Emmanuel and Arindam

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"It's been a pleasure being Bible pals this past period. Joyful Christmas."

Emmanuel Nampagi to Arindam Jurakham

Reply from Emmanuel Nampagi, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Friend Arindam,

It is great that we are still in touch into this new. We loved that Christmas card that was sent to us from Christians Under the Stairs through Tim. I am happy to tell you that I was promoted to another class which I have started this year. Thanks for sharing with me about Skateboard. I pray that you get time and resources to come to Uganda and teach us more about it.

Kind regards to your family please.

Emmanuel

Reply from Arindam Jurakhan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Dear Emmanuel,

I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed our cards. I want to wish you congratulations on your promotion to your next class; it must be very exciting for you. I am very busy with my studies but I am more than able to tell you what you want to know about any sport or activity.

Hopefully I will here from you soon,

Arindam

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Emmanuel Nampagi. I am 14 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I live at home with my parents, one brother and our chickens. I have my own room.

My chores include fetching firewood and water, washing clothes and utensils and cleaning our home. I am in the sixth grade and have to walk one mile to and from school. It is not a long walk.

My favorite activities are sports, particularly football (soccer). I regularly attend church alone and my favorite hymn is "Hosanna". I hope to grow up to be a mechanic.

Reply from Arindam Jurakhan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Dear Emmanuel ... my name is Arindam and I am in the ninth grade. You should always keep this in your mind: never give up on your dreams and always give 100 per cent total effort in all you do. What I like at Youth Group is our 30 Hour Famine and working with Hope for the Future. They are great charitable organizations and I feel like I am making a difference in the world.

I attend church regularly but not the church sponsoring the Youth Group. My favorite hymn is Amazing Grace.

Frank, Vito, Dennis, Arindam, Mike

I wish you good luck on the long journey ahead of you."

[The Thirty Hour Famine raises money for World Vision which reaches out to the poorest of the poor around the world. At Hope for the Future we prepare for an on-the-street revival meeting by distributing a hot meal - note: served on the streets of New York City.]

Reply from Emmanuel Nampagi, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Arindam Jurakham,

Am glad to be your Bible pal. My dad is John Bosco and my mom is Sawuya but am an orphan my dad died .My mom sells fruits. Am living with my mom. Meeting other people gives me joy in my heart. My favorite Mathematics and science.

Emmanuel

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.

Emmanuel or Arindam, 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 Arindam Jurakhan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Emmanuel,

I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. I can only imagine how hard that must be. Just remember that you have a Father in heaven that looking you at all times. Math and Science are also two of my favorite subjects. I have a lot of homework, do you? How is your school? Do you like your teachers? Are they very strict?

I enjoy playing basketball and '’m learning to skateboard. Tell me about your friends - do they like playing sports also?

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.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Arindam

Reply from Emmanuel Nampagi, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hi Arindam,

Here many kids are like without single parents. It is really hard because the dad used to be the bread winner though the mom tries now. The heavenly father is there to take care of us all whether orphans or not. He is the mighty provider. I also have a lot of home work here and at times I fail to complete it because I have to do other things at home like going to the well to bring water and looking for firewood.

Angels of Hope Junior School is doing well and we enjoy being there because it has provisions for orphans like me to study without paying money. I love my teachers but mostly the head teacher who is John Baptist. Our teachers are sometimes very strict and some times relaxed. I feel I need more time to watch basket Ball being played so that I can learn it. How is skateboard played? I think you will visit us one time and train us in this new game called skateboard it seems to be interesting. My pals here love sports mostly football which is very common.

We do Bible reading, praise and worship practice, Practicing verse memories among others.

Pass on my regards to all your friends and family. Am so proud of this Bible pen pal program.

Emmanuel

Reply from Arindam Jurakhan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Emmanuel,

I am always happy to hear from you and that you are doing well. I have a lot of homework as well but don't be worried that you don't finish because you are helping your family. Basketball is fun but I too enjoy football but I cannot play it very well. Skateboard is where you stand on a board with wheels and roll around and do tricks and it is very fun. If I ever have the opportunity to come I will visit and teach you and your classmates. I am interested in the subjects you do in school and which ones you enjoy. I am always praying for you and hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend,

Arindam