During the post-hurricane days, when there wasn’t any gas and electricity and plenty of looters, we came to get to know a neighbor quite well. His name is Josue Curiel Ramos or—to us North Americans—Joshua. Joshua and his wife Nerhidda have lived in the park for some time. He is a certified CFE (Mexican Electric Company) technician and has worked for the snow birds in the trailer park where we live for many years. During the days after the hurricane, Joshua patrolled the park for thieves during the first part of the night and Richard patrolled the park during the latter half. When Richard went to Africa, two weeks after the hurricane, Joshua made sure that when the electricity finally was available, everything was safe for me before he threw the main breaker. Joshua and another neighbor, Julio, whom we also met in the post-hurricane days, carefully watched out for me when Richard was gone. We later found out that Joshua was also a brother in the Lord!
Now to “Wrestled & Hog-Tied – Joshua Saves the Day…”
Just this last week, Richard and I realized we had lost our electric power around 5:00 p.m. Richard decided to wait until after church to check around to see what the problem might be. When we got home from Wednesday night Bible Study, the remaining park residents all had lights except us. Richard went over to see what Joshua knew and they checked the main breaker box for our end of the park. There were several wires (main wires going to the CFE transformer) tore out of our box. It just so happened, it was us who were without power. We called our park manager, without success, so we started the generator and waited until morning.
In the morning, Neighbor Julio called and said he had been without power since around 9:00 p.m. the night before. He told us he had to go to work but that he had called two of his friends who were electricians and that they would be right over. Joshua and Richard waited for the electricians, who pointed out the main fuse next to the transformer was blown, and there was nothing they could do until CFE replaced the fuse.
Richard was only home around twenty minutes when Nerhidda, obviously distressed, came running over asking Richard in rapid Spanish to come help Joshua with pulling wires. Richard arrived to see an electric wire thief (at 9:00 a.m. next to the main highway) on his belly, with his ankles and feet tied with rope lights from a nearby deserted home! The police were there, along with the park handyman and, soon, the park manager—quite the scene!
Richard happened to ask the park manager if he knew the culprit and he quietly said, “yes.” Joshua said later, he heard noise from his house and found the thief hiding under cardboard and cutting all the wires in the box to steal them. Joshua gave the thief three warnings, but the thief kept edging towards his tool bag, which had a machete sitting on top. Finally, Joshua had to tackle him and keep his knee at his throat, as he called to Nerhidda to call the police. By the time the police arrived, the park handyman had tied the thief’s hands and feet, and Joshua was a modern day Mexican hero!
The final part is really the grace of God… Contrary to the norm in our park, the fuse was replaced, the smashed door to the electric box replaced, and all the wiring connected by 3:30 p.m. the same day. All we can say is, “thank-you, Lord!”
Now to “Wrestled & Hog-Tied – Joshua Saves the Day…”
Just this last week, Richard and I realized we had lost our electric power around 5:00 p.m. Richard decided to wait until after church to check around to see what the problem might be. When we got home from Wednesday night Bible Study, the remaining park residents all had lights except us. Richard went over to see what Joshua knew and they checked the main breaker box for our end of the park. There were several wires (main wires going to the CFE transformer) tore out of our box. It just so happened, it was us who were without power. We called our park manager, without success, so we started the generator and waited until morning.
In the morning, Neighbor Julio called and said he had been without power since around 9:00 p.m. the night before. He told us he had to go to work but that he had called two of his friends who were electricians and that they would be right over. Joshua and Richard waited for the electricians, who pointed out the main fuse next to the transformer was blown, and there was nothing they could do until CFE replaced the fuse.
Richard was only home around twenty minutes when Nerhidda, obviously distressed, came running over asking Richard in rapid Spanish to come help Joshua with pulling wires. Richard arrived to see an electric wire thief (at 9:00 a.m. next to the main highway) on his belly, with his ankles and feet tied with rope lights from a nearby deserted home! The police were there, along with the park handyman and, soon, the park manager—quite the scene!
Richard happened to ask the park manager if he knew the culprit and he quietly said, “yes.” Joshua said later, he heard noise from his house and found the thief hiding under cardboard and cutting all the wires in the box to steal them. Joshua gave the thief three warnings, but the thief kept edging towards his tool bag, which had a machete sitting on top. Finally, Joshua had to tackle him and keep his knee at his throat, as he called to Nerhidda to call the police. By the time the police arrived, the park handyman had tied the thief’s hands and feet, and Joshua was a modern day Mexican hero!
The final part is really the grace of God… Contrary to the norm in our park, the fuse was replaced, the smashed door to the electric box replaced, and all the wiring connected by 3:30 p.m. the same day. All we can say is, “thank-you, Lord!”
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