Dear Pastor,

I must commend you on the wonderful job you are doing. I am a 35-year-old man and for almost 10 years I worked as a cook for a cruise line. My work wrecked my marriage. I was entitled to five weeks vacation after every nine months on board. It was while on vacation that I found out my wife was cheating on me. We are now divorced.

On one occasion, while at sea, I met a woman in Virginia. She was very nice at first. I went to live with her and, shortly after, we got married. A month into the marriage, she quit her job. I had to work and pay all the bills. I had to cook, clean and wash her car. All she wanted to do was get her nails and hair done.

Fed up, I quit my job, took a flight to New York and I am now staying with a family member. I shall be seeing a lawyer about a divorce.

G.G., New York, USA

Dear G.G.,

From the many persons I have been counselling who work on cruise ships, I have come to understand it is rough work. I have found out recently while they are on their breaks, they are not paid a salary. That has to be hard on the families. Some claim the little they save while on the ships, they have had to spend on the long breaks. Family life suffers. You lost your wife as a result of your working on the ship for many months without seeing each other.

trouble again

You thought you were doing a good thing by marrying the American woman. But, you ran into trouble because she found you to be a good Jamaican man who brought home the 'bacon' and allowed her to sport and blow your money.

I wish you well. I hope by now you have gone to see a lawyer. Twice you have taken the wrong road in life. I hope you will find yourself on the straight and narrow road the next time around. To be on the straight and narrow road, you have to know the Lord Jesus. So I urge you to put your life in His hands and move on.

Pastor