My heart belongs to Jamaica

Dear Pastor,

I am writing to you for the first time. I often listen to you, and whenever I read your column or hear you on the radio, I feel connected to my Jamaican roots.

I live in California with my wife and children. Life is good, but I miss my homeland, and sometimes I feel that this place is not really for me. All my money has been spent in America. We have a home here, but I would love to own a home in Jamaica. Friends often tell me that everything in Jamaica is expensive.

I have been living in America for 25 years and have only returned to Jamaica twice. My wife is half-white and does not like Jamaica. Whenever I tell her I would like to return, she says I would have to go alone. My children say they are Americans and all their friends are here.

I have three sisters and a brother, all living in America, and they too question what I would be doing in Jamaica. I miss Jamaican food. There is a Jamaican restaurant about 20 miles from where I live, and sometimes I go there to get ackee and saltfish or rice and peas - and to chat with Jamaican friends who visit the restaurant.

I love my wife dearly, but I wish I could persuade her to agree to buy a house in Jamaica. That is a dream I hope can come true. Keep up the good work, Pastor - your writing is loved by many, and I appreciate it greatly.

L.C.

Dear L.C.,

Thank you for your letter. I am glad you listen to the Dear Pastor Show and follow the column regularly. You seem to have a very happy family, and I wish all of you continued blessings.

You are a true Jamaican. Even after many years abroad, your love for the country and the Jamaican spirit remain strong. I am pleased that you can visit the Jamaican restaurant from time to time and enjoy dishes that remind you of home. When I last visited California, I also went to one of these restaurants and could relate to your experience.

You may or may not return to Jamaica or establish a home there, but wherever life takes you, remember that you carry Jamaica in your heart. May the good Lord be with you, my friend. Keep reading the column, and write again.

Pastor