John and Dennis

Christmas 2010 through 2011

"May the celebrations ahead be full of contentment and joy. Have a Merry Christmas."

John Kizza to Dennis Marsh

Reply from John Kizza, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hullo Marsh,

Being able to run your own business will come with some challenges but I sure you will overcome them with time as you will have acquired some skills and knowledge from the college. How are the prices of the first hand computers there? Here we were used to buying used computers but since the Revenue Authority put a lot of taxes on them, we no longer have access to computers as easily as we used to do previously. Very few people can deal in first class computers in our country. The new term in new class and New Year, is starting to be interesting to me. I hope I will catch up with the speed of the new class.

Greetings to you all.

John

Reply from Dennis Marsh, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear John,

I am sorry that I have taken so long to reply. It is not an excuse but I recently graduated from high school and I have been busy with my college plans.

I want to say that I have enjoyed our correspondence and have appreciated getting to know you. I hope you have learned something from me about our country and our youth group. You asked me about the price of computers in the U.S. The price is quite affordable even for middle class families like my own. It is amazing that you can buy a better computer for less money than a lesser computer would have cost a few years ago. I am fortunate that my family can afford purchasing a nice computer for me. There are some people in the U.S., who are poor, and would have to go to a library to use a computer.

It is with sorrow that I must advise that I cannot continue our correspondence. Being in college, I will only occasionally be involved in youth group and I feel it would be best for you to correspond with a more active member so this will be my last letter.

Matters of faith are still important to me and the lessons I have learned from youth group I will remember all of my life. I am sure you will feel the same. May God be with you and your youth group in all that you do.

Dennis

Posted September 2011

Correspondence March 2010 through December 2010

My name is John Kizza. I am 12 years old and a member of the Sounds of Hope youth program in Uganda. I am in the sixth grade. I live at home with my parents, three brothers, no sisters cattle and chickens. I share my room with my sisters, who are between 10 and 20 years old. My chores include fetching water, collecting firewood, washing clothes and utensils.

I love playing football (soccer). I have to walk one mile each way to school, five days a week, but I don't mind. It is not that far. I attend church regularly with my family and my favorite hymn is Nebaza Nnyo Katonda (I greatly thank God). I hope to grow up to be an engineer.

Reply from Dennis Marsh, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

"John ... Hi, my name is Dennis and I am 16 years old. I live with my mom and dad and two sisters. I'm the youngest of the family. I'm in the 11th grade and the end of school is quickly approaching. Football is also one of my favorite sports. I also like to play basketball and lacrosse. Engineering is something that I am very interested in, but there are some other things I would like to look into. Like computers or possibly becoming a lawyer.

Frank, Vito, Dennis, Arindam, Mike

What I really enjoy at our youth group is the opportunity to meet people from other youth groups. I also like doing fun events, like volleyball, the 30 Hour Famine and Hope for the Future. My favorite hymn is Holy Holy Holy.

I wish you the best of luck in school as your strive to becoming an engineer."

[The Thirty Hour Famine raises money for World Vision which reaches out to the poorest of the poor around the world. At Hope for the Future we prepare for an on-the-street revival meeting by distributing a hot meal - note: served on the streets of New York City.]

Reply from John Kizza, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Dennis Marsh,

Am joyful that we are friends.

My dad is Moses and Francesca is my mom. Both parents are living and my dad is working in forests and my mom selling fruits. Am living with both parents at our home. Meetings other friends helps forget my worries and my best subjects are Science and social studies.

John

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.

John and Dennis, 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 Dennis Marsh, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

John-

I am glad to hear that you both of your parents still around. Its good that you like Science and Social Studies, I struggle with math in school so that doesn't really go on my list of favorite subjects in school. But I do like Science and English, and get pretty good grades in those classes. I had a wake up call not to long ago, after one of my most recent surgeries. I thought that I was going through something horrible, but after thinking and learning about other countries through Youth Group, I started to realize that there are people in the world, that are in far more worse situations than I. And that whole realization opened my eyes, to a less selfish-type thinking, and started thinking more about those in need.

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.

Well I hope all is well with you and your family back in Uganda.

- Dennis

Comment from Lindsay Ullmann, United Kingdom

I totally agree with your statement Dennis, and I also think it is very wise for a boy of your age to take a broader perspective on things like you have. It's actually by giving out to the world more that you receive a whole lot more back. We indeed need to help each other out more and put ourselves in other peoples' shoes - as not only does it help us gain clarity with our own lives but we are also able to grow emotionally and develop better relationships with people because of this.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Lindsay

Reply from Dennis Marsh, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA to Lindsay

Dear Lindsay, I completely agree with your statement of reaching out, and how through reaching out, you actually receive a lot more than just satisfaction. I feel that reaching out across the nation is an excellent way of doing Gods work, and spreading faith throughout. Everyone should strive to spread Gods love, because as Christians, that is our job. Just by reaching out to people you don't even know you have formed a relationship with that person. You have shown them that there is love, hope, and kindness in the world, and maybe you have given them a little something to look forward to. Hope to hear from you soon. - Dennis Marsh

Reply from John Kizza, Sounds of Hope Youth Group, Uganda

Hello Marsh,

Am so happy with my parents. I enjoy staying with them and they also enjoying keeping with us though we give them some headache in one way or the other. But that is life. Give more time to Maths you will improve it at least for a period. It has a lot of calculations that need a lot time and thinking. But the teacher who teaches it also matter. The some teachers who do not handle it well. Life is full of a lot surprising and saddening situations and we just need to pray and thank God if we can still get what we basically need like education and health.

Our family hear is doing well and we are at school doing some studies.

With love,

John

Reply from Dennis Marsh, Christians Under the Stairs, Deer Park, New York, USA

Dear John, I am very glad to hear that all is well with yourself, and your family. I hope school is going well for you, and I hope you have been doing some fun activities to keep yourself busy. I'm in my senior year this year, and everything is going by very fast. I'm very excited to go onto college, and hopefully complete my studies in Business Management. Basically Business Management will give me an opportunity to learn how to establish, and maintain a business of my own. A few years from now I hope to start my own computer and electronics business. Well I hope everything is well with you, hope to hear back from you soon. - Dennis Marsh

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