Heads up

Mama’s book went to the publisher on Feb. 26.

Soon it will be available on Amazon as well as in bookstores.

Some of the photos from the book

Hey, I, Mama Arlene, was a little girl long ago with a mom and dad and later children of my own.

Hope Made Real is the final chapter of my life, and “Hope Made Real” is the name of the book. My family now includes children from my adopted country, Rwanda.

Read all about it. Proceeds from the book go to the Urukundo Foundation and Learning Center.

After publication, I will travel to the USA for book readings and signing events. To host an event with me, contact: Patricia Brown: pdbrown@spiritworks.org.

Visitors of the month

Pastor Alexis Nzabonimpa and his wife, Pastor Delphine, live in Kigali. They have been long associated with Urukundo. In 2006, both lived and worked at Urukundo.

During their time with us, they visited the farm and were greeted by our rather large mama pig.

Carol and newborn baby girl

Wells Spring Academy’s third-grade students visited third-grade students at Urukundo Learning
Center.

Teachers exchanged ideas. Urukundo teachers are in the white coats.

Kids enjoyed a snack of banana bread and juice. The merry-go-round and slides were great fun.

Precious Faces

Mother's love shines through.

Preschool is a test of strength for little girls. Contemplating the world.

Sports day requires special clothes. Special energy.

Smiles of our students. Even half smiles are precious.

OK, so not a student. Playdough is such fun.

Soso thinks so.

I share my favorite photo for March with you. What a joy to hold this precious baby!

Thought for the month

I have been told: You are only one person. What can you do?
Yes, I am only one person.
I cannot do much alone.
But with your help, I can do something.
We can make a difference.
Whatever we can do, we ought to do.
By God's grace, we can do and we will do.
Be strong; stay safe.

Mama

February, the month dedicated to love

Urukundo translated means love. Valentine greetings to all who love in all the world.

In my front yard grows a beautiful tree.The blossoms do not look like a heart, but my front yard is made beautiful with this flowering tree. It was a twig when I decided to trim it and pray it would come back to life. The poinsettia tree has survived, grown and is beautiful and in full bloom. Not for Christmas, as I remember the plant, but for Valentine’s Day.

Red is the color for love in any language or land.

Transportation Update

We at Urukundo Learning Center love our new bus for transporting children to school safely. Note the name on the front. The name was not on the bus in the January newsletter. White is our new color for our buses.

Retaining wall for expanding auditorium

The necessary clearing and leveling for the hoped-for auditorium are complete. Hope House will be used as a base for the auditorium.

A retaining wall was next in the process.The most important reason for the wall is it stops the heavy rains from washing away the ground on the soft bank. Otherwise, that’s what happens when you level land for a building or play area and do not sustain it.

Before the wall was constructed, I sat in worship on a Sunday morning and saw three of our cows come to the top of this loose bank looking at the grass below. The mama cows wanted the grass. It looked so good. With little thought other than hunger, they decided to jump. All three jumped, pulling the loose, freshly dug bank down with their bodies. I feared for the cows and for the work that had been undone. That part of the bank would have to be repaired. We were lucky the ground was still soft and could give. As I watched, I knew the cows could break a leg when the ground became solid. We could not risk such a thing as cows are important in Rwanda and their products are important to Urukundo. Dead cows do not give milk.

Thanks to a gift of funds, the wall is protecting the land from mudslides and problems due to heavy rains. This also created another problem. Cows and kids could still jump or fall over the wall as it is cut into the mountain and is terraced at ground level.

Solution: You got it. Sturdy mesh wire reaching from the ground to the top of the frame protects the kids and cows. It also keeps the soccer balls from rolling down over the wall. Much safer for children at play.

Love knowing our Urukundo Learning Center kids are safe at play.

Moving into the future

On a wing and a prayer. Mostly prayer.

The classroom so needed is now a priority. We started building, having faith that funding will come.

Materials needed to complete a classroom are numerous. We will need many bricks, electrical wiring, windows, doors, floor tiles, inside walls, blackboard, cement (many bags), scaffolding and metal roofing like the blue roof below in the photo. (The roof in the photo is for the Primary 6 classrooms.) Well, just everything needed to build a classroom in Rwanda.

Foundation in place for two classrooms. We will complete one.

One load of bricks ready for building.

A special gift was received for one load of bricks. One large load of bricks costs US$150.
Thank you, donor. We can build only as funding comes. We hope to finish at least the classroom for use in 2020. The second one is needed by January 2021. Cost per classroom is US$25,000, including labor. Will you help us make it happen? Every donation, gift or grant is appreciated.

What one load of bricks can do in two days.

Love the view from the school. Our community hills are beautiful.

One more thought

Valentine’s Day is a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. Every day should be such a day.

Children give love freely, and they hope for love in return. Hug a kid this month and every month. Share love with a child.

The rewards are beyond belief.

Be my Valentine.

Mama Arlene

New Year’s thoughts

A gentle reminder as you begin the New Year:

Having a goal and striving to reach it is a must.
Every child deserves the opportunity to set such a goal.
Providing education is a step in the right direction.
Help give hope where hope is essential.

Mama

January 2020 Newsletter

From the Urukundo Foundation and Urukundo Learning Center, Happy New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Morning exercise for preschool
Check out the new video.

A new month and a new year. I am told that because it is an even year, it will be a good year. Superstition, and I am not sure I agree, but it sure is a good thought.

The year 2019 was a good year, and it was not an even year. Urukundo accomplished a lot.

Student progress
Here are the numbers:
• 140 entered preschool baby class.
• 122 kindergarten children moved into the primary class.
• 62 children graduated from Primary 6 and entered S1 (junior high).This is the start of the first three years of secondary school.
• 4 students graduated from universities: Tresor, Divine, Alexander and Lilliane.

Improvements on the Urukundo campus

We had many improvements in the last year.

Communications
A big improvement was Wi-Fi was installed to cover the school, dental clinic and all of Urukundo Village. The village includes the business offices, farm office, pastor’s office, guest houses and Mama’s house

Protection
Lightning arrestors were installed on the school grounds, including the play area and the entire campus.

The football (soccer) field was filled and leveled, making it a safer play area for the school children.

Transportation
A second big school bus was purchased in January 2019. With earned income from the buses, we now have enough to purchase a third big bus. We have sold the minibus and are applying that money to the purchase of the third big bus. The minibus is too small for the number of children needing transportation at this time. It was a great starter bus, but it has outlived its purpose. Not enough seats.

Good looking bus. In service on January 29, 2020.

It is good to know the profit from the vehicles improves our ability to supply safe transportation for more children.

Sewing Center
Twenty-four sewing machines were purchased and added to the Urukundo Sewing Center.

A classroom large enough for the Sewing Center was built and desk-chair combinations were purchased for student use.

Library
A new extension was added to the school library.
The library now has space, tables, chairs and electrical outlets for computer classes and can accommodate older children and adults.

Yes, it was a very good year.