Dear Pastor,

I was born in January 1946. My mother didn't care for her children, except for the first child, who is a girl. My other two brothers and I don't know love. She gave us away like puppies. She was going to a church that was having convention. She saw some ladies for the first time and gave us to the ladies. She didn't know where the ladies came from. We were there until our father started to quarrel with her for us. She went back to the church and they found out where we were, so we went back home. Until now she doesn't know where we were.

Gave me away again

She gave me away again, this time to a lady. She gave me and my brother away again to a family in St Andrew. My brother went back home, but I stayed until I left school. I was at home doing nothing and she didn't even teach me how to put on a button. We were living in Kingston, but the room was crowded so she bought a house in August Town. I never lived there one year good. I got involved with a man when I was 16 years old and that was when all hell broke loose. I will write you again about that episode.

Thank you for reading my letter.

N. S., St Catherine, Jamaica

Dear N. S.,

You are 62 years old, but your upbringing is still haunting you. Evidently you have a long story to tell. This is just the beginning. I look forward to hearing the other part of your life story. In the meantime give God thanks for his blessings upon you. Life could have been worse.

Pastor