Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for November 2011

Greetings from Urukundo Village and Pittsburgh, Pa. November has been eventful for me and this ministry.  
The beginning of November saw us saying goodbye to our visitors Jan Brown and Carol Falke and sending the first of our teachers (Louise) to the US for some teacher training. Our administrator will make the trip at a later date.
All school kids now are on what would be called SUMMER BREAK in the US. This is a big event in Urukundo. All the children were home for one week.  Then the exodus started as the older kids go visit their home villages to be with extended family and friends for a month. Divine and Dada are visiting their aged grandmothers, some have aunts while others go to friends. It is important they keep a connection with family. 

 

About the middle of the month my trip to the US for R&R took place.  I am in Pittsburgh now and will be until Dec. 26th when I will return home to Urukundo. After some problems with a Visa I finally was able to board the plane and was on my way. I arrived at Dulles, Washington and more complications but Cathy Leatherwood from Reston came to my rescue and I reached my family safe and sound. I will return to Urukundo the day after Christmas arriving the 27th. and the older kids will come home the first week in January.

DELAYED CHRISTMAS

Our Toddlers and infants will celebrate the birth of the Christ Child on Christmas day but we will do Fanta, Sombosa, Cake and gifts from sponsors after we are all home together the second week in January 2012. Hard to believe a whole year has come and gone. 
,

Community Service

,
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
This year's fund for Orphans and the poor children of the community is far behind last year's gifts.  Last year we were able to send 340 children to primary school thanks to your generous support.  These children would not go to school without your love and gifts.  The amount needed to supplement what the government provides is $15 USD per child per year.  This purchases a uniform, exercise books, pens, a book bag, flip flops and a jacket. 
Please help so that no child is disappointed and consider supporting Urukundo Foundation's goal to provide an education for as many children as possible.  Thank you.
Gifts for Education should reach HMR as soon as possible - the school year begins in January.

God Continues to Add

She is a precious child of God and she arrived at Urukundo as I was on my way to the airport so I have not held her yet.
Her name is Diane. She was 4 weeks old when she came home to be with us. She was an abused child. Now she is a loved child. She was taken to the hospital for treatment of the wound to her face and I am told her arm is broken. However, being 'broken' in Rwanda does not necessarily mean a bone has fractured. When my kids stub their toe they say "I am broken". So I am not sure although they did say the arm would be in plaster.
,

Teacher Training

,
On November 4th Louise, who is one of our teachers from Cyakabiri School, boarded a plane for the US. She was accompanied by Jan Brown, Coordinator for our Preschool and Carol Falke, a dynamic fund raiser for Urukundo village and Urukundo Home for Children from State College, Pa. This was the beginning of many firsts for Louise. It is our hope that more of our teachers can travel to the US to receive extensive training and that teachers will come from the US to experience Cyakabiri School and share their knowledge wih our teachers. 
Louise is one of the three teachers at Cyakabiri Preschool - her journey begins.
Airports and luggage all part of the journey.
What Louise saw coming into the US. Sunrise over DC beautiful.
Louise's son Bruno came to Urukundo to be part of our family while his mom is in America.
He is a very fine boy and makes friends easily. He is a credit to his mother and loved at Urukundo Home.
We may not want him to go when his Mama comes home from the US. We are glad he will be close and can come visit and play with his new brothers even after his mom is home.
Luki and Bruno.
Bruno and Claude.
, ,

Sports World Headlines

, ,
News Flash
After their team won the Basketball championship in Muhanga District, 3 of our boys - Amin, Bosco and Abis, were chosen to receive sports training in Nyanza, the capital of South Province. They really are champs.
The training will take place from November 27 to December 12th.
We are so very  proud of our boys!
(l-r) Bosco, Abis and Amin.

Truck Transformation

With the farm expanding it was decided we needed a truck to haul food for the animals and transport our products to the market, so we started looking for a truck. Everything available cost more than Urukundo could afford. A supporter of Urukundo and a good friend came to the rescue offering not only to help with the purchase price, but also with the work needed to ensure that the truck passed the required National Inspection. Oswald, our regular driver, found this one. It was in bad shape but the price was right. It sure was a fixer upper!

Exterior damage apparent.
Tires bald and dangerous, the bed in need of repair, windows that did not close. Not a pretty sight.
Same truck.
The mechanic in charge did a fantastic job and changed the wreck into a car that passed requirements.
Amazing what a lot of interior work, a paint job and a new roll bar can do. 
We are again blessed.
A new truck. Awesome.
Thank you Tom - you made it all possible.

Time to Celebrate

The big news for November is the water and solar pump project is COMPLETE!  Yes, I am shouting this wonderful news!
Water is in all the reservoirs and the community now has access to the much needed water supply. The solar pumps are also working. We have so much to be thankful for.
This successful project was completed thanks to FOREST HILLS ROTARY, PITTSBURGH, Pa.  Tom Nunnlly spearheaded the project in Forest Hills, Kigali and Rotary International.  He was the inspiration to get the project going. THANK YOU, TOM!
KIGALI-VIRUNGA ROTARY, Kigali and ROTARY INTERNATIONAL. Our thanks to all who took part in making this project a success and who have made such a difference in the lives of many.

Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for October 2011

Dear friends and partners of Urukundo Foundation and Urukundo Home for Children.
I started out thinking there was not a lot to share in October but by the time I finished counted the blessings there was too much.  Bear with me please and help us to appreciate the gifts we have received.  There are so many blessings given to Urukundo in the month of October. 
Our family continues to grow.
ARRIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT
A baby girl arrived at 7:40 pm on October 14th 2011.
She has been named Kevine Nelly Ineza.  She is a beautiful little girl and is about 2 weeks old.
Kavine was found in a ditch near a forest by police and brought to Urukundo at the request of the District.
We are happy to welcome this child into our Urukundo family.

REMINDER : IT'S TIME FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL SPONSORSHIPS

Last year we were able to send 340 children to primary school thanks to your generous support. These children would not go to school without your love and gifts. The amount needed to supplement what the government provides is $15 USD per child per year.  This purchases a uniform, exercise books, pens, a book bag, flip flops and a jacket.

Please consider supporting Urukundo Foundation's goal to provide an education for as many children as possible: add EDUCATION FOR A RWANDAN CHILD to your Christmas gift list.

Gifts for education must reach HMR by December 15th.  The school year begins in January.  

 

Happy Times

Claude had a very happy birthday. He is delighted to have a picture of his sponsor in the US, a birthday card and a new game to play.

Aline Molly and Luki.

We do welcome babies at Urukundo Village but these are special babies.. New arrivals at Urukundo are loved in full measure and hugged by Aline Molly and Luki. These little ones have no names as yet but I am sure that will happen soon.

Rebekah and Prince out for a stroll.

I can show you the way.