DEAR PASTOR,
I am having a very strange problem and hope you can help me. I am a 66-year-old, mother of five children. I have four daughters and one son who died four years ago under horrific, brutal and cold- blooded circumstances.
My common-law husband also died 27 years ago, leaving me five children all in shoal. It was a struggle without a man in the house. When he died he was 64 years old and I was 38. He was a hard-working man, but he didn't save his money. He left a six bedroom house, land tax, insurance, utility bills and some mortgage all in arrears. I rented part of the house, but the tenant wouldn't pay. Lawyers decided to take away the house.
LOSING MY SENSES
I started losing my senses. I worked and joined a partner and helped myself. I struggled for years. My oldest daughters, 16 and 17, got holiday jobs. When they left high school, they also got jobs. When they left school at age 18, I told them not to bother with sex and babies now because my hands are full. I watched these four girls grow into womanhood. They helped me with the bills.
Three of them are in America and one and her 15-year-old daughter are at the home with me.
The family house is in the Kingston 13 area, and crime and violence is an everyday thing here.
SLAPPED AROUND
My daughter moved and told me to sell the house. I sold it and gave the money to her boyfriend. She said they put it in fixed deposit.
My 43-year-old daughter and I curse a lot. She is of brown complexion like her father and she claims that she is nice. She says I am ugly, black and meagre and she doesn't know what daddy was doing with me. She started slapping me around. If I answer her when she curses me, she hits me. She pushed me down and hit my head on the wall.
She beats me several times. I can't manage her. She is tall and stout and I am small and slim. She told me to come out of her house. She is selling her house and I must go. My youngest daughter who lives in Miami filed for me.
CRIMINAL RECORD
I have a criminal record. I did a medical and was interviewed from last year June. The embassy gave me a blue paper and said my daughter should sign the paper and send it back to them before I get the visa. It cost me $40,000.00 for everything.
I haven't heard from my daughter for over an year. I don't have a phone. The company disconnected my phone for non-payment. I would like to see you in person because I can't explain myself in writing.
My daughter (the one who beats me all the time) says she doesn't want to see me in the house.
I don't have anywhere to go. My first daughter tells her boyfriend to come over every three to four weeks and he gives me $3,000.00 and some fish. I have to pay the water bill and share the fish with my daughter.
She is not working. All three daughters send money and barrel for my daughter and her child, they don't give me anything.
They are liars and they give me basket to carry water. I wish I could see you. The money that I paid at the embassy is non- refundable and right now I need money to change my glasses and to do other things.
Please help me. I don't know what to do.
M., St. Catherine, Jamaica
Dear M.
You are suffering what is called Elder Abuse and that is a very serious offence. Your daughter who is abusing you should be arrested, tried and thrown into prison. She is a wicked and ungrateful wretch. Have you not told your other children what she is doing to you?
If they were aware of what you are suffering, would they have rented a place for you to live in peace? No senior citizen should live under such stress.
I wonder if your daughter believes in God. I wonder if she knows that she is bringing curse by beating you, her mother. I don't understand why your daughter who filed for you have not responded since the letter from the embassy was sent to her.
Madam, I can't meet everybody who will like to see me in person. However, I would make time to see you.
Kindly call my secretary and ask her to give you an appointment to see me.
Pastor
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