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A Gift for the President

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The art work is pictures done by the Urukundo Kids, The design is a gift from Pastor Sharon, and the quilt pattern of hearts and hands was done by Pastor Sharon’s friend.

The quilt was accepted for the President by his secretary Irene.  President Kagame was meeting with President Obama at the same time I was meeting with Irene. Both high-powered meetings you will have to agree.  After the presentation of the quilt, Irene invited me to tell her about Urukundo now and our goals for the future. I was even able to tell her my hopes and plans for the rest of the mountain. She was a most gracious hostess.

Feast

A pretend cooking event and a great imagination is all it takes to have a wonderful meal on the bottom of mama’s bed.

Matt our visitor heard me say the girls had only 2 cups and a tiny teapot to have pretend tea parties. He presented the kids with a set of pots, pans and fruits that they could play with. What a wonderful gift. Now I am served strawberries, bananas, grapes and cabbage on a little plate and I pretend to stuff myself with the wonderful fruit. It is a great diet for losing weight.

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Drying Dishes

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The first Dish dryer, given to us by God. Not electric but very effective.

Wash, rinse and place on the platform for the sun to do the rest.

The Sun

Clothes dryer.  Lines and fences work just fine but bushes also are a drying option.

Not better than a washing machine but then there's no breakdown when the electricity is turned off. This is an all day job every day but Sunday.

We also have a medium sized electric Dryer for drying baby clothes and school uniforms during the rainy season. The dryer was a gift from a friend from United Christian Parish in Reston, Virginia, USA.

Amin

Amin is in Culinary school.

We appreciated his help in the kitchen during the Holiday. He also returned to school on the 11th of August. The kitchen staff hated to see him go. At the end of this term he will serve an apprenticeship at a local hotel. Where is yet to be decided. He then will have the opportunity to work at Urukundo with the kitchen staff to give him experience.

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Dental Initiative Update

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Breaking news

Urukundo Dental Initiative has applied to the Rwanda Health Department for recognition as a Community Service Organization.

DID YOU KNOW? The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself.

With the new chair and 2 new dentists we are really HIGH TECH.  Urukundo Initiative wants to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful dentists and others who helped us with materials, machines and dollars for needed supplies to make such a worthwhile program posssible.

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Three Choirs and a Trio

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All three singing groups are Urukundo Kids. This event only happens during school breaks. It's a concert of the best kind. Soso is dressed for Alaska I think!

Precious Gems - 5 & under

Urukundo Kids 6 & up

Urukundo Teens Choir made up of secondary kids home for the holiday.

Trio: Tresor, Divine, Anitha. With accompanist Lennart Westmark from Germany

The music was spectacular.

Visitors this Month

The Buck family - Mom Sally, Dad Chris, sons Jacob and Sam were visitors for 4 days this month. Jacob’s friend Johnathan May came with them. Moses, their Rwandan friend, made the group complete. Moses taught at devotions, the boys and Mom worked at the Preschool and Sam, Dad and Moses helped with a painting project at the Boys' Home. They were a great crew.

We were honored that Pastor Boyd and Shirley shared their visitors with Urukundo in August.  Their special delight was a visit from their son Matt. I am happy to be included in this family.

Three pals. Friends forever. UK, Rwanda, Germany.

Vincent returned to University in Uganda.

Chris is returning to England on August 30. Chris worked at the schools and taught Karate when the teacher was absent.

Lennart and his guitar are leaving for his home in Germany after an extended stay.

We will miss him especially at devotions where he played guitar and sang for the kids and for me. I am partial to guitar and singing young men, as my son Ted was such a man in his youth. He still plays and sings for me when I am home in the US.

Lest you forget

 

I share with my readers pictures of my children in Rwanda all the time. I need you to remember I also have a wonderful family in the USA. I will share pictures of a few of them with you.  Hope you don’t mind.

I am a proud mama, Gram and Great Gram.

Mason 

Mama Laura, Dylan and Hannah Arlene. Both these little girls are special. Laura is my youngest granddaughter. Hannah Arlene is blessed (or whatever!) with my name.

Jamie and son Aiden, Jessica and daughter Juliane.  Jess & Jamie are sisters.

Steve and Anna.

Dale and Patricia.

 

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Newsletter for July

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Saturday Morning at Urukundo Home is special. There is no school so the children have an extra hour of sleep and then gather outside for breakfast.

I am sending you an invitation to join the children for a breakfast of porridge and chapati on the porch at the Girl’s House.

Jacob likes Chapati too.

Cups hold porridge.

You met Josh and Audrey from Canada in the June Newsletter.  Their visit extended into July.