Wondering if my fiancée is a good girl

Dear Pastor,

Top of the day to you, sir. I am one of your fans. I have been reading your column for years. I am planning to get married but I don't know the way to go about it. My fiancee is young. Could I come to Jamaica and marry her and take her back with me to the US?

I was in Jamaica two years ago. I met her when she was 17 years old. She is 19 years old now. I am 28 years old. I am the father of one daughter. I would like to marry and get my wife to the US and have her go back to school.

She told me that she got involved with a young man in Jamaica but he is not working. I told her to break up that relationship and she did. She is a very pretty girl, but what can a girl do with a man who cannot help her?

When I was in Jamaica, I took the chance and had sex with her but it was protected. I was the first man to have sex with her so I am not happy that this unemployed man went to my girl. She told me she was sorry for what happened but it has not happened again. I am sharing a house with my uncle and his family. My uncle's wife asked me if I was sure about what I was doing because this girl can tell me that nothing is going on between her and this man and they can still be having a relationship because the girl is young.

I talk to her for hours sometimes and I asked my uncle to speak to her. He told me she is a good girl and she has not seen the young man around, and my girlfriend is always at home or at church so I need not fear. I have had a couple of girlfriends here in the US, but I prefer to marry someone from my own land. I look forward to your advice please.

R.E.

Dear R.E.,

I would suggest that you carry out your plans to marry this young woman. You are not going to find a perfect woman. She spoke to you and told you the truth about getting involved with this man. Don't hold that against her. She was young and perhaps she wasn't sure that you would marry her.

You may consider going on the website of the Registrar General's Department. There you will see what you have to do to marry a woman from Jamaica. It is not very difficult at all. And when you are ready, you should let me know and I will guide you every step of the way.

Pastor