All through Ruben's early childhood, his Father was a "famous" man in Magdalena; not however for anything that would serve as a good report. Though an alcoholic and non-attending Catholic; his Father still hated the presence of evangelical Christians appearing in Magdalena in the late 50's. And in Ruben's up-bringing, he was taught they were the devil himself.
Ruben can remember being 8 years old and listening to the first protestant church, Peniel (which still exists) sing songs that were not at all like anything he had heard in the Catholic Church. It angered him. And he would throw rocks up onto the tin roof until someone would come out and chase him off. Such stories exceedingly pleased his Father.
Ruben's Father was notorious, to say the least. He was not liked in Magdalena, but he was feared. And Ruben, being his Father's son, found that the only way to win the towns approval for himself was by blatantly harassing the protestant minority; disrupting their services; vandalizing their properties; and picking fights with their sons.
This behavior brought him a degree of respect and reputation in Magdalena, yet he could never seem to win his abusive Father's heart. And meeting his soon-to-be wife Audelina when she was but 14, (he 17); They sketched-out a crude plan to escape Magdalena forever.
Telling their parents and siblings nothing, they hid in the woods alongside the river one night, waiting for the early morning river boat to pass. When it did, they swam out to it and pulled themselves aboard vowing never to return.
However, sixteen years later in 2007; after a marriage, four children, and an encounter with Christ...Ruben and his family exited a small Cessna jumper to walk into the middle of the hometown they had left forever. They were not there to visit. They had come to build and pastor a church; a private school; and more. Because God had told them to do so. And believing Him; they came to do what He directed.
To Magdalena, the "new Ruben" was not an acceptable addition to a very staunchly Catholic Community, whose ideas had changed very little in the past sixteen years. There were three Protestant Churches now, which were three too many in most people's eyes. And the idea that there was going to be one more, (and that begun by Ruben Duran of all people), did not go over well at all.
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The past three and one half years have been a tremendous struggle for this devoted family. They are often charged different prices in the markets; given the worst of products; or refused service altogether. Ruben's children have been verbally and physically accosted; as has his wife Audi. And the harassment his children have been subjected to in the public school is nearly beyond description.
In 2008, Audelina suffered a tumor in her womb which was a result of intense efforts of witchcraft against Ruben's presence. (Regardless your personal beliefs, the source of this sickness was revealed in prayer) This required a serious and sensitive operation; yet unbelievably, Audi insisted that she must have the operation done there in the small Magdalena hospital verses flying-out to Trinidad an hour flight away.
"Why?" I demanded. It seemed irresponsible. I was concerned for not only her, but her children. But she explained that God had showed her that she was not to "give ground" to the source of her sickness. Instead, she was to overcome it "on its territory" by having her operation there in Magdalena. And as things worked out; all went well. But it was a hard time; especially with the need to care for their youngest son Joel, who is a special child.
Not three months later, returning on his dirt bike from a mission trip to San Borja...a 75 foot tall tree fell on Ruben! The men approaching him on the same path at the time thought that he had surely been killed. When they pulled him out however; though he was limp and unconscious; he was not seriously hurt. He had lost some teeth; sprained a knee; and was banged and bruised up. But nothing was broken. (One of the men later came to Christ. The tree had been healthy, yet had fallen; up-rooted on a windless day, exactly on top of Ruben. Believing it to have been impossible that Ruben survived with so little damage; the man came to Christ)
Ruben recovered from this, and a couple of months later, while clearing a lot we had purchased for the church annex; he was attacked by roughly 15 men with sticks and clubs. A legal battle also ensued over that lot; and the lot was actually lost, along with the money paid for it. (But God was good and replaced it with a lot double the size for half the price.) When this purchase went through however; the men threatened to pay someone to rape Ruben's wife and daughters. And Ruben suffered unimaginable terrors.
The picture of Ruben with the black-eye is here in Santa Cruz. He had returned here to talk with me about the work in Magdalena. Later leaving my house in a taxi, he was beaten and robbed while sharing the Gospel with the driver in-route to visit his family. Instead of taking him where he was going, the driver made a cell phone call; picking up another man on the side of the road, who later held Ruben at knife point as they drove out into the country. By the mercies of God, Ruben ended up dumped out in the country, barefoot and beaten. Thankfully, nothing more.
Now I told you before, but will tell you again: This is not a hyper-dramatized story. This is the last three years of a devoted man's life and the way he has had to live it. A man whom I have come to love very much.
My own days are not always easy, but, I personally cannot imagine what "being Ruben" must really be like. Yet the last time I spoke with him (as though I felt sorry for him somehow), he stopped me; opened up his Bible; and called me over to his chair. Grinning at me, he pointed down on the page with his finger below the following verse:
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye];
for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:
on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4:12-14
I think that pretty much says it all
