discipleship. Jesus said: Mark 10 verse 14 “Let the children come to me, don’t stop them! For the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children”. This is our inspiration to help the children in our care and community by equipping them with Christian values, love, and education.

 

December is the month for giving gifts in Jesus' name. What better gift than the gift of EDUCATION to a child in need? 
This is surely a gift that keeps on giving. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn to read, write, and make good decisions for the future. 
Your gift of $15 can begin to make this possible for another child who has been homeless or abandoned. Please give from your heart, knowing you are making a difference in the life of a child.