God's Dream 1

The partnership between St. Paul's Sunday School kids began with buying two goats. Next they sent seed packets with letters. Last year they bought a desk for the school and two pigs. This year they made two God Smiles on a Rainbow banners based on the book God's Dream by Desmond Tutu.

This inspirational book asks, "Dear Child of God, What do you dream about in your loveliest of dreams? Do you dream about flying high or rainbows reaching across the sky?"

Then it asks, "Do you know what God dreams about. If you close your eyes and look with your heart you will find out!". "Each of us carries a piece of God's heart within us. And when we love one another, the pieces of God's heart are made whole."

The love of our children reaches across the world and back shining a light on all that is good. I pray that each of you share this love with children in your home, in your community and throughout the world!

God's Dream 2

What a wonderful way to connect St. Paul's United Methodist Sunday School children with the children at the Urukundo Home and our community.

Two God Smiles on a Rainbow banners have found a home here in Rwanda. They will hang at our worship area and the boys dorm where we hold evening devotions.

The children here are already preparing a banner for St. Paul's kids! We began the handprints with some of the younger kids ages 4 months - 11 yrs. Now we await the secondary school teens who will come home the end of next week.

Next Sunday the banner will be blessed at worship before it begins it journey home with me.

Color & Shapes 1

I had worked with teacher David last year so he was ready for some new ideas for teaching. Nina stepped right in to work with David and other teachers, Abigail and Alexi, to review colors and shapes.

There was even time to be silly while learning. After the teachers reviewed colors and shapes the PAINT CHIPS would come out!!! See the second half of the story, kids making colorful art.

Thank you hardware stores in State College for all the supplies!

Color & Shapes 2

What amazing artwork was created by these 4-5 year olds. Give them something as simple as paint chips and a blank piece of paper and wow the colors became something special.

These are what we are providing for teachers to continue to spark fun and play and creativity in their classrooms. EDUCATION IS FUN!!!

ABC Book 1

What fun to have children share common projects across the world. That's what our classroom partnerships are all about. The ABC Book is a joint project with two classes at Houserville Elementary School.

I decided to have two books made. One would have words associated with Rwanda such as B is for Baskets, C is for Chameleon, O is for On my Head and U is for Umuganda (community service day). The other book the children could chose which word they wanted to use with the help of their teacher.

The Rwanda book had difficulty with having a children do Umuganda so they changed the letter U to Umbrella. During the teacher meeting the teachers said they should not overlook the importance of Umuganda.

The teachers chose to create a new project. A book about Umuganda where they would discuss the importance of this day then in groups in one class draw and write about it to share with classes in the US.

Creativity continues to grow!!!!

ABC Book 2

The children were so creative writing about the letter they were assigned. The photos speak best!!!

Ignace and Irene, Primary Grade 2 teachers, collected the project and shared the final ABC books at one of our daily teacher meetings. They shared the process which began with the children asking their parents to help them come up with words for their letter. Then in class they drew in pencil and colored it, which is a usual process.

Our teachers are interested in having Grade 1 do this project before the end of the year. Thank you Houserville Elementary School teachers and children for partnering on this fun project!!!

Dental Care 1

Urukundo Children's Home and Learning Center continues to reach out to the community and build relationships. Providing dental care is a new endeavor. You already read about Dr. Eulade who is the young dentist that is giving of his time on Saturdays. Next will be a teaching program for those wanting to work in dental offices. Knowing Arlene this will happen in the near future.

But for now much needed dental care is being provided. Carol Baney arrived on a Friday and was in the clinic on Saturday morning. She had worked in a dental office for several years when she lived in D.C. and was ready to step right in. One day here and already found a new niche.

The school children have been seen so now adults will be seen. They find out by word of mouth and signs on posts along the road. They arrive around 7:30 and are singed in by Tresor our 18 year old working towards going to university. A card is filled out to follow their care.

People are seen on a first come first serve basis. There is no preferential treatment based on who you know.

People waited patiently on one of the dorm porches as the final patient would be seen at 1:15pm. Several were sent away until the next Saturday. Yes the clinic was open from 8:00 until 1:15. A long 5 hour day for everyone.

Don't you love the Tiki Hut clinic?