Kate Cummings, Marlys Weber, Becky Rose, Charlie Kapp and Caroline Dunn visited Brown's Farm Clinic, run by Rev. Spiwo's wife, Zethu. People started standing in line at 4:30 AM. The clinic opened at 7:20. Within 2 hours, 102 patients had been registered at the Clinic. There is one physician who sees about 120 people a day. One day is dedicated to epilepsy, one to diabetes, another to asthma and two to hypertension. HIV patients are seen at anytime. Some patients come daily for wound care. Kate, Marlys, Becky, Charlie, and Caroline worked at the clinic for portions of 2 days assisting with various tasks.

The new Guguletu Community Center is almost completed. Currently, the center is housed within metal shipping containers. The new center has at least 4 classrooms, playground facilities, indoor sports area and a huge kitchen. This center provides lunch for about 30 local HIV positive high school students. This is many times the only meal they eat. In the afternoon, elementary school children arrive for after school care which includes homework assistance, a snack, and nurturing.

Golden Girls, an orphanage for 30 children was visited by the group. Most of the children are disabled and hungry for human touch. Golden Girls came about a few years ago as a result of a child being left alone while the mother was out looking for work. There is no Government subsidy and only receives donations.

Several of us visited two schools distributing stickers, lots of hugs, mirrors and piggy-back rides to the happy and receptive children. An intregal experience in our filming of the documentary included a visit to a middle-aged grandmother in the Townships. As a double amputee of diabetes, she is restricted to her home. Three of her four children have died of AIDS and she is currently the primary caregiver for four of her surviving grandchildren. She currently receives a Government monthly subsidy of R500, equivalent to US $48. There was no electricity, no food, one table and one chair. It was apparent the woman, in a short amount of time, would no longer be able to stay in her home, raising the inevitable question as to where the children would be placed.

The conditions in the Townships of Guguletu, Phillipi and Crossroads have remained virtually unchanged for 60 years. Crossroads sits on a garbage dump and the area around it is all swamp land. In the winter months the majority of the Townships sit in water. The principal source of fuel is kerosene, resulting in many fires and burns. There is no public utilities made available, therefore the people knit together bare electrical wires resulting in many deaths. In spite of the living conditions, families pull together into communities of loving, extended families.

Today, Jim Cassidy, along with Jerry and Greg Pope, were fortunate to spend time with the Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, who followed Desmond TuTu as the leader of the Anglican church. The Archbishop is an international leader in providing care for people living with HIV. In addition to the Anglican Archbishop, Jim, Jerry and Greg have also been able to film interviews with the Dean of the Anglican Cathedral, the Catholic Archbishop of Cape Town, as well as the Auxiliary Bishop of CapeTown. As part of our travel experience we have been able to visit the Cape of Good Hope, marveled at the penguins on the beach, danced with the baboons, hiked on Table Mountain and shopped in the Markets.

A lighter moment! I think our friends are having fun with us here!! Nelson Mandela is 10 years older than this picture and much shorter than Fr. Jim. I am also told by a South African friend there is no place one could stand "in front" of the Table Top.

The Group continues to appreciate your support and prayers. We are reminded everyday, at every turn of our journey, of the often gentle, fragile line between life and death. We were blessed in being able to meet a young child that had been born 11 minutes prior to our arrival at the hospital. On Saturday we will visit the cemetery and be reminded of the awesome reality of death. The journey continues.

Thank you for your love and support, in justice and in peace. Your Family in South Africa.

View the Sendoff Blessing.
View the 1st Report.
View the 3rd/4th Reports.