Date: Tue, July 22, 2003
Subject: Everyone read from Jaime

Molo Mama, Tata, and Sandy,

I only have a minute but wanted to tell you I am having a wonderful time. The girls have really made me feel a part of the group and it has been such a blessing. The real highlight of the first day was talking to one of the missionaries here about how the culture views sex. We talked for about two hours and it was so interesting but also very depressing. This is going to be a bigger challenge then I could have ever expected. I have to constantly remind myself that all things are possible through Christ because it just seems so hopeless. Yesterday we spent most of our time in Philippi a township also called a squatter camp. It is made up of all shacks with no electricity and little water and most people, about 80 percent are unemployed and most don’t have food. The hardest thing was meeting and spending time talking and praying with Norman and Patricia who are both dying of AIDS. Patricia said “When people like you come and visit it makes me feel a little better and brings hope.” She has been denied by all the people she knows and her family because she is ill, they don’t like to be associated with the disease so Patricia was just grateful to hear that we wanted to be her friends. I asked if we could give her a hug because I figured people really don’t show her affection and she started to cry. One thing that was kind of, I don’t know, I guess scary, was when Norman had a scab on his nose and picked it off and kept whipping the blood off with his hand and then we prayed and I was the only American next to him and we held hands while we prayed. I wish I wouldn’t have thought about it cause I felt guilty but it is just strange because we are never really associated with people who are dying from AIDS yet alone hold onto their hand with blood on it. I am glad I am educated about how it is spread so I didn’t hesitate to take his hand when we prayed but I can’t say it didn’t pass through my mind. I have so much to tell you but more later. Gotta go. Love you all so much.

Love,
Daughter Jaime

P.S. Thank you for the great email dad, and the 50 dollars!! :)
P.S.S. I don't think I am ever going to be able to go back to the US and live a normal life again. I may be able to go back but not live a normal life.