State College
Ending October, I was blessed to spend time with hosts Steve and Carol Falke, president of the Hope Made Real International Board, in State College, Pennsylvania.
We also had time with other friends in State College.
Joanne and Paul Steindorf
Janet Madore and Esther Lauchle
Ruth and Bob O’Connor
Carol Baney.
Carol visited Urukundo several years ago with a team led by Carol Falke. It was good to connect with her again.
Four generations. How awesome!
What wonderful joys have taken place on this visit that I didn’t expect when I started planning this trip! First two weddings and now seeing my my great-granddaughter Jasmine, her husband Eric, and her daughter Lola, one of my great-great-grandchildren, for the first time. With my daughter Barbara, that makes four generations.
Then hugging Hannah Arlene and Amelia. They are daughter Barbara’s grandchildren.
Getting to know my great-grandchildren is such a reward. Juliana is the granddaughter of my son Jerry.
I am so blessed to have both great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Pastor Rebecca Holland and her husband, Pastor Jeff Holland.
Rebecca is Chair of Disability Ministries Task Force of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church. She serves as pastor to Christ Community and Llyswen United Methodist Churches in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Through her ministry, the Urukundo Learning Center received aid for Claudine. Because of Rev. Rebecca and her task force, Claudine now has a brighter future.
Rev. Dr. Joleen A. Willis, district superintendent of the Altoona District in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, honored me with her presence at Christ Community.
Book signing and sharing took place at Christ Community.
Joleen and her husband Randy, who is pastor of Wehnwood United Methodist Church in Altoona, are parents of Ethan and Sarah. The Willis children were a delight. Such energy! Wow.
Pastor Susan Halverstadt and her congregation at Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, were a captive audience. I thank them for their welcome.
Sharing with friends makes for a wonderful evening.
In Urukundo Village, work continues. The new residence construction and Hope House renovations are now taking place.
It’s reassuring to know the members of Urukundo staff are quite capable on their own.
On the road again
This time, the destination is the area of Baltimore, Maryland, and a meeting with nursing students at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland.
The discussion was on health care and a possible partnership between Bowie in Maryland and the Urukundo Foundation in Rwanda.
SLK Health Corp. is the nongovernmental organization for the nursing school.
International recognition
An invitation to take part in Global Health Education Week at University of Maryland, Baltimore, was indeed an honor for me and the Urukundo Foundation.
The discussion was on health care and a possible partnership between Bowie in Maryland and the Urukundo Foundation in Rwanda.
In on the brainstorming discussion were Virginia Rowthorn, assistant vice president for global engagement at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and executive director of the Center for Global Engagement, and Bonnie Bissonette, director of education abroad and international safety at the university’s Center for Global Education Initiatives.
It was my pleasure to meet and be a part of this discussion.
The event was organized and chaired by Valli I. Meeks, DDS, MS, RDH, clinical professor in the Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences in the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Valli has visited Urukundo and was instrumental in the start-up of Urukundo Dental Clinic in 2013.
My chauffeur the month of November was Jerry Brown, chair of the Hope Made Real International Board and my son.
Enjoying my oldest grandson Christian and lots of good food.
Turkey needs a carver. Dale, my son-in-law, is the best.
I like dark meat.
My great-granddaughter Lucia is preparing for Christmas a bit early so Great Gram can see the dove of peace and the creche ornament on the tree, gifts that made the trip from Urukundo. Loved it.
Christian, Lucia and Rose the dog.
In closing, check this out.
Article in Williamsport Sun, headlined “Woman with a Mission: ‘Mama Arlene’ shares decades of experience serving children in Rwanda.”
I am thankful for all who join in the mission. If you would like to give, please send your donation to Hope Made Real, PO Box 3222, Williamsport, PA 17701.
Mama
Hello, Everyone.
October has been an exciting month and was a very special month for me as I was a guest at the weddings of two of my great-granddaughters. They met a special young man who will come to Urukundo and teach art at Urukundo Learning Center.
His name is Jacob Staskowski. Jacob just graduated from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania with a degree in fine arts and a minor/concentration in art education. We welcome him as a volunteer at Urukundo Learning Center where he will work with our teachers and students. His introduction to Urukundo/Hope Made Real is through Pastor Sunny Stock of Christ Church McKeansburg in Pennsylvania. Pastor Sunny has been a volunteer at Urukundo in the past. Jacob will arrive at Urukundo in January.
Oct. 3
This date found me in the state of Indiana for the wedding of my great-granddaughter, Elasha.
Dressed for wedding No. 1. Not bad for 90.
Elasha, a very beautiful bride.
Good-looking family of the bride. Grandfather Ted (my son), Groom Luke, Bride Elasha, Dad Doug and Mom Lori.
Traveling with good drivers Patricia and Jacque. They drove and I slept.
Oct. 4
Special appearance at Mission Sunday project at Hebron Church in Penn Hills, near Pittsburgh.
People learned about Urukundo.
Bruce and Margie Krogh were my hosts for the Hebron project. Margie and Bruce were neighbors in Rwanda for several years before returning to the USA. We at Urukundo miss them.
Gathering of the Grove Bible study group. Sharing my book, “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo.”
It was a fantastic event with an awesome group. The planner was Margie Krogh.
