Worship

Children at Saint Paul’s UMC Sunday School in State College were touched by the children in Rwanda. The children’s time in worship tells of this event. The book GOD'S DREAM by Desmond Tutu was where the idea for the banner came from. The theme is GOD SMILES LIKE A RAINBOW. The colorful rainbow is made by the beautiful handprints of the children and they gifted it to Urukundo.

Kavine holding banner in place.

Our children are making a banner with their hand prints to send to the children in America. It was a delightful Sunday service.

Gardening Adventures

Gardening in Urukundo Village is a bit different, but our volunteers were very interested in agriculture and one of our teachers was game. It is back breaking work but well worth the pain.  Well that is my thought but I only watch! Building kitchen gardens requires a certain amount of skill and a lot of back breaking labor.

Tools are make-do using what we have available.

Nothing stopped our volunteers from completing the task!

Nina, and the two Carols hard at work.

Cloth animal feed sacks, 2 foot sticks whittled to a point by Carol Baney, a hammer, a machete or large knife and a desire to play in the dirt are the requirements most needed to build a Kitchen Garden.

Agriculture

Urukundo Childrens Farm took on a new role this month. It was requested that we provide a teaching program for a farmer from a Home For Children in Ruhengeri.

Gardening where the soil is not the best is a problem. Felicitie and our gardener friend took on the project and Aimible came for a two week apprenticeship.

He learned about all the different types of kitchen gardens that can produce vegetables for children.

We hope we taught him well!

Getting to First Base

Our team meets with Aimable.

This is the first step in getting a MUSIC PROGRAM at Urukundo Learning Center.

One of the instrument instructors, Bonnene. He plays a mean guitar plus other instruments. Guitar is my favorite although I don’t play.  My love for this instrument may have to do with the fact that my oldest son Ted plays guitar and has a good voice. His music has always filled my heart.

Building Primary Three

I sent out an appeal for stones and sand to prepare a foundation for Primary 3, the next step in completing a primary school for Urukundo Learning Center. We need many stones for this two-story building. It is much different for a two-story building, saving land space, than for a one-story building. This finished building will house P3, P4, P5, P6, and two classrooms each. Once the foundation is laid we can build one section at a time.

Building P3 is now our priority. In order to meet Government regulations we will build upstairs and downstairs classrooms a section at a time, making the downstairs classrooms handicap accessible. 

Some funds have come and we thank you who took this need seriously. We have 3 loads of stones and need 20 more. A $50 gift can pay for a load of stones. A $25 gift can pay for a load of sand needed as fill for the stones and to mix with the cement  to make the foundation solid.

The foundation is large, covering an extensive piece of land. When completed, with the classrooms we have already built, it will house our entire Primary school including offices for the school and administration.

Visitors

Urukundo was blessed in April by the visits of 7 young people. Three came from Rwanda and four from the UK. They came to be with us during the memorial week. They spent their time with the younger children. It was a fun week for all.

Day Visitors

We welcomed a return visit from Thomas Gamby who visited us with AIC in early April. He came back bringing his wife Marie-Louise, First Secretary, Head of Administration for the Sweden Embassy. We were so honored by her visit.  Their son Oscar and his wife Sofie from Sweden were with them. We are glad they included a visit to Urukundo while visiting their parents in Rwanda.  After touring the compound they enjoyed lunch with the kids. That is quite an experience.

Long Term Volunteer

Saying goodbye is painful. If you don’t believe it, ask Laura Rowland from Pittsburgh, PA USA.

Laura came in February to volunteer for three months at Urukundo.  

Her work here has included assistant teacher at the Preschool/Kindergarten, helping out during playtime at Hope House and assisting at the start up of the Dental Initiative. There she was so appreciated. Her skills as a leader and teacher and her ability to relate to children were a blessing. The kids had trouble with the L and R in her name so she was called many different names while she was here. Never a problem - Rorla was the favorite I think.

The kids watch as Laura and the car drive away. Having them sit on the steps is the only way to make sure none are too close to the car and all are safe.

All of the kids would like to be in her suitcase. They will miss her so much. Her time with us was truly a blessing.

Gathering for pictures was a last fun time for Laura and the kids.

Greetings from Urukundo Village - March 2014

Hello everyone whereever you are.

Spring is just around the corner for many of you, but for us the weather is great. We are planting a second crop because the weather here is playing tricks - but in our favor. Imagine two growing seasons back to back with no dry season in the middle. Seems the climate is changing everywhere.

The children are fine. They have the ordinary scrapes, bumps and bruises. They run too fast, stop too quick and take headers, get up and run again.

Jacob is coming to Mama’s house on his own now. He is so little, but very independent.

He is not ready for soccer yet.

Looks like we have a new girl. (The dress code for children does not exist at Urukundo.). No, it is Jacob learning to run and keep his balance. Not easy on bricks and rough ground.

Visiting Mama's room.

Baby Jenett  is now 4 months old and has discovered her hands. Watching a baby develop is awesome.  She is not sure where they came from or if they are hers but she likes them. She has been using them to hold and grab for some time, but didn’t really see them till now.

I wonder as I watch this baby, how many things we take for granted but do not really see.

At my age I am still learning and many of the lessons come from children.

Jenett

Dental Initiative

We are so grateful to all the dentists out there who contributed to make this much needed service available at Urukundo Village.

Our first day we scanned 85 children from Urukundo Primary School. 55 needed dental attention and 29 of the 55 needed urgent care.

Notices were sent home to the parents of all children seen. Follow up calls were made.

Saturday March 1^st   29 were seen with their parents.

Saturday March 15^th 33 were seen with parents.

Parents and children sitting on benches on the porch of the Girls' House waiting their turn.

Little benches outside the Tiki Hut, our dental workstation.

How do you like the grass roof?  We really need to get a new roof, but I think this one adds character. What do you all think?

Dentist, Dad and patient.

Dentist, Mom and another patient.

Most times the parents are more anxious than the kids.

Saturday March 22,2014

After covering the Home and school we are opening care and treatment to the children and adults in the community.

Our continuing need is funding for Novocain, Amoxicillin to fight infection after extractions, Ibuprofen for pain and sterile gloves. These can be purchased in Kigali Town as needed.

On Feb 28 our Dentist spent an afternoon explaining and demonstrating dental hygiene to the Primary classes. Our Dental Initiative is an all-inclusive program.

Toothbrushes, toothpaste and smiling kids!

Art

As you can see art is also important at Urukundo Learning Center. We invite art teachers and those interested in creating interest in young people to come to Urukundo. Art teachers are needed short term or long term. Creating a love of art can lead to wonderful career choices as the kids mature.

There are so many facets to art. It is more than drawing and coloring. Building a bridge, a small house or a skyscraper, designing a dress, decorating a home, creating furniture. Yes, even your lawn and garden is a work of art. The greatest artist ever gave us the beauty of the mountains and the colors in the fall. Look around your area. What would it look like if there were no creative minds and eyes to see possibilities. Art as a subject is new here but so important. 

Teacher in a classroom.

Animals of Rwanda.

Rwanda map.

A house.

The Farm

The need for more manure for the biogas for cooking and more milk for the children was a challenge.  Thanks to you out there enough money came so we could find a good breed and bring her home.

Flossie has come to take care of both problems.

THANK YOU, to all who contributed to covering the cost for obtaining this necessary addition to our farm. She is ½ paid for. God in charge. The rest will come.

She is beautiful.  I do mean the cow.