Dear Pastor,

I have some serious problems that I would like you to help me with. I am a 17 year old girl whose life is really messed up and I also have a lot of questions with no answers. I live with my mom who just got out of prison and life is not so well. Before my mom went to prison life was kind of all right. My mom got sent to prison because they caught her exporting drugs to England. After my mom went to prison, my stepfather raped me. After that I went to a foster home. My foster parents' grandson invited his friends to the house and raped me while my foster parents were at church one Sunday night. I ran away and went into the world to live on my own.

FED UP

I didn't know where I was going or where I would get food, clothes or shelter. All I knew was that I was fed up of the abuse. I spent time here and there from one sister to another. Then a couple months later I was on my own facing a tough life, one day at a time. I told myself that failing was never my priority. Now my mom is out and life should be easy, but it is just worse. She is broke, jobless and can barely survive. I can't help her because I am 17 years old, pregnant, a high school drop out and can barely help myself and that's what is bothering me the most. So here we are back at square one fighting life one step at a time.

Please give me your fatherly advice.

T., St Andrew, Jamaica

Dear T.,

Whenever I read cases like yours, I get incensed. You were raped by your stepfather and your foster parents did not try to protect you.

Now you are pregnant and out of school. I hope the guy who got you pregnant will stand by you and help you. May I suggest that you call the Women's Crisis Centre for help.

Concerning your mother, I hope that the terrible experience that she had by going to prison will help her to be a better person and that she will learn a skill and work for an honest bread. It is never too late to do what is right.

Pastor