The 1970’s was a decade of change. To give you an idea of
what changes took place during this decade here is a short list:
1. Beatles Break Up
2. Computer Floppy
Disks Introduced
3. Palestinian
Group Hijacks Five Planes
5. VCRs
Introduced
6. Mark Spitz Wins
Seven Gold Medals
7. Pocket
Calculators Introduced
9. Watergate
Scandal Begins
10.Abortion
Legalized in U.S.
11.Paul Getty Kidnapped
12.Sears Tower
Built
13.U.S. Pulls Out
of Vietnam
14.U.S. Vice
President Resigns
15.U.S. President Resigns
15.U.S. President Resigns
While
all the above events were taking place in the world my life was also changing,
graduated from high school and started my freshman year in college, Univ. of
Puerto Rico [UPR] 1970. In 1971 was the year of violent riots at UPR, a US
Army ROTC cadet and also a Colonel of the police died during the riots. In the middle of all this turmoil some friends from church and I started two groups of
bible study on campus. These study groups became later on in 1972 the base
group to form a student organization on campus known as Movimiento Alfa y Omega
the student branch of Campus Crusade for Christ. Dean Beal was the coordinator
of Campus Crusade for Christ on the island of Puerto Rico.
From 1973 to 1974 I lost my focus and my grades at
UPR revealed that something was not right. That is when my brothers, Jose [Pepito]
and Ibsen, executed a coup d'état. Somehow they managed to find me a job and a one-way airfare to
the other side of the world, a man made island in the Pacific Ocean, literally in
the middle of nowhere. I thought I was going on vacation to see my brother
Ibsen. Upon arrival to Oahu, Hawaii I was taken to a hotel and was told that
after the weekend of the 4th of July I would be interviewed, go through lab tests and if the results turned out okay I would be flown to my place of
work. At that time I did not truly understand what was happening. Those few
days I had a great time, I saw my brother once or twice and did not see him
again until I landed on the man made island, Johnston Atoll, in the middle of nowhere at the
other side of the world.
Upon arrival to the island all those that flew with me there
were briefed on what we could and could not do and many other safety procedures.
Afterwards we were taken to our living quarters and then in the evening I saw
Ibsen my brother, we had dinner together. Then he told me that this was a
one-way ticket and I had to work my way home. Reality struck! Have you ever
heard “he or she was an "indentured servant”. The term
“ indentured servant” means that upon arrival to your destination you are to work to payback the cost of your voyage to the person who hired you. Three months later Ibsen is transferred and I am left behind, Coup d'état! I worked there for nine months, 6 months by force and 3 more of my free will. I returned to Puerto Rico in spring of 1976, married in the summer of 1977.
“ indentured servant” means that upon arrival to your destination you are to work to payback the cost of your voyage to the person who hired you. Three months later Ibsen is transferred and I am left behind, Coup d'état! I worked there for nine months, 6 months by force and 3 more of my free will. I returned to Puerto Rico in spring of 1976, married in the summer of 1977.
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| My Family |
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| Jose Kelvin Ibsen The Morales Brothers |
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