My Early Story (16)

 

George Will and New York, Part Three

 

After the church service an older lady and a young couple approached us, introduced themselves as Flora Gonzalez, her son Jose, and his wife, Maria. They asked us where we were staying. When we told them about our automobile accommodations, they invited us to stay with them – they lived a couple of blocks from the church. This family became precious to us, and exceptional friends to George as he continued his ministry in NYC and abroad.

 

Eufemio Alvarez lived in the “projects” just off Houston Street. The following day we visited him and his family, who also became wonderful friends to George and me. Eufemio’s wife, Carman, was a gentle lady, soft-spoken, and always hospitable. They had three sons and three daughters. The two oldest boys, Abraham and David, were around 11 and 13. On that first visit the parents had all of their children line up and greet us, shaking our hands and welcoming us. It was a sign of welcome and respect that I’d witness many times in the homes of my Latino brothers and sisters throughout the metro NY area.

 

After a few weeks in NY I returned to my mom’s in Maryland. While I would visit NY periodically over the next few years, George remained there for a number of months until he began traveling and teaching in Europe and the Caribbean – though most of his time in the intervening years has been in Europe, particularly Italy.

 

I learned so much from my Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters. They were giving – if someone was in need others would help however they could, helping was a way of life. They were not ashamed of the Gospel – they were always sharing the Good News of Jesus with others without shame or apology. They were not materialistic – they made do with what they had and didn’t worry about what they didn’t have. They gave sacrificially to missions – I have never seen a people give as they gave and do so with such reverence and joy.  The idea of fund-raising auctions and similar things would have never crossed their minds, they didn’t need a motive to give other than Christ and a concern for others.

 

They had exceptional respect for pastors and especially missionaries and they encouraged their children to enter vocational ministry. They were committed to their local churches. They valued prayer – and they didn’t just talk about prayer…prayer was a way of life. You didn’t visit a home without serious prayer before you left.

 

I have walked into many a Latino church in NYC not knowing anyone and been made welcome and invited to speak. They had a Kingdom perspective.

 

Think about it. Here’s a 16-year-old kid, who really doesn’t know what he is doing…not really…in a strange city, in a different culture…and not once does he feel out-of-place among these wonderful people – I think that’s pretty amazing – they were really great people.