Time of Drought / Tiempo de Sequía

 

Picture of The Negev, Israel by Kelvin E. Morales 2007

PSALM 1

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Psa 1:2  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psa 1:3  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psa 1:4  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Psa 1:5  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

Psa 1:6  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

SALMO 1

Psa 1:1  Bienaventurado el varón que no anduvo en consejo de malos, ni estuvo en camino de pecadores, ni en silla de escarnecedores se ha sentado;

Psa 1:2  antes en la ley de Jehová está su delicia, y en su ley medita de día y de noche.

Psa 1:3  Y será como árbol plantado junto a corrientes de aguas, que da su fruto en su tiempo, y su hoja no cae; y todo lo que hace, prosperará.

Psa 1:4  No así los malos, que son como el tamo que arrebata el viento.

Psa 1:5  Por tanto, no se levantarán los malos en el juicio, ni los pecadores en la congregación de los justos.

Psa 1:6  Porque Jehová conoce el camino de los justos; mas la senda de los malos perecerá.

SEABROOK ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

June 8 – 12, 2015

By Kelvin E. Morales

            After traveling to Jacksonville, Florida and spending a few days with Linda’s Mom, we traveled by car to Charleston, South Carolina on Friday June 5^th. The next day our son JJ arrived and on Monday 8^th together we drove to Seabrook Island South Carolina where we stayed the next 5 days and 4 nights. Our daughter Maria, her husband Timothy and our 4 grandchildren, Matthew, Kaylin, Isabella and Natalia arrived on Tuesday at Seabrook Island.

The days were spent between the beach, pool, the house for supper and a good nights rest. In between all the day’s activity we managed to squeeze some time to put the above puzzle together. It measured 18” x 24”, a total of 550 pieces.

On the last night, after we had supper, I asked everybody to answer a question: What was the one thing they would cherish about our week at Seabrook? Without exception all beginning with our 4 grandchildren answered, “Being together”.

There is something very special about the act of just being together. You can find the words “one another” many times in scripture. The majority of times it is used in a positive way: honor preferring one another; love one another; serve one another; bear one another's burdens; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another in love.

It is very hard to do any of these acts mentioned above unless we are together…

           

            Just like the puzzle, we all had to take part in putting all its parts together to form the complete picture.

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 

         

Eliseo Morales, Nieves
Picture taken Dec. 2011 Puerto Rico
May 22, 1927 to March 8, 2015

The Morales Family

9th Generation

In Puerto Rico there are many who have Morales as their surname and I will be focusing on a particular branch of this lineage. This branch which I am referring to has as its head Don Pedro de Morales del Rio, approximate date of 1645, assumed born in Puerto Rico. It is from this gentleman that the count of nine generations is made because he is the one of whom we have corroborating documentation. Dr. Andrés R. Méndez, Muñoz wrote an article for Hereditas, a magazine published by Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía on October 2002. The title of the article is "Carta abierta  -  Eusebio Morales del Rio y Maria de la Rosa-Velázco: naturales del Partido de la Aguada". In said article the author provides the evidence that the father of Don Eusebio is Don Cristobal Morales del Rio and the grandfather being Don Pedro Morales del Rio. Of course we recognize that from Don Pedro going backwards to the colonization of the island there is a difference of 137 years which leaves room for two or three additional generations. But like I mentioned at the beginning we only have evidence taking us as far back as Don Pedro Morales del Rio, hence the nine generations.

Back row R to L: David, Noemi, Eliseo, Abuela Aurelia (Yeya),

Abuelo Manuel (Manolo), Rosa Maria y Manuel Jr; 

Bottom row R to L: Eva, Irma y Concepcion (Pura)

Eliseo Morales, Nieves born May 22, 1927 is the youngest of Don Manuel Morales, Morales and Doña Aurelia Nieves, Suarez and the last of the ninth generation of this Morales direct lineage to Don Pedro Morales del Rio. With tio Eliseo passing the ninth generation comes to a close. He had children with two of his wives; with Aury he had Eliseo Jr. and Roxanna and with Hilda he had Patricia, Robert, Carol and Nancy (the last two are twins). 

This ninth generation is formed by Manuel Morales, Morales and Aurelia Nieves, Suarez, my paternal grandparents. They had eight children in total. Here are the names of their children, the 9th generation:

  

David Morales, Nieves

Manuel Morales, Nieves

Rosa María Morales Nieves

Concepción Morales, Nieves 

Noemi Morales, Nieves

Eva Morales, Nieves

Eliseo Morales, Nieves

In my endeavor to know more of the history of my family and its origins, it was made plain by Spanish historians that the origin of the Morales surname dates back to the middle ages and some say it even goes as far back as the Visigoths. In Spain, the name took form with two or three brothers that settled in a county of the region of Santander and later became part of the families that founded the city of Sori in Castilla-Leon, Spain known as "La Casa Troncal de los 12 Linajes de Soria" of which two of the families are Morales. Below is the crest and coat of arms of the Morales of Soria:

L-R: Eliseo, Patricia, Chuck, Hilda,
Robert, Carol and Nancy (twins)

I have fond memories of tio Eliseo, "Seo". He frequently visited my parents during my growing up years even after his "Brother", as he would call my father, had passed away in August 1999. Eliseo and his family stayed at our house (1465 Ebano st., Caparra Heights) when he finished his tour of service in Europe. He taught my Dad the game of golf when he needed it most. Can you imagine learning the game of golf at the age of 65? Because of this I had enjoyable times with my father. Dad learned the game so well (among the amateur category) that he had two holes in one to his name. One at the Fort Brooks golf course at el Morro (no longer in existence) and the other at Fort Buchanan (presently operational), both in Puerto Rico. The golf community of Puerto Rico has suffered a great lose in the passing of Eliseo Morales; not only was he an avid player but also greatly promote the sport among the least fortunate youth of our island.

The last time I saw tio Eliseo was at the time of the picture that appears in this article, Dec. 2011. At that time we spoke and he shared with me what he knew of the Morales and Nieves ancestry.

My parents bestowed on me the privilege to carry on the names of the youngest from each side of our family, Kelvin which is my mother's youngest brother and Eliseo the youngest from my father's side of the family. And you guessed it, I am the youngest of my parents, Manuel and Josefina. I am proud to carry my uncle Eliseo's name as my middle name.

My love goes to all of Tio Eliseo's descendants Eliseo Jr., Roxanna, Patricia, Robert, Carol and Nancy and the rest of the Morales family.

Tio Eliseo we will always remember you

  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:29

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

Heb.4:9-10

The Story Of The Morales-Espada Family

By Kelvin E. Morales-Espada

The Morales-Espada Family
Manuel Morales & Josefina Espada
with there sons (R to L) José,
Ibsen and Kelvin

The story of the Morales-Espada family had its beginnings as far back as the sixteenth century, but for our purpose we won't go that far back. Let's use the year 1898 as a point of reference.

Much has been said of the Spanish-American War from the historical, economic and political perspective. I would like to share how the spiritual aspect of this war affected tens of thousands in Puerto Rico by simply telling you how the spiritual lives of two of my ancestors, my maternal and paternal grandparents, were changed and consequently the paradigm for generations to follow.

José V. Espada Marrero
picture taken by grandson, Kelvin

Eight years prior to the Spanish - American War of 1898, José Vicente Espada-Marrero, my maternal grandfather, was born in a small town, Barranquitas, high in the central mountains of Puerto Rico. He was eight years old when the Spanish-American War broke out. And my paternal grandfather,

Manuel Morales Morales
with grandson Kelvin

Manuel Morales Morales, born 1886 in the town of Naranjito, also a mountain town, was twelve years old when the war started. Both born in Puerto Rico as subjects of Spain and consequently were baptized Roman Catholic. Manuel Morales Morales baptized September 12, 1886 at the San Miguel Archangel Church Naranjito, Puerto Rico. And Jose V. Espada Marrero was baptized August 24, 1890 at the San Antonio De Padua Church Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. It is well known that in those days Roman Catholicism was the only accepted religion in Spain's Empire and enforced by the "Santo Oficio", in charge of making sure that its subjects were Roman Catholics.

Spanish Military Battalion
"Cazadores de la Patria" hearing mass in the
Plaza de las Delicias in Ponce, P.R.

At the end of the Spanish-American War of 1898  the doors in Puerto Rico were open for the arrival of the missionary movement of the protestant denominations from the United States of America. It is with this influx of protestant missionaries and their message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, which made way for a true change of paradigm for many Puertoricans. (For more information go to this link):
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_in_Puerto_Rico 

US Army
General Miles in Puerto Rico 1898

My mother, Josefina, shared with me the stories of how the good news of Salvation penetrated our family tree. The protestant missionaries that arrived in Puerto Rico on the heels of the Spanish-American War established churches first in the major cities and then in the mountain municipalities and rural areas. She shared with me about her father, Rev. José V. Espada-Marrero, who had converted and was baptized when he was nineteen years old (1909) in a Baptist church by the then pastor Dr. A. B. Rudd  in the town of Barranquitas where he was born. This town is known as the cradle of patriarchs. During my genealogical research of my family I found an article titled "La Conferencia Misionera de Puerto Rico" published by the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, which talked about a Bible institute established in 1915 and closed in 1919 in the municipality of Hatillo called "Robinson Bible Institute". In said article the writer says that the Institute had at that time 51 students but the only name mentioned was that of José Espada-Marrero, my grandfather. Recently I received a copy of a book titled History of a Faith ["Historia de Una Fe"]  by William Fred Santiago. In this book he has a short biography of my grandfather written by Rev. Jesus M. Amaro

At Rev. Amaro's in Jayuya, P.R.

and read by him at the annual conference of the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico in 1943. In it Rev. Amaro narrates that when my grandfather was converted and baptized, he went to Guayama in 1913 to work as a teacher in a rural school and shortly after joined the Methodist church and became assistant to the pastor of the church in Guayama. In 1915 my grandfather went to Hatillo to the Robinson Bible Institute; not only had he believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior but also committed to serve him as minister and later as missionary. My grandfather, José, met his wife to be, Josefina Orlandi Questell. and they married in 1918 at the Methodist Church of Barrio Aguirre, Salinas, Puerto Rico.My mom, Josefina, their only daughter was born on October 30,1919 in Barrio Aguirre, Salinas, Puerto Rico while he was pastor at the church in the city of  Ponce and in the church at Barrio Playa in Ponce. They had a total of eight children, one of them died eleven months after birth, Eduardo Alfredo.

Then Mom shared how this change of spiritual paradigm affected my father's family. My father, Manuel Morales-Nieves, born to Manuel Morales-Morales and Aurelia Nieves-Suarez on November 22, 1915 in Naranjito, Puerto Rico was the first of his family to convert and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior when he was a teenager. This expression of faith in Christ took place during an evangelistic campaign at a Disciple of Christ Church in Barrio Mana, Corozal, Puerto Rico. He invited his sisters, brothers and parents to a service after which his father believed. This decision to believe and follow Christ caused a strained relationship between Aurelia, my paternal grandmother and her parents and siblings. To my understanding her sisters did start visiting her again. Aurelia was bed ridden with Parkinson until the day she passed away. In spite of this, other descendants of the Nieves-Suarez family have come to saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1934 Rev. José Espada-Marrero became the head pastor at the Methodist Church in Comerio after serving as pastor and missionary in the Dominican Republic from 1921-1928. He was pastor at the Methodist church in Guayama, Puerto Rico from 1928 to 1934 and the Methodist Church in Comerio 1934-1939. During this period in Comerio my mother met for the first time Manuel Morales whom she would marry in May of 1941. It was at this church that my grandfather had the most difficult and testing time as pastor including suffering a mild heart condition. After a short pastorate back in the Barrio Playa in Ponce (1941-1944), he started in 1948 in the carport of his house at 405 Calle Escocia, Caparra Heights, San Juan Puerto Rico, the Methodist Church located on De Diego Ave. in Puerto Nuevo which now carries his name: Iglesia Metodista de Puerto Rico "Rev. José Espada Marrero".

At the present time we are in the process of maturing a fifth generation of believers in the Morales-Nieves and Espada-Orlandi familly tree. My grandson, Matthew Morrill 5 yrs. old, recently received Jesus as his savior. This is how one can bring change into our society, changing one family member at a time.

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

They are absent from their bodies but present with our Lord.

My Grandparents:

Rev. José V. Espada-Marrero 1890 - 1972
 Josefina Orlandi-Questell 1894 - 1989

L to R Manuel Morales-Morales 1886-1970
Aurelia Nieves-Suarez 1886-1968
Josefina Espada Orlandi 1919-2014
And Kelvin E. Morales Espada 

My Parents:

Manuel Morales-Nieves 1915-1999 and Josefina Espada-Orlandi 1919-2014

Romans 12:1-3 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

MEMORIAL

Josefina Espada Orlandi 

Josefina Espada Orlandi Vda. de Morales was born to Rev. José Espada Marrero and Josefina Orlandi on October 30, 1919 in Barrio Aguirre Salinas, Puerto Rico. She went to be with the LORD on April 3, 2014 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Presently Kelvin Emerson Espada Orlandi is the soul survivor of eight children of the Espada Orlandi family.

Josefina was secretary and librarian of the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing at the time located at Ashford Avenue, Condado Santurce Puerto Rico. She was a business partner of Carmen Storer as professional florist specializing in banquets and wedding decorations. She also participated in floral arrangement competitions in diverse styles of arrangements and won many prizes.

Her passion was her personal relationship with God. The deepness of this relationship manifested its self in her relationship with both sides of the Morales-Espada family and also with her floral arrangements. She would always marvel at the fact of how God combined and balanced colors in flowers and nature in general. She would combine colors that others would not dare combine. God's creation was her pattern.

Your three sons, José Manuel, Ibsen David and Kelvin Eliseo, their families 

and the rest of the Morales and Espada families will always remember you! 

Now she is in the presence of the LORD praising and worshiping him. The one whom she loved for a life time and looked forward to being with for all...

Eternity!!!

Click on link below to watch the slideshow presented at the memorial service on April 26, 2014.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/72h2f5l2fn0m1or/Memorial%20de%20Mami%202.0.mp4?dl=0

Casting a Gentle Giant Shadow in Puerto Rico

Ruth Luttrell "Mama Ruth"
1926-2014
San Juan, Puerto Rico
WBMJ The Rock Radio Network

Saturday 15, 2014 at 3:40 am, Ruth Luttrell was called into the presence of the One she loved from an early age, the Lord Jesus Christ, her Messiah and King.

Her service to our Lord and King was exemplary. She was to many a mentor and counselor. To others she was an example of what a Christian woman should look like in word and deed. And to a multitude of people she was the picture image of what an ambassador for Christ should be. To these multitudes she was the representative of the love that Jesus Christ has for them, for she shared the good news: "to the Jew first and also to the gentile." (Rom.1:16-17) It did not matter where she found herself at the moment, for to Ruth every single moment was the opportune time to share the Good News.

During the course of her life, she sowed the seed (forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection), she watered, she cleared back the weeds, and she was even used to do some pruning. Not only did she nurture her own family in the counsel of the Lord, but many in the Christian community in Puerto Rico called her "Mama Ruth".

As for my wife, Linda and I, Ruth and her husband Donald Luttrell were crucial in helping us form a family. Because of them we, Linda and I, received the help that eventually culminated in the adoption of our two beautiful children, one from the Dominican Republic and the other from Honduras. Both of our children are mature adults today. Up to now, we have four grand children and all of this is because Ruth and her husband said yes to the Giver of Life, Jesus the Christ. Linda and I will always remember their love for us in the time of need.

Ruth was physically a small person, but because of her commitment to the Lord Jesus, the Lord cast a giant shadow in Puerto Rico. None of what is said here, about Ruth, is because of her own doing, but rather because of Whom she allowed in her life, the Lord Jesus the Christ. Therefore, the Lord had a great impact in the community where Ruth served Him, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and we dare to say, many other parts of the world!

You, too, can have an impact in the lives of those that surround you. By believing Jesus Christ took your place on the cross and accepting his gift of forgiveness of sin, you too, can have a life that influences other people.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

For more information on the life of Ruth Luttrell go to:
http://rockradionetwork.org/present-with-the-lord-ruth-luttrell-1926-2014/

Tío José Luis Espada Orlandi

31 de Mayo de 1921 al 26 de Enero de 2014 

El domingo 26 de enero del 2014 al medio día nuestro querido tío, José Luis Espada Orlandi falleció. Le sobreviven su hijo Anthony (Tony) y su esposa Iraida; su hija Evelyn y su esposo Angel y su hija Linda Espada. Tambien sus nietos Jose Luis (Pepe Luis), Jenny, Esteban, Teresa y Isabela.   

De sus hermanos solo le sobreviven su hermana mayor Josefina Espada vda. de Morales y su hermano menor Kelvin Emerson Espada.

Papillo, Mamilla, José Luis y Josefina

José Luis nació en La Romana, República Dominicana durante el viaje misionero de quien fue su padre el Rev. Espada Marrero. De los 8 hijos del reverendo y su esposa Josefina 4 nacieron en la República Dominicana, José Luis, Samuel Leocadio, Ismael Francisco y David José; hubo un varoncito que nacio en Puerto Rico pero a los 11 meses de nacido fallece en la República Dominicana, Eduardo Alfredo.

Tío José Luis fue un ser apasionado de la vida en todo el sentido de la palabra. Entre todas sus pasiones se destacaron su pasión a la familia y pescar mar a fuera. Su pesca predilecta, a mi entender, lo era el "Chillo". 

Me acuerdo una tarde que yo había llegado de la escuela en casa de Papillo, ya que mami y papi no habían llegado del trabajo, llega tío José Luis y le dice a Mamilla, mami, con un beso, un abraso y con la bendición, aquí tienes unos chillos. Saco unos pocos de la nevera portátil y se los dio. Yo, curioso, miro dentro de la nevera portátil, esta estaba repleta de chillos con los ojos brotao.

En otra ocasión Tio llevo a Trucutu, Pichu y a Keve a pescar chillo. Mientras tio preparaba la lancha nos hablaba de lo que podíamos hacer y lo que no podíamos hacer. Entonces él nos pregunta quien de ustedes se marea? Ninguno dijo na porque sabíamos que el que dijera que se mareaba se quedaba en tierra hasta que regresaran de pescar. Ninguno estaba dispuesto a ser el has me reír de los demás y los primos teníamos fama de sacar le punta a cualquier situación. Así salimos y en camino al punto de pesca tio nos mira, parece que él noto algo en nuestros rostros y nos dice, el que me vomite en la lancha la va tener que lavar de arriba a bajo, mejor te agarras de la baranda y lo hechas fuera del bote y viento abajo. Así era él, difícil pero cariñoso a su manera. De esto yo puedo hablar por que desde que tengo memoria fui blanco de su jocosidad.y no empece a esto le quise mucho y busque su consejo. El que yo me acercase a el para consejo, pocos en la familia lo saben y posiblemente no me lo han de creer. Cuantas veces le pedí ayuda, el me ayudo.   

 

Tio siempre estarás en nuestra memoria y no te olvidaremos. 

Tu sobrino, El Keve

12 de febrero de 2014