Taking Chris and Rachel to meet Mama and Kids!

It doesn't matter how many times I've been to Urukundo Children's Home...

or how many guests we've taken to visit... I always get excited about going! 

It is such a beautiful trip and seeing Mama Arlene and all her kids

is just always pure joy.  Today was no exception. 

We headed out early and the hills were waiting for us.

The morning session of preschool was still in session and Mama
wanted us to get there before they were done.  So off we went!
These are the new steps/sidewalk from the preschool
down to the NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
JUST OPENED IN JANUARY!

 Rachel was trying to keep up with Mama heading down
the hill faster than all of us could go!

This is the old "trail" that took us to the
new building that was being built... but now
you can come in from up above.

And when we got to the bottom.. this is what we found...  WOW.... 

such a beautiful building and all complete.

All this thanks to a wonderful donor... that right before Christmas 

gave a generous gift to make sure the building would be ready for the kids in January.

Here, in Rwanda, January is the beginning of the new school term.  

And when we opened the door... look who we found.
Beautiful children in their new classroom.

They all greeted us in English.

This was one of the first graders! Just look into those eyes!

This was the class next door! I don't remember if these were
K and 1st classes or 1st and 2nd
but their rooms were awesome.  

The library and reading/teaching areas were really bright.

This is Mama and Maggie -on the left... the director of the school.
She is totally delightful and a great teacher.  She spends her afternoons
teaching English to the moms of the kids that come to school.

Rachel, Maggie, Mama, Chris and Ada, our driver. 

Then we went to visit all the preschoolers. The treated us
to several songs.

They were shortly released so the afternoon classes could come.
Rachel was showing them pictures and playing crazy games with them.
They loved her and she loved them. 

Then we walked to the top of the mountain and it was almost clear
enough to see the whole volcano.... way off in the distance.
 Can you see it rising into the clouds to the left of center?
The volcanoes are about 50 miles from this point...
 or a little further so it was cool to see this.

 Once down the mountain we spotted the new field of tiny pineapple growing.
Actually these are probably about a year old.  Did you know that if you plant
the top of a pineapple that you cut off a fresh pineapple  and stick it in the ground.. 
in about 3 years you will have a pineapple? These are pretty tiny yet.  

And then the preschoolers that live at Mama's sang us some songs. They were
so cute singing Jesus Loves Me!  On the right is a young man that will be appling to CMU/Rwanda!  His name is English is Steven... but in French, Etienne.

And here is Etienne with the newest comer to Urukundo.
This is little Jacob and he is 2 weeks old.  He was abandoned.

He is so little next the little kids! A very pretty baby! 

They love having a baby around, too because the other
babies are growing up already.

Rachel had her turn, too.

Look how little Jacob's head is....Rachel looked like a natural. 

These are the two babies that were in the blog "The Lollipop Babies".
Now these two girls.... look like they are 3 years old... but no.. just 1ish.
Only the little girl on the left is walking,  Diana on the right was just
happy as could be sitting there looking us over. Great shot, huh? 

Then after the whole tour of the farm and other buildings we headed
back down to Mama's house so Chris could give her all the things
she brought for everyone from the States.  As you can tell
both of them are very happy!  The joy of giving is wonderful
and the art of receiving, a real gift. 

I finally got the books to the home that all the kids of Hebron Church had gathered
to give to the kids. There were so many that i kept bringing them a few at a time.
I still have 2 more bags to bring yet.  Maggie was sorting the books and Etienne
was helping and found a Pittsburgh Pirate hat at the bottom of the bag!
He'll have to wear it to his interview.

I had asked Mama if some of the ladies that she has at her house could
come with some of their crafts to show Chris and Rachel, but instead... Mama made an appointment for us to go to where they are made.  

We got to the place.... where there were about 5 women weaving

out under the trees!  What a beautiful "shop"!

The thread that they weave around the grass
 and dye into different colors looks like this....

and it is made from this plant..

Watch this....

Sbe started stripping the leaves of the plant. 

She kept shredding them and shredding them...

more finely each time.

And this was the end result. 

This Mama and her kids arrived a little later...

So incredibly dear... don't you think?

She was a little scared of us at first, but finally she warmed up.

And then all of a sudden the trainor of the women (in the light blue t-shirt and cap)
stood and all the women started singing and dancing.  We were just in awe.  
"Praising my savior, all the day long!"

   Here we are out under these beautiful trees with these beautiful women, making beautiful baskets....and beautiful music and dance just pours out of them... The joy and
happiness and spirit of these women made us almost cry.  What a great gift this stop was.

The lady who met us here to take us to the women.... then took us to a place where even more baskets and handmade items were able to be purchased.  We all had fun shopping.

We did go back to Mama's before we drove back home...to say goodbye.  It had been a great visit. Rachel and Chris loved the place and the kids and Mama.  

As usual, she was her all-inspiring self.  It was a great day!  I'm so glad that Chris and Rachel were able to meet her and experience Urukundo Children's Home! 

love,

margie

Christina and Rachel Come to Rwanda! And the CMU Staff Party!

Two very special young friends from Hebron Church arrived on Jan. 16th!  

They look pretty good for just coming in after a 23 hours flight, don't they? 

We were so thrilled to have them with us!  Being 30 years younger, they brought

a lot of energy to the house and all of our travels!  

    They were traveling light. Most of the stuff in the suitcase was for

the kids at Urukundo Children's Home.

That night we just had a light supper and went to bed.
Well, Chris and Rachel stayed up to Skype their hubbies!!
The time difference makes that pretty tough from here!

The next day--after a relaxing breakfast
 we headed to the Genocide Memorial. The young man that began
our tour was very knowledgeable and kind.  This place puts
everything you see and everyone you meet into perspective here
in Rwanda...It is extremely well done and very educational.
A beautiful yet sobering place.
Impossible to come here without tears.

Chris and Rachel and Ada, our driver.

This is a piece of the Wall of Names...those who have been found and
brought here for proper burial.
There are over 250,000 people buried at the memorial site.

As we were looking at the Wall of Names --
 Ada pointed out the family names Kayitese and Gasana.

These are his wife's parents and inside he showed us 
their pictures....

Talk about making it real.

Outside the Memorial now are beautiful gardens

and in the distance a beautiful sight.... downtown Kigali.

Listening to the audio handheld explaining so many things.

Another shot of the city.    I have taken many pictures here
at the Memorial before but today my focus was on what lies ahead... 
while still remembering what has been.

It was a gorgeous, HOT day! This
week has been the hottest on record since we have
been here!  We left the memorial after several hours and headed
home to prepare for guests coming at 6pm.  

This was the first week of classes for the 2nd semester at CMU/Rwanda
  so we had the staff over for eats and being together to kick off the new semester.
Several new faculty have come on board since our last party.
Martin, a PhD candidate, on the left has come as a TA and Suzana
has come with her husband, Tim Brown a visiting professor from Boulder, CO.
Suzana is a scholar in residence with CMU/Rwanda. 
Sorry Tim.. I never got you in a picture...next time!  

Crystal and her husband, Tony. Crystal handles the business world.

Johnson sitting to Bruce's left... is CMU/ Rwanda's IT guru.

Joel handles the  finances, Suzana and Hedda, a computer
science professor just chillin'.
 I think you've met all of them. 

Ines, on the right, does a great job with all the student services on 
and Flavia's husband, James is on the left.

Martin and Flavia and James.
Flavia is the newest admin. assistant and she's been a great
addition to the staff, too!
The other admin. assistant, Susan wasn't with us because she just had a baby girl.
Yippee!!

Isaac has recently joined the staff as our marketing man!
So everyone will be hearing and seeing a lot more of CMU/Rwanda
His girl friend, Phoebe was with him.  Both a lot of fun.

Isabele and Michel, the associate director of CMU/R relaxing and talking
with Chris and Rachel 

 and everyone on the porch. Always great to be with them.

Lillian, in recruitment and admissions. had come earlier but had to leave
so we missed her the rest of the evening.

And I don't know how Rachel and Chris didn't get in the pictures!?   

I know I've said it before....but it bears repeating.  

The CMU/Rwanda staff is excellent.  Each person brings their

own special skill set and broadens the base of learning and offerings

to the students.  The Lord has truly blessed each one and they in 

turn work well together as they compliment each other. 

CMU/Rwanda is in the second half of its first year.  The students 

have a grasp of what is required of them and are working 

very hard and succeeding.  Now the work begins of the 

recruiting and registering the new students that will be coming in the fall. 

Thanks for all of your prayers and words of support for

Bruce and the whole staff and student body.
And I'm so glad Chris and Rachel got to meet the staff!

love,

margie