Robert and Anthony

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect."

Robert Kateregga to Anthony Rizzuto

Reply from Robert Kateregga, Sounds of Hope Youth Program, Uganda

Friend Anthony,

During this holiday, we have been many at home and we have enjoyed lovely moments with my age mates. Having relatives or parents who can get together and discuss something about the future of the family is very important. I feel sorry for those children who can hardly see their parents for such time. I think we must thank God because we enjoy parental moments. Your dream is very big and just keeps working to achieve it as I join you in prayers so that you live to achieve it. Ending up in Africa is so soon according to me. I hope the Lord will get the CUTS youth get a program to travel to Sounds of Hope in Uganda in time the Lord will find perfect.

In God's love,

Robert

Reply from Allan Bodden, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Hello Robert,

My name is Allan Bodden. I am 13 years old and I am in seventh grade. I have a mom, dad and sister, but no brothers. I share my bedroom with my cousin, who lives with us, along with his mom and 3 sisters. At my house I have to take out the garbage for the garbage man, clean my room, clean the living room, and organize our recycling bin. My favorite youth group event is soccer. I like to play soccer. I play for my school and on a travel team, traveling near where I live to play other teams. When I grow up I want to become an engineer and design and build things. I have a very creative mind and I am very good at putting things together. I am also very smart and get good grades in school. I hope I get to know you better.

From,

Allan Bodden

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Robert Kateregga. I am 13 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I live at home with my parents, one brother and two sisters. I have my own room. My chores at home include digging, fetching water and firewood.

I am in the seventh grade and I have to walk one and a half miles to and from school each day. This is not very far as other students walk much further. In my free time I like to play sports, in particular football (soccer). I do attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is: Ebirabo Byaffe Bino (Our Gifts). I hope to be a shop attendant when I am older.

Reply from Anthony Rizzuto, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Dear Robert ... I am very happy to meet you. You are like me. I have my own room. I like sports also. I can't believe you have to walk a mile and a half to school.

Anthony, Bill (seated); Daniel (back), Vicky (front)

I don't have any chores like you do. It is a lot different here in the United States. When I grow up, I want to be in the military or be a policeman.

Let me tell you what I really like about our youth group. Youth group has helped me make new friends and to learn new things - about faith, about the needs other people have and about how we can help. My favorite hymn is "Here I am, Lord" because it symbolizes a great time in history ... (the Lord came to earth 2,000 years ago but the song is about how we respond to him today ... here I am, Lord!)"

I hope to hear from you soon."

Reply from Robert Kateregga, Sounds of Hope Youth Program, Uganda

Dear Anthony Rizzuto,

Please I thank you for being Bible Pals. My dad is Robert and my mom is Maxenxia. Am an orphan. My dad died. My mom is a gardener. Am living with my mom. Praying keeps happy when I meet other people.

My favorite subjects in class are Science and English.

Comment and Challenge from Lindsay Ullmann, United Kingdom

Hi ... my name is Lindsay Ullmann. I started to write poetry when I was your age and it helped me to learn more about myself as a person. I grew to understand that I had to search to just find myself . I am in my 20's and now am a professional songwriter and singer. So if we turn our thoughts around into something positive we can accomplish almost anything - through creativity and spirituality.

Robert and Anthony, do you feel that you have had a wake up call in life like I had through poetry, when I was your age? If so, would you care to share? Would you agree that creativity and spirituality can help us and also those around us?

Reply from Anthony Rizzuto, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Robert ...

I am very thankful for being penpals also. My mom is Amy and my dad is Joe. I am sorry that your dad died. None of my parents are dead but they are separated, which means they do not live together. I live with my mom. My favorite subjects are math and social studies.

Our youth group takes some time off in the summer with only a mountain hike scheduled for August 7th. Then we start our weekly Sunday night meetings in September.

Anthony

Reply from Robert Kateregga, Sounds of Hope Youth Program, Uganda

Dear Anthony,

Praise be to the Lord for having kept your parents alive and we pray they live to blow more candles as they Lord wishes them to. Being separated is no big thing provided they are living as maybe they meet and enjoy good time with you as your parents. How often do you meet your Dad? What is your dream in life and do you dream of visiting Africa in your life? Do you have sisters and brothers?

Greetings to your mom and other family members.

Robert

Reply from Anthony Rizzuto, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Robert

I am glad to hear from you again. You are right about my parents. Whenever they are together they have a good time. They never fight. I meet with my dad every Saturday and see him sometimes during the week. My dreams in life is serving my country in the navy and travel the world on the ship. Who knows I might end up in Africa for a few weeks or I might take leave which is like a vacation. I don't have any brothers or sisters but some of my friends which I've known for years are like them. I hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend

Anthony

Would you like to become another Bible Penpal with Robert or Anthony ? Send them a note and/or answer Lindsay's question by writing a note to our website e-mail : timferguson@christianyouthgroup.org. Your thoughts will be included on this webpage. Robert, Anthony and Lindsay will be notified that you have written.