Dear friends,

I am happy to be writing my fifth newsletter. Writing is my passion and every time I take a pen and start writing, I feel at peace and my mind flows with my writings. Newsletters are good exercises for me to grow as a writer.

I am sure you are all interested to know where I am and what I am up to this time!! I am writing this time from the USA. Yes, it is all about the presidential election down here. On radios, on TV, in the malls, in the restaurants, in the churches....everywhere. Yet I am so happy to be here, meeting new friends, learning about another culture; and I have had the opportunity to speak to schools and different audiences as well as promoting my book. Shortly before I left Germany, I was glad that some German schools have accepted my book 'The African Princess' to be used for their English classes. In my fifth newsletter, I'd like to write about friends and friendship. We all need a friend, someone we can trust, someone who will be there for us in a time of happiness or sorrow, someone who will tell us the truth and with whom we can share our joy, challenges, concerns, someone we can spend time with, who will encourage or pray with us. Unfortunately, in today's world it can be difficult to find a true friend. Our world grows so fast that people are over-occupied and machines and materials replace humans, the same way human feelings are being replaced with materials;human warmth over material warmth!! People will often be interested in being associated with you counting for material benefits. If their expectations aren't 100% met, or after satisfying their prior needs, they will then quickly disappear. Others who have been disappointed with such friends live in loneliness and in skepticism about whom to trust. They hold such high expectations of others. Yes, one can find good friends, but you need to be careful while selecting friends; and no one but yourself is completely responsible for your life. When you are in the company of a good friend, you enjoy their warmth; they give you energy and you become productive in their presence. Life is giving and receiving. Negative friends and influences are not productive and will drown your energy. You have to be naturally comfortable with people around you and not feel as though you always have to give reasons or rationalize with their conditions!! Of course, you can help a friend with low self-esteem to become stronger, but you are not responsible for their lives, conditions or negative attitudes.

I have been blessed with wonderful friends through the years, but I had also some experiences especially in the fashion industry whereby I had to learn to deal with false friends--and I made a conscious decision not to be around negative spirits or allow anybody to steal my peace. You also need to make your decision whom to invite into your life. Life is a learning tree. The same way you observe a tree as it blossoms or dries then emerges back to life, the same way we have seasons in our lives. A good friend is like water that will nourish you to remain fruitful and maintain your focus in times of need.

Invest in a good friendship. Remember those who have been true friends over the years and let them know that you appreciate them. Do something good for them, do something that will contribute to their lives. Also remember to do something for your community, contribute something positive to the world at this time when the world needs encouragement. Remain encouraged and remember that God loves you. That's why he created you.

Peace.