Special visitors

Our boy Claude came home for a visit. He wanted to spend some time with his Urukundo brother, Soso. The boys had a great time. School started for Claude on Nov. 23.

Claude is in Primary 4 this year. Soso is in Primary 3, and he is one of three children who remains at Urukundo.

Here are some others who made a visit home:

Esperance

Now in her last year of secondary school, Esperance was delighted to find her Urukundo sister Belise at home when she arrived. Although the girls are in the same level of education, they go to different schools. The schools are very far apart, so coming home at the same time is a real event for the girls.

Belise

Her smile brightens our world.d

Belise came to Urukundo when she was 4 years old. She was the first girl under age 7 to become part of the Urukundo family. The story of Belise is a chapter in my book on Pages 75-78. She is in her final year of secondary school (high school). Her graduation has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bosco

Bosco, who was home for the day, came to be part of the Urukundo family in 2007. He was one of eight boys brought to Urukundo by the village leader. He is now a university student in his second year. He is enrolled in Mount Kenya University, Kigali campus.

Yes, there is no place like home.

There were early morning good-byes as the girls carrying their treasures started off for university. Now that public transportation is back, they were able to board a bus and return to their studies.

Their younger Urukundo brother, Claude, assists them as they walk to the bus. A helper who also carries school supplies is important.

School re-opens

The first day of school is always exciting, and returning after a shutdown because of coronavirus was even more so.

Most of these kids had not seen each other since March, and here it was November.

It has always been the tradition that I walk our kids to school on the first day. I did that this year also. I rose early, dressed and sat at my desk waiting for my kids to arrive, ready for the walk to school.

In other years, I joined 26 kids on that walk, and it was a lot of fun. The kids laughed, joked and sang as we bumped across the football field. They chased each other. They were excited. School is the best place for them to be, and seeing friends again after a break is such a joy.

In 2020, I was walking again, but this year was definitely different. I walked with only two kids, not 26. Face masks hid the joy. Distancing even with only two made bumping and jostling impossible. Singing did not happen as singing may spread the virus. What was once a time of joy now has a sad overtone. It is so hard for the kids when they can’t run to their friend and hug that friend as they gather for opening exercises. Now they go directly to the classroom. There is no opening exercise.

I must say the teachers have followed the rules set in place. They are assigned a post. Two are at the gate with sensor thermometers. Others are manning the 20 wash stations. Each teacher has a bottle of green liquid soap and is ready to squirt the soap into eager outstretched hands.

Green liquid soap

After washing, they are directed by a guard to move directly to their respective classrooms.

The teachers, students and classrooms are ready.

In our school, each child has a desk. This is not true in public schools. Distancing is easier for us. We also limit the number of students per classroom. In public schools, a classroom can have 60 students. I am not sure how they will handle distancing.

School has begun.

New tablets

Urukundo Learning Center is blessed.

Our students now have 40 tablets equipped with a new learning process, ProFuturo. This project will promote digital education and is supported by Salesians of Don Bosco Rwanda.

The container was full of wonderful teaching gifts for the Urukundo Learning Center.

The donation includes a teacher laptop.

Irene is a very happy headmaster (principal). His school is moving into the 21st century with technical support.

Think on this

Every day is a day of thanksgiving. Be thankful that in a troubled world, you can make a difference. It is your choice.

If you make a difference for just one person, you are making a difference for the whole world. Do you want to make a difference?

Reaching out in this month of Thanksgiving to all of my readers. I'm so thankful for each of you.

Coronavirus update

The pandemic is still with us in Rwanda as it is in the rest of the world, but things are looking better. We were notified our 10 university kids would return to classes on Oct. 21. That happened. The Primary 5 and 6 levels will start school on Nov. 2. Primary 4 classes will start on Nov. 23. This is, I hope, good news. No word yet on Preschool and Primary 1 through 3. Maybe January 2021.

Covid-19 restrictions are still in place. Masks, distancing and washing hands will be maintained in our school. We do not want to invite the coronavirus to our school. Keeping children and teachers safe has to be a priority. Transporting the children to and from school by bus and providing the school lunch program will be challenging. We had hoped to have the new bigger dining room constructed and ready. Work in progress.

October newsletter

In my other life -- it seems like so long ago -- October was the beginning of thoughts of winter. I do not miss winter in Pennsylvania. What do I miss? Believe it or not, I miss trick or treat. This holiday is not celebrated in Rwanda. I miss the trip to the pumpkin patch with my family. It was a family tradition. Visiting a farm, climbing aboard a wagon pulled by a tractor and finding just the right pumpkin to make the best jack-o-lantern was a special family time. Yep, fall is a special time of the year in Pennsylvania, USA.

Mama & Baby Outreach

Our Mama & Baby Outreach needs help. It is no longer possible to get newborn items to Urukundo in suitcases because of travel restrictions due to the coronavirus. The virus has not stopped the birth of newborns and their need for help. The need did not go away.

I am trying to think of a way for you to continue helping. I remember how women at Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church in Williamsport, PA, USA, had a baby shower for the mamas and babies. Those shower gifts kept us able to care for the babies for months. Our supply soon will be finished. Our shelves are bare.

Baby clothes can be purchased in Kigali City. Funding is needed. Are you willing to help?

My thoughts: How about a baby shower for Urukundo? Is it possible? This is a baby shower in a new way. Choose a hostess for the shower. Go price shopping as the main event. Enjoy looking at the precious baby clothes. Decide what gifts you would purchase if you were making a purchase. Then write down the price. Add to that price what a card, paper and ribbon to wrap the gift would cost.Then make a donation of at least half of that amount or whatever amount you wish to share.

The hostess will designate a week or month to have the shower. At the end of that time, she will send the funds donated to Hope Made Real, P.O. Box 3222, Williamsport, PA 17701. Designate the donation for Mama & Baby shower.

Gifts to look at are disposable diapers, onesies, undershirts, receiving blankets, sweater sets, dresses, boys sets, any newborn garments. Well, you get the idea.

That is my idea. If you have a better one, feel free to share it with others or go with it.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Chicks on the farm

Chicks upon arrival. Two days old.

Chicks one week later. How fast they grow!

Same chicks in one month (28 days). They are losing their baby fuzz, molting and getting their feathers.

They are so like other animal babies. So cute when they are tiny babies!

Celebration

Urukundo had a staff wedding.

Evariste, our poultry farmer, became a groom. His bride, Grace, is lovely. Their reception was hosted at Hope House.

Fanta (soft drink) was the drink of the day. The bottle of champagne was special, a gift for the bride and groom.

Simple but beautiful. Not the usual Rwandan wedding. Restrictions of the pandemic were met.

Worship

We miss the children’s choir at worship, so Pastor Yves paid them a visit.

It is important they know they are loved.

They sang for him, and he did a video for me. Check the videos. https://youtu.be/G1f9gWa_aOc

School update

Several months ago, I shared with you about the need for wash stations at the school and inside the compound. We needed one wash station for every two classrooms. You were wonderful, and US$515 was raised. I was so happy. Well, as is the norm, things change, and new criteria for the wash station were sent out by the board of education. The changes required a large wash facility to be built at the entrance to the school compound to accommodate the children as they enter the school. It must have running water. Cost now is US$2,500.

Benjamin drew up a plan, and it was approved. By Nov. 2 when school is set to open, hopefully it will be completed.

I’ll follow up with photos with kids next month. The tiles catch the drainage after washing. I really am not sure how this will work. I have questions. As of now, no answers. I am pleased to say that thanks to Forest Hills Rotary in Pennsylvania, USA; the late Tom Nunnally of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; and Rotary International, we already have our own supply of water. Water from the source would be a large added expense.

As the photo above shows, we are in the process of constructing a permanent wash facility with 20 faucets, adding plumbing and drainage.

Not sure this makes sense. The cost has gone from do-able to almost impossible. God in charge.

One section.

There are 20 stations.

Not completed yet. Work in progress.

Sisters come home

University students Giselle and Cecelia came home for a visit before starting back to university on Oct. 21. It was good to see them. This was the first visit in some time because the coronavirus shutdown had stopped all public transportation from Kigali, where they live, to Urukundo Village in Muhanga, South Province. It is surely too far to walk.