Ramona: House give-away increases population
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
I've been pondering the Bible text, "It's more blessed to give than to receive," ever since Reign and Marlene Anduss gave one of the houses they own in Ramona to a young couple who was living in the Newton homeless shelter for the past month.
It happened March 9 when the Andusses were on errands in the Newton area and they were discussing what to do with the little brown house at 312 D Street. They thought the house was sold to someone else in town, but that didn't materialize so the Andusses contemplated a wide range of solutions from tearing the house down to what they eventually did, which is give it away.
"At our age we couldn't fix up the house," said Reign. "And having it torn down would cost several thousand dollars. We figured the house had some use left in it. It's better than living in a box, or a tent, or in a shelter."
Marlene and Reign were familiar with the New Jerusalem Mission. "We'd considered taking food there, and we've been by it several times," said Marlene. So on this particular day they just decided to stop and talk with the director.
"We asked if there was any couple there who could use a home," said Reign. "The director immediately told me about the Lewis family — a young couple in their 20s with a little four-year-old boy, who'd been at the shelter for about a month."
"I liked Virginia and Brian and their son the moment we met. They seemed earnest and caring," said Marlene.
"When the shelter director told us somebody had a house for us we thought they were talking about a house to rent," said Virginia Lewis. "When they told us the Ramona couple was going to give us the house I just started to cry," added Virginia's husband, Brian. "This last couple of months has been very hard for us — I've always had a job since I was 14 years old, so it's been difficult to not be able to provide for my family."
Brian has been a carpenter for the past six years. But awhile back he fell off a roof. "I was carrying shingles and the roof was wet. I slipped and fell two stories, which resulted in an injured leg," he said.
Then on Feb. 1 the Lewises were driving home from getting groceries (they lived in Winfield at the time), and two cars ahead of them, someone stopped quickly, and everyone responded appropriately, except the car behind the Lewis family. The van plowed into the back of their car and totaled it; they were injured so severely that Virginia and son Brandon were taken to the hospital.
"I was so concerned about my family I didn't realize what had happened to me," said Brian. "Tendons in my leg were ripped and that's why I'm limping around. I go to a specialist in Wichita this week to see what can be done."
So a car (it was totaled), without the ability to work because of injury, the Lewises felt their best option was to reside at the New Jerusalem Mission in Newton until Brian's leg was repaired and he could find a job.
Enter Reign and Marlene Anduss on matching white steeds! You almost need a drum roll or crashing symbols to reflect the impact that their entrance made into the Lewises life.
"Reign and Marlene met us later in the day on March 9 and they brought us to Ramona to see the house, and took us out to eat, and
The Andusses bought the Lewises the basic dishes and cookware, and delivered a refrigerator. "Our daughter got married and had an extra one when they combined households," explained Marlene.
Reign and Marlene's giving spirit ignited something in Ramona and the surrounding community. Suddenly folks were driving into town and dropping off a recliner, extra clothes, and appliances. Art Stroda and his mom, Marge, had a table and chairs in storage so they brought that to the house. We had an extra couch.
When the refrigerator arrived Brian's leg preempted him from lifting it, and Reign couldn't man-handle it either because he has a bad knee, and a visible limp. So the new next door neighbor, Derek Summers, who recently moved into the trailer where Jim Brunner once lived, got into the act and helped his new neighbors.
It was clear that Brian wasn't accustomed to watching things happen — even though he couldn't be in charge of things, he was lending a hand wherever possible and pacing around the activity. In fact he's been doing so much that by the time I sat down with them (which was two days after their arrival), Brian was in visible pain — so uncomfortable he couldn't sit still, but yet in too much pain to walk.
As I listened to this young couple's story — from how they met to how they got to Ramona — I was amazed at all the "hard knocks" they've endured and they're only 26 years of age. I asked what got them through this last and hardest episode when they were living at the Newton shelter. I asked if the stress ever came out at each other.
Brian smiled and leaned his head toward his wife's and said, "All we had was each other." And Virginia added, "He has a great sense of humor — he kept me smiling."
The Lewises said their Ramona reception has been a bit overwhelming. "No one has ever helped us before," said Virginia. "Why, someone brought a box of food this evening and I don't even know their names."
The Lewises also said it was a strange feeling to receive so much. "We feel like we owe so many people so much and we don't know how to pay them back. I want to thank them all, and yet I don't know the words to say it."
"Just get your balance, lead a good and honest life, and be part of the community," I said. "That will pay everyone back and more."
But their comments did make me stop and think about the text, "It's more blessed to give than to receive." I think I understood that more after meeting the Lewises. I told them it was a wonderful feeling to give them something — I wished I could have given better, or more. I know that's how everyone felt who dropped off a box of food or gave a piece of furniture. It felt wonderful. We all had something we could give.
It's a much more "blessed feeling" to be able to give something because one feels generous and powerful and it's heart-warming. To receive, however — well, that takes a big heart, it takes courage, it takes self-esteem. I had to admit to the Lewises that I would much prefer to be on the giving end than the receiving.
But what the Lewises don't know is that they "give" in ways they maybe don't recognize. When they stayed one night in our guest house because the electricity wasn't on yet in their new home, they left the house spic and span — they even washed the sheets, the towels, and left a loving note.
At the end of our chat Virginia said, "I can hardly wait to get a gallon of paint and paint the living room." And Brian enthused, "Eventually I'll fix the foundation and remodel the bathroom." The house is perfect for someone with fix-it-up talent.
They may not know it, but the gift the Lewises give to Ramona is enthusiasm to improve things, a work ethic to clean things up, the excitement of youth, and the promise of a next generation.
And that's the news from Ramona where the new family has most of what they need — except a car — so they haven't yet experienced a Ramona traffic jam, which is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
Blood mobile surpasses goal with 85 pints
There were 92 blood donors March 13 at the American Red Cross blood drive at Eastmoor United Methodist Church, Marion.
The goal was 60 units and the total received was 85 pints.
First-time donors were Madonna Schafers, Mary Raleigh, Haley Creamer, Jacob Taylor, and Meghan Hamm.
Those reaching levels to receive pins were Steve Smith, one gallon; Richard Brenzikofer, Rhonda Brenzikofer, Betty Fruechting, and Terry Cochran, two gallons; Woody Crawshaw and Rick Branson, three gallons; Jan Helmer, seven gallons; and Donna Kelly, 10 gallons.
Volunteers included Anita Brookens, Grace Yoder, Elsie Burkholder, Irene Richmond, Donna Kelly, Glenna Newkirk, Mary Smith, Donna Kreutziger, Judy Reno, Gloria Ash, Shirley Bowers, and Betty Thompson.
Cooperative
merger fails
The proposed merger between Mid-Kansas Cooperative and Cooperative Grain and Supply failed when recently put to a vote of the stockholders.
A two-thirds majority was required to approve the merger.
According to Lyman Adams, manager of CG&S, the final tally was 78-66. He said the negative vote isn't "the end of the world."
"We will continue to operate as we have in the past," he said. "We have a strong balance sheet and are having a good year. We will continue to position ourselves for the future."
