My Parents….. The Most Admirable People I Know

Today in Inter Varsity I played the Djembe for the worship team. However that’s not the real reason for this post. What the main focus of this post is the speaker. His name tag said his name was Gabe. He was there to give his testimony and started out with the basic introductions and his connections to the area. What he didn’t tell us until later was that his name was actually Gabrielle de la something something on and on… not that I am making fun of his name I just can’t remember it all and neither could he or at least that was the joke he said anyways. What is important was that he was Cuban and born back in 1953 just a few short years before Fidel Castro took over. He talked about how great his childhood was and how great life was back then. He continued to say that when Castro took over he did it with only three thousand men and with the help of the upper class and the cowardly flee of the previous leadership; he was in power with in less than a week. This was largely in part to the fact that all the upper and middle class were promised a democratic form of government.

However as most politicians do they break promises and as you all know he set up a dictatorship. Gabe went on to say that all the pleasures he knew as a child; Candy, toys, Games, Freedom to do whatever they wanted were gone almost overnight and that his life was changed forever. He said that people who spoke out against Castro were either incarcerated or publicly executed and that they had to watch it on television. He also said that Castro would speak for 6 hours at a time and they forced to watch him, not just because he was on every channel but because they had guards posted patrolling to make sure everyone was in their house watching Castro’s speeches. What he said next was made me think about how blessed I was and most importantly how I had been blessed to be born in a family made up of Godly faithful parents.

You see, Gabe’s father was formally in charge of the international airport in Cuba, and after Castro he was put in charge of all cargo airports for all of Cuba. A few months after Castro took over his father made preparations for them to leave the country legally. That meant that the right people knew they were leaving and wrong ones didn’t. Shortly thereafter they were on a converted cargo plane headed for Mexico. They hopped around South America for short time while his father called in money and favors to make a place for them in America so that when they were finally ready to cross the border they were already residents. While in America he talked about how hard it was living in a different country only knowing “jes” and “noh” (yes and no with a thick Cuban accent) and how hard it was for his parents to make a living and keep their family together.

I know your all wondering “John what are you talking about. You never had to flee a country for your life”. My whole point of incorporating Gabe’s story was this. Even though I didn’t have to flee a country for my life and never found myself as a fugitive of the government, my parents were so strong in their faith that they had the ability to pack up a five member family with kids from kindergarten to 2nd grade and get on a plane and head to Germany. They didn’t know anything about this place, they didn’t know the language, and they certainly didn’t know what was going to happen when they got there. It could have been very easy to say no. That their family was to young and that they wouldn’t be able to handle the stresses of that big of a dramatic change. They didn’t make any excuses they just got on plane and went. For that I have the utmost respect.

People often ask me if given the chance I would go back to Germany and I usually say “to visit, but not live”. They ask why and I give them some kind of lame excuse saying “oh it’s boring. Been there got the T-shirt” (I actually do!) But the real reason is I don’t think I would have the same strength that my parents did. To step out of their comfort zone on the faith that God would provide and totally uproot their family. I didn’t think much of what they did then because I didn’t know any better. All I knew was that we were on this big airplane that let me have all the soda I could drink and as much Disney cartoons as I could watch. The next thing I knew I found myself in a house in Erlensee Germany. I had no idea of the tremendous sacrifice that they made to keep me and my brother and sister happy. However because my parents were willing to answer the call, we were able to do so much good in our own as well as other people’s lives. We got to see so many different countries and cultures that it makes most people’s head spin when I talk about now. Most importantly though it shaped me into the man I am today.

Not many people know this but before Germany, I was a real mama’s boy. I was very shy and not very socially adept. German school will make you grow up quick and I sure did grow up quick. It is because of my parents that I am where I am today. I am writing this post from a dorm room in UNCG on pretty much a full scholarship. I cannot thank them enough for all they did. I especially thank my mom who hounded me day after day to complete this and that form, and write this essay for this scholarship. My only hope is that one day I can be as good a parent as they were to me. Mom Dad thank you very much for all you’ve done for me. I know I do not always seem appreciative but I really am. I love you!