Community children's Christmas party.

The only day available for the gathering was Sunday afternoon. The party was in the same building where we worship. Problem? Oh yeah! The party was to be at 2 p.m. This would give us time to worship (10 a.m. to noon) and then prepare the room for the party.

Kids started coming at 9 am. Many (about 200) came into worship and stayed.

They kept coming.The day was getting hot. We had to get the kids out of the sun.

Even though we were not ready, around 12:30 p.m., we opened the doors, letting them come in. The children were our main concern.

In total, about 1,100 children and young adults attended.

We had a plan. Yes, we did. Plans do not always work. Last year, showing the movie on the wall did not work, so we purchased a screen.

Great. We had chosen “The Sound of Music” to be the movie. Well, it was scratched so badly that it would not play. Instead, we played a movie of Christmas songs in a sing-a-long.

The children sang and danced.

The kids enjoyed it.

OK. Now the kids were hungry. We gave out cookies.

Mamas with small babies and children lined up to receive a gift before journeying home.

Director Jean Marie directed traffic to get gifts and lollipops. Once a gift was received, the guests exited the building.

Happy kids outside having received a gift.

Leaving the party. Paper and lollipop wrappers litter the area. Hope the wind doesn’t start to blow!

Clean up, clean up. All the staff pitched in, and it was done quickly.

We prepared gifts for 900. We were happy to have an estimated 1,100. We distributed the gifts according to age from babies up. Running out of gifts was not in the plan. The older kids received no gift but did get another pack of biscuits and a lollipop.

Looking at how this event has grown in an area where kids have so little, I think we need to start preparing for next year now.

Carol Falke, International Board president, is looking and preparing for next year's Christmas. She sent me photos of what she has collected already for Christmas 2024. Thank you, Carol.  

Christmas Day

A special Christmas gift for me on my desk.

Sharing Christmas

I was honored to share the day with a special family from Kigali. This Christmas, I invited a dear friend and his family to share the day with me. Innocent and his wife have two small children,  Lior Kyllian, age 4, and Galia Zoë, age 6.  It was good for me as I had forgotten how energetic  4- and 6-year-olds can be.

They visited the school and had fun with Dad on the playground.

What a pleasure it was for me and I hope for them!

November newsletter

National Geographic has just named Akagera National Park in Rwanda as one of its 30 “cool” places to visit in 2024.

Urukundo can arrange such a visit for our visitors. In February, my son Jerry, at left; my grandson Tim and my great-grandson Mason took a tour with guide Guy and driver Innocent. Akagera is about a five-hour drive from Urukundo.

Just a few of the animals you may see at Akagera National Park.

My favorite animal is the zebra. Like the snowflake, no two zebras have the same stripe design. Amazing. Is that possible?

My first dung art purchased during my first year in Rwanda is a zebra. It has moved with me the many times I have moved to a new residence. It is hanging in a place of honor in the new residence. This should be our last move.

November visitor

Angelique Westmark

Angelique Westmark visited Urukundo from Duesseldorf, Germany. She was introduced to Urukundo by her son, Lennart, back in 2015. Lennart visited Urukundo first and then brought his mother. This was her fifth visit. She has been very active in providing sports uniforms and cleats (shoes) for our soccer players at the school. Both Angelique and Urukundo thank the Adler-Apotheke  for the donated health supplies they sent with her on this trip.

For the first time, we had a visitor to help to prepare gifts for the community children’s Christmas party. The help was welcome.

The highlight for our visitors is taking part in the teaching program at the Urukundo Learning Center.

Spending time with our children at the school was a pleasure for Angelique. We encourage our visitors to spend time with our students.

The opening exercise each morning is the perfect time.

Preschool

It finally was time to get a new camera. These are the first photos using the new camera. Big improvement!

Preschool kids and teachers – looking good.

I am impressed with the improved quality of the photos.

Day care

 Hill house and guest house

I am pleased with our new camera. The photos are much better. What a difference a camera makes!

Message from Mama

Wow! I cannot believe we are approaching the end of 2023. As I get older, the years seem to go faster. Thanksgiving has come and gone. Hope you all had a joyful time with family, good friends and food. Now it is time for me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I want to thank all who will remember and learn more about Urukundo/Hope Made Real by reading and following the Advent calendar.

In case you missed it, the calendar is below. Please scroll further.

My Advent Journey with Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo (Love)

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1st Sunday of Advent
Pray for the 1,153 children, 41 teachers, and 18 school staff of Urukundo Learning Center (School) & Technical Sewing Center (School). 		4
The school’s full-time music teacher instructs keyboard, stringed instruments, flute & percussion. Classes begin their day with singing. If you like music give 25¢. 		5
Solar power energy, installed on rooftops, is used every day at Urukundo. If you don’t use solar energy in your home give 50¢. 		6
The Day Care is a safe haven for 50+ babies 3–6 years old for working parents. Nursing mothers go to the Day Care to feed their babies. If you support loving care for babies, give 50¢. 		7
Urukundo kitchen staff originally cooked on charcoal pots. If you have never cooked on a charcoal pot (stove) give 50¢. 		8
Urukundo Technical Sewing Center (School) uses treadle machines. If you have used an electric sewing machine give 50¢. 		9
Before Rotary International provided water to Urukundo the surrounding village girls and women hauled water from a distance. If you have always had running water give 25¢.
2nd Sunday of Advent
Pray for Pastor Yves and Assistant Pastor Chantel, and the fellowship of over 150 at the Urukundo Worship Center, and the 40+ children attending Sunday School. 		11
Fiber Optic Internet was recently installed for Urukundo’s entire campus. If you have internet service give 50¢. 		12
The Cowboys (farm hands) care for pigs, cows, and 200 chickens who lay 190 eggs each day that are both eaten and sold. If you had an egg this month give 25¢ 		13
Urukundo Foundation (UF) financially supports 81 students from the community. The children enjoy footeball(soccer), basketball, T-ball, jump rope, and karate. If you have played a sport give 50¢. 		14
100% of Urukundo Primary (elementary) school students go on to attend schools of higher education. If you attended High School or college, give $1. 		15
Professions of Urukundo graduates include lawyers, nurses, IT specialists, librarians, teachers, chefs, and business administrators. If you have had a job give 50¢. 		16
Pray for the 2 dentists and their 2 assistants at the Dental Clinic who care for 468 patients a month. They scan, clean, fill, and extract. If you go to the dentist, give 50¢.
3rd Sunday of Advent
Pray for Mama Arlene, the National and International Boards of Directors, and the school administrators. 		18
Urukundo school children travel to school by foot, bike-taxi, motorcycle-taxi, & in new school buses. If you’ve ridden a bus give 50¢. 		19
The school’s Librarian creates a space filled with books & educational material. If you were educated with books give $1 		20
Urukundo supplies over 240 layettes & hygiene supplies a year to newborns and mothers through the Momma-Baby outreach. If you love babies give 25¢. 		21
With climate change the Rwandan farmers struggle to plant in the right season. If you are concerned about climate change, give 50¢. 		22
At Urukundo, close to the equator, the temperature range is 65-80 F degrees. Most Rwandans have never seen snow. For every time it snowed in December give $1. 		23
Mama Arlene, the Urukundo staff, Teachers, Boards, and all the children give thanks for you! If you are also thankful for them, give $1.

Christmas Eve:  Add an extra gift for all of your Christmas blessings. Then, take your gift to worship Christmas Eve as a very special offering gift or send your gift to Hope Made Real, PO Box 3222, Williamsport, PA 17701. 100 percent of your gift goes directly to support Mama Arlene and the children and mission of Urukundo. Christmas gifts may also be given directly online at www.hopemadereal.org or mailed to Hope Made Real, PO Box 3222, Williamsport, PA 17701.

Happy New Year to one and all!

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.