John and Vito

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"Let's cherish each moment the merry Christmas beholds."

John Kenneth to Vito Racanelli

Reply from John Kenneth, Sounds of hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Vito,

I recommend you for the programs that seek to reach the needy children around the world. May the Lord keep blessing the work of your hands. Does your program for needy children reach Africa and Uganda in particular? I felt the need to organize a prayer walk one time I will share the idea with Sounds Of Hope youth Leaders to see how we can make it. Hopefully we shall seek your advice and guidance to make it a success. Keep faith shining amongst people is so important in lives and you blessed to be able to do it.

Greetings to all please in Jesus' Name.

John

Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear John,

I am the youth leader of the group at Deer Park Presbyterian church. You have been corresponding with Vito for the past year. Vito first came to our youth program over 12 years ago as an older teenager. Now he is quite a young man. He has moved on from our youth program as he should. I do see him occasionally during the year as he lives in Deer Park but not enough to be able to facilitate his continued correspondence with you. I do know this - your letters were very important to him and I, as his youth leader, truly appreciated them.

I want to share with you, as older members of your group, the following challenge. Jesus taught us ... where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Keep the sacrifice of Jesus and his teachings at the center of your lives. He does so much for each of us. When we need wisdom, his words, recorded in the gospels, always provide answers. Through our prayers we always find strength.

I hope to start a group for 20 to 30 year old young men and women at our church in October. I do not know whether it will be successful but I will try. Perhaps another Bible Penpal can be found in this group if you are interested. I will always remember all of you at Sounds of Hope in my prayers.

Tim Ferguson

Posted September 2011

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is John Kenneth. I am 18 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. My grade level is S.5. I attend a boarding school 120 kilometers from home. At home I have one sister and no brothers. When at school my chores include cleaning the compound, washing clothes and gardening.

I enjoy sports, particularly basketball. When I am home I attend church on a regular basis with my family. My favorite hymn is Ndi mukristu (Am a Christian) . I am studying to be an engineer.

Reply from Vito Racanelli, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Dear John ... My name is Vito and I am 26 years old. I'm currently an adult leader at my church youth program. I have one younger brother and we have our own rooms. My favorite hobbies are playing sports and collecting trading cards (baseball, football, etc.) I work as a butcher at the Waldbaums Supermarket. I don't have a favorite Bible verse but my favorite hymn is Amazing Grace.

Frank, Vito, Dennis, Arindam, Mike

What has kept me involved in youth group these past ten years has been that I can come and get together with people I have really become close to over these years. I hope you will write back so that we can become Bible pen pals."

Reply from John Kenneth, Sounds of hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hi Vito,

Sounds of Hope gives us good time to meet as youth and discuss what we go through during our school time and chat awayforwad including praying for those who need special prayers. I appreciate you selection of my name to be friends.

My dad George and mom is Jane. Am not an orphan yet. They are both peasant farmers. My best subjects at school are Divinity, Industrial Art and History.

Your friend, John

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.

John and Vito, 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 Vito Racanelli, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hi John ...

How are you doing? I am sorry that I haven't had a chance to write back to you but I have been very busy lately. I want to know how far you have gotten in your studies in Divinity, Industrial Arts and History. I would also like to know more about your Sounds of Hope group.

Our group meets each Sunday night September through June then takes time off in the summer. I am looking forward to a mountain hike in August, our one summer activity.

Take care of yourself and I hope to hear from you soon.

Vito

Reply from John Kenneth, Sounds of hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Vito,

It is ok when it takes long to write back provided you write back after. At sounds of Hope, we were going through our International Bible Treasure Hunt which was done by some youth members during school time as we were not present. We thanked the members for the great work they did since it was their first time doing that.

Again we had prepared to receive visitors to our youth group from USA as they were coordinated by Tim but they were not able to reach our areas due to some reasons which couldn't allow them reach our area. We very much missed them but we pray another group will one time come and visit us possibly Christians Under the Stairs members.

Am improving in my scores with Divinity, Industrial Art and History. Was the hiking great event for you?

See you.

John Kenneth

Reply from Vito Racanelli, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear John,

I got your letter a while ago and I am now writing to you. We finished our Christmas Fair a few weeks ago in which we, in part, raise money for needy children around the world. We also had a prayer walk that allows people to reflect on their faith at 12 faith stations. At the end a story is told and there is a Heart of Prayer to write down one's special prayers.

About a week ago we had a Christmas Party in which we went carolling at three nursing homes. [Did you see the picture of our carolling party on a Christmas card our youth leader, Tim, sent to your group.]

In the past we always went to a home where a, now elderly lady, continued to care for three retarded adults. She had done so since 1968 but this past year she died so we were not able to visit with the family and sing to them.

Well, that is all until my next letter. Until then take care of yourself and each other. Can't wait to hear from you again.

Your friend,

Vito