Touching Lives
Rona Linda Sonton
This was my second trip out to Ms. Rona Linda Sonton’s home. The very first day of work channel 10 came to her house to check out what the World Changers were doing at her home. I met Ms. Rona with popsicles in her hands for the students that very first day. Her hospitality towards the crew continued throughout the week. The students reported many cookies, brownies and other treat generously given to them by their homeowner.
Ms Rona is not new to the neighborhood by any means. She grew up on this street just as her mother did. Her parents once lived in a small house on the same plot before her current home was built: “When they got married they lived in a little bitty house right here, wasn’t even a two bedrooms, it was a two room house when they started out.” That small house has since been removed and replaced by a larger home. Rona returned home to care for her parents in their old age and was given the house once they passed on. She has now lived here fourteen years, the roof was not leaking yet but the shingles had become old a brittle and past their age of use. “I was going to have to replace it pretty soon, I had maybe a year on it before I was going to have to hunker down and replace it. It was going to be a bit of a hardship because roofs are very expensive, right now. And in another year who know the price it could have doubled in price,” said Ms. Rona.
World Changers student who began their work on Monday now enjoy a time of worship and scripture reading under a shade tree while their Crew Chief puts on the finishing touches of the roof. “They were a God Send,” said Ms. Rona, “The kids are awesome. They’re go getters. They’re cheerful, I can’t even describe them their so wonderful… I’m going to miss them when they’re gone.”
Each student has a similar story to tell of Ms. Rona’s hospitality towards them and their gratefulness of being able to share Christ love with Rona and the community.
Ms. Rona tearfully exclaimed, “I love each and everyone of them. They’re great. I’m really going miss them. I could never repay them. It’s like having family. I could never do enough for them.”
Touching lives and sharing Christ love is what World Changers is all about. As we drove away from Ms. Rona’s home all the students could be seen gathered on the roof for the hammering of the last nail. All took turns giving the house one more whack before breaking out into cheers over what had been accomplished.