Somewhere - a mother is wondering what has happened to her baby boy.
Somewhere - she is hoping he is still alive, that someone has found him.
Somewhere - she is feeling the pain of her actions.
Somewhere - she cries herself to sleep, trying to find ways of dealing with her guilt.
Somewhere - but where?
She must have known his tiny life was a miracle at birth. She must have known, or at least hoped, another miracle could save her little boy. Her last action, just before she disappeared was to bring him to the hospital. And just before she disappeared, she gave him a name. A name of honor. A name the Creator himself would recognize. A name all heaven would notice. A name all heaven would embrace.
"Angel Ramon"
Born one month premature, abandoned at one month old, weighing a mere 4 lbs., Angel Ramon's life at IDT began with a call from DIF (Mexico's Child Protective Services) saying they were bringing a baby within the hour for an indefinite period of time. Could someone look after him until other arrangements could be made for him?
The homeless start young in Mexico. And there are no options. DIF's only option and hope was that IDT would take care of this badly neglected child; that someone would open their heart and home to him, and give him the daily care required to keep him alive. That someone was found in the hearts of friends, Stan & Marilyn Schulz. Recent empty nesters themselves, life has taken an interesting turn for them. Full time parenting was not in their immediate plan, but full time ministry was. And that is what they are doing.
Sometimes the plans God has for us do not include the plans we have for ourselves. But when we realize and recognize His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways, it is with joy and thanksgiving we can surrender our wills to Him. Why? Because - if He rescues a life, He wins - and if He wins, we win - every time.
Angel's life will not be an easy one. You see, the bottom half of his body is somewhat deformed. His hips are partially rotated, his knees are backwards, and he has two club feet. His tiny clenched fists are beginning to relax. He is taking in nourishment, he's gaining weight, and he is beginning to smile. Life is good with Stan & Marilyn, because he is loved.
The marvel of modern medicine brings hope that Angel Ramon's body can be fixed. Recent groups on missions trips have brought with them a doctor and a chiropractor. Both feel there is hope for successful operations to correct Angel's deformities. That will truly be an exciting and monumental event. Stan & Marilyn were seeking permission from the U.S. government and Canadian Embassy to bring him back to Canada at the end of May to have him examined and assessed by specialists, but the Canadian Embassy and department of Immigration is the hardest agency to work with - tougher than the U.S. Hard to believe. The process is long & arduous, so it remains to be seen as to when they will be able to bring him back, if at all. Whatever happens, they and we will believe that God's ultimate plan will be fulfilled. We so often only see the part of life's picture that relates only to us as individuals, whereas God looks at a much larger picture.
Today Angel Ramon was smiling.
Today, he was turning his little head to take in the activity around him.
Today, he knows who Stan & Marilyn are, he knows who loves and cares for him.
Today, he reached out with his tiny hand to touch their faces.
And today -- we witnessed love.