My man isn’t cute but he’s a keeper

Dear Pastor,

I am a friend and reader of your column. I cannot let the day pass unless I buy THE STAR and read what you have to say; it is very enjoyable.

I am 23 and my boyfriend is 25, but we are not living together. We don't have children, but he has two children with two different babymothers. I know the children because they visit him at the house sometimes. Their mothers are reasonable. They are from Jamaica. They don't always harass my boyfriend for money.

Some of these American girls are always asking for money to do things and sometimes they only need the money to do things for themselves. I like America, but I don't see myself living here forever. I would like to get a home in Jamaica. I am from Clarendon. Lands in Clarendon have become expensive, or that is what I am told.

My boyfriend is not very handsome. People ask me all the time why I couldn't have chosen a good-looking man, but this is the man I fell in love with from my heart and I will never let him go. When I was in high school and I did not have any lunch money, he gave me lunch money. When I was about to graduate and I couldn't pay my graduation fees, he found the money and gave it to me. My father didn't have anything to give me, neither did my mother. This guy paid for my graduation gown, sent me to the hairdresser and bought me beautiful shoes. Although he has two children with two different girls, I told him that I did not want him to get me pregnant. So we have only had unprotected sex once when I was in school. He has been very careful.

My mother loves the very ground he walks on. His children's mother told me that he had really changed. One of them even said jokingly that she believes I have tied him because how can a man like him settle down with one woman? I am going to school and working part-time. I would love to visit my parents in December. I don't know if that is going to be possible. I know my boyfriend is not planning to come. But if I visit Jamaica, I have to return so that I would not lose my job.

What time do you have service on a Sunday? I would love to visit your church on the Sunday I will be in Jamaica. I would love also to meet you.

G.S.

Dear G.S.,

I thank you for loving my column and I hope that you will continue to do so.

You have fallen in love with a man you are very proud of. You say that he is not very handsome, but he is a good man. He takes care of you and he has been doing so for a long time. You come from a poor home and this man was determined to assist you through high school and he continues to be very supportive in everything you do. Take good care of him.

Whenever you visit Jamaica and you are in Kingston on a weekend, if it is at all possible, come by to see us. I pastor the First Baptist Church on 28 Sandringham Avenue, Kingston 10. We meet for Sunday school at 8:30 a.m. and for divine service at 10. The duration of our service is like an hour and 15 minutes, to an hour and a half. Make sure you greet me when you visit. I wish your family well. My prayers are with you.

Pastor