If y'all could please keep one of my guys in your prayers. "Louis" has worked for my father for most of his life and he was notified this morning that his father had been shot to death. He came to the United States at 15 years old with his sister and brother from Guerrero Mexico to better their life and get away from all the issues that a lot of Mexico has. They came here and worked at a dairy farm here in town. One day he strolled up to the shop and asked for a job. Our shop is right next to the dairy they worked at. He had apparently had enough of working at the dairy and being taken advantage of with poor treatment and nearly nothing as pay. It was summer time and I was 15 at the time, out of school and worked pulling orders and he was 17. No roofing experience, no English, no problem. He started out sweeping floors and helping me pull orders. He and I hit it off right off the bat. He wanted to learn English and I figured I could help. By doing so I never knew I would learn as much Spanish as he learned English. It didn't take long for him to eventually get thrown in the fire when one of our current foreman's, jimmy Sheppard Took him along on roof jobs as a laborer. Jimmy who was your typical, red neck roofer was impressed by his character and willingness to learn.

Fast forward 17 years later, and Louis is the cog that makes our whole operation work and has been for years. He handles all of the counter flashing work and handles all of our operations, commercial roofing, etc. he makes my job easy. I sell the work, meet with him every night to discuss the next days jobs, get the material out there and he takes care of the rest. Louis lives across the street from me, our kids play together, all the things that you might should try and keep separate from a co-workers is completely ignored. This man is my brother. My best friend. My coworker. I could probly count on one hand the days that have passed where I haven't seen him in person or spoke to him on the phone over the last 17 years.

This morning at the shop as he came in to tell dad and I the news he broke down. His dad owned a small store that sells beans, onions, sugar, coffee and other essential items. He also has a small heard of cows. In those parts a store owner who owns some type of livestock is highly regarded and considered to be wealthy. Around 5 am this morning his house was broken into. Mr Reyes had recently had one of his legs removed due to complications with diabetes. As he tried to stop the robbery he was shot and killed.

All three of us, grown men, 2 white dudes and one Mexican, who work in one of the toughest professions out there, sat and cried like babies. I've never seen my old man cry until this morning. Seeing the heartache from someone he considers his second son so heartbroken was too much to bear I guess. I know all of our dads are going to pass one day, I just couldn't imagine it being like that.

Please keep him in your prayers and may he find peace

M