Dian, Angelica and Stephen

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"Christmas is the time of giving, sharing, loving and forgiving. Merry Christmas to Everyone in your family and youth group!"

Dian Kirabira to Angelica Morgan

Reply from Dian Kirabira, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

How I wish you send me a picture of such products of craft. I believe it is great work by you. My favorite hobbies are sports, music and watching movies. It is a New Year and new class for me. It is somehow tasking and needs a concentration. How was your last youths’ meeting? Meeting other youths gives me a lot of great time and provokes my thinking greatly. Whenever we meet we have new things to discuss and share. All that gives us new breath in our life. Our leaders guide us so well and empower us. We are youth who have got great information about Christian values and ways of living.

Lovely pals,

Dian

April 2011

Hi Dian,

How have you been? It's been a long time since I've wrote. You said you love sports, which is your favorite? I also love music and movies, those are great pastimes! I unfortunately have not been to a youth meeting in a long time due to my school (college) studies, but I did go to church this last Sunday. I totally agree with what you have said, that is so true. It is great to have leaders to help, to teach, and to guide us in other everyday lives. Hope to hear from you soon!

Angelica

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Dian Kirabira. I am 14 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I live at home with my parents and a sister with whom I share a room. I am in the first year of secondary school.

My chores include: fetching water, cleaning my home and washing clothes. I walk to school five days a week, a total of three miles each way. My favorite activity is playing football (or soccer). I attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is Tusimbe Fenna Mukisinde (Let Us Line Up). I hope to grow up to be a doctor.

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

"Thanks for writing to us! I'm Stephen and I am 21 years old and I also have some siblings. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. I enjoy swimming and playing tennis. I work at a supermarket to help support myself and take the edge off of my family. I enjoy our youth group because I can learn about God in a social setting and my favorite hymn is "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" by Charles Wesley, who is the brother of the creator of the Methodist Church that I belong to. I hope to hear from you."

Stephen - standing, third from left

Reply from Dian Kirabira, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Stephen Ermert,

It was praises to God when I get a letter from you informing that we are Bible pen pals. God is good all the time.

My dad is David and my mom is Sayuni but both died. And led to miss out on the parental love. But love keeps going anyway. My dad was a carpenter and my mom was a teacher. Sharing what we have is what I learn from meeting with other youth members. My living with my uncle.

My best subjects are Mathematics and Biology

Your friend, Dian

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.

Dian and Stephen, 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?

Hi Dian ... my name is Angelica and I am 18 years old. I live with my mother and father and my older brother. I just graduated high school about a week ago and plan to attend college in September in the city.

I also attend church regularly - at my youth group and on Sunday mornings. My favorite activity is also soccer! I love it and have been playing it since I was younger. I don't do much walking, most of the time I either go for a run or go to the gym to do exercise. Some chores I do at my house include doing my own laundry, taking care my cats, and doing errands for my mom.

After I finish college I hope to be part of the fashion industry. 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 Dian Kirabira, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hullo Angelica,

For me being a member of our youth group gave me an opportunity to learn what the Lord wants us to do and how we must do it. Meeting other youth who go to school from other school helped understand the difference in our school but it also helped understand that we may differ in colour, size, financial status but we all have one creator who needs us to be one body. And there came the Bible pen pal program which brought us together though wee miles away from each we get to hear from each. And to me that is great and amazing. Going to church is a must for me also. Soccer makes my body feel joyous and fit. Do have any fashion you have ever tried to design? Fashion industry will help you earn good money if all goes well. I will pray for to realize your dreams.

Be blessed,

Dian

Hi Dian

Thank you. Yes, I have made a couple of things, like a tote bag and a pair of shorts. Most of all though, I like to take clothing already made and just add my personal style to it, make it my own. I totally agree with you on the bible pen-pal program. It's so great to share information and be able to learn about others (like you) across the world. What are your favorite hobbies?

Angelica