Rancho's house – thelone house in t

Rancho's house – the
lone house in the entire valley – was on
the crown of a low hill. From the
pinnacle of the hill one could see the
rapid flowing stream and next to it vast
fields of ripe corn in between the red
kidney bean flowers. Looking at it one
could predict that it was going to be
good harvest but it needed a rainfall,
however brief.

All through the morning Rancho kept scanning the sky for signs of rainfall and he
was quite confident that it would rain. “You know, woman, now we are finally
going to get some rain.” His wife, who was busy preparing food, replied: “Yes, God
willing.”

As soon as Rancho's family, his wife and sons, sat for dinner, just as he had
predicted big drops of rain started falling. In the Northeast huge clouds were
covering the sky like a blanket. The air had the smell of rain combined with the
smell of fresh earth. The atmosphere at that time was absolutely heavenly. The
boys left their food on pretext of getting one thing and another. All they wanted
was to get wet and play in the rain.

Rancho was very happy as he looked at his field, “Ah! now my harvest is
going to be wonderful.” He started dreaming about all the things he will be doing
once he sells the crops. Suddenly heavy winds began to blow accompanied by big
drops of rain, which looked like huge pearls of ice. “Oh my God! This can't be
happening,” he thought. “NO!! NO!! I will be destroyed. This is no rain, it is a
hailstorm. I hope it will pass soon.” But in front of his family he kept a strong front
and said, “I am sure it will pass soon, don't worry.”

Unfortunately it didn't. The hailstorm lasted the whole night. It destroyed
entire field of his precious crops. Everything looked so white as if someone had
thrown sacks and sacks of pearls all over the place.

Rancho and his wife were worried to death. Everything they had was destroyed
and they had no inkling as to what they will do.

The boys asked them, “What are we going to do? Everything is destroyed.
We don't even have few pieces of corn or beans. Does this mean we are going to die
of hunger?”

Rancho said, “ My sons, nobody dies of hunger. Always remember we have
God. I am sure he will help us.”

All through the night Rancho kept on thinking how to ask for help from
God. “God knows everything but I think I should write to Him and ask directly what I
want.”

Rancho was thankful for the day his parents had sent him to school. Even
though he wasn't interested in studies but he had grudgingly learned to read and
write. So he took out paper and pen and started writing.


Rancho Lucas
The Violet Hill
Argentina
18 th May 1999
Dear God
Hi,
I am writing this letter to you out of extreme urgency, otherwise I
wouldn't have disturbed you. You know about the recent hailstorm in
my place. Well, it has destroyed me. Everything in my farm was
destroyed. My corn and kidney beans were almost ready and all it
needed was a rainfall but instead of rainfall came a storm. If it had
lasted for short period it would have been OK, but unfortunately it
lasted for an entire night. It has put me at a serious disadvantage, you
see God, my sole source of income is that farm and now it is
completely destroyed. Nothing is left. If I leave it like this my family
will die of hunger, since we will not have anything to eat. I can't sit
still and do nothing about it. I need 100 pesos to buy the seeds and
resow my field all over again and buy some food till the next harvest.
So dear God, please help me. I know you will not disappoint me.
Sincerely Yours,
Rancho, the farmer

He put the letter inside an envelope and addressed it to “God, 7 Heaven”
and placed a stamp on it and dropped it in the mailbox. The workers at the post
office were preparing the letters to mail when they came across the letter
addressed to God. The postman who came across this letter became curious
because he had never seen a letter addressed to God. He wanted to open the
letter but his job ethics stopped him from doing so. He decided to take the letter to
the Postmaster. The Postmaster was a very nice and kind gentleman. He always
helped people in any way he could. When the postman gave him the letter, he
looked at it and said, “It takes a man with strong faith to start a communication
with God. I wish I had such strong faith.”

After much thought, he decided to read the letter and perhaps reply it. He
opened Rancho's letter. Little did he know that replying the letter would need
more than good intention, pen and paper. Rancho needed a lot of money but the
postmaster didn't have any. Since he had already decided to help Rancho, he
decided to give part of his salary, and he asked his friends and co-workers to
contribute. But it was impossible for him to collect 100 pesos. He was happy that at
least 70 pesos were collected. So he put the money in an envelope and signed it as
“God” and asked the postman to deliver it to Rancho's house.

When the postman arrived at Rancho's house and delivered the letter to
him, Rancho was exhilarated beyond means. And he kept repeating Thank you
God! Thank you God! I knew you wouldn't let me down.

Rancho had very strong faith in God. He was not surprised when he
opened the envelope. But as he was counting the money he became very angry.
God couldn't have made mistake in sending the money. So he took out paper and
wrote to God again. Then he placed a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox. When
the postman took the letter out, he immediately took it to the postmaster. The
Postmaster quickly opened the letter and everyone in the post office gathered
around him wanting to know what Rancho wrote to God.

Rancho Lucas
The Violet Hill
Argentina

20th May 1999
Dear God
I am really grateful to you for sending the money. I knew you wouldn't let my family
go hungry. Of the money you send me I only received 70 pesos. Please send me the
rest. I really need the money. But, this time please, God don't send it through the
mail, because the people working here in this post office are all a bunch of thieves.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Rancho's house-satu-satunya rumah di seluruh lembah-berada diMahkota bukit rendah. Daripuncak bukit satu bisa melihatsungai mengalir cepat dan sebelahnya luasbidang masak jagung di antara merahbunga kacang. Melihat satubisa meramalkan bahwa itu akan menjadipanen baik tetapi diperlukan curah hujan,Meskipun singkat.Sepanjang pagi Rancho terus pemindaian langit untuk tanda-tanda curah hujan dan iaitu cukup yakin bahwa itu akan hujan. "Kau tahu, wanita, sekarang kita akhirnyaakan mendapatkan beberapa hujan." Istrinya, yang sedang sibuk menyiapkan makanan, menjawab: "Ya, Tuhanbersedia."Segera Rancho's Keluarga, istri dan anak-anak, duduk untuk makan malam, seperti yang iadiperkirakan besar tetes hujan mulai jatuh. Di timur laut besar awan itumeliputi langit seperti selimut. Udara memiliki bau hujan yang dikombinasikan denganbau segar bumi. Suasana saat itu adalah benar-benar surgawi. Theanak laki-laki meninggalkan makanan mereka dalih mendapatkan satu hal dan satu lagi. Semua yang mereka inginkanadalah untuk basah dan bermain di tengah hujan.Rancho adalah sangat bahagia karena dia tampak di bidangnya, "Ah! Sekarang saya panenakan menjadi indah." Dia mulai bermimpi tentang segala sesuatu yang dia akan melakukansetelah dia menjual tanaman. Tiba-tiba berat angin mulai meniup disertai dengan besartetes hujan, yang tampak seperti mutiara besar es. "Oh Tuhan! Ini tidak dapatterjadi,"pikirnya. "TIDAK!! Tidak!! Saya akan dimusnahkan. Ini adalah hujan,es. Saya berharap itu akan segera berlalu." Tetapi di depan keluarganya ia terus kuat depandan berkata, "Aku yakin itu akan segera berlalu, jangan khawatir."Sayangnya itu tidak. Es berlangsung sepanjang malam. Itu dihancurkanseluruh bidang tanaman nya berharga. Semuanya tampak begitu putih seolah-olah seseorang telahdilemparkan karung dan karung mutiara seluruh tempat.Rancho dan istrinya khawatir sampai mati. Segala yang mereka harus dihancurkandan mereka tidak firasat tentang apa yang akan mereka lakukan.Anak laki-laki bertanya kepada mereka, "apa yang akan kita lakukan? Semuanya hancur.Kita bahkan tidak memiliki beberapa potong jagung atau biji. Apakah ini berarti kita akan matikelaparan?"Rancho berkata, "anak-anakku, tidak ada orang mati kelaparan. Selalu ingat kita memilikiAllah. Saya yakin dia akan menolong kita."Sepanjang malam Rancho terus berpikir bagaimana untuk meminta bantuan dariAllah. "Tuhan tahu segala sesuatu tapi saya pikir saya harus menulis kepadanya dan meminta secara langsung apa yang sayaingin."Rancho adalah bersyukur untuk hari orangtuanya telah mengirimnya ke sekolah. BahkanMeskipun ia tidak tertarik dalam studi tetapi Dia enggan telah belajar membaca danmenulis. Jadi ia mengambil kertas dan pena dan mulai menulis.Rancho LucasViolet HillArgentina18 th Mei 1999Sayang TuhanHaiSaya menulis surat ini kepada Anda dari ekstrim urgensi, Sebaliknya sayatidak akan memiliki mengganggu Anda. Anda tahu tentang hari es ditempat saya. Yah, itu telah menghancurkan saya. Semuanya di peternakandihancurkan. Jagung dan kacang saya sudah hampir siap dan semua inidiperlukan curah hujan tapi bukan curah hujan datang badai. Jika ituberlangsung selama periode singkat itu pasti sudah OK, tapi sayangnyaberlangsung selama satu malam. Ia telah menempatkan saya pada sebuah kerugian serius, AndaLihat Tuhan, saya satu-satunya sumber pendapatan adalah pertanian dan sekarangbenar-benar hancur. Tidak ada yang tersisa. Jika aku meninggalkan seperti ini keluarga sayaakan mati kelaparan, karena kita tidak akan memiliki apa-apa untuk makan. Aku tidak bisa dudukmasih dan melakukan apa-apa tentang hal itu. Saya membutuhkan 100 peso untuk membeli benih danresow bidang saya dan membeli beberapa makanan hingga tuaian berikutnya.Jadi sayang Tuhan, tolong bantu saya. Saya tahu Anda tidak akan mengecewakan saya.Hormat kami,Rancho, petaniDia meletakkan surat di dalam sebuah amplop dan ditujukan kepada "Tuhan, 7 surga"dan ditempatkan Cap di atasnya dan menjatuhkannya di kotak surat. Para pekerja di postKantor sedang mempersiapkan Surat-surat untuk e-mail ketika mereka datang di Suratditujukan kepada Allah. Tukang pos yang datang di Surat ini menjadi penasarankarena ia belum pernah melihat sebuah surat yang ditujukan kepada Allah. Dia ingin membukaSurat tapi etika kerja nya berhenti padanya dari melakukannya. Dia memutuskan untuk mengambil Surat kepadaPostmaster. Postmaster adalah seorang pria yang sangat bagus dan baik. Dia selalumembantu orang dengan cara apapun yang dia bisa. Ketika tukang pos memberinya surat, iamemandangnya dan berkata, "itu membutuhkan seorang pria dengan iman yang kuat untuk memulai komunikasidengan Tuhan. Saya berharap saya memiliki iman yang kuat."Setelah banyak berpikir, ia memutuskan untuk membaca surat dan mungkin menjawab itu. Diaopened Rancho's letter. Little did he know that replying the letter would needmore than good intention, pen and paper. Rancho needed a lot of money but thepostmaster didn't have any. Since he had already decided to help Rancho, hedecided to give part of his salary, and he asked his friends and co-workers tocontribute. But it was impossible for him to collect 100 pesos. He was happy that atleast 70 pesos were collected. So he put the money in an envelope and signed it as“God” and asked the postman to deliver it to Rancho's house.When the postman arrived at Rancho's house and delivered the letter tohim, Rancho was exhilarated beyond means. And he kept repeating Thank youGod! Thank you God! I knew you wouldn't let me down.Rancho had very strong faith in God. He was not surprised when heopened the envelope. But as he was counting the money he became very angry.God couldn't have made mistake in sending the money. So he took out paper andwrote to God again. Then he placed a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox. Whenthe postman took the letter out, he immediately took it to the postmaster. ThePostmaster quickly opened the letter and everyone in the post office gatheredaround him wanting to know what Rancho wrote to God.Rancho LucasThe Violet HillArgentina20th May 1999Dear GodI am really grateful to you for sending the money. I knew you wouldn't let my familygo hungry. Of the money you send me I only received 70 pesos. Please send me therest. I really need the money. But, this time please, God don't send it through themail, because the people working here in this post office are all a bunch of thieves.