Volunteers
Volunteers Abigail and her son Malakai visited from New Zealand.
They visited Janette at her school. Abigail and her friends have financially supported Janette since her arrival at Urukundo as a four-hour-old infant. We are grateful.
In the daycare
Benjamin replaces batteries in musical toys.
Claude leaves home with supplies for the university.
Community outreach
Mama and Baby Project is still a blessing for new mamas.
Sept. 17th
The roof is on. Ready for windows and doors
Having great-grandchildren is such a blessing.
Mason
Aiden
Sisters Juliana and Rayven
Dylan and me
Dylan’s sisters, Hannah Arlene and Amelia, and me. Hannah Arlene is my namesake.
Hannah and Amelia
To top it off, I give you four generations of lovely women.
Mom Arlene, daughter Barbara, granddaughter Laura, and great-granddaughter Amelia
I began this newsletter with a wedding in Muhanga, Rwanda, and I am ending the newsletter with a wedding in Pennsylvania, USA
I was present for the wedding of my granddaughter Jessica and her intended, Nate. Jessica was a beautiful bride.
Parents of Jessica: Janet and my son Jerry. An awesome couple.
Parting is such sweet sorrow. After 23 days in the Williamsport area in Pennsylvania, USA, my journey continues to a new location, Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg.
The ride along the Susquehanna River was awesome. We could use such a river in Rwanda. Don’t know where we would put it.
After 11 days there and many happy events, I will move farther on my journey to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Stay with me as I share my travels and introduce you to more of the interesting people in my life.
Much love,
Mama Arlene
With ongoing love and appreciation, I wish to honor a thoughtful woman whose love of children extended to making changes in Urukundo’s play area.
Our dream was to build fences and level the land, making our play area a safer place for the children. She made it happen. Thank you, Barb.
This stone has been placed where the children she loves play every day.
The best of the summer holiday at the daycare.
Our playground is user-friendly. Swings are so much fun.
Some have to push.
Veterinarian Otto Fischer from Austria visited. Dr. Otto gave us Ollie and so much more. His visits are always too short.
Otto’s Rwandan son Jophride and his sister Anitha accompanied Otto on this visit.
Construction of the new Secondary O Level School continues. The school will serve grades 7, 8 and 9.
Aug. 1: From the top. Ready for roofing.
Ground level view. Windows and doors are stacked ready to be installed.
Aug. 21: Entrance walkway is ready for cement.
Aug. 26: Work inside is progressing. Blackboards are being constructed.
Windows, doors, and foundation stones for floors.
Until the next time. Stay tuned. Development continues.
Sometimes a photo just says, “Take me.” These lovely girls were guests at a wedding held on our grounds. Couldn’t resist.
Hello, friends and family. In case you haven't heard, I will arrive in the USA on Sept. 2, and I will return to Urukundo on Oct. 27. I will be in Eastern Pennsylvania (Williamsport and Harrisburg) from Sept. 3 to Oct. 5. I will then travel to Pittsburgh for the remaining weeks. I hope to see many of you during my visit. I can be reached by email to answer any questions about available times. My schedule is available to anyone who wishes to know where I am and when. Contact me by email, and I will send it to you. See you soon. Pray for safe travel, please.
Mama
We start in late June.
My Rwandan daughter Cecelia became a bride on June 26.
Cecelia and her groom Damascene taking civil ceremony vows.
The wedding party: Giselle, Chantel, groom, bride, Esperance, Serephine, visitor Patrick, Oswald.
Construction of the new Secondary O Level School continues to progress. The school will serve grades 7, 8 and 9.
July 20
July 23
Frame for the roof is in place. The photo is from the top of the mountain.
July 26
It's beginning to look like a school. The August newsletter should see construction completed.
After that, there needs to be equipment for the inside. So much yet to be done!
Moving into a new age. I am amazed at the advancement in construction in the Muhanga District. So much of the grunt labor is now being done by machines. First, a cement mixer, then safer scaffolding, and now a shovel for moving loose earth and leveling.
This was dirt removed by hand, shovels, and wheelbarrows when construction started in January 2025.
Looking ahead a bit
The new building will have six classrooms. Each classroom needs 18 desks and 36 chairs. There will be 36 students per room. One chair costs $22. One desk costs $76. The set for two students costs $120.
