Sarah and Daniela

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"I pray for you and your family to have wonderful Xmas time and... A Happy New Year!"

Sarah Nakamanya to Daniela Bodden

Reply from Sarah Nakamanya, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hi Daniela,

It always sounds great reading from you. Am proud you being my friend. I am glad to inform you that my exams for final Uganda Certificate of Education were released and I performed well to be admitted in a high school. Pray for me because the higher I go the more complicated learning becomes. Have you traveled to Spain yet or you are still planning to go there. I pray as you plan to visit Ethiopia and Egypt, you get time and all you need and reach Uganda. My bucket list includes becoming a doctor before I die, helping my young brothers and sisters, visiting some countries and finally volunteering in nay project as need maybe.

Good luck

Sarah

Reply from Daniela Bodden, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Dear Sarah

Congratulations on doing well on your exams ... I wish you all the luck on accomplishing your dreams of becoming a doctor !!! Going up in your education will lead to more challenges but I'm sure you will overcome them and achieve your dream !!!! And yess I did go to Spain ... It was absolutely beautiful ... And the food was great !!! I've always wanted to go to Egypt however with all the political problems there .. I'm not allowed to go yet !! I hope you achieve everything on your bucket list .. But I do have a question .. What is the nay project ??

Good luck with everything

Daniela

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Sarah Nakamanya. I am 15 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I live at home with my parents, one brother and five sisters. My chores include: washing clothes, cleaning the house, cooking and gardening.

I am in the fourth year of secondary school and have to walk five miles to and from school each day. It is a long walk but I enjoy learning so I don't mind. My favorite activities include listening to music, reading novels and travelling. I attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is "Hosanna Hosanna". I hope to be a doctor when I grow up.

Reply from Daniela Bodden, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"Hi Sarah ... my name is Daniela and I was happy to hear from you. I am in the 11th grade and I'm 16 years old. I'm not sure what I want to do when I grow up but I think it's fantastic that you want to be a doctor and you want to help out others.

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

Let me tell you what I like about our youth group - we participate in the community and we try to help others that live by us (in New York City) and even those across the world. Also we learn about the Bible and try to use Bible verses and lessons and translate them to modern life. My favorite hymn is, "Here I am, Lord" because it explains how youth have to carry out the Lord's word and that is what we learn in youth group.

I know your life is hard (long walks to school) but keep pushing through and follow your dreams and you could make a difference in the world. "

Reply from Sarah Nakamanya, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Daniela,

Reading from you was the exciting moment I got because we were praying for this program to see that it materializes and finally the Lord answered our prayers. My dad is Stephen the Parish and my mom is Grace a housewife.

My favorite subjects are Biology, History and mathematics. My parents are still living and we live in the same house.

Jesus loves us all. Sarah

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.

Sarah and Daniela, 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 Daniela Bodden, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Sarah,

Sarah ... I too enjoyed reading your letters, I gave me joy to see how other people in the world live, and it changed my outlook on life. You said you dad was a Parish, what does that mean? My mom and dad are business people and they work in New York City. My parents live with me, and so does my younger brother Allan, he is in 6th grade. I am also really good at science and history, my worst subject is math. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Our youth group is having it's last Sunday meeting on June 20th until September. We will have one mountain hike in August. What things do you do in youth group?

Daniela

Reply from Sarah Nakamanya, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Daniela,

It is very encouraging that my letter gave you joy of seeing how other people in the world live and your outlook on life was changed. I can tell you that the day you will visit Uganda, again you will not remain the same in your again. It will completely bring a new turn in your life and you will have great tales to share with others.

In the church you will enjoy and outside church you will enjoy and feel challenged by the design of life. Have you ever traveled to Uganda or any African country? If not do it you will enjoy it. By saying that my father was a parish, am sorry I just omitted chief (parish chief) who is responsible for collecting taxes in the Parish which is apolitical boundary. How is Allan doing? Does he find studies very interesting and very demanding? My dream is to be a doctor when I grow up. In our youth group, we do Bible reading and I take readings in the church, music and drama, skits and memorizing some Bible verses etc.

Say hi to your family members tell them we love them all.

Sarah

Reply from Daniela Bodden, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Sarah,

No, I have never been to an African Country, but I have been to France and I'm traveling to Spain this Febuary. I would love to travel to Ethiopia. I heard its beautiful there, or Eyqpt. I would love to see the pyrimids; I wanna do that before i die. My brother is doing fine thank you and he actually just started youth group this year!!!! There is this thing called a bucket list, and it consists of all the things you want to do before you die; I wanna know what things you would like to do in your lifetime? with love,

Daniela