Dear Pastor,

A friend of mine from Jamaica gets The Star and he allows me to read it. I enjoy reading the paper from start to finish. As a pastor and friend to all, I am sure you have seen and heard a lot of crazy stories, not only from your island but from around the world. I am a native American Indian from Arizona. I am an Apache Indian and Hispanic. What you all call obeah, we call de-yin-medicine.

My mother was full-blooded Apache and practised medicine. She couldn't read or write but she could do her thing. She passed away when she was 92 in 2002. And on her journey to the spirit world, she stopped to visit me. Her spirit told me things that were to come to pass and all have come through. Now I await for the last three things to come to pass.

I met a black Dominican and he could read a deck of poker cards. One day I asked him to read the cards for me. He told me to call my mother. She was a little sick and worried over me. The first thing she said to me was, "I see you talking to a black man. I see he is trying to tell you things with cards, but he has much to learn." Then she told me about his past, present and future. So I told him what she said and he looked very surprised. Now I do not have anyone to help me.

I have been incarcerated for almost 20 years. I have tried to get out of prison through the legal system but I have always been turned down because a lady has worked bad medicine against me. I do not know her name but I feel the presence of her evil spirit. I wish and hope that someone with knowledge would answer my letter and help me. I hope that you will be able to direct me to someone who can help me. My prayers and blessings are with you.

E.R.

Dear E.R.,

You claim that your mother practised medicine. You also say that the people in Jamaica call that obeah. If your mother was so powerful, she should have got you out of prison but she hasn't been able to do so. Only God could help you. You haven't said anything about God. I can't help you. I can only encourage you to look to God and let him give you peace of mind while you serve your time.

Pastor