By Carol Falke
Its amazing how God gets our attention and places something on our hearts. Something so strong you can’t ignore it. Eleven years ago he did just that to me. It was a call to connect with Mama Arlene Brown, a United Methodist from Williamsport, PA, who was living and serving in Rwanda, Africa. She established Hope Made Real/Urukundo Children’s Home & Learning Center in 2006 to offer a home for vulnerable children.
Since then, Urukundo Learning Center/Hope Made Real has grown to offer so much more. It is woven throughout the community. It provides hope, empowerment, nourishment, joy, love and peace to all who seek.
- It’s a family with 90+ staff that can support their families.
- Of the children from the home - 5 are university graduates, 13 attend university, 6 are at secondary school. The youngest have been placed with foster or biological families – a government requirement.
- The school: preschool – 6th, opened in 2011 with 30 children now provides an education to over 987 children, with textbooks, library, educational toys, music, sports, and religious studies.
- Pastor Yves, who we support*, leads Sunday worship, devotions and connects with many in need.
- The dental clinic reaches those that can not afford essential dental care.
- The sewing technical school trains young adults in sewing skills, English, business and entrepreneurship giving them opportunities to support themselves and mentor other youth.
- The farm provides nourishment to Urukundo and supports itself by selling products to businesses.
- The mom and baby program, an essential community outreach, provides layette kits with baby items for new moms at a local clinic.
- The Daycare provides safe, loving care for children of staff and others in need.
As I write this, Mama Arlene’s staff placed her under quarantine and I am finishing 14 days of self-quarantine having just returned from my tenth month-long visit volunteering at Urukundo Learning Center. After one Coronavirus case, the Rwandan government closed the schools, churches, and the airport one day before I was to fly home. Then, the main road was closed to all traffic between communities. As a developing country they were taking this seriously.
Five days later, on March 25, I caught one of the last flights out of Rwanda.
I am safe at home but am concerned for my Rwanda family and the many vulnerable people living there. I am concerned that we can only pay our staff half their salary as donations have slowed. But as Arlene says, “God’s in Charge!”
If you want to learn about my time in Rwanda, go to my public Facebook postings at Carol Falke. Any questions: please contact me at falkes248@gmail.com.
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”Psalm 139:9-10
Carol Falke is a member of *St. Paul’s UMC, State College, Pa. and President of the board of Hope Made Real, www.hopemadereal.org.