Bethel University Magazine Spring 2021

GI V ING BACK 13 SPRING 2021 ,Q %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ŠV *52: FDPSDLJQ WKH Ţ:ţ RSWLRQ DOORZV GRQRUV WR JLYH Ţ:KHUH \RXU KHDUW LV ţ 7KLV FRXOGQŠW EH D PRUH DSSURSULDWH VHQWLPHQW IRU 5DPRQD /LWWOH Š +HU JL̃ WR WKH /HKPDQ Family Training Center was in the form of treadmills, something that speaks to a personal experience that took place while she was a student. It was a turn of events that shaped her life. +DYLQJ SUHYLRXVO\ DWWHQGHG ELEOH FROOHJH IRU D \HDU 5DPRQD transferred to then Bethel College on a music scholarship. She spent her time singing in the choir and Gospel choir, majoring in elementary education and eventually dating fellow student Dale /LWWOH Š $̃HU PDUU\LQJ LQ -XO\ 'DOH DQG 5DPRQD OHDUQHG WKH\ ZHUH H[SHFWLQJ WKHLU ƃUVW FKLOG ZLWK WKH GXH GDWH DURXQG WKH VDPH time as Ramona’s graduation. She spent her last semester student teaching at a local school while preparing for the birth of their child. +RZHYHU VKH IDFHG FRPSOLFDWLRQV WKDW VKH QHYHU DQWLFLSDWHG :HHNV EHIRUH JUDGXDWLRQ 5DPRQD H[SHULHQFHG FRPSOLFDWLRQV ZLWK KHU SUHJQDQF\ LQFOXGLQJ KHDUW IDLOXUH GXULQJ GHOLYHU\ :KLOH VKH spent six weeks in the hospital, the Bethel community supported and prayed for her. Miraculously, she was able to walk across the VWDJH DW JUDGXDWLRQ LQ VSULQJ DQG UHFHLYHG RSHQ KHDUW VXUJHU\ that June. Ţ, DP D SURGXFW RI %HWKHOŠV SUD\HUV ţ VKH UHƄHFWV Ramona has experienced several other heart complications over WKH \HDUV LQFOXGLQJ D VWURNH DQG $),% DWULDO ƃEULOODWLRQ 7R NHHS KHU heart healthy, Ramona regularly engages in cardiovascular exercise, including walking. Ţ:DONLQJ LV VR LPSRUWDQW IRU \RXU KHDUW DQG \RXU OXQJV ţ VKH VD\V Through her donation, Ramona hopes to inspire heart health for future generations. Ţ%HFDXVH RI P\ KHDUW LVVXHV P\ LQWHUHVW LV LQ FDUGLRYDVFXODU KHDOWK 7UHDGPLOOV DUH YHU\ LPSRUWDQW IRU WKDW ţ Ramona uses her testimony to go into hospitals and encourage others who experience the fear and unknown that she once faced. She desires ŢWR KHOS SHRSOH WR EH SUHSDUHG PHQWDOO\ SK\VLFDOO\ DQG VSLULWXDOO\ IRU -HVXV &KULVW ţ Dale and Ramona stayed connected to Bethel throughout the years, including his service on the Bethel Board of Trustees during the tenure of President Bridges. Together they raised WKHLU VRQ -HƂUH\ /LWWOH ZKR JUDGXDWHG from Bethel in 1990. Through everything she has experienced, including the sudden death of her husband in 2005, Ramona clings to the grace and providence RI WKH /RUG 6KH R̃HQ UHFDOOV D VD\LQJ KHU IDWKHU VKDUHG ZLWK KHU Ţ7KH ZLOO RI *RG ZLOO QRW OHDG PH ZKHUH WKH JUDFH RI *RG ZLOO QRW NHHS PH ţ A HEART FOR GIVING BY ,"3*4 ,*/%*/(&3