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Last but not Least

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Thanks to a generous patron of Urukundo we have a new car. Ok so it is not new but it is newer than the one we had that was making every trip to Kigali a trip filled with fear and trembling.

Our good friend rode in the car and said this car won’t last much longer. Before you are let stranded on the mountain let me help you get a better vehicle. He did and this is it.

It carries 9 passengers without luggage and 5 with luggage in the boot.

It is beautiful. It has a running board (for you who do not remember cars with a running board) A step up before stepping into the front seat. As I am finding out I really appreciate that little step up. I also like the hand holds to grab to get you inside.

We are so blessed at Urukundo to have such good friends. Thank you God.

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December Newsletter

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It is hard to believe another year has come and gone. 2014 was a good year for Urukundo. The farm is doing well, the gardens produced; The Urukundo Learning Center now has 384 students. We have 54 employees and 3 more were added to our teaching staff.  Three babies came to live with us and be a part of our family.  70 children graduated from Kindergarten, one finished Primary School and five graduated from Secondary School. We had one graduate from University. All in all It has been a very good year.

Shelling beans.

Harvest time at Urukundo. Mamas and children work together. I take pictures. Even the 2 year olds get involved.

Soso is very proud of his work. Good job Soso.

Kitchen manager Cecelia in orange and Delphine, our Home Manager, show the way.

Libby, Chantel and Anithia lend a helping hand. It is a big job.

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House of Culture

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View from the front porch of the HOUSE OF CULTURE

The blue roof is the Primary school. Trees had to go. Avocado trees are dangerous when children are playing under them.  The nut is quite large and falling from the tree can seriously hurt a child.

Looks like a good building. Not so the bricks are held together with mud but no cement. It's not safe for our children and so it must come down.

Day one of demolition.

Day three and the building is gone.

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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!