Our Family Grows

This newsletter is hard to write. My heart is aching for this little girl who has been left alone in this world. I thank God that there is Urukundo (love) here in this place. I am grateful to all of you who make it possible for us to reach out and give this child a home where she will know she is loved and cared for.

This beautiful little girl has joined the Urukundo Family. We are happy that we are here to offer a safe haven to this child in need.

Her story is a sad one. Her mama was our neighbor and friend. Betty was a single parent with two small children - a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Betty died quite suddenly a few weeks ago leaving her two little girls. The day we buried Betty, her 3 year old also died. The deaths were not related but both were tragic. It was necessary to go through the proper channels to bring the 1 year old to Urukundo. The paper work is completed and she is here and has a home where she is loved.

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Greetings from Urukundo Village - August 2014

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Hello from Urukundo

August has been very busy. Our kids out of school, visitors from abroad, construction for the nursery and dental initiative. There was just a lot going on.

Arlene's Advice

I would give  this advice.  Do not eat papaya like cantaloupe, and do not eat peanuts before your stomach is recovered from excess papaya. If this is not clear, drop me an email and I will expound on the subject.

Lesson Learned.

OUR SECONDARY KIDS

Having the big brothers and sisters was very exciting for the little kids and for me. It is really a fun school vacation time. Even though they study during the time it is more relaxed.  They take part in the evening devotions and play with the little ones at Hope House.

Our Photo Shoot for August.  Secondary Students, some not all. How they have grown! All are now taller than me and better looking. Abis second year secondary.

Lucie our candidate for the ministry. She graduates from Secondary (High School) this year. Her goal is to be a pastor.

Divine

Amin

Claude

Esperance

Immanuel

Bosco

Cecelia

Jason

He does not expect to graduate from Secondary School until 2032. Please be there for him.

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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.