Dorcus improving

Good news. Dorcus, a fourth-grade student at the Urukundo Learning Center, came home from the hospital this week.

She is weak and was unable to attend Urukundo's community Christmas party.
Urukundo Learning Center headmaster Irene Dushimimana and my home manager Libby took Christmas to her. Libby is her neighbor in the village and has kept us current on Dorcus’s condition.

Dorcus was injured in a serious freak accident at her home in a mudslide caused by a severe rainstorm in October. She is trying to walk. With support around her waist and someone holding her hand, she has taken a few steps.

Update on Diescor

Keep those prayers going for Diescor Kirenga, one of the young boys who joined the Urukundo family in 2007. Prayers are so needed and our source of strength. Diescor, who is a medical student, was admitted in critical condition to King Faisal Hospital in Kigali City after he collapsed on Dec. 4. On Dec. 29, he left the hospital for further medical treatment in the USA.
His progress has been phenomenal. Prayers have been answered.

Saturday Dec. 28 was our final visit to the hospital in Kigali to see Diescor before he left the country. Lucky and Claude wanted to visit their big brother and so accompanied me to Kigali and the hospital. The visit was good for them and for Diescor. Love is the most important ingredient in a good life. The kids at Urukundo love Diescor. He doctored their bruised knees, cuts and scrapes even before he started medical school.

On my visit with Diescor on the day before Christmas, he showed recognition with his eyes and facial expressions. He smiled a lot and laughed but not out loud. He said “yego,” which is “yes” in the Rwandese language. He could understand all conversation and responded. The improvement is encouraging. The greatest gift to me was when he hugged me strongly with his left arm.

Here is the address you can send letters or anything to Diescor and they will get to him:
Riley Scott / Diescor
18534 Tonkel Road
Auburn, IN 46706

Here is the address for the hospital:
Lutheran Hospital
7950 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Our final university graduates for 2019

It was such a pleasure to attend the graduation of Divine Uwonkura. Divine graduated from the University of Kigali.

Divine’s university of choice. The celebration was very impressive.

Auditorium

The graduation was held at the Intare Conference Arena, Rusororo.

Divine was our first girl and the start of our Urukundo Family in 2006. We have watched her as she has matured into the young woman you see today. Divine finished her university classes in 2018. Her formal graduation ceremony took place on Dec. 6, 2019.

Recently, she has been manager of Urukundo University House in Kigali City as she prepares and hopes to go to an aviation school in Florida, USA.

Congratulations, Divine.

Special congratulations go to Urukundo Foundation’s Executive Director Jean Marie Ntwari on achieving his master’s degree in business administration on Dec. 13. He has worked hard to reach this goal. Who knows, maybe someday in the future is his doctorate?

Urukundo Foundation takes great pleasure in congratulating all of our university students for a year of success. Well done.

This has been an awesome year in education. To bring you current:
Early in Urukundo’s history and before our kids were ready for university, our priority was to help staff members achieve their goals. Those who benefitted from your generosity are:
Mary Claire Nishimwe (social worker in Kigali); Etienne Santore (Internet tech); Juliette Musabyemariya (human resources director, Urukundo Foundation);
Emmanuel Iyamarere (businessman); Jolly Kabihogo (owner and operator of a day care); Irene Dushimimana (headmaster, Urukundo Learning Center); Oliver Kansiime (head of dental clinic, Urukundo Village);and Jean Marie Ntwira (executive director, Urukundo Foundation).
Our first family of Urukundo kids has reached university age. I list for you our graduates: Amin Niyonkuru, Seraphine Izabayo, Solange Nirere, Tresor Cyubahiro,
Divine Uwonkura, Alexander Prince and Lillian Wishavura. We have currently 13 attending university and graduating in the next three years.

We have an education fund that provides funding so our unsponsored kids and community children can attend preschool and primary by keeping tuition affordable. The fund also helps provide for secondary students (high school) and university students who are not sponsored.

I thank all of the sponsors and those who contribute to the education fund for making it possible for our students to achieve the higher education that is so essential to a better life and reaching their goals.

I thank all who care, share and help make a difference. Hope Made Real.

Visitors for December

We were honored to have visitors from Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville Georgia, USA.

They included Dr. Mark Schlueter, professor of biology at Georgia Gwinnett, and his son, Peter.

Also part of the team from Georgia Gwinnett were Dr. Gwendoline Ayuninjam, associate professor in the School of Education, and Dr. MaryBeth Chrostowsky, lecturer of anthropology. They met with Urukundo Learning Center Headmaster Irene Dushimimana for some serious brainstorming. We hope this is just the beginning of a long, mutually beneficial relationship.

Dr Gwendoline Ayuninjam, Headmaster Irene Dushimimana and Dr. Marybeth Chrostowsky

Accompanying the visitors were Aime Nshizirungu and Franciose Uzamukunda from the Global Engagement Institute in Kigali City.

Gifted Karate Team

A special Christmas gift for a great team.

A karate fan sent a gift to Urukundo’s karate team. With the gift, the team purchased some much needed equipment.

The team has worked and practiced for a long time with no equipment. This gift was so appreciated.

Community Christmas at Urukundo Village

What a day at Urukundo Village on Dec. 23! Thanks to a generous donor gift from One Hill at a Time Inc. and its director Helen Kweskin, our annual Christmas Community Day for kids was a day to celebrate. Thank you for your love and generosity.

Wrappers and helpers: Soso, Lucky, Chantel, Olive and Libby. Awesome job, team. So many gifts for the community kids!

Hope House was full to capacity. The new large classroom is such a blessing. We now have the capacity to handle the multitude of children.

Hope House and the new classroom are close to each other, making it easy to direct children to the new building out of the wet weather. Treats were served in both buildings.

Overflow then moved from new classroom to Hope House after first group received treats, gifts and departed.

Over 700 children showed up to enjoy a treat of a juice drink, sumbosa and each a wrapped gift. It was awesome.

There were still more gifts. These were gifts from the Urukundo Foundation to all staff children under 12 years old. A small monetary gift is given to the staff member. Soso, John and Claude helped out with transporting gifts to Mama’s living room.

Worship

Pastor Yves arranged for the sacrament of baptism. Seven souls responded. The baptisms took place Dec. 24.

At the Christmas morning service, the seven dedicated Christians were welcomed by the congregation. We praise God and give thanks.

Original Urukundo Choir. They can still sing together and make beautiful music.

The star and shepherds. Not sure who the extras are to represent. Hey, we are amateurs. We just do our best.

Nativity scene with Urukundo kids. Joseph, Mary and the shepherds singing carols. It was lovely.

The creche -- a gift many years ago from Pastor Sharon Landis -- remains a constant each Christmas.

A Family Christmas

Urukundo was a happy place on Christmas Day. Fourteen of our university kids made it home for Christmas Day. Nine of our younger set also were present.

Kavine, David, John, Deborah, Sarah and Esperance

Aline, Claude, Abais and Lucky

Bosco and Olivier

Lucy and Cecelia

Lilliane, Giselle and Dada

Soso and Alexander

Divine, Tresor, Soso and Prince

We are so blessed. A great way to end our year 2019!

In closing out the year, I am so grateful to all who have made possible changes that make a difference. I leave you with this thought for the New Year:
Count your blessings.
Count them one by one.
Count your many blessings.
See what God has done.

Prayer for Diescor

My special message this day in December is to ask for prayers. This is a very sad time at Urukundo.

Many of you know Diescor Kirenga personally and through previous newsletters. Diescor was one of the young boys who joined the Urukundo family in 2007. Diescor is now a medical student at the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

On Dec. 4, Diescor suffered a stroke. He is in critical condition in King Faisal Hospital in Kigali City as I send this message. There is a possibility that he will be taken by air ambulance to the USA.

Please keep my Rwandan son in prayer.

We need a miracle.

Mama

November 2019 Newsletter

What a month!

So many things happened in November. It’s hard to decide what to put in the newsletter. Bear with me because this has been an exciting month.

It was heartening to start November with an afternoon service in prayer and thanksgiving for the Primary 6 students who will be taking the National Exam.

Sixty-two Primary 6 graduates are on the left. Younger students are in the back and on the right.

The teachers and I remember when these graduates were in preschool. Oh, how they have grown and matured! Time does play tricks on us. Our children do not remain babies.

It was my pleasure to share the prayer time with the students.

Pastor Yves spoke to the children about Soloman’s request for wisdom, the greater gift.

From 2 Chronicles 1:10: “Now grant me wisdom and knowledge.”

Students on their knees before the Lord with Pastor Yves and the teachers standing and supporting them in prayer. It was an awesome sight.

Urukundo’s choir sang “Every Hour I Need Thee” and “Jesus Loves Me” for the service.

The students in Primary 6 spent the next three days taking the National Exam. They had mixed feelings, but as a group they told me they think they did well. The test was not hard. So they say. We will see in December when the grades come out and schools are assigned. How well each student does determines which school they are going to attend.

Graduation at last

While we wait for the National Exam results, we have our own graduation celebration. All children from preschool to Primary 6 and the Sewing Center students invite their parents and friends to come and see what they have learned in the past year.

The day starts very early at the school. Kids and parents gathered with the graduates at the school for the walk to the main road and up the street to the Urukundo main gate and then to the site set up for the graduation.

The march from the school to the site of graduation is a spectacular parade.

Blue and gold are the colors of the kindergarten graduates.

Awesome sight. What a parade! The graduates sing as they march to Mama’s gate. They enter and proceed to the soccer field where many tents are erected to protect guests from the sun and possible rain. This is the rainy season, you know.

We were blessed with a no rain day.

Primary 6 in caps and gowns. Each group has different colors. Black and green is Primary 6.

It is about one city block on the main road from the road to the school to Mama’s gate. Neighbors come out to watch and cheer the graduates on.

Sewing Center students bring up the rear. We are so proud of these young adults and their accomplishments. White and blue really stand out. One of the school projects is to make their own caps and gowns. They did a good job.

Entering mama’s gate. Teachers walk with the kids.

Greeting Mama and Pastor Yves. What joy! Until last year, I walked with the children and loved it. It is hard for me to not join the march, but age has a way of slowing us down. So I wait at my home gate and greet the students as they enter. I am honored to have Pastor Yves there with me, also greeting the kids.

Older grads wait while kindergarten kids are seated. It is quite a process. My home is in the background.

I do walk from my home to the celebration and make a grand entrance.

Left to right: guests of honor were Fortune Mukagatana, Muhanga vice mayor of social affairs; Florence Marie Uwanyirigira, Rwanda Parliament deputy; myself; my assistant, Olive Nyiracumi; Clare Effiong, leader of Esther’s Aid Culinary Arts School; Jean Marie Ntwari, executive director of the Urukundo Foundation, and Angelique Westmark, a volunteer from Germany.

What an interesting group! We were honored.

The Primary 6 graduates of last year were special guests.

Our university students came to support the younger students and to share in the program.

It was such a thrill for me to see so many of our university students arriving. They seldom are home together, so it was special for them also.

What a group!

This year at graduation we featured the development of the music program, starting with the All School Chorus.

The All School Chorus led us in the national anthem

Music is appreciated in our school. Being able to introduce music to our students is such a blessing.

This young girl learned to play the keyboard. This is an accomplishment worth doing.

African drums and guitar add to the music program and are so special. Drums are a part of the culture.

These drums were rented for the occasion. Some day we will purchase our own. They can be purchased here in Rwanda. We encourage both types of drums as great musical instruments.

Our orchestra is made up of flutes and violins. Wonderful music was presented by our own students. Parents were impressed. More instruments are needed.

Last but not least in the music program, our children respect their heritage and learn cultural singing and dancing.

We are very proud of our progress in developing the music program.

Developing an art program is next on the agenda.

This group is amazing.

Precision marchers from Primary 4 and Primary 5

In sync

Certificates were presented to kindergarten graduates. Each was signed by Mama and Headmaster.

Primary 6 students receive certificates after National exams. The Sewing Center certificates also are given at a later time.

The Tom Nunnally award for an outstanding student in the Sewing Center went to 22-year-old Germaine Iradukunda. This award is given each year by the Forest Hills Rotary Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, in honor of deceased Rotarian Tom Nunnally.

Presenting the award is head of the sewing center, Theresa Mukabanana, and Florence from Rwanda Parliament.

It is difficult to get a really good group picture of all the graduates, but we tried.

November volunteers

Volunteer Kevin Castle is a teacher's aide at an American International School in Musanze called Virunga Valley Academy.

Here is what Kevin had to say about Urukundo: “I love Urukundo for being a place of love, patience and understanding, a kind of environment where kids grow in knowing Jesus as a Saviour. I think Urukundo takes after its own name. To see friendships and love nurturing among kids is beautiful, from the way they help each other and comfort one another. I also do appreciate the adults for being very intentional in what they pass on to the kids. At the end of the day, there is impeccable growth. All in all, I love Urukundo for being very impactful in the lives of children they touch.”

Angelique Westmark from Germany also volunteered. I believe this is Angelique’s third visit to Urukundo in as many years. It is our pleasure to have her. Her son Lennert first introduced her to Urukundo. Angelique introduced puppetry to Urukundo’s children. Telling stories with puppets is fun. Our kids loved presenting a puppet show at devotions.