The Richest Man in Town

Ramón is 91 years old. He lives alone. He has no family. Almost every day, a neighbor stops by and leaves him food. If they do not, he doesn't eat.

This week Missionary Hartman visited Ramón. He went with Alejandro, a seminary student who visits Ramón every week. Ramón often tells them the same things as the week before. Then Alejandro talks to Ramón about Jesus.

When Ramón talks, you can see his only two remaining teeth. His possessions here are few: a cot, a set of clothes, a shack that detoriates when it rains.

As I listened to my husband describe Ramón, I looked at our furniture. I thought of the closet full of shoes that our six-month old daughter has. My eyes stung for Ramón.

"Don't be sad," my husband said. "Think about it - Ramón is wealthy. What he has beats out any house in Campestre (a wealthy area of town). He has the Word of God - why, he's the richest man in Torreón!"

It's true. He is. He knows Jesus died for him. He has the one thing needful in this world.

We often look for ways to help others, and sometimes that involves humanitarian aid. But our first and foremost goal is to share the richest treasure we have - God's Word. What a joy it will be to sing with Ramón in heaven!