Cathy and Daniela

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"May your home be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season, and throughout the year. I Wish you A Christmas filled with peace and love. Merry X-mass."

Cathy Nagirinya to Daniela Bodden

Reply from Cathy Nagirinya, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Darling Daniela,

I was promoted to another class. That is best news I have from me. I thank God that I was able to be promoted to another class. I am two weeks old in my new class. Keep in your prayers for excellence in this new class. Love for netball is my favorite to me.

Stay strong,

Cathy

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

April 2011

Dear Cathy

I am glad to hear you are doing well in school ... That's great !!!!! I know the first couple of weeks in school are hard .. But once you get use to it .. You'll do fine !!! I'm going away to college in the fall .. And believe me ... I'm am just as nervous as you are !!!! Do you know what you want to do when you get older ??

Good luck

Daniela

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Cathy Nagirinya. 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 sister, two brothers, goats and chickens. My siblings are between 9 and 11 years old and I share a room.

My chores include cooking food, washing clothes, cleaning the house, fetching water and gathering firewood. I walk 4 miles each day to and from school and I am in the seventh grade. My favorite activity is music and my favorite song is "Angels of Hope".

I attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is Katusituke Tutwale Byetulina (Let Us Stand Up and Take What We Have). My goal is to become a nurse when I grow up.

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

"Cathy ... my name is Daniela. I am 16 years old and I am in the 11th grade. I live in New York, USA and I think I want to do something in fashion. I think it is good that you listen to music; I love music and I listen to it all the time. I love Lady Gaga and Beyonce and Drake.

(Back) Chantal, Daniela, Rachel; (seated) Julianne, Linda

Let me tell you what I like about our youth group - we participate in the community and we try to help others that live by us (in New York City) and even those across the world. Also we learn about the Bible and try to use Bible verses and lessons and translate them to modern life. My favorite hymn is, "Here I am, Lord" because it explains how youth have to carry out the Lord's word and that is what we learn in youth group.

I think that it is great that you wanna be a nurse. My older cousin is a nurse, loves helping people in the hospital. I hope you accomplish your dreams and best of luck in life!"

Reply from Cathy Nagirinya, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Daniela Bodden,

Nice for getting as your pal and am happy. My father is Edward and my mom is Florence they are both living. My dad is shop keeper and my mom a waitress in a restaurant. Am living with my grand ma and my best subjects are Science and Mathematics.

Cathy

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.

Christopher or Bill, 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 Daniela Bodden, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Cathy,

My mom and dad are also busy with work all the time. Both of my parents work in New York City, which is where I hope to live one day. It is my favorite place to go because it has beautiful buildings, during Christmas time it is filled with lights and the city has a huge Christmas tree. It is truly a stunning place that is filled with excitement. I am not really good at math, but I'm decent at Physics, which is the science I am in right now. What are some of you hobbies that you do when you're not cooking or cleaning?

Our youth group is having it's last Sunday meeting on June 20th until September. We will have one mountain hike in August. What things do you do in youth group?

Reply from Cathy Nagirinya, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Daniela,

It is encouraging to learn that you parents are also busy with work and I think we need to plan our lives to be a bit busy with work so that we avoid idleness. Where are you currently staying? New York is such a wonderful according to what we see in pictures and films. Am average in maths .Since you are good at physics I hope you are to be an engineer.

My hobbies are music, dance and drama when am not cooking or cleaning. We usually do Bible reading and sports when we meet among other activities.

Your friend,

Cathy

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

Dear Cathy,

I think its great that you live with your family and I'm glad that they are still living and are apart of your life. I have a large family, and I'm close with every single one of them . Over the years I value my family and cherish them through the ups and downs. It's funny how you love math and science; I like those subjects too but they are not my best subjects. I enjoy English because you can express your ideas and don't really have to study for that subject. I wish you all the love and happiness in the world, and send blessing to you and your family !!!! I am currently staying on Long Island, and I plan to live in New York City when I grow up; that is my favorite place in the world !!!! I also enjoy dancing and singing as well. Do you play and sports and what do you like to do in your free time ?

all the love ,

Daniela