Love your neighbor as yourself. Our neighbor is global. This is different from the time of my birth in 1930 when my neighbor lived next door.
In this time of global crisis, stay healthy and stay safe.
My best advice: Use common sense.
Weather report
The saying is: April showers bring May flowers. Not so in Rwanda. The rain storms this month have been terrible. They are much worse than usual, and usual was bad enough.
We have not had a total dry season for about a year and Africa's weather has changed so much. Climate change is very evident. It is a bit confusing for the farm people. When to plant is the question. Heavy rain washes away the seeds.
With all the thunder and lightning, I appreciate our donors who sent money for us to erect lightning arrestors at the school and in the village. Those arrestors have saved lives not only for Urukundo but for the community. The land of a thousand hills is lovely but dangerous if there is no protection from electrical storms.
Mudslides from the rainstorms have destroyed many homes, taken many lives and in some cases washed away whole villages. Many of our staff have had home damage (Pastor Yves for one). Mud bricks are susceptible to rain. They’re somewhat like sugar cubes being exposed to drops of water over an extended period of time. Slowly, slowly they dissolve. Best description I can think of.
The US embassy warned of heavy rainstorms on April 18,19 and 20. They were right. These storms have continued. We have dug deep ditches and tried to accommodate excessive runoff to protect the village. The plan was for the water to run past my house to the main road where drainage was available. It did not go past my house. Instead, the deluge was aimed at my house. My home had not been in jeopardy before, but by taking steps to protect Urukundo Village, it was.
The first storm came at night. Lying in my bed, listening to the thunder and watching a late night lightning show is intimidating. The flashes lit up the room. It was like someone was turning off and on a huge flashlight. I am not afraid of thunder. It is a big noise. Am I afraid of lightning? Of course, I am. The two go together.
The second storm was even worse than the first. There was rain, tons of groundwater, heavy wind, lightning bolts and strikes, loud thunder and no visibility. The area around my house was a raging river. My front yard was a boiling lake. I have experienced floods in the USA, but from creeks rising, giving time to evacuate and not from water pouring down from the top of a mountain with no warning. This was different. Neither are any fun, and both are lots of cleanup work.
Progress is being made.
After the first storm, it was necessary to protect the foundation of my home and guest house. To provide an outlet for the water, it was necessary to remove some of the cement blocking the flow. Digging a ditch to connect our excess water to the drainage ditch along the main road required a ditch alongside my driveway. Let's hope it works.
Out my bedroom window. Day worker working hard.
Well, guess what didn’t work. Surprise, surprise.
The protection needed to be expanded. Benjamin and two workers, allowed by the village leader even with the distance rule, extended the ditch directing the water away from my house. Pickaxe, shovel, wheelbarrow and a lot of muscle are what it took to divert the stormwater away from my house.
Latest version of the ditch on April 25.
At the top of the steps lies the garden that flooded earlier. All water at the upper level and the top of the mountain now will travel the new ditch and pass by the red ledge corner of my house and into the drainage ditch at the road.
This one worked.
Storms continued beyond the embassy’s forecast, but now the water bypasses my house. I thank God for the workers who tirelessly continue working to keep me safe from mudslides, floods and the Pandemic virus.
Celebrating Easter
Palm Sunday has been set with tradition at Urukundo. The branches on this plant were stripped, thorns removed and preparations were made for the morning service.
Last year, in 2019, the children walked to the Worship Center, waving the palm branches and singing.
Because of the virus, this year was different. The plant was not denuded, and I watched with fascination as this new growth appeared. This is the plant on April 12.
Waiting to see what will develop. This new life may be our symbol of the new hope of life given for us on the cross.
Watching the change taking place. OK, I think a good pastime during shutdown is watching a plant grow. This is the plant on April 25. How exciting can that be?
Gift of love
Living in quarantine has been very lonely for me as a people person. Easter Sunday morning found me more than a bit depressed.
On my shelf beckoning to me was a colorful shawl. I felt a chill. I reached out my hand and wrapped the shawl around my body. The warmth I felt was enriched by the message on the tag: “It is our prayer you may feel the grace and peace of God’s ever-present love.”
I needed that message. I send this message to all of you who are feeling alone and wounded. We are never alone as long as there is love to share.
Mama’s book alert
I look forward to when the book “Hope Made Real” is published and I can come to the USA to share it with you. I will be available for book signing and sharing my favorite passages. Bookings later.
Hoping it will be in the fall or early spring. A lot depends on this very contagious virus. In the meantime, I would like to share excerpts I feel appropriate with you.
It seems this segment from Page 112 about a time when I was a speaker in the worship service fits well with April and the Easter season:
While I was still serving as the speaker, a special Sunday in April was a challenge. Each April the country sets aside a time of remembrance for those who died during the genocide. It is such a sad time for the Rwandese. By government decree, there are to be no festivities or celebrations during the entire month of April. Weddings and parties are taboo. Singing and dancing are prohibited.
Yet, every four years this mournful national observance falls at the same time as the Christian celebration of Easter. My kids and the worshipping community look forward to the fun and joy of Easter morning. The older girls practice for weeks to present a traditional dance and the children’s choirs practice new selections. This year we had to tell the children that none of this was allowed. The younger ones could not understand the reasoning for this gloom.
As luck would have it, I was to give the Sunday message. I tossed and turned all night deciding what I could say that would respect the Rwandan observance of remembrance yet still celebrate the risen Christ of Easter. The next morning rising up from my chair in the front row and stepping up onto the platform here is the essence of what I said.
“This morning we, with our country, feel sad for people who died during a very troubled time. None of you children had been born yet, but it is important for you to know what happened and to honor those who died. We also feel happy because it is Easter when we celebrate the risen Christ. None of those living today were born when that happened either. We can feel both sad and happy at the same time; sad for those who died, and happy to celebrate Easter. We grieve for what is lost and rejoice for what is gained.”
Thank goodness, as I sat down the children rescued me by launching into the song, Because He Lives in English and then in Kinyarwanda. I was so pleased. Afterwards, the service ended in silence and everyone departed quietly.
Kids play
With the government-required shutdown, life for kids at Urukundo is different.
December 2019: Ready to play basketball. Aline, David, Claude and Soso. Good friends.
December 2019: Our secondary kids were home. All from different schools. It was good to be together again and to play together. Looking forward to April 2020 and normal school recess.
Shirt is the only thing that stayed the same. David wears it here.
April 2020 is different. One big field, one alone boy. Where are my friends? So sad.
David’s shirt in December 2019 is on Claude in April 2020.
Couldn’t have planned it.
Basketball one-on-one can be fun, but only one is no fun.
What does a short guy do? Just ask Soso. He could pretend he is tall. Well, that does not work so well. Pretending does not make it so.
Claudine joins Claude. OK, two are better than one with a basketball.
On the farm
Dogs are part of our farm world.
Hey, they haven’t heard about the six-foot separation rule.
Hmm!! Guess they haven’t either.
These farm workers seem to be breaking the rule. However, they have lived together and worked closely together during February, March and April without moving off the farm and never leaving the campus. So close is not dangerous.
Hand washing
While most employees are laid off, some are living at home and coming to work, covering their shift while using protective measures. Ten employees are staying on campus full-time.
Anyone coming in at the gate must wash their hands.
Good old soap and water.
Two methods. Both work.
A cooking adventure
OK, so boredom makes people do things not common to that person.
Long ago, I gave up cooking. Hey, I cooked most of my life. My mom started me cooking when I was young and the oldest girl in a large family. I love being in Rwanda where someone else does the cooking.
To get on with my story: Urukundo has a farm with lots of chickens. Chickens have wings. Wings can be barbecued. Barbecued wings are great. I called the farm manager, Eugene, and I asked if I could get a kilogram of wings. They were delivered and so my adventure began.
I checked to make sure I had electricity for the slow cooker my daughter Patricia sent from the USA. Then I mixed a sauce from scratch. Anybody have a good simple barbecue sauce recipe? I placed the wings and sauce in the cooker. Turned on the electricity, set the dials and waited.
Yep, they were delicious. OK, so it doesn’t take a chef, but I felt very smart when those in my shutdown house raved about how good they were. I've still got it.
Best part is I did not have to do the cleanup. Hated washing dishes as a kid. Still hate washing dishes.
This might be a treat I could offer volunteers in the future. Have to think about that.
Probably not.
Appreciation
In order for our Urukundo family and 91 employees to care for their families during this troubled time, Hope Made Real and Urukundo felt it necessary to supply funding to meet the needs.
I am concerned for my employees living off campus and confined to home. Under normal circumstances, internal income would take care of wages for our employees, but these are not normal times. Internal income depends on the public. With a closed campus, the income is nearly non-existent.
I sent this concern to the Hope Made Real board and our donors.The need was met. The response was beyond my imagination. We had enough reserve to meet the payroll for March. Thanks to donors, April and May payrolls were met. I am so grateful. I am hopeful that things will be back to normal come June.
I am so grateful and thank those who reached down into their pockets and gave so that all will have the basics, including water, food, lodging and other necessities.
Thank you for caring and sharing.
Mama Arlene and the entire Urukundo Family
March 2020 Newsletter
March, March, March
Hey, we all march to a different drummer. My kids in the Urukundo Learning Center march to the tune, “We are marching in the light of God.”
The month of March has been a time of great joy and a time of deep sorrow. I share with you both.
Rwanda has not escaped the coronavirus. My message to family and friends abroad is the same as I share with my family and friends here in Rwanda. I urge you all to stay strong and remember to keep aware of the latest information on the pandemic. Protect yourself from contracting the virus by regularly and thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water and frequently using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, if available, while maintaining social distancing.
You have heard all this before, and it is probably old hat, but it remains serious advice. Be safe, not sorry.
Much love, Mama
Difficult decisions
After several plane cancellations, an extended visit and too much stress, Carol Falke, one of our volunteers and president of the Hope Made Real International Board, finally was able to head home to the USA. Somehow a flight opened up with space for her. Is she jumping out of the frying pan into the fire? I hope not. There is no safe place. Stay or go was a hard decision for her to make. We felt blessed to have her here, but as much as she loves us, she needed to be with her husband Steve at this time. We pray for her a safe journey.
Carol and Marilyn Ely, who is treasurer of Hope Made Real, arrived at Urukundo in February. Marilyn returned home in early March while Carol planned a later return.
Ready for the journey home. Carol and carry-on, assisted by Mama’s secretary Eric. He is also a driver. How about that? He wears more than one hat working at Urukundo.
Carol as she leaves Rwanda at the Kigali International Airport. She landed safely at Dulles International Airport in Virginia after 31 hours in transit. She arrived home in State College, PA, on the evening of March 27 and went into quarantine. Our prayers are with Carol and all who are facing the coronavirus.