oh dennis, my heart is beating so hard as i write these words. i am literally shaking. i have not checked the forum for a couple of days, because of foot surgery and a root canal, back to back. and then tonight i go online and find out that our dear ray is gone! oh dear God, i feel so sad. and so late to this heart-breaking news of our dear friend. i cannot contain my tears. i cannot contain my sorrow. even though i know all the wonder and grace, and merciful love that we have been shown by God through ray, and all that He planned for ray to put into words of understanding. so that it was available for so many, many, many peoples of this world. knowing all of this, i still sit here in disbelief that ray is gone from among us. dennis, i am so sorry for your personal loss. and i cannot even begin to put into words what manuela means to me. she and i had been talking about me coming to stay with her and ray for a few days. she is always so very gracious. i am so sad for her. she needs us now so very much.
i am just so sad for all of us, even though i know that we are a strong family who has lost one of our dear brothers, and life does indeed go on. and what a dear brother in Christ we lost. but, we carry a precious gift in our hearts that each of us have and will continue to carry with us, as living examples to those we encounter. a gift from God the Father to each of us, through His Spirit, in the many Truths which He knew we would understand and believe about His true plan for all of mankind, and the freedom that lies within that plan. the gift of understanding with new eyes and ears. a gift that was confirmed in our hearts by His spirit through the words of a humble roofer. a vessel of honor to carry so many things to us, that we needed to know. larry ray smith. l. ray smith. ray.
claudia