Community Water Project

The water project for the community is moving along but of course always the limitations is money. It wasn't smart, but we did not figure electricity in the original cost estimate so we wait upon God.
The community is supplying the labor and it is hard labor. It will most benefit the women, children and girls who carry the water up the mountain on their heads.  When this is finished there will be easy access to essential water.
With tears in their eyes the women hugged me said, "This has been a dream and now it is really going to happen. We did not think is was possible".  My response "With God all things are possible"
carrying stones to the work site.
foundation work.
The water source at the bottom of the mountain.
Keep us and this project in prayer we need an additional $5000 to complete the work. Not much, but when you don't have it - well you know the rest!

May News from Cyakabiri School for Small Children

As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, the Home for Boys is in full operation as is the Home for Girls and 2010 saw the Nursery built and filled with 14 babies under 4 years of age. These precious babies would be lost without Urukundo. Praise the Lord that we are here because you and others care. 
Our target goal in education was to start a school in five years and we have reached that goal.  Our students are beautiful.
Now we have 14 kids soon there will be 20 children in the 3 and 4 year old morning group and 18 in the afternoon 5 year old group.
Jan continues to be director from her home in the US. Praise God for technology.
Opening of Cyakabiri School for small Children - kids and staff.
Claude writes in his journal.
Claude and Luki doing puzzles.
Book readers.
David laces.
Musicians.
Urukundo is so blessed to have Janet F. Brown, Early Childhood Education Consultant as Director of the Cyakabiri School for Small Children. Jan will be instrumental in developing the school system here.
Jan's biggest problem is dividing her time between the school and the nursery. Her love of the children is awesome.
Thank you Jan.
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May Birthday Party

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The Nursery (Mama Cindy's Cottage) is such a blessing.  So much activity takes place there.

The month of May found three of our babies having a birthday - LUKI, SARAH and PRINCE.

The special event, the birthday party, now takes place each month in the nursery where things are just their size.  It begins with a Baby Einstein dvd (thanks to Rhegan from Arizona) on my 15 inch laptop, then cake with a candle to blow, singing and juice and gifts. Sarah received a box from her sponsor. Luki has a new kite to share from Louise in the UK. A box of trucks, cars, a big red fire truck and large yellow bus came for all to share from Ken Lake in California.   It was a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

New Arrival

In May we received Eugene (Egade) from the District. He is an abandoned child. His mother tried to drown herself and this precious child. She was pulled out of the water and both were saved but she is mentally not responsible for herself or her child. The District has placed him in our custody.  He is precious and needs a sponsor. Any one interested????
Egade is in the colorful pants. David and Kenlia are his protectors now.
Aline (big girl) and Sarah bonding with Egade.
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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for April 2011 - Part Two

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The Second Half of a Wonderful Month at Urukundo Village

The Vice Mayor of Family Development and Gender and her assistant paid a visit to Urukundo Village.  They met the kids and heard them sing.

She encouraged the kids to work hard in school and to have a goal in life. She visited the school project and toured the Village.  We were honored by her presence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Surgery on our Farm

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Not your typical operating room, nor the normal procedure, but it works in Urukundo Village. The combined expertise of a vet from Rwanda and two vets from Austria has made a difference in our lives at Urukundo Home for Children and for our favorite and only milk cow DAISY.
Daisy is our source of milk for all 43 children and she had a problem that threatened milk production.  When Daisy was very young a cow herder hit her in the eye with a stick. She lost vision in that eye and it petrified. For some reason recently the eye began to water and enlarge, protruding more and more and causing Daisy pain.
Sam, our farm manager, was our driving force. When he heard that our visitor was a surgeon for animals he set things in motion to get Daisy the help she needed. Anesthesia was the critical need. Drs. Otto and Tina joined our on site vet in performing surgery.
A happy team after the successful operation.
Otto and Tina also spent time with the babies. Here they are with (l-r) David, Mama and Kenny, Rebekah.