Another birthday for Mama

Ninety-four of them. Seems like a lot. Birthdays come, like it or not. I expect to have many more.

Fanta, cake and song. Both in English and Kinyarwanda. Beautiful voices.

A room full of LOVE. Family all around.

Eric brings a second cake in celebration.

Cake and fireworks. Who could ask for more?

Headmaster Viateur adds strength to cutting the cake.

Fanta and cake for everyone.

Seraphine gives her Urukundo mom a hug.

Oliver shares the joy. The flowers are from Johnny, my flower child.

Bridal shower

Celebrating a bride-to-be is special. Celebrating two at the same time is extra special.

Our school secretary Adeline and teacher Alexie each takes their marriage vows before the New Year arrives. I was invited to participate in cutting the celebration cake. What joy!

The celebration was enjoyed by all of our ladies.

Secondary school anticipation

We have faith and are anticipating our O Level secondary school.

This is the land chosen for the new building.

Headmaster Viateur and I inspected the site and saw the beginning of digging the trenches for the foundation of a strong retaining wall. This wall will hold the land brought in or brought down from the top as fill. Building the lower retaining wall is the first step.

The process requires purchasing stones, sand, lime, and water. Then there’s lots of hard labor. Initial costs before construction can begin.

Trenches dug, foundation laid, wall rising.

Leveling started.

Bringing the mountain down to a useful level. The dirt removal will go down about 6 feet from the bottom of the fence. Pick, shovel, and a wheelbarrow load at a time.

Earthmoving in progress.

In a few weeks, an upper retaining wall will be in place and leveling will be completed. Much more work must be done before construction of the two-story building can begin.

Christmas decorations

The tree in my bedroom. Except for the two angels and star, these decorations are all hand-crafted in Rwanda. 

In my outside yard. Lights come on at dark. Beautiful.

This tree is in the great room for all to enjoy. It is a mix of American and Rwandan ornaments. The nativities are crafted in Rwanda.

Wreaths on the doors. Love the colorful bells.

Christmas celebrations

Innocent and his wife and children are long-time friends from Kigali City. Urukundo became acquainted with this family when Innocent worked for Bruce Krogh, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and then director of Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda. Bruce and his wife Margie are part of the Urukundo family and are back in Pittsburgh. We are blessed to have this family as a part of our local Urukundo family.

Our community Christmas party has grown. We began with a few, and it grew and grew. The room was full, and it is a big room.

Our community Christmas party began with a few, and it grew and grew. The room was full, and it is a big room.

We ran out of gifts and many just received biscuits and lollipops. Next year we will try to do better.

It is so exciting to see the community kids come to Urukundo to help us celebrate Christmas. This year, the movie was “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It was in English, so the kids followed the action more than the words. Next year, I think we will try “Frozen.” It is hard when the community kids speak mostly Kinyarwanda and French. We did have a tape with Christmas carols and “Jingle Bells" in Kinyarwanda. The kids sang along and danced a bit. In that crowd, there was not much room for dancing.

Message from Mama

Thank you to all who remembered my birthday with emails and cards.

I extend my thanks to Christmas wishes also. What an honor to be remembered by so many! This ministry owes its success to the many who have taken us into their hearts. I am grateful so I send my love by wishing for all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

That is traditional. Now from the heart: My wish for each of you is to live well, love well, and value every day. May love and caring be important in your everyday life and allow joy to be forevermore in your hearts.

Love and gratitude,

Mama

November Newsletter

A Halloween treat, not a trick

A school in the USA found a way to make a Halloween treat benefitting children in Rwanda.

One teacher and many kids at the Ward L. Myers Elementary School in Muncy, Pennsylvania, USA, conducted a fundraiser to help kids in Rwanda to receive an education. Third-grade teacher Maura and students raised coins for kids, donated by other kids. Not a trick, but a wonderful treat for children in Rwanda. How awesome!

Connections with Myers Elementary School started when my son Jerry, my grandson Tim, and my great-grandson Mason visited Urukundo in 2023 when Mason was a third-grader at that school.

In addition to the fundraising, there also is a Super Girls club that connects girls at Myers and Urukundo. Here are Super Girls in Primary 6 at the Urukundo Learning Center with Urukundo teacher Anuaritta.

Here are their American friends, the Super Girls in Grade 6 at Myers Elementary with teacher Maura.

One day visitors

Guy, who is our tour guide; his wife Olive; and their daughter and Lana came to visit Mama.

Do you remember Olive?  She was Mama’s assistant for many years. She moved to Iowa in the USA. Urukundo’s loss is Iowa’s gain. It was good to see Olive and Lana after a year's absence. Olive moved to Iowa in the USA. Urukundo’s loss is Iowa’s gain.

It was good to see Olive and Lana after a year's absence.

On another day, we had visitors from the USA, Shermann Min, left, of New Jersey, and Michael Kelley, right, of Texas.    

It was a short visit but very enjoyable. Hope both young men can come back when they have more time to explore Urukundo.

Continuing our neighbor-to-neighbor outreach

Jeanine is the mother of eight children. She has four boys and four girls.

Her youngest is his mom’s helper. His name is David.

We are getting to know our neighbors who work the field above our compound. Agnes and three of her four children. Agnes is a good neighbor and friend.

Your gifts make a difference for this family. 

Clementine has four children, each one a blessing.

Rose has three growing kids. Life is not easy.

Beatrice and her twin daughters. Beatrice has seven children and appreciates the gifts.