,

Homecoming

,

Time to fly home

Now it is time for another covid test. Yep, I am still negative. I can fly home.

In all, 18 suitcases flew with me. Seventeen made it on Dec. 6. Suitcase No. 18 arrived on Dec. 13 intact. Just seven days late. We are blessed that it arrived.

After a day in a Kigali hotel waiting for negative covid results, I finally reached home. What a welcome! Village staff, teachers, pastor and administrators joined the little kids.

The kitchen crew and several of the cleaners joined in the welcome.

Artwork by my kids. This poster hangs in my bedroom. Love it.

More employee visitors

Teachers gathered in my living room. There were so many in my living room that it takes two photos.

I needed a group photo with the teachers. What a wonderful group! Such talent!

,

Awards Day

,

Awards Day at Urukundo Learning Center also was Dec. 3.

Auditorium packed to overflowing. So awesome!

Our music program continues to grow. Young musicians are appreciated.

Achieving success is encouraged. Doing your best is our criteria.

End of the first term of 2021-22 achievement awards.

We are very proud of our students and our teachers who lead the way. Here are some of the awards:

Parent Committee President Nsekuye Basile gave an award to Isingizwe Happy Vanessa in P5.

Dean of Studies Niyonshima Theogene gave an award to Mugisha Mucyo Samuel in P4.

School secretary Adeline Mutuyimana gave an award to Akariza Giramata Soumaya in P5.

Teacher Dushime Nshimiyimana Remy Paul gave an award to Irakoze Karabo Noella in P6.

We are very proud of our students and our teachers who lead the way.

Our baby boy

Baby Bruno grew while I was away. Bruno is a neighborhood baby that Urukundo took on as a special project when his mom died of covid at his birth. He is loved.

Our shelves are full again. These are just some of the baby clothes that came back with me for the Mama and Baby project. Thanks to all of you that made this possible.

The Mama and Baby project got a boost with clothing and hygiene articles brought back in suitcases.

,

Christmas

,

On Dec. 22, all 103 employees received a Christmas bonus and their children under 12 years old received a package of gifts.

Dec. 23 was a rainy day. The children came to share Christmas at Urukundo Village. We are so blessed.

COVID would not allow for a party, but with masks in place, the children came to our gate.

All ages were present.

The rain did not dampen the spirit of Christmas as we shared love, cookies and lollipops. More than 700 children received treats. Thank you all for helping with the sweet treats for kids.

Christmas Day worship

It was our pleasure to gift each worshiper with a packet of cookies.

Both youth and adult choirs were present for this Christmas Day service

Eighty-six attended the special Christmas worship service.

,

Kids return for Christmas

,

The blessings of Christmas are our children returning for the day. Because of COVID, distances and jobs, all the kids could not make it home. I am thankful for those who did.

University kids: Cecelia, Lucia, Bosco, Esperance, Abbias, Belize, Olivier and Giselle.

University, secondary and primary kids: Secondary students Claude, John and Lucky in the back row. Primary students Claudine, Benita, Soso, Joyce, Diane (end girl in white dress) in the back row.

Wonderful to have all with me for Christmas!

Practical gifts were given for the university students. The gifts were packets of cookies and sweets; masks; pens; toilet paper; soap for washing clothes; body soap; toothpaste; and toothbrushes. For the boys, there also were a shirt and nail clippers. For the girls, there were scarves and nail polish.

The younger children received packets of cookies and sweets, school supplies and clothing. The boys also received a watch and the girls a necklace.

After the gifts, a delicious noontime meal was served to all. What a wonderful day!

Thank you all for the gift of giving. Your gifts made Christmas special for the Urukundo Foundation and the Muhanga community.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope your Christmas was a special event and your New Year is filled with all the good things in life.

Remember always: With God, all things are possible.

Be well and prosper.

Mama

, , ,

November 2021 newsletter

, , ,

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.

, ,

Family, first and foremost

, ,

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.

, ,

Altoona

, ,

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.