Sewing Center completed

The completed addition to the Sewing Center classroom makes a great building.

Front view of Sewing Center, which is a school of technology for sewing. When funds become available, the stones in front will be covered by cement. All in good time. These stones also help control mudslides on our property, especially where new construction has taken place and the ground is soft.

Rear view. Notice the storm clouds moving in.

More cement work to be done. Cement is US$10 a bag.

Inside classroom

Funds were raised for 45 desk-chair combinations. We thank all who picked up the challenge, and now every student will be comfortable attending class in January.

The room already is a blessing. We will find many uses for this room. At present, it is being used to prepare for graduation. Gowns are kept in storage each year to be used the next year. This is the first year we were able to wash, iron and hang the gowns, thanks to having the new classroom available. It makes graduation easier on the staff. Working ahead is good.

All graduates came to the room to be measured and fitted for a gown. Their name was attached to the gown that fit, and the gowns are arranged in alphabetical order by first name. This will make it easier to distribute the gowns the day before the ceremony.

Later, the room will be used to measure and fit new students enrolling in the 2020 year. It is so wonderful to have space to work that does not disrupt classes.

Upcoming graduation

Graduation is on the horizon.

We are ready. Preparations are in place. The Sewing Center makes the caps and gowns for graduation.

The colors of the gowns show the level of the students.

White and blue: Sewing Center

Solid blue: Kindergarten

Black: Primary 6

The caps on chairs have tassels, different for each level.

White: Sewing Center

Yellow: Kindergarten

Green: Primary 6

Special event

The baptism of Lani Aleen was a special event. Lani is the daughter of Urukundo Executive Director Jean Marie Ntware.

Lani is my adopted granddaughter. Take notice that she looks like me. Ha ha.

Two grandmothers

Mama can still dance. It’s not the jitterbug, but it is still fun.

Tragedies happen

This one close to home, school and heart.

Excess rain can be a serious problem in Rwanda. Our beautiful mountains are also dangerous in the season of rain. Mudslides are a constant threat. Older homes made of mud bricks have a tendency to weaken after many years of torrential rains.

Dorcus, a fourth-grade student at the Urukundo Learning Center, was injured in a freak accident. Dorcus was in the shower in her home get ready to come to school. A severe rainstorm was up in the mountain above her home. The mudslides caused by the storm hit the house above her home, pushing it into the wall surrounding her compound. The wall then crashed into the home, causing the wall in the room where she was bathing to collapse and crushing the little girl beneath the bricks. The mud bricks used to build a house weigh 40 pounds or more each.

Rescuing her and getting help to get her to the hospital took much too long. She was rushed to Kabgayi Hospital and then to a hospital in Kigali. So much damage to her little body. In two days, she had three surgeries.

Doctors have done their best. Dorcus has a long recovery time ahead once she makes it out of ICU. Prayers are needed for Dorcus and her family.

Dental Clinic update

May I introduce trainees Rahab Nyiransengiyumva (dental assistant) and Pascal Ubuzima (dentist in training)?

The other two, Ishmael Niyitegeka (chairside assistant) and Oliver Kansiime (our dentist) you have met before.

In the picture, Rahab is on the left, followed by Ishmael, Oliver and Pascal.

We are delighted to add our dental chair assistant, Rahab, and dentist in training,,Pascal. They are needed additions to the dental staff. Rahab has held other positions at Urukundo, starting as a cleaner and then shopkeeper at the Sewing Center, a caregiver in the daycare and now in training to be a chairside dental assistant. It is our pleasure to give talented, ambitious employees a chance for career advancement.

Pascal is a recent graduate from the University of Rwanda School of Medicine specializing in dentistry.

Our head dental person, Oliver, is an excellent teacher for a young person entering the field. Ishmael and Oliver will help Rahab to become an outstanding chairside assistant.

Notice the sign over the door.

Demonstration of how teeth should be brushed. Anyone have teeth this big? I think not.

Inside the clinic. A great team and equipment.

Thanksgiving

Many thanks.

I close this newsletter knowing that the month ahead is the month of Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful to all who have shown love and caring for the children of Rwanda in whose lives we have and will continue to make a difference.

Remember the tale of “The Tortoise and the Hare”? The hare is very confident of winning, so it stops during the race and falls asleep. The tortoise continues to move very slowly but without stopping and finally wins the race. The moral lesson of the story is that you can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily than by acting quickly and carelessly.

This describes Urukundo Learning Center. Slow but sure.

September 2019 Newsletter

Time for Christmas giving

September has come and gone. The end of 2019 is in sight. The Urukundo Learning Center is preparing for graduation for kindergarten, Primary 6 and the Sewing Center as well as our Christmas party for the community kids. Exciting and busy time for us.

Are you putting Hope Made Real and Urukundo on your Christmas list? Hope so. Gifts sent in November help us to meet and greet community children on our special day for them. Last year, there were more than 500 children at the party. Help us make it a Hope Made Real.

Puzzle of the month

As many of you know, and especially those who have been at Urukundo know for sure, my passion and relaxation method is to work jigsaw puzzles. The harder and the larger, the better.

I found this one challenging and beautiful, so I thought I would share it with you.

Looks a lot like my life. It goes in a circle and has bright, beautiful colors to make my day. Hope your days are full of color and beauty also.

Stretching the mind

Not necessarily new in the USA, but new to Urukundo kids and staff. Silly name but fun game

Try it! You’ll like it.

A lovely story to share

While sitting in a waiting room in a Kigali hospital with one of my children some years ago, a young woman sat down next to me. Of course, I spoke and she answered me in English. Wow, this was great. Her name was Christine and she was a fifth-year medical student. After visiting for some time, we exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, promising to keep in touch. This was the beginning of a long-time relationship.

She finished medical school, and I was invited to meet her family and to attend her beautiful wedding. Time passed, and we were a bit out of touch. She let me know when her daughter was born. Contact was lost, and I did not know about the second child.

This September, Dr. Christine brought her children to visit me after the long, quiet time. I was surprised and delighted to see her and her children.

Wouldn’t you know this was the day I did not fix my hair or put on any makeup to enhance me a bit. Oh well, there is love and that is what counts.

When my young man Diescor was ready to go to medical school, we needed help. So I contacted Christine as she had walked this path before. Christine went to her father, and he was instrumental in getting Diescor admitted as a student at Gitwe Hospital. Again time passed.

Now Diescor is in his third year of medical school and is home for a short visit. Always happy to see him although his visits are short.

Dr. Christine and medical student Diescor

Dr. Christine and her two children made their surprise visit the same day Diescor came home. It was the first time Dr. Christine and Diescor had met. God incident to be sure. No other way to explain it. Diescor is seldom home. It was great listening to them compare notes and discuss experiences and in English.

Dr. Christine is now working at our local hospital. Hopefully we will see more of her and the children in the future.

Sight to see

An unbelievable vision! Visitors are in for a treat traveling through Kigali City. I was very surprised and impressed. It was not there the last time I was in the city.

A basket on top of this beautiful building! I am told at night the basket is illuminated and the flag of Rwanda is visible. I think I need to pay a night visit just to see this sight.

What do you think? Would it fit in your living room? Small ones are available. Lovely to see.

Rock Garden

My rock garden has grown a new word.

As usual, John, Egide and David are hamming it up.