Gertrude and Rachel

Christmas 2010 through 2011

Update coming soon!

Reply from Gertrude Nandaula Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Rachel,

We are two weeks from the opening of the new term and we are finding new classes we were promoted to a bit challenging but we have tom keep going. When we get a break, I keep with my family and do gardening in the morning, preparing meals and having fun in the evening on a daily basis. We also spare some time reading some books. Here we get beginning of the term tests so we need to get some time revising during holidays so that we don't fail the tests in the new class and term.

Thanks for your prayers.

Gertrude

Reply from Rachel Gebhardt, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

April 2011

Dear Gertrude,

Wow! You have a busy schedule! You must be tired, what books do you like to read? We are currently doing the youth group Olympics, it's about a month long and we make two teams, I'm the captain this year! We do a whole bunch of different activities which consist of pool, domino stacking, track and field, soccer, bowling and a whole bunch of other ones. I'm on a team with a couple of my close friends which makes it so much more fun. I hope you do amazing this term and enjoy classes.

Praying for you,

Rachel

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Gertrude Nandaula. I am 13 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I live at home with 3 brothers, 2 sisters, my Parents, our cows, our hens and our pigs. We have a large family. With a large family, I have to share a room with some of my siblings, who are between 2 and a half and 13 years old.

My chores at home include cooking food, washing clothes and utensils, cleaning our home, gardening, fetching water and collecting firewood. My favorite hobby is listening to music and my favorite song is Tulabye nyo abazadde (We are so Worried as Parents).

I am in the seventh grade and I have to walk five miles each way to school, five days a week. I attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is Emirembe ne Sanyu (Peace and Joy. I hope to become a teacher when I grow up.

Reply from Rachel Gebhardt, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

" Dear Gertrude ... my name is Rachel. It's nice to get to meet you. I love music too! My favorite song is "When I Look at You" by Miley Cyrus. I'm 14 years old and in the ninth grade.

My favorite thing about our youth group is being with my friends from all around - different towns and different churches. I have become really close to them. I also enjoy all the activities that we do.

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

My favorite hymn is 'Here I am, Lord'.

I think it's awesome that you want to be a teacher and teach people. I have two siblings. Remember to follow your dreams. God bless you and your family."

Reply from Gertrude Nandaula Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Dear Rachael Gebhardt,

God is good because he has brought us together. My dad is Vincent Bunje and my mom is Josephine Nakazi. Both parents are still living .Both parents are gardeners. Am living with my mom. Fellowshipping with others is what I learn from meetings others.

My best subjects are Science and English.

Your friend, Gertrude

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.

Gertrude and Rachel, 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 Rachel Gebhardt, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear Gertrude Nandaula,

I'm glad God brought your family together. Both of my parents are still living and we are all living together, thank God.

I learn a lot from meeting other people but one of the main things that i have to remember to follow my dreams and dream big. My favorite subjects are English and Global. It's summer over here, I'm going to go to camps and play with my friends and family most of the time. I was just recently confirmed in my church, now i am a full member and i am getting closer to the church and God. I hope you always have faith in everything you do and God Bless you and your family.

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 Gertrude Nandaula Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hi Rachel,

Keep dreaming big and following your dreams as the best way for succeeding in life. How are you and your family? I hope you are enjoying great moments there. How is your group doing? Do you plan to visit any other country as a youth group? How I wish you could visit our group too. What do you learn in Global? Is a compulsory subject or optional? When does summer end? It is very hot here and many people are starting to starve. Being a full member of the church is great news to us and I will keep u in my prayers as the Lord expects a lot from us as youth in the church. Did you enjoy the mountain Hike? Did you take photos during that event?

Your friend,

Gertrude

Reply from Rachel Gebhardt, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Hello Gertrude,

My family is great, nothing I can complain about. The summer is over and I just started school again, summer was great I did everything I wanted except I missed my youth group. We don't meet over the summer but we had a couple of get-togethers. They were a lot of fun. I didn't get to go on the hike but I heard a lot about it and they said it was a blast; they took a lot of beautiful pictures. Global is a required class but it's a lot of fun with a good teacher and the curriculum is mostly about revolutions and wars around the world. I'm very sorry to hear that people are starving over there; I hope everything is well with you and your family. How is your youth group going, how do you spend time during sessions. I hope to hear all about it and I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Keep in touch. (:

Bye Bye,

Rachel.