Roads To Success 12

Epilogue:  Ron and Cristy Varela

The story just told was current as of 2006 when the Varela’s episode of Secrets Of Success completed production.  During an October 2011 telephone interview Ron and Cristy brought me up to date with their business and personal lives.

Following their litigation with the State of California over the Highway 71 landslide circumstances forced the Varelas to downsize their work force from one-hundred-fifty employees to eight.  They also liquidated their trucks and heavy equipment in order to satisfy the demands of their bank.

The economic downturn that began in 2008 and cascaded across the United States obliged the Varelas to cut back even more.  In recent years they have reduced their number of employees to three.  With their business smaller than ever, and with new construction jobs fewer in number, Ron and Cristy found themselves seriously discussing whether or not they should continue maintaining the company at all.

Ron makes the observation that, in the current economic environment, doing business is tougher and more frustrating than ever before.  Customer loyalty has eroded away to almost nothing, banks are increasingly inflexible, and ethics in general have been negatively altered.  Having experienced years of running a thriving company and doing business on a handshake, Ron finds it discouraging.

The Varelas were on the verge of closing down their operations when a small job came along, a dirt-hauling contract for a Temecula hospital project worth about $450,000.  It gave them hope and caused them to keep an expectant eye on the business landscape.  Ron says that he now sees new jobs on the horizon; now it’s just a matter of landing them for his company.

There is a great deal at stake.  The Varelas have employees whose futures depend on the solvency of their business, and their personal nest egg for retirement has been impacted as well.  Their beloved Rancho Diamante is also at risk; it is currently on the real estate market.

In spite of the impending circumstances, Ron and Cristy manage to attend to the problems at hand without actually focusing on them.  Their main and unwavering focus is on their faith in Christ.  Besides, this couple simply does not know how to give up.  They never have.

Just to clarify, the Varelas are mere mortals, just like the rest of us.  The problems and loss accumulating in their lives during these challenging times impinge on them just as they would anyone else.  “We’re not supposed to question the Lord about why these things happen but you still can’t help asking why,” Ron explained.  “We have to keep the faith because that’s just about all we have left.”

“I know beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord’s plan is good,” Cristy added.  “Whatever it is it will be better than anything we can imagine.  Everyday I see signs that the Lord is near.  I praise him all the time.”

The Varelas’ desire to serve certainly hasn’t been impaired by the economy or other current circumstances.  They haven’t been able to contribute financially as they once could but they still find ways to give substantially.  Ron put it this way, “Even if you lose material things you can still give your time.”

Ron and Cristy currently donate generous portions of their time to the Military Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), Pinnacle Forum, the Prescott Annual Prayer Breakfast, Advocates for Faith and Freedom, and Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America.  Of course, their favorite service is still hosting a variety of ministries at Rancho Diamante.  “This year we didn’t host that many,” Cristy said.  “However, it is one of our greatest joys.”

So, as of October 2011, the Varelas are hanging in there and fighting the good fight, just as they always have.  They are working hard to regain a solid footing for their business, and they are still hopeful they can keep Rancho Diamante.  Most importantly, they daily live in and maintain an unshakable faith in God.

Ron offered up this parting comment to end our interview, “We’ve lost a lot of material stuff but we still have our family, and we’re a tight, tight family and that’s awesome.”

Thank you, Ron and Cristy, awesome, indeed.

© 2011 Philip Kassel