Ready to leave my terrible husband

Dear Pastor,

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus. I'm the lady who lived in a particular country for more than 12 years.

I wrote to you about my husband and his daughter, who don't want me to buy anything to put in the house. I feel like writing to share my good news. The good news is that I went to the US Embassy and I was granted a visa. I'm so happy. Now I can visit my son, my only child who lives in America and is in the military.

I want to make some clarifications. Some people, after reading my letter, said that I'm not Jamaican and that my husband and his daughter were just using me, because after 12 years I'm still living with him. They were asking whether I had anywhere to go in Jamaica. Well, yes, I'm still here in the US and I wouldn't want to leave like that, because this is where my livelihood is. I have been working at a company for more than eight years and it is not possible for me to leave my job and go home to do nothing. Some people were saying it looked like human trafficking, or I married for papers. No, it is not human trafficking, as I could go anywhere I want to go. And I did not marry for papers.

I lived with this man for five years before we got married. He was the one who forced me to get married. I'm not illegal. I got my voter's ID, social security card, passport and driver's licence right here in this country. People were saying that his daughter might be his second wife. No, 12 years ago she wasn't 27; she was a child going to school. So now she's 27, her attitude worsened when she brought in her man to live in the house. So now I have the chance to leave. I didn't want to leave and bounce around as other Jamaicans do, because I like to stay put. I used to travel back home to Jamaica regularly, but for the past four years I haven't done so. I usually bring back stuff for him and his daughter, but now I have stopped buying things for them. I work and save my money; my pay goes straight to my savings account.

On Valentine's night we went for dinner, and do you know that I had to pay for the dinner? The waiter who served us was surprised when he realised that I gave him my credit card and paid for the dinner. He looked at my husband and my husband said nothing.

Thank you for reading.

M.J.

Dear M.J.,

I thank you for writing again. Don't be worried at the response people gave after reading your first letter. I am sure that their reactions have now changed. I am glad for you.

You can go to the United States of America to visit your son and not get into problems with immigration.

You are a very wise woman. You saved your money and whatever your husband is doing can only affect you for a short period of time. Continue to save your money. I wish you God's blessing. The good Lord will take care of you. I assure you of my prayers. Keep strong. I hope the day will come when you will be able to purchase your own home. Bye.

Pastor