Dear Pastor,
I have been wanting to write to you for a long time now, but I thought that I am the only one who can help myself. I now realise that it is not that I am a weak man why I am asking for help. Before I go any further I would like to wish you God's richest blessings. I don't have any relatives to stand by me. My mother was killed in 1996. My father died one month before her. My uncles and aunts behave as if I was only connected to them while my parents were alive.
My mother had owned a house which is still there. I tried to live in it but was ambushed in 1997. Through the grace of the Almighty God I was not harmed. I refused to join a gang. I am now a Christian, but I am very confused. The devil is fighting me very hard, but I am not giving up. I read my Bible and I know that the Lord is watching over me.
I am not prepared to kill anyone or myself because I have children. Two police stations can give you all the information about me. I am getting accustomed to harassment by beggars, coke heads and gunmen. They keep making life a little difficult for me, but I will not give up.
I would like to get a piece of land. If this is possible, I would work hard to pay for it. I am presently doing two jobs. I am asking you to help me. I am living in a depressed area. The police kicked off my kitchen door but I didn't call or tell anyone. Please help me.
Initials Withheld, St. Andrew
Dear ...,
I regret hearing that your mother was killed and that your father has also died. However, I am pleased to hear that you have now become a Christian. You are a very wise young man. You have refused to become a part of a gang and you are trusting in God and working hard. Trial would come your way, but by prayer you can overcome them.
You are also an ambitious man. You are eager to own property. I believe that you should be able to pay the mortgage if you are able to identify a piece of land. I hope that somebody would offer to sell you a lot. I would get in touch with you if anyone is willing to do so.
Pastor
In search of Morris Jones
Dear Pastor,
Greetings in the name of the Lord. I am an avid reader of your column. I have seen where you have helped many people. I would like to ask you to assist me in finding someone I have not heard from in many years. The last time I saw him was in 1967. At that time he was living in the Northern part of London, England.
However, he may be living in the U.S.A. or still in London, but I know he's not living in Jamaica.
His name is Morris Jones. His last address in Jamaica was Barbados Road, Waterhouse, Kingston 8. He had a brother named Ultiman. I don't know if he is still around. If anybody knows Morris Jones or his whereabouts please ask them to get in touch with me. My initials are G.P.
I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as you get news about him.
May God bless you as you continue His work.
G.P.,
London,
England
Dear G.P.,
Let us hope that Morris Jones or someone who knows his whereabouts will contact us. If we receive word of him we will contact you.
Pastor
I can't sleep at nights
Dear Pastor,
I am writing you because I do not know what to do. I met a guy when I was in high school and we fell in love. I was just in my early teens. He was not the only fellow I was involved with, there were about two others. I didn't understand what love was all about. I didn't really love two of them. I was only leading them on. I was really only serious with one out of the three.
After I left Jamaica we continued to correspond by letter and we talked on the telephone regularly. I went back to Jamaica for vacation and all my friends told me that he was going crazy over me. The first day I arrived in Jamaica we couldn't stop kissing and hugging each other and he took me home to see his mother. When it was time for me to leave Jamaica he cried and I cried too.
I cannot stop thinking about him. Whenever I go to bed at night I can't sleep. He wants us to get married whenever I return to Jamaica. He is planning to buy a house for both of us to live. I don't know what to do. Every time we see each other our love grows stronger. I would really like your opinion on this matter.
Initials Withheld
Dear ...,
You have not mentioned your age but judging from what you have said and what I have deleted I am assuming that you are still very young, either in your late teens or early twenties. I have no doubt that you like this young man very much.
However, I would suggest that you do not allow anything to divert your attention from getting a good education. If indeed both of you believe that you have a future together, you should keep that in your heart and not allow if to affect your studies.
I am sure you're aware that it is very difficult for anybody to get a good job in Jamaica without a good education so please tell this young man that he should wait until you become qualified for whatever profession you are working toward.
Buying a house is good, but these are not the days in which girl should be willing for a man to put her in a house and have her take care of him while he struggles to pay all the bills. You have your goals and objectives, therefore, you should pursue them.
You miss your boyfriend and he misses you. It is normal therefore for you to cry and even hug your pillow and so on. Whatever you are thinking about him write him a letter but please remain focused.
Pastor
