Dear Pastor,

Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus, our soon coming King. I have a serious problem. I got married in 1999 and in 2002, my husband and I separated. I have not seen or heard from him from that time. I heard he is living in St. Thomas, but I do not know the address.

I would like to divorce him because I do not see why I should wait for him to return to me. I want to move on with my life. If anyone should fall in love with me, I could not have a meaningful relationship with him because I am still married. My husband and I used to live at his mother's house. He didn't want to work because his mother spoilt him. When the utility bills came, I had to pay everyone of them. He used to fight me a lot.

I was baptised at his mother's church and everytime we had a fight, everyone in the church knew about it. He was always sleeping out until he finally stopped attending church. I told him we should move out of his mother's house and live on our own and he became upset. He didn't want to take care of me or the house. I was always doing everything by myself. Then one day when I came home, I didn't see his clothes or him.

We have a six-year-old daughter and she is living with his mother. I am seeking your fatherly advice. How do I go about divorcing? I await your reply.

M. P., St. Catherine, Jamaica

Dear M. P.,

If you do not think you are in a position to pay a private lawyer to act on your behalf, you may go to the Legal Aid Clinic and ask them to help you. The numbers for the Legal Aid Clinic are listed. You would have to pay a fee but it is minimal.

I wish you well.

Pastor