Be sure to read Part 1 of my story first.  Click here to read.

I looked back….and I saw….Ramon!

Ramon was an 8 year old boy.  I met his mother when I knocked on the door of their small run-down trailer.  She spoke no English and I spoke very little Spanish.  She called Ramon over to translate for us.

I was, at this time, offering free home Bible studies as part of my ministry work.   Ramon’s mother heard this and lit up.  You see, Ramon was having trouble reading English, so he was struggling in school.  His mother asked if I would come and study with him, to help him learn to read English.  Of course I agreed!  I came once a week.  With a Spanish and English copy of a Bible story book, I was able to teach Ramon to read English.

During my weekly visits, Ramon’s mother and I would often chat, with Ramon’s assistance when needed.  I learned much about Ramon and his family.

I had noticed a gnarled and burnt out shell of a tree next to the trailer on my first visit.  It appeared to have been a nice big shade tree at one time.  I thought it sad that the little trailer wasn’t receiving the protection from the heat it must have offered anymore.

One day, when Ramon was just 3 years old, his father was coming home from work during a heavy thunderstorm.  It was tradition for Ramon and his mother to stand in the doorway of their home to greet his father upon his arrival.  On this particular day, during this terrible storm, tragedy struck.  A bolt of lightning seared down and struck the tree just as Ramon’s father was passing next to it.  The tree burst into fireworks and flames.  Ramon’s father was killed instantly.  Ramon and his mother watched helpless and horrified from the doorway.

Ramon also had an older brother who lived with them in their small, one-bedroom trailer.  I never saw his brother, for he was always working.  Ramon’s brother never finished school.  As soon as he was able to, he had to start working to help support the family after their father died.  Their mother was very sad about this but also very proud of her older son.  She wanted to do everything she could to help keep Ramon in school though.  She was very thankful that I had come when I had to help Ramon with his reading.

The joy I saw in Ramon and his mothers face when I showed up every week fed my soul.

I look back again…and I also see….

….To Be Continued – Check back next week for Part 3 of my story.