October Newsletter

October has come in with all the excitement of a new school year.

School opened on schedule with desks and chairs in the rooms. I went out on a limb and negotiated with a carpenter for a small advance payment to supply the needed classroom desks and chairs. Trusting the funding would come. It did, thanks to generous and faithful donors. The local vendor delivered. I am grateful. Love the colors.

Desks and chairs in four new classrooms. Thank you to all who helped to provide these locally made desks and chairs. The kids love the colors. Makes for a happy environment.

Classrooms in use. Fences in place.

When you live on a mountain, you build fences to be sure your students are safe. A fence was added in front of the new classrooms. Bricks were laid and ready for the cement.

Visitors for October

Waiting to board their flight in Hong Kong. This group of 11 students and four teachers from the Chinese International School (CIS) were en route to Urukundo Village and Learning Center. CIS is a private international school located in Hong Kong.

They were met at the airport by our bus and Oliver, our public relations person.

They were welcomed by Mama at the residence.

They came bearing gifts for the Mama and Baby project, daycare kids, and the Urukundo Learning Center, including musical instruments and art supplies.

Joyful reunion

Keena (team leader for this group from CIS) first visited Urukundo in 2009. At that time, Keena met Sarah, a tiny fragile newborn, and became her support person. Keena has cared for Sarah to this day. Sarah’s story is on Page 126 in my book “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo.”

Sarah will be 15 years old and is in Senior 3 in secondary school. Senior 3 compares to Grade 9 in most other school systems.

Keena plays the violin and was instrumental in the start-up of Urukundo’s music program. She and her friend and pastor, Rev. H. Russell Blanchard of Pennsylvania, USA, provided our first two violins. Keena is a teacher and hails from my area of Pennsylvania, USA.

Keena gifted Sarah with a beautiful dress.

The team shared time with students at the Urukundo Learning Center. The team’s adventures also visiting Zipline, a drone delivery service; King’s Palace; Kigali City;and the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Rising early, the team met with our teachers and students for the morning exercise.

The students sat in class with the Urukundo kids and their teacher.

The library was another special place to meet with our students.

CIS students participated in sports with our older kids. They challenged each other to basketball.

At the farm, a friendly pig welcomed the Hong Kong students.

For many of these visitors from the big city, this was their first encounter with farm animals. Keena attempted milking a cow.

Lending a hand

Prayers do get answered. I am delighted to say our 18-month-old Bruno has a sponsor. Thank you, Josie.  Josie is one of the four teachers who accompanied the Chinese International School students.

Consider lending a helping hand. Josie did.

Many of you may think our kids do not need your help. Wrong. Urukundo is supporting 134 community children in our school with partial or full tuition. We also support the 26 children placed with bio or foster families by helping with education and partial maintenance.

We need your help if we are to continue caring for these children.

New addition

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.

New roof

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.

September Newsletter

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.

Growing and growing

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 !!!

Jacob visits

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.

Wedding of the month

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?

Message from Mama

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