Christmas with love the focus.
Noheli Nziza : Merry Christmas
As an often repeated quote says, “Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your age by friends, not years.”
Happy New Year
2021
Thank you all.
Newsletter for November 2020
Giving thanks
November is a time for giving thanks. I share with you this poem by Joanna Fuchs. It says it all so much better than I.
Thanksgiving is the appointed time
for focusing on the good in our lives.
In each of our days,
we can find small blessings,
but too often we overlook them,
choosing instead to spend our time
paying attention to problems.
We give our energy
to those who cause us trouble
instead of those who bring peace.
Starting now,
let's be on the lookout
for the bits of pleasure in each hour,
and appreciate the people who
bring love and light to everyone
who is blessed to know them.
You are one of those people.
On Thanksgiving,
I'm thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Rwanda. It is just another day. School as usual and so I remember past Thanksgivings. I will share the story with you of one Thanksgiving I remember.
I do not like candied sweet potatoes. My candied sweet potatoes are the best and traditionally I make them for my family. The kids wanted to give me a break, so it was decided that I would travel to Harrisburg on that past Thanksgiving and my daughter Patricia would have the feast instead of having me cook. I asked if I should bring the sweet potatoes and was told no. Patricia had a new recipe and she wanted to try it. That was OK by me as I don’t eat them anyway.
The meal was prepared. The food was delicious. Nothing would satisfy my daughter until I agreed to try the sweet potatoes. She was so insistent, and I felt it necessary to at least try her new recipe. Well, to my surprise the potatoes were delicious. The flavor was different. Not only did I try them but had a helping and then a second helping. They were very tasty. The kids were tickled about something. Seemed they had pulled a joke on Mom. After the meal was over, I commented on the fact that those were the best sweet potatoes ever. Tricia started to laugh and informed me the recipe called for rum and she doubled the amount called for. I was a bit of a prude and so not used to alcohol. My kids had a good laugh at my expense. Yes, the joke was on me. Love those kids. Do not eat candied sweet potatoes no matter what the occasion.
Everyone should have memories that make them laugh.
This year on Thanksgiving, I was able to talk to all five of my kids in the USA at the same time on Zoom. The sharing was great. I am thankful for Zoom along with my many other blessings.
Almost ready
The dining room is taking shape. Yes, it will have windows and doors. Front view. Because of a much appreciated donation made in November, we hope to have a finished dining room to show you in December's newsletter.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
A garden is so important to Urukundo. Farm manager Eugene is in charge of this project.
Thanks to clearing and filling, we now have a plot for planting.
Preparing the ground for planting
Soon it will be a garden. This is land beyond Hope House, toward the school. The ground is very fertile, and seeds planted should do well. The harvest should be plentiful. Another reason to give thanks.
Our property ends at the trees. Just beyond the trees is the Learning Center. When funding is available, our land will extend to the road and school. A hope to be made real.
This garden is larger than the garden that is now the home of the dining room which is under construction.
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!