This newborn baby boy is the latest addition to our Urukundo family.
Born on Oct. 17, 2023, his name is Iganze Ikaze.
His mama is Delphine, our kitchen manager. Delphine has been on staff since 2006. Both Mama and baby are fine. We are happy. Delphine now is mama to a 3-year-old daughter and a newborn baby boy.
Ella is the 3-year-old big sister and is a student in Urukundo Learning Center’s preschool.
She is a very active young lady.
Colonial-era tile is not the best roofing.
Broken tiles, heavy rain and wind damage add up to a need for a new roof on the library. Steps had to be taken to protect our precious books and teaching supplements from the wet weather now. Later would be too late.
Work has begun. Rain continues to fall. This is the wet season, Our winter.
In a few more days, the library will have a new metal roof.
“Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go.”
It was a great song, but when grandmother is in Africa, it is not a reality.
Do enjoy Thanksgiving and be thankful for family and friends.
Much love,
Mama
Winding up my trip to the USA
Urukundo friends and Hope Made Real board members gathered for lunch in McElhattan, Pennsylvania.
Mason Brown and Julianna Laubaug are two of my great-grandchildren. The future leaders of Hope Made Real.
Board members Carol Falke (left front), Marilyn Ely (right front), Jerry Brown (left rear) and Tim Brown (right rear). Friends Jeanne Willis (next to Carol) and Connie Cousins (next to Marilyn). And, of course, me and great-grandchildren Mason and Julianna.
Maura Sleboda, who is an elementary school teacher in Muncy, Pennsylvania, is a new member of the board. She is interested in forming a partnership between her school and Urukundo. My great-grandson Mason, who visited Urukundo and gave a report to the school, is one of her students. Her students and Urukundo students have met in a live online video session. Bringing the younger generation on board is essential.
Lunch with friends and family in Williamsport.
Edie DeMarco, me, my daughter-in-law Janet and my son Jerry Brown, and Cher and Tim Wilkins at the
Hey guys, Edie is three months older than Mama.
I loved the “no chicken” sign. This was my one request when asked about meat for the luncheon.
Saint John’s-Newberry United Methodist Church
Rev. Kraig Faust (third from the left) and others joined me for a photo op. Pastor Kraig was my mentor during the early part of my journey and is the former pastor of this church. I love this group — Sunday school class at Saint John's-Newberry.
Great-grandson Dylan and daughter Barbara
This special lady is Laura Brown (no relation). Laura and I worked in the prison ministry together many years ago.
Visiting grandchildren
Wheelchairs are a blessing, not a sign of weakness. My great-grandson Nate and I enjoyed the ride at Hershey Botanical Gardens. Standing are granddaughter Becki and great-granddaughter Chanel.
Nate and his sister Chanel, who is carrying my sixth great-grandchild.
Betty, one of the kids raised with my bio kids.
My youngest sister Sherry and her husband Joe.
Adding to existing buildings to accommodate the number of students. We now have 1,2000 students.
Sept. 12: Progress is being made.
Sept. 21: All construction is completed, ready for desks, chairs, bookshelves and teachers' desks.
The landscaping work was completed by Sept. 25.
Ready and waiting
First day of new term 2023-24. Classrooms are ready as are the students.
Construction of new classrooms accomplished. Our builders are to be commended. Mission accomplished. They did it !!!
On the honor roll. John, Senior 3, and Aline, Senior 5, are in different secondary schools and both are number 1 in their class. They were both home at Urukundo during summer vacation in September 2023.
It was a great surprise when Jacob, a very welcome visitor to Urukundo, came home for the first time since he went to live with his foster family five years ago. He is now 10. It is so great that our babies are now old enough to come home for school breaks. We are so happy to receive them.
Jacob was Benjamin’s buddy.
The reunion of Jacob and Benjamin was heartwarming.
Bride and groom Deborah and Amily are in the center with their best man and maid of honor. Deborah is one of my Urukundo daughters.
The wedding was in Kigali City at Sunday Park. The dowry was great fun. I never did find out how many cows were given as a dowry for her. I would think a whole barnyard full.
As is customary in Rwandan culture, the bride and groom give gifts to special people. This gift was given to Urukundo Foundation and handed to Director Jean Marie Ntwari.
Mama also received a gift.
Urukundo was well represented among the guests.
Oliver, Jean Marie and yours truly.
Aunty Betty
Others present were Josephine, Delphine, Oswald, Sarah, Lucky, Claude and John.
Sandra, part of the Urukundo family and Tresor's bride in July, attended the bride.
Urukundo was there!
Sandra, Mama and Oliver
An extra special wedding event
Have you ever heard of a white wedding? I believe this is a first. In Rwanda, I know it is. I was honored when my Rwandan daughter chose to not only have a traditional Rwandan wedding but also, as a tribute to me, to have what she called “a white wedding.”
I was surprised when late the evening before Deborah’s wedding, I received a text from Deborah. All it said was, “Hi Mom.”
This disturbed me no end. All sorts of things went off in my head. I stewed for a bit and then to ease my mind, I called her. Texting was not enough. “Are you ok?” I asked. “Yes, I am ok. I forgot to ask you if you would be a part of my white wedding,” she said. I had no idea what a white wedding was and said to her, “Of course, I will. You can tell me what you want me to do when I get there in the morning.” With that, we said goodnight and I went off to lalaland. During the night, I woke up thinking, "I wonder if she is planning a wedding like Solange had in the US. She might call that a white wedding".
Sure enough, that was the plan. To honor me, her white mom, Deborah and Amily had arranged to have a white wedding so that I could walk her down the aisle. Walk with me.
Tresor officiated and did an excellent job.
Although it was not her custom, her mother agreed to do that. Walk with me.
Deborah’s mother and I walked our shared daughter down the aisle. The white carpet served as the walkway. Very inventive and beautiful.
Her Urukundo brother Tresor had the honor of pronouncing them husband and wife.
I share with you a message from Deborah’s Urukundo sister Solange in the USA. It made my day.
“That is a first for me, too. I have never heard of a 'white wedding.' It may have been created just for you. 😊 This just made my morning. But it sounds like it was a beautiful event, and I'm sure she was as thrilled as I was to have you be a part of the wedding.”
The end of a beautiful day and an eventful month! Wonder what October will bring?
Dear Readers,
My heart is full. I feel renewed after spending time in the USA with friends and family and returning to Urukundo to such a warm welcome home, Thank you all. My purpose for the visit was to get my ducks in a row.. Mission accomplished. On my next visit (in about two years), I will reach out to more of you and I will share more stories of Hope Made Real and Urukundo Foundation.
Mama
The August newsletter will be part Urukundo and part USA coverage.
Classroom construction
Construction is progressing on the four classrooms.
July 28
Aug. 2
Aug. 10. Ready for adding a roof. What an awesome view!
Aug. 14. Metal structures for the roof are in place. Waiting for roofing sheets.
Roofing sheets have arrived.
Aug. 25. It should be ready for the September school start date. Photos are by Jean Marie, director. The roof in the background is the library. The first new room will be part of the library expansion. We have needed it for some time as the library is so essential in our teaching program.
Last month I shared with you that Claudine was leaving Urukundo for a six-month program in Kigali. The program's goal is to help those with sight problems to learn to live independently.
The organization is the Rwanda Union of the Blind. The program is called “Independent Living Skills Training.” This training will enable her to have a brighter future and give her the independence she wants.
Did we let her go alone? Of course not. Juliette and Delphine accompanied her. We needed to know she was in a good place.
The guest house building once housed the home for boys and then for the Sewing Center. Now it welcomes and houses visitors to Urukundo. It went into operation in June.
A glimpse of the social gathering room. Notice the small refrigerator and white cabinets for supplies and a table to hold purified water, an important element for our guests.
One of the private rooms. There are three of them. There are also three with twin beds in Mama’s home.
Each of the six rooms and the dorm rooms have their own bathroom facilities.
