Although the flames destroyed the apartment of Raul and Claudia De La Rosa in Los Angeles in early January, they did not succeed in destroying the faith of this couple, convinced that God has a plan for them and will not abandon them.
“The Lord is my rock!” These words from Psalm 143 best reflect the faith of the De La Rosa family. Like many people in Los Angeles, Raul and Claudia lost everything in the terrible fires that have ravaged California since January 7. But the flames failed to destroy their faith. Despite losing their apartment in the Eaton neighborhood and all their material possessions, they seek to remain optimistic and constantly remind their four children, aged 6 to 14, that God will provide for their needs. “The Lord does things for a reason,” Claudia De La Rosa told the American Christian media Angelus News.
Unconditional faith in God
The family had to flee their apartment urgently when they saw the flames on the hills. After taking the essentials, and especially their two Bibles, the couple took refuge with their children with Claudia’s mother. “We told our children that we didn’t know if we would have a house or not, but that God was the only one who knew what was going to happen,” says Claudia. The couple also did not lose their optimism in the face of Raul’s job loss. The premises of the company he worked for were also destroyed by the fires in Altadena. An online fundraiser has been launched to help them.
The Lord is with us and He is faithful at all times and in all situations.
After evacuating and moving several times, Claudia, six months pregnant, admits to feeling like the Holy Family of Nazareth in search of shelter. “We knock on doors to see who will open,” she explains. Despite all the difficulties, the couple continues to pray and support each other. Claudia sees the upcoming baby as a sign of renewal. A member of the Neocatechumenal Path of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the couple draws strength from their weekly meetings and masses.
“The life we once had will never be the same again because everything has been reduced to ashes,” says Raul. “All our memories, all the moments we lived together as a family. But we must move forward holding God’s hand.” His wife, who shares the same opinion, is convinced that God has something even better planned for them: “The Lord is with us and He is faithful at all times and in all situations.”
