Cards From Africa Pt 2

Their Values
They run this business because they believe that God has a heart for the poor and marginalized in society and that faith requires action: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, `Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,´ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:15-17)

They believe all people are precious and that they must do more than provide jobs: they must take care of the entire person. They take a holistic approach to employment. For example, they spend 30 minutes at the beginning of each day with their staff discussing practical, spiritual, and emotional issues affecting their lives. The life skills acquired from these discussions have proven to be invaluable to their growth.


The Future
“Cards from Africa is part of a new generation of African businesses setting a trend in our divided world. Our business model is teaching entrepreneurial, management, and practical business skills to our staff so they can transition to another career or start their own business someday. By unleashing creativity, teaching valuable skills, and fostering self-worth, we are confident that someday they will be able to access the international market themselves and contribute to a thriving economy and better quality of life for all Rwandans.”

Cards From Africa Pt 3

It’s Homemade Paper

“The beautiful handcrafted cards are born of simple office waste. At Cards from Africa, we make all of our handmade papers from discarded scraps that would otherwise be burned. Not only is this environmentally friendly, it also ensures that we have a large range of base colors and textures of paper to work with.”

Here are a few steps in the process of making paper for the cards.

Cards From Africa Pt 4

“Without chemicals and using the traditional African method of making paper, we create various textures using natural products found in the wide open spaces surrounding our workspace. Bougainvillea petals, Umunyinya (similar to pine needles), reflective mica rock flakes, and the imprint of woven grass mats are just a few things that we incorporate into our process of making unique paper with which to make unique greeting cards.”

Mom & Baby House

What is this new community outreach...."To celebrate life by providing healthcare and education for new moms and their babies and to minimize the possibility a young mother may abandon her child."

The Head of the local Medical Center came to Urukundo for a better understanding of our mission as a good neighbor and to share the hospital’s commitment to work with us. Since then the Mom and Baby House for new mothers and their infants has taken on a life of its own. Not exactly what we had thought but in many ways better.

The culture does not allow mothers to come and “stay” at our home “yet”, but they do come to visit our Midwife and Nurse for advice. They receive medical help as needed and clothes for their newborn. At the same time we share clothes for their older children. This outreach ministry has expanded to more than just the mothers and their newborns but to other needy children in our community. Sharing and spreading God’s blessings is what we do at Urukundo.

*Julienne our nurse/midwife is presenting a layette kit to the director of the birthing center at a local hospital.

*Twins with hats and other essentials

*Precious little one with hand knit hat

*Young mother-to-be in desperate need for help and care

The Roof Flyed Pt 1

October 1st nature played a horrible trick. Hurricane strength winds, hail and rain devastated several farm buildings leaving them in ruins. The storm gave no warning. Praises it did not harm anyone, nor the livestock, homes or other builds at Urukundo.

One of the little boys the next day upon seeing the farm said, "Mama, the pigs roof flyed." He was right as the entire roof lifted in one piece and flew up the mountain. Roofs from other buildings were destroyed and never found.

The Roof Flyed Part 2

Work began quickly to first reattach the roof of the pig pen as moving pigs was impossible. It took 20 strong pen to pick up the roof that flew up the mountain and get it back in place. But they did it!

Then a new roof was added to the rabbit and baby chick house as it was totally destroyed. Cleaning up the interior is next so the animals can be brought back into their homes.

Getting the roofs was a priority and it is nearly complete. Unfortunately it was an unforeseen expense so funds were taken from other account. And these funds need to be replaced.

Contact me if you are interested in helping with the emergency farm expenses. Email me at falkes@verizon.net

God surely was keeping everyone and all the animals safe.

Katrina

A Drexel University student

"Music has always dictated my mood; a simple melody or country song has always had the power to turn a really bad day into a really good one. In preparation for the 20-hour flight over to Kigali from Philadelphia, I started to make a playlist, filled with all different genres and beats, fast songs to instrumental works. When I switched on the playlist shuffle on Spotify, the first song that came on was “Remedy” by Zac Brown Band. If you are unfamiliar with the song, the lyrics read:

I've been looking for a sound
That makes my heart sing
Been looking for a melody
That makes the church bells ring
Not looking for the fame
Or the fortune it might bring
In love, in music, in life

Jesus preached the golden rule
Buddha taught it too
Gandhi said eye for an eye
Makes the whole world go blind
With a little understanding
We can break these chains that we've been handed
I've got the medication
Love is the remedy

Pray to be stronger and wiser
Know you get what you give
Love one another
Amen (amen), amen

And in those 3 minutes and 51 seconds prior to even taking off, God set the tone for my mom’s and my visit in Urukundo. During our 12-day stay, we participated in the daily activities of the children and mamas, including the daily chores, devotions, and play. During the school week, I assisted Blondiné, one of the preschool teacher of Urukundo School, in the classroom; my mom helped Irene, the new librarian, and read the children books.

Upon returning from our trip, everyone would ask, “How was it?! What did you do?!” I don’t like this question very much. First, there are not sufficient words in the English dictionary to truly explain the beautiful life in Urukundo that Mama Arlene and her amazing staff, helpers and people of the village have made for the children of Urukundo. It really is a place of love. When people ask, “what did you do?” I feel that they want a description of how I helped in Urukundo, or better yet, what I “brought to the table.” I did not teach these children algebra nor did I explain the ins-and-outs of the water system or anything else of that matter.

I expected to be able to come over and teach something from my years in American education and current studies in university, but the truth is that the people of Urukundo, and really of Rwanda as a whole, are more competent and educated about life than I could ever dream. They are happy about having a basketball rather than a laptop or iPad, they appreciate the accomplishments of their friends and family, they are excited about the opportunity to go to school and gain knowledge. But the thing I learned most from my time away was that each person, because he or she is a son or daughter of God, is valued and loved. Thus, as I heard in the song, love truly is the remedy – the source to healing, forgiveness, the way for my heart to shout with joy. The love and wisdom I gained has guided me these past few weeks since my return to the States, and I can’t wait to return!"