Child of Loveনমুনা

Problems, Perseverance, and Provision

When I was three months old, Mamá moved us to Doña Ita de Ramírez’s house, on Julio Verne Street, where she helped with household chores. The Ramírez family welcomed us into their home with love, and I became the darling of the entire family. They cared for me and loved me as a son. We lived with them until I was about two years old. It was there that I took my first steps.

One night, accompanied by my aunt Nelsa and her husband Hector, Mamá went to the wake of a friend. It was there that she met Valerio, the man who would become my stepfather. That night he walked her home, returning the next day.

Valerio’s life had not been an easy one either. When he was young, he left home because he could not stand being abused by his own father. Wanting to experience the world, he and his older brother joined the Dominican Air Force, and a short time later, he met Mamá. They bonded quickly, and she soon found herself pregnant again.

In 1962, when I was three, Mamá and I were homeless. All of my mother’s friends, and even her family, had closed their doors to us. To complicate matters, I now had a baby brother, Cesar Augusto, or “Rolandito,” as we fondly called him.

For an entire month, the three of us lived on the streets of Santo Domingo. During the day, Mamá would leave us with Aunt Venecia while she worked. In the evenings, we would walk the streets until we could find somewhere to sleep. Finally, we were able to secure a place to live on Calle 22. Valerio moved in with us toward the end of 1962.

In 1963, Mamá, Papá, Rolandito and I moved to a house on Alonzo de Espinoza Street. That was when our life began to improve. Valerio was a soldier in the Dominican Air Force. Mamá worked at La Estrella, a factory where she fried plantains and potatoes, which would then be packaged into plastic bags to sell. After working there for almost a year, Mamá lost her job due to a lawsuit by the workers against the manager for mistreating his employees. The workers won and received compensation of approximately three hundred Dominican pesos each. With that money, Mamá was able to open a food stand at a construction site located on John F. Kennedy Avenue.

Father God, in our lives, we can bring problems on ourselves and face situations we did not expect. Nevertheless, You watch over us. Help me to have faith and to persevere despite the struggles I face. Thank you for Your daily provision for our needs.