Ramon

Ramon is one of the boys that regularly comes to the youth fellowship in our backyard on Sundays. He has grown very dear to our hearts. He speaks no English and we do our best to get by with our limited Tagalog. He comes from a very large and very poor family. Between one and two years ago, his mother passed away. He currently lives with his grandmother because his father left many years ago, and hasn't come back.

Ramon does not get to go to school. He is about 15 years old. He doesn't read. When we were doing a special program for the kids to earn a Bible, he was actively doing what was required, with the help of his peers, to earn his very own Bible. It was very important to him to earn his own Bible.

I first met Ramon outside our gate when he was selling fried bananas, known as "banana-que." It was his source of employment to contribute to their meager income. Since then, he has had a couple other jobs, but nothing that has lasted.

Last week, Ramon's brother, Edward, died of pneumonia.

Please pray for Ramon. This is the second death in his immediate family in the last two years. Edward died on Tuesday and Ramon was in our backyard on Sunday. He had his usual smile on his face and interacted with the group. But when we sang the song "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way," in Tagalog, he began weeping. Edward was very close in age to Ramon. We never saw Edward in our back yard.

For some people here in Manila, this is just a normal way of life.

Eric was able to go one evening to visit Ramon and his Grandmother. Although life is very difficult for them, they are a very gracious family.

Please pray for Ramon and his family as they mourn the loss of this young life. Please pray for Ramon's health. His health has slowly been deteriorating as we have been with him. Please pray for us as we have opportunity to minister to Ramon and extend the arms of Jesus to him. We love him dearly!