Kindergarten girls posed for a before-school photo. They are, left to right, Winner, Axcel, Benita, Strong and Joyce. Benita likes her new pantsuit.
Here’s how they look in their uniforms ready for school along with classmate Jacob. This time, the group is, left to right, Jacob, Benita, Axcel, Strong, Joyce and Winner.
Time for cake
Mistakes are edible.
We ordered a cake from a shop in Kigali. The cake was delicious.
However, the writing on the cake had a mistake. It should have said, “New Family
Meredith, Alex & David.” Instead, it said, “New Family Marydith, David.” Alex didn’t make it to the top of the cake.
We did not have time to do the icing over, so there were no changes.The ice cream was melting. Sorry, Alex. We love you -- Mama, kids and especially David.
Meredith Lu first came to Rwanda more than eight years ago with the Peace Corps and has been David’s sponsor since he was a baby. She since has graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The newcomer to the family is Alex Nachis. Meredith and Alex visited Urukundo in 2017 so he could meet David. The cake celebrated their wedding on June 16, 2018.
Ice cream, cake and Fanta
Baby Jenny licked the bowl clean.
Secondary School Plans
The vision does not go away. 
So far, $5,000 has been raised for the Secondary School. Thank you.
There’s a long way to go. We need your help.
May 2018 Newsletter
Soon we will be six months into 2018. So accountability and budgeting for the next six months is on the agenda.
Here’s a request to our support partners for our children: Please check your dates for sending support for your child. If it is due or overdue, please send it ASAP. Maintenance and education all require ongoing funding.
I am so grateful to all of you for supporting the children and this mission.
Little animals that bite
OK, they are insects, but here in Rwanda they are called animals.
Because of the excess rain, these insects are leaving the outdoors and moving into our preschool. It is necessary to move the kids out of the classrooms while we spray. Teaching continues but on the basketball court …
in the yard…
and wherever.
The kids loved it and think this is a good idea for everyday. Well, it is, but with so much rain they might get wet.
Adult English classes
So proud of Urukundo staff and volunteer Amy Dove! Here’s the first adult English as a second language class -- with certificates to prove it.
Pastor Yves, Amy, Delphine (home manager), Olive (children and family advocate),
Juliette (human resources), Chantal (day care supervisor), Ismail (dental receptionist) and Libby (manager for cleaners). Good job; well done all. Thank you, Amy.
Xavier (driver), Chantal (cleaner), Florida (cleaner), Amy, Adelphine (mama), Francoise (mama), Libereta (cleaner), Clarisse (day care) and Josephine (day care).
We thank Amy Dove, Sewing Center students and Sewing Center teachers (Therese, Redumptus and Desire) for their participation in English class and finishing the first module of 30 hours in their curriculum.
Lovely explanation
The wedding of Betty, who is the main caregiver in the boys’ house, and Etienne was lovely. Weddings in Rwanda are interesting.
Everything is rented: the wedding gown, bridesmaids’ clothes, groom’s clothes, groomsmen's suits, decorations, tents for guests. Just everything, but it keeps the cost down, and the wedding can be lovely.
All of the invited guests contribute what little money they have before the wedding to help the bride and groom rent what they need. Depending on the generosity of friends and family, even the very poor can have a simple but pretty wedding.
It makes a lot of sense to me, especially in a country where jobs are scarce and money hard to come by.
It is amazing how friends and families support each other in Rwanda. Would that it were the same in the USA and other countries. The cost of a nice wedding in the USA would support a family in Rwanda for several years. The bride’s gown alone would more than pay for a whole wedding here.
When you accept an invitation to a wedding, you give a gift to help with the cost. Neat idea, and it works.
Too much rain
In case you missed my posting on Facebook:
A mountain fell into the small valley in Kibuye, located on the shores of Lake Kiva, about two hours from Urukundo. Lives were lost and homes destroyed. This is just one example what too much rain can do in Rwanda.
There is no controlling nature. Not enough rain is not good, and too much rain is a disaster.
A first for Urukundo Mama and Baby Project
A mama had a baby boy via a Caesarean and is still in the hospital. The papa came to ask for clothes for his newborn son. Libby made up the gift and is giving that gift to the father to be taken to the mama and baby boy. Congratulations to both Mama and Papa.
May visitor
Visitor Hannah-Nicole Crombie – better known as Nicole by our kids – is from Scotland and volunteered at Urukundo for two wonderful weeks with special art projects.
This one was awesome. The kids cut out their masks, decorated them and went around scaring everyone.
Such fun.
Nicole with one of her art projects with preschoolers.
Nicole’s Aunt Terri made and sent flowers for the Urukundo kids.
The children loved the colorful flowers and could pick their favorite color.
Thank you, Aunt Terri. Love you, Nicole.
Nicole also was on hand to meet a new mama and baby on Urukundo’s front porch.
Sad to say goodbye
Saying goodbye as Kyle Jerro returns to his home base in the United Kingdom was hard for him and the kids. Kyle was on his seventh visit and is a member of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors.
More on Mama and Baby Project
Urukundo’s Mama and Baby Project was so pleased to get a new supply of newborn items from friends in Pennsylvania, USA. They reached us via a suitcase carried by a Rwandan student who was returning home from Penn State University. The items are so needed. We even received hand-knit baby sweaters and hats. So much love!
Other wonderful gifts to us are the reusable nylon bags from ChicoBag, which has given us 100 bags each year for the last four years.They are gifts that keep on giving and are used by the mamas after they are home. They serve many purposes.
