Dear Pastor,

I am a 51-year-old woman, although a lot of people tell me that I look younger than my actual age. As a woman of God, I try to live clean, loving and upright. I have two children, a boy and a girl. They have different fathers. When my daughter was small, I asked her father if he could help me to do something so that I wouldn't have to depend on him and he told me no because I am going to be better off than him. Yet, he did not want me to go out and work. As time went by, we parted because he was unfaithful and didn't mean me well.

I do not run around with Tom, Dick or Harry. I value my body. Our body is the temple of God and we must keep it clean and holy. My daughter, who is the older child, resides with her father. When she was 8 years old, I met my son's father, who was an ex soldier. To my surprise, I jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. This man said sex was his hobby. He also said he associated with women for pleasure, not for love.

LIVING HELL

He was also an alcoholic. I went through living hell with this man. Whenever he saw me talking to any of his friends, he would beat, curse and abuse me at his office (he used to operate a business) or on the street. His friends used to ask me what a nice, quiet girl like me was doing with such a man. He used to take all his money from the rum bar to the hotel.

When I looked at how my little son and I were suffering and how my life was going nowhere, I cried out to God and got baptised. The good Lord saved me. From there on I have started to work and be a mother and father to my son. The Lord opened the door of prosperity and blessings for me.

I was a security officer at an airport and while I was there I got sick and asked for a transfer to work elsewhere. They gave it to me, and I felt so comfortable and stress free. Suddenly, the devil rose up sending supervisors and the zone chief to terrorise me on the job for my body. I always tried to put them in their places, but when they saw that they were not able to get through, they started to carry news and told lies on me, so I got fed up and left.

Seeking a job

From ever since I have been seeking a job. I placed an ad in the local newspaper and about five persons got back to me. Since then I have been waiting, even now. I cry almost every day feeling frustrated and asking God why good people have to suffer so much. You see self praise is no recommendation, but I know I am not a bad person, God knows. It seems as if at age 50 and older, no one wants to employ you. I just don't know what to do. A gentleman from the Cayman Islands called me and told me that he would get back to me, but he has to speak to his wife first. Unfortunately, he didn't call back.

Pastor, I would work in a nursing home or look after children or take care of a physically challenged child or an elderly person in Jamaica or any other country. Please, help me. Please keep genuine, faithful and caring. We all love you. God bless you and all your workers.

A. T., St Andrew, Jamaica

Dear A. T.,

I believe that you are genuine and that you have really tried to support yourself without relying on a man. It is unfortunate that you were forced to leave your job. If anyone is willing to employ you, I will contact you. You are a Christian woman, so I will encourage you to keep trusting the Lord.

Pastor