Mr. Raymond's Guitar

Thanks for coming over here to learn more. Please read until the end for there is a SURPRISE ending that Jeremy didn't touch-on in his video. I still can't believe it. Simply AMAZING!!!

Hi. I'm Michael Quibble and I've been on such a wonderful journey the last ten (10) weeks I feel compelled to share it with you and provide another example of how great God is and how we never know the path he has set for each of us. I will provide a brief summary of my whirlwind, explain how you might fit in and then attach a pdf that will provide more story details for you.

I purchased an expensive Martin 1967 D-28 guitar I was not looking for or needed from Jeremy the Guitar Hunter, a YouTuber, who shared the story of how Mr Raymond was selling his prized guitar in order to help his grandchildren purchase a guitar of their own as he did 53 years ago for $400 while earning just $1.40 an hour.

Somehow, I was drawn to this love story and was inexplicably moved to action. I ended up purchasing the guitar to protect it and make it available to the Stepp family if ever they decided to call it back home. Little did I know I was just one pawn of a much larger picture that was certainly Heaven-sent.

Long story short, I had the guitar repaired by a renowned luthier [Judge Wolfe] from KY and made plans with Jeremy to have us all meet up this past weekend so I could return the guitar back to Mr Raymond. Little did I know there was a much larger surprise waiting in the wings for all of us.

As I read the card I used to gather my thoughts for Mr Raymond I explained that rather than wait for them to call it back home I thought, while he had many great playing days ahead of him, it would be better served in his hands than it would sitting in a case in my home. Things became emotional but little did we know the best was yet to come.

As Mr Raymond and I continued talking I asked him how many grandchildren he had and he see-sawed between 7 and 8 further explaining how they lost their eldest granddaughter [Madolyn Rose Morris] on June 26, 2019 at 18 years of age in a one-car accident. After a few more tears fell he continued sharing details of his "darling" and mentioned he had written a song for her. I then asked him if he wouldn't mind I'd love to hear it.

He began playing that beautiful song on the very guitar that he used to write it. In fact, I later learned this guitar was present for every significant event in the Stepp family and it wonderfully rang-out in the hands that only it belongs in. Half-way through the song I couldn't believe a train began to roll by and even signaled its whistle! Of all the moments for this to happen how can it be that it would happen in the five (5) minutes Mr Raymond was sharing this very special song? We sat, played and sang for two-and-half hours and the train has to roll by during this song? I was a bit disappointed but little did I know this was all part of the plan.

Could it be it was Madolyn Rose Morris rolling that train by to signal approval of the song her grandaddy wrote her? Could it be that it was Madolyn Rose Morris rolling that train by to signal to her grandaddy that she is still there with him? Could it be that it was Madolyn Rose Morris rolling that train by to signal to me for a job well done by getting back into her grandaddy's hands the guitar that has helped their family through both good and difficult times? 

To me this is the only thing that makes sense. How else would a 59 year old CT guy buy a guitar he doesn't play and return it to a family he never met that lives 500 miles away? As I recalled the story with my son and wife the following evening I commented how a train rolled through in the most inopportune time. At that moment I jumped up, picked up my phone and began to watch that video again. I then noticed the train entered the song at time stamp 3:17.

I immediately texted Joshua, Mady's brother, and shared with him this information. I asked him if there's any significance with the numbers 3:17 but he had no clue what I was talking about. I then re-phrased the question and asked if March 17 had any significance. He then replied with three (3) short words... "that's Mady's birthday". Link to Madolyns Song 

I finally discovered the reason for all of this. It now made perfect sense and believe I was chosen to be part of God's plan because they, God and Mady, knew I would follow through. Don't take this the wrong way- I give God ALL the credit here and without him I would have found  a thousand reasons to not get involved.

This GoFundMe page is not intended to recoup any of the money it cost me to do this. Instead, it's an opportunity for all of us to come together and raise some money so we can do this again for someone else. As you will note, I've set a modest goal of only $500. I have no idea or expectations of what might happen and I leave all of this in God's hands. Certainly, the more you all give the more we all can do.

Without divulging what I paid for the guitar I will tell you that Jeremy purchased it from Mr. Raymond for $3,750 and I purchased it from Jeremy and put another $800 into it to repair it back to its original condition.

I have no idea if this effort will raise a single dime but in case it does I give you my word that all of it will be used to help those in need through the power of reuniting guitars with their owners.

Thank you and God Bless,

Michael Quibble

Below is my card to Mr. Raymond-