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Progress Report

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In November’s newsletter I shared with you the joy a gift from a dear friend REV. MARJORIE GLASCOW after she departed this life made and how it allowed another HOPE to be MADE REAL.

Pictures of the house and the land purchased from the gift she wished Urukundo to receive are in November’s newsletter. 

Renovation to make the house part of the school started at once.

The HOUSE OF CULTURE will soon be a reality.

The Inspection Team.

General Foreman: Mr. David.

LANCE GASKILL Our music & Art consultant.

Day two. Outside walls came down.

Bricks are salvaged for later use. Claude is foreman on this job.

Olivier hard at work.

Tresor and John Paul are good at demolition on the wall.  We are blessed with young men who are not afraid of hard work.

Luki joined the brick brigade.

Holes began to appear and the dust was awful. Facemasks were borrowed from the Dental Imitative.  This sure helped the breathing problem.

Bathrooms dismantled.

The work goes on. More in the January Newsletter.

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Another Celebration

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Preview: Uncle's graduation gown for the kids to see. December 12 is graduation.

Two days later. The real thing.  Congratulations Emmy (Uncle).

An event to remember!

Emmanuel is the sixth member of our staff Urukundo has supported with tuition and expense money to attend University and achieve their Bachelors degree. There are three more attending University now with full support. We are so blessed to have donors who find supporting education a good way for charitable giving. Gifts to HMR’s Education Fund for Higher Education are not only a blessing to Urukundo but are  tax deductible. We are a 501(C)3 charity. And what better way to ensure that Urukundo will continue after you are no longer here to send your gift each month, than to make provision in your Will. If you are like me, then you want to know where your assets are going before you go to your reward.

A Special Visit

Urukundo was honored by a visit to our Dental Initiative and campus by

Dr. Ibra Richards                         Valli Meeks         Sawsan Salih 

Valli is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania so for me it was a real treat to visit with someone from my home state. She is a delightful woman as were all four visitors on their team.

                                                                          Chrispinus Mumena.

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New Stones on the Path

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Pastor Boyd and his wife Shirley served in the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda for 6 months. Their schedule was a bit busy but they found time to visit and play with the Urukundo kids. Even had mama to dinner at their house. It was such a treat and pleasure for me.  They were good customers at the Sewing Center.

Pastor Boyd’s shirts will make him the envy of every man who sees him.

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Preparing for our Community and Staff Christmas

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Each year Urukundo shares Christmas with the children of our staff and the children in the community. We serve simple juice and a cookie and give a small wrapped gift. The staff usually wraps the small gift. This year we thought it would mean more to our kids if they helped prepare the gifts and plan the party.  Our children in P2 and P3 along with the secondary kids who were home gathered at Mama’s table and wrapped the gifts.  It was great fun and taught the kids about the true meaning of Christmas. “SHARING & GIVING” The giving part is yet to come. Last year over 100 children came from the community. This year we prepared for more and expect about 200 children.

Pictures of the gathering will be in the January Newsletter!

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November at Urukundo

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November started of with a bang. A dental team of 3 came for 3½ days to take part in our dental program and also work with our head dentist Edmund at Kabgayi Hospital Clinic.

Brittany did scaling at our facility while the other two worked with fillings at Kabgayi. During her days here 34 patients were cared for and the kids got lots of love. During her stay with us she received a new name. She said jokingly with the kids 'My name is Potato' because they were having trouble remembering Brittany!  So her Urukundo name is Potato. I suppose she is a white potato. For sure she is a sweet potato!

Charmaine and Troy Michelson and Brittany made a super team. They are very special people. Troy played piggy back with the kids the night they arrived. That was fun especially for the kids. I think they called him a horse. This was play our kids had not experienced before!

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Thanksgiving Greetings

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The time goes so fast. I think it has something to do with age. There are never enough days in the week and yet some days are too long.

Urukundo moves along at an amazing rate.  Soon it will be 2015.

Time to think about the month just passed. We do not celebrate Thanksgiving here at Urukundo but we have so much to be thankful for. I do hope all of you who celebrate the day had a great day - enjoyed Macy's Christmas Parade, family, lots of good food and football.

The people I am most thankful for and in a list of their own include:

The members of my family in the USA who continue to love me and support my ministry in Rwanda.

The list here at Urukundo Village begins and there is no end.

1. Sponsors are at the top of the list.

I am so thankful for the faithful sponsors who make this ministry possible. We depend on our sponsors in order for us to care for our children.

2. Our children are in good health.

In a big way this is due to the vitamins they receive every day - thanks to gifts from our generous donors.

3. The rains have been good and our vegetable gardens are producing. Celery has been added to my garden this season. I am delighted that it grows. I’m not quite sure how the stalks develop but I will learn.

4. National exams are over.  Senior 3 and senior 6 students are waiting for grades.

5. Tresor has finished his testing for the Mastercard Scholarship.  Now it is a matter of time until we learn the results.    

6. Benita has a sponsor.

This is just a little of what I have to be thankful for at Urukundo.

Mission Outreach

MISSION OUT REACH

November and December are the months of giving thanks and giving of gifts. The gift of education is a gift that never stops giving.

Please keep the Education Fund in your heart. We can help local children in need of an education, but whose  parents have too little income and struggle to feed and clothe them. Your gift helps Urukundo Learning Center provide education for these wonderful children. $15 is a small amount but makes a big difference for the children here.

SUPPORT US DURING YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING AND YEAR ROUND

Shopping at AMAZON for Christmas?  Check out AMAZON SMILE. Name your favorite charity and while you make shopping simple for yourself, reach out and help others. You are going to spend the money any why not make it a double gift.  Both HOPE MADE REAL and SPIRITWORKS (our partner in ministry) are listed among those charities.

SHOP AND SHARE BECAUSE YOU CARE!

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Photo Gallery for November

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Five of our Secondary kids finished High School this year. A lot depends on the scores made in the National exams where their future lies. We can make a difference.  A gift to the EDUCATION FUND is one way you can help these kids obtain higher education and a brighter future.

Because you cared this group of young adults dare to dream. Their dreams for the future are do-able. Can you help make it happen?  

Anett hopes to be accepted at Akilah Institute for women.

Lucie, Her dream is to become a pastor and serve in ministering to others.

Divine has a heart for aviation and is applying to Nairobi Aviation College Flying School.

Esperance wants to go into the field of medicine. KHI (Kigali Health Institute) Medical or Dental.

Alexander's future lies in Computer Technology and Computer Science. KIST for his Bachelors and Carnagie Mellon Rwanda for his Masters.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES. WELL DONE.

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

Their goals are within reach with your help. Funding is needed. Check out the web sites for these schools and see where your heart leads you.