Proscovia and Chantal

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"Faith makes all things possible,

Hope makes all things work,

Love makes all things beautiful,

May you have all the three for this Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Proscovia Nakiyemba to Chantal Durgana

Proscovia Nakiyemba, Sounds of Hope Yputh Group, Uganda

My prayers to you so that you achieve your dream in the medical field. Isn't it expensive there? Here it is so expensive that only students from rich families can manage it.

Education is the only key we should use to unlock our opportunities in this world that is becoming so competitive for us all. I try hard to keep myself in education system and have life that is full of joy later. Keep me in your prayers.

Lovely time,

Proscovia

Reply from Chantal Durgana, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Dear Proscovia,

You are definitely in my prayers, Proscovia. I wish for you to achieve the education you long for, because it is so important. Yes, pursuing a career in medicine is very expensive here in the United States, but it is worth it in the end because you’ve obtained a great wealth of knowledge and experience from it to be able to go on and achieve many great things. Keep trying, Proscovia. You are right, joy will come later, so keep working hard to achieve your goals. That’s all anyone could expect you to do. I hope everything is well!

Stay Strong,

Chantal

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Proscovia Nakiyemba . I am 13 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I am in the sixth grade and live with my large family ... parents, three brothers, four sisters, chickens and cattle. I share a room with some of my siblings, who are between 8 and 13 years old.

My chores include the following: cleaning the house, cooking, gardening and washing clothes and utensils. I really enjoy music, particularly a song titled, "Our Dear Visitors".

I walk four miles each way to school and do this five days a week. That is 40 miles of walking each week and I have strong legs. I attend church every week with my family and my favorite hymn is Omutima guyayana (My Heart Yearns). I hope to grow up to be a nurse.

Reply from Chantal Durgana, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Hi Proscovia ... My name is Chantal. I'm 14 years old and in the ninth grade. I also enjoy music. I love listening to music during my free time. I can’t believe you have to walk four miles just to get to school. But I am sure it is worth it in the end since you want to become a nurse. That's so exciting !!!

You have a huge family! I only have two sisters but you have so many siblings, that must be interesting. I also attend church regularly with my family. It means a lot to my dad so I do it for him.

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

What I like most about youth group is the trip we take to feed the homeless through the Hope for the Future ministry. I like being able to connect with the homeless and give them not only a meal but our friendship.

My favorite hymn is "Here I am Lord" because everytime I hear it, I think of my dad. It is his favorite hymn. It was very nice to get to know you. Love, Chantal"

[Note: 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.]

Proscovia Nakiyemba, Sounds of Hope Yputh Group, Uganda

Dear Chantal Durgana,

Thanks for allowing me be your friend. My dad is Sunday and mom is Cissy. They are both living. My dad is a shopkeeper and my mom is a garderner.Am living with my mom. Making new friends is what I learn from meeting other people.

My best subjects are Social Studies and English.

Your Bible pen pal, Proscovia

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.

Proscovia and Chantal, 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 Chantal Durgana, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hello again, Proscovia.

It's so great to hear back from you. And you don't have to thank me, its great meeting new people and making new friends. I am glad to hear that both of your parents are still living. My best subjects are math and science, but its great to know that your two best subjects are english and social studies.

Our youth group program is taking a break for the summer with a mountain hike the only activity and it is in August.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Chantal

Proscovia Nakiyemba, Sounds of Hope Yputh Group, Uganda

Chantal,

Thinking of the words to use when writing back to you, reminds of this greatness of the Lord who got us together. Anyway how are you doing? When we get mails from your youth group, the feelings change a lot. Which topic in science is of your most interest? If you are told to suggest a topic for discussion in your youth group meeting what topic would suggest? Given a chance to suggest the topic of discussion, I would suggest "importance of love" in Christian teaching.

When studying social studies, I get know the physical features that are available here in Uganda and its neighbors but it hurts me to see that we have not been able to visit such great features that are within our motherland.

Bye for now as I wait to hear from you.

Proscovia

Reply from Chantal Durgana, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hi Proscovia,

It is a great opportunity for us to be able to talk to each other. I'm doing pretty well, I can't complain. My favorite science topic would have to be biology. In the future, I intend to do something in the medical field, so I enjoyed taking biology very much. It was very interesting to learn how the body works, and I cannot wait to begin to study it again next year. I would probably suggest a topic concerning what it means to be real with yourself. I see in a lot of people I know that they seem to be lost as to who they really are, and I just want to be able to help them find themselves through all of the covers. But your topic sounds very interesting too. And I'm sure one day you'll be able to travel as much as you want, but always remember that education is the most important thing and without it, we have nothing.

Until next time,

Chantal