Hilda, Cassandra and Harris

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with warmth and love."

Hilda Nahabwe to Cassandra Nyati

Reply from Hilda Kweyunga Nahabwe, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

It is great to have people who are like you in those countries as you work as great ambassadors of Africa. Many people in this world and mostly in Africa do not know how important our skins are in our lives and how best we can keep our skins should be healthy. The favorite verse is so good to memorize and am trying to memorize it to. It is fun to have a memory verse you can cite from time to time. I want to be a medical doctor when I grow up and am doing sciences so that am admitted for that course in the public university here under government sponsorship. I need your prayers to get to my dream.

Joining the candidate class this year has a lot of work for me to do and I feel I must prepare myself well to achieve excel.

Your great friend,

Hildah

Reply from Cassandra Nyati, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Hi Hilda

It is good to hear from you again. You have to work hard to be successful. I will definitely pray for you to do very well. The bible says "Commit your work to The Lord and your plans will succeed." In my youth group, we started our Olympic games. Now it is Easter time and we are getting ready to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It feels good to know that Jesus loves us so much that He died for us. I hope you will have a wonderful Easter.

- Cassandra

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Hilda Kweyunga Nahabwe. I am 13 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. My chores include cooking food, washing clothes and utensils, cleaning my home, gardening and fetching water.

My favorite activity is watching movies. I don't walk to school as I live at a boarding school 100 miles from home. I am in the grade S.3 (Secondary School). When I am home, my household includes my parents, a brother, goats and a dog. I share a room with my brother.

When home, I regularly attend church with my family and my favorite hymn is Sing Hosanna. I am studying to enter the field of human medicine and surgery.

Reply from Harris Usmani, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Hello, my name is Harris. I am 17 years old and in the 12th grade. I have 2 dogs and 2 little sisters. I like to play sports such as basketball and American football. I have many of the same chores that you have like washing dishes, doing the laundry and feeding our animals. I hope to hear from you."

Reply from Hilda Kweyunga Nahabwe, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hey Harris Usmani,

Getting the news that you chose to be Bible pals was so interesting and encouraging to me. My dad is Richard and my mom is Sarah. Both parents are living. My dad is an accountant and my mom is a nurse. Am living with both parents When I meet other youth together, I learn to be social, to make friends and knowing other youth's characters.

My best subjects are Maths, Chemistry and Biology.

Your friend, Hilda

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.

Hilda and Harris, 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 Cassandra Nyati, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hi Hilda

My name is Cassandra and I would like to be bible penpals with you. I am 18 years old. I used to live in Africa and I came here this year, in March. I used to attend boarding school too. My favorite subjects were Math and Physics. Now i want to go to college here in America to study to be a doctor. I am a member of the youth group "CUTS". I am glad I joined because I met new friends and we talk about the bible at our meetings. It helps us to be better youth.

What do you like about your youth group? I'll be looking forward to hearing from you.

Cassandra.

Reply from Hilda Kweyunga Nahabwe, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

My friend Cassandra,

Having lived in Africa must have given a good message you carried to others in that country. Which country of Africa did you stay in? Memories of African life are still in your minds and you can smartly share them with others. How did you find African life generally? What attracted to join the Youth group? You have great dream of being a doctor but which doctor a veterinary doctor or human doctor? Who is your role model? Which Bible verse interests you much? Our youth group provides solutions to challenges that hinder our progress socially, academically and spiritually. In our youth group meeting, Bible reading is a must for every one. Each one must have verse in the Bible she/he can say without reading it from the Bible .We usually conclude with carrying a sport or music.

Do you stay with parents currently?

Enjoy great time; the youth group you chose was the right choice for you.

Hilda

Reply from Cassandra Nyati, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hilda

I come from Zimbabwe and I stay here with my mom. I still remember everything I know about Africa. I think African life taught me a lot and made me a very grateful person. My dream is to be a dermatologist which means a doctor who deals with people's skin problems. My favorite bible verse is Ephesians 4:29. Its fun to memorize verses, isn't it? I know the whole Psalms 23 by heart. You should try memorizing it as well. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Cassandra