From Material Things to Maternal Things!

 AIC Outing today took us to Umutako to find a small IKEA like African store with many creative artisans!

But first the history and story of this place! 

Natalie interpreting the French story into English!
Thank you, girl!! 

 Hand made furniture!

Comfortable Josephine!

The Congo Design on this table!

The weaving was going on to show us how it was done.

That's a lot of weaving to do!

See the skill and patience??

Banana and Papyrus are both used in the furniture design. 

Chairs, sofas coming off the line…

These guys love what they are doing!

This is the Banana Fiber…

 and this is the drying Papyrus!

They start with the frames and build up from there. 

The gang watching the process!

This is the beginning of the Congo carved tables. 

First they draw the design and then chisel it out.

They also do metal design in furniture. bookcases, etc. 

Riejtie chillin' on the beautiful couch…( miss you, girl)
And Natalie in the mirror.  I'd love to bring this couch home..

but this table I REALLY want to bring home… 

Checking out fabrics to have some things made. 

Yes, we liked this store.  Can you tell?

Here you see it all:  the fibers, the metals, ceramics,

woven mats, textiles…. a GREAT store! 

And after Umutako- meaning Ornament 

we were on to Urukundo or Love!!!

 When we got there… the dental clinic had just opened..

and the kids were waiting to get in to see the
dentist for the first time!  

  Mamas Francois with Jacob, I think….

This is the Brand New Dental Clinic building.

Do you remember what it feels like as you wait to go into….

THE CHAIR?  

THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER SEEN A DENTIST CHAIR

AND HAD NO FEAR AS THEY SLID INTO THE SEAT.  

The dentist is so gentle with the kids and gives them no reason to fear.  He donates ALL of his time which is an incredible gift to not only the kids at Urukundo but for all the village kids and their families.  In the beginning, there was no charge for anyone coming to the clinic… but at this writing there is a very small fee 

just to cover some of the supplies.

It seems every time I come to Urukundo Arlene

with the Lord's help has started some new initiative! 

This one is HUGE because most people in the village 

(maybe even all) have never been to the dentist ever

and due to that fact there is a lot of need! 

So today we saw the beginning of who knows what 

will transpire in the dentistry world in Muhunga!  

 Arlene not only sees needs but finds

ways to meet them!  

Guess you could say she used her "eye" tooth 

on this one!

Thanks for your vision, Arlene!!

love,

margie