Alex, Angelica and Danny

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"To a joyful present and a well remembered past. Best wishes for Happy Xmas and a magnificent New Year."

Alex Bukenya to Angelica Morgan

Reply from Alex Sabuna, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Angelica,

Indeed music is refreshing, calming and comforting to whoever listens to eat. I believe everybody in the world loves music. I was promoted to another class. Thanks to your prayers. Another new challenge has come to me again. I need to read harder in this new class so that I perform better.

I need concentration during this time and asking the Lord to be around me in the new challenge ahead of me. You said you are living on your own! Do you mean you have your own house? Or you have your own room in the big house? Am still a lot of miles away from living on my own. We enjoy soccer, volley ball etc in the boarding. I like Gospel music and some traditional music which you will enjoy when you happen to come to Uganda and at Sounds of Hope. I will show my dancing skills in the traditional dance.

Til then,

Alex

Reply from Angelica Morgan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Dear Alex,

That is so great to hear that you have been promoted! I wish you luck, and I know with hard work and motivation you will conquer this new class! Yes, I have my own apartment. I enjoy soccer and volleyball also. Here at the youth group every year we have a volleyball match of the youth vs. the adults. It's an enjoyable time with lots of laughs. That's awesome that you have great dance skills! Hope to hear from you soon!

Angelica

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Alex Sabuna. I am 14 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I have a sister but no brothers. What I do have are chickens, pigs and cattle at home. I attend a boarding school and I am in the 7th grade. At school my chores include cleaning the compound, fetching water and washing clothes and utensils.

What I enjoy most is music and a favorite song is Tusimbe Fena Mukisinde. When I am home, I attend church with my family and I want to grow up to be a minister.

Reply from Daniel Ermert, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Dear Alex ... It's good to hear from people of other countries. Now, when it says your house is "residential, pigs, chickens", does that mean they are your pets or livestock? Because I think having a pig for a pet would be cool. Also, good luck with becoming a reverend. My brother wants to become a reverend too, so I kind of know what it is like.

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

What I like about our youth group is that all my friends go to youth meetings. I have a handful of friends that I can talk to about anything. At youth group we go Christmas caroling and always sing 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' I like this Christmas hymn because it is easy to sing and it is loud - just like me.

Hope you have enjoyed my response."

Reply from Alex Sabuna, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Daniel Ermert,

It is so good to be Bible friends. My dad is Emmanuel and my mom is Stella. Am an orphan. My dad died. My mom is a gardener. Am living with my grandma. Practicing singing is what I learn from joining other youth.

My best subjects are Social studies and science.

Your friend, Alex

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.

Alex and Daniel, 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 Angelica Morgan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hi Alex ... my name is Angelica. I have one older brother and just graduated high school about a week ago. I also love music and listen to it everyday, whether it be in the car or at home in my room.

I am planning to attend college in the city. When I graduate college I want to be part of the fashion industry. I'm really excited for college to start and know it will be an enjoyable experience.

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.

Reply from Alex Sabuna, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Angelica,

I will begin by thanking you for being my pal and congratulating you for graduating from high school. I have my small radio which I can pocket it so I move around with it listening to music. I can do some mimes. I pray that you achieve your dream of being part of fashion industry as well as joining the college. It will be very enjoyable indeed.

We are busy with books as we know that this is the deciding term for us to get promoted or demoted and I just need to see myself getting promoted to another class. Therefore am working hard to achieve that and I will let you know when time comes. Do you stay with your parents and do you have brothers and sisters?

Kind regards,

Alex

Reply from Angelica Morgan, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hi Alex,

That was so nice of you to thank me for being your pen-pal. I am happy that you are mine pen-pal too! Thats great that you carry around music. I love music and I don't think I can go a day without listening to it. It really helps to put me in a mood, whether it be happy one, or just to help me relax. It's also great that you are studying hard to get promoted, I know this will all pay off for you! Right now I'm currently living on my own, but my mother, father, and brother live close by. What about you, what activities do you do at boarding school for fun? What type of music do you like to listen to?

Angelica