BELOVED AUNT SARA ORTIZ GRAVELY ILL

By Noel Serrano

Ceiba, PR-2010- Sara Ortiz, the youngest sister of the late Felicita M. Serrano is facing one of the toughest battles in her life. She is gravely ill in Puerto Rico. Sara is one of the last remaining Gala Elders. Sara has been weathering various illnesses for several years now but remains in good spirits. Sara is a beloved Mother, Grandmother and Aunt of a large family that recognizes her enormous contribution and legacy to all that have been touched by her love, compassion and devotion to the Cause of Christ and the work of the ministry of her beloved Salvation Army. Sara studied long and hard, along with her late husband Victor Ortiz to prepare for the ministry that the Lord gave to them. They both served for many years as Captains in the Salvation Army, travelling abroad and planting the seeds of the Gospel to all the territories that they had the privilege to soldier in. Sara Ortiz is a strong and dedicated Public Servant and a Woman of God. She was blessed to be in a large family with older sisters and brothers that shielded her and prepared her for the ministry that the Lord had destined for her. Her stern but loving father, Rev. Lucas Maldonado gave her the proper upbringing and sufficient mettle to have her endure all of the various storms that would come to her life. The late Nieves Bosch and and Felicita Serrano became major influences in the life of the younger sister. Sara would always cherish their examples and their advice. There came a time when Sara and her husband became members of the Beloved Church home "La Sinagoga" during the 1950s. They lived in Spanish Harlem and raised their large family in the same area where the twin Bosch families resided. Sara had a very neat apartment with a large kitchen and would often receive frequent visits from her two older sisters. There came a time when Sara and Victor to moved to Puerto Rico. It was there that God called them into the Ministry of the Salvation Army. It was hard at first, declared Sara. They both started as soldiers and Cadets. They worked very hard in the Ministry and studied to be Officers. Life was tough because Sara was raising her kids at the same time. During the early 1970s Sara and Victor became Captains. They were travelling non-stop. during these times the Ortiz couple would visit their family in New York. Felicita and Nieves were very proud of their younger sister. She was going in a totally different denomination but her sisters knew that the Salvation Army was doing the work of the Lord and they were winning souls. The late Francisco Serrano and the late Victor Ortiz were very close friends. They would often spend hours talking about all the experiences that they would have as they grew more into the ministry.

In 1993, the Gala Award went to Sarah Ortiz, for her Outstanding contribution to our family. Sarah joined the rank of the Family Elders within a year. the Award was shipped to Puerto Rico and was special delivered in time for Christmas Eve.
In 1994, the Award was presented to Victor Ortiz, the strong Ortiz Patriarch in Puerto Rico was elated when he received the prestigious award and was also included in the rank of Elders. Sara Ortiz is a fighter. She was bred to be strong and to be a voice to the voiceless in this lost world. God has blessed her with a Noble spirit and she is not alone . God is with her, even in the midst of some difficult moments of health. Sara witnessed the passing of her beloved husband Victor, her only daughter Elsie and her oldest son Vitim. God fortified her during those trying years.We all pray that God will give her the health and vigour that we have all witnessed through the years. May God continue to bless Aunt Sara. Let us all keep her in our prayers.