Tonny and Cassandra

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"A New Start

A New Chapter

A New Beginning

Forget the bad

Cherish the GOOD

I sincerely wish u a very blessed Christmas ahead and happy new year.

Tonny Basajji to Cassandra Nyati

"Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time to celebrate the love God showed us by sending Jesus. May your Christmas be filled with love, joy and peace. Remember to keep the Christ in Christmas. May God richly bless you though I dont know how He is going to do that since you are a blessing yourself. Then again, nothing is impossible with God."

Cassandra to Tonny

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is Tonny Basajji. I am 13 years old, in grade 6 and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I lve at home with my parents, three brothers, chickens and pigs. I share my room with my siblings who are between 7 and 14 years old.

My chores include cooking, fetching water, cleaning my home, gardening and fetching firewood. A favorite activity involves music and my favorite song is Abazadde Kyembabulira. I walk to school five days a week but it is not far, a half of a mile. I attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is Emirembe n'essanyu (Peace and Joy). I hope to grow up to be a driver.

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

"Hey Tonny! I'm Cassandra Nyati. I'm 18 and about to go to college. I actually used to live in Africa, in Zimbabwe. I'm an only child and, when I was in Africa, I was in boarding school and I used to share my room with my friends. I love music too. I love singing and reading the Bible. I love going to church with my mother and my favorite verse is Ephesians 4:29 because it tells us to speak nicely when talking to others. My dream is to be a doctor. I'm still new here but I love it already. Everyone is so nice."

In picture on left: Daniela (left); Cassandra (right)

(Ephesians 4: 29 reads "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that you will do good to those who hear you.")

Reply from Tonni Basajji, Sounds of Hope, Uganda

Hello Cassandra Nyati,

Am happy you chose to be friends. My father is Frank and my mom is Josephine and we live with our mom at home. Our dad is a teacher and mom a hair dresser. My best subjects are science and social studies. I need to hear from again.

See you for now.

Tonny

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.

Tonny or Cassandra, 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 Toney!

It was nice to hear from you again. I am very excited to be friends with you. It's nice that your best subjects are social studies and science. You should always work hard in school. And you should always pray because that is very important.

I love praying and talking about Jesus. I am glad that I come to our youth meetings to discuss the Bible. Do you also like learning about the Bible with your friends?

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.

Bye for now.

Cassandra

Hello Lindsay ...

I'm Cassandra Nyati and Toney and I are becoming Bible pen pals. We are glad that you will join in our correspondence.

I am 18 and I am still trying to find myself. I absolutely agree that creativity and spirituality can help us and those around us. It's amazing what Jesus can do in our lives. I have a passion for a lot of things like music, art and writing. But I am not sure what I am meant for. I guess time will tell. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Cassandra

Response from Lindsay Ullmann, United Kingdom

Hi there Cassandra and thank you so much for responding to my challenge.

Hi there Cassandra and thank you so much for responding to me.

I'm glad you agree that spirituality and creativity can help us. I think it is really important for young people to be inspired and know that by letting your creative side go a little you can find peace and harmony. Sometimes the tiniest of things can make us feel alive again, such as being in touch with beautiful nature and knowing that when we go through tough times there is something spiritual that has our best interests at heart, all you have to do is search for it, and although it can indeed be a challenging journey it's a lovely feeling to know that something from a higher force is guiding you with love and light along the way. Music can set our souls free, music can send out messages to other people. I don't know about you, but when I go through tough times I like to write songs, the lyrics are the main focus for me because I like to think that I can send out positive messages to others through my music that may have also gone through hard times.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Lindsay

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

Hi Lindsay

The journey that we are on is indeed truly challenging. Sometimes I sway from the right path but God always brings me back. Most of the times I go outside and lie on the grass, looking at the trees and watching the birds, at the same time listening to beautiful gospel music. I always feel peaceful when I do that. And I once wrote a song too when I was going through a tough time. I remember being shocked that I had actually written a whole song. It was because I had been inspired by my own situation. It is always good to listen to good inspirational music. What is your favorite gospel song? And may you send me the lyrics of one of your songs if you don't mind. Looking forward to your reply.

Cassandra

Reply from Tonni Basajji, Sounds of Hope, Uganda

Dear Cassandra,

I make it a point that I talk about Christ wherever am given the chance. God has helped me achieve great things therefore I must praise and worship him.

Lovely greetings to all.

Tonny

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

Tonny

I also talk about Jesus whenever I can to people who will listen. Everyday before I sleep I say a prayer thanking God for the day. We must thank God for whatever we have. Do you have a bible? If you do, every night before you sleep you should read Psalms 4;8. You can write the verse on a piece of paper and stick it anywhere close to your bed. Its always good to say The Lord's Prayer when you wake up in the morning. Do you know stories from the bible? Which one is your favorite?

Cassandra

Would you like to write to Tonny, Cassandra or Lindsay ? Send a note to Timferguson@christianyouthgroup.org and it will be included on this webpage. Tony, Lindsay and Cassandra will be notified that you have written.