Monday, August 5, 2013

Five Glorious Days

How do I put into words the last five days?
One rental car
Five nights in a hotel room
Six train rides
Over ten hours in planes
30+ blocks in NYC
Millions of people
. . . and just me and my son.
 
Elder Padilla
Noticeably absent from the list:  shopping, shows, and museums, for these are not Tucker's New York.

Tucker's New York is all about people--people and the way their lives have forever entwined with his.
Tucker is kneeling down next to Hermana Eva (in pink)
Hermana Eva—a miniature lady from El Salvador who made us the best pupusas and hibiscus juice.
 Arianna, Jessica, Hugo
Junior and Jose Luis
Arianna, Hugo, Jessica and her cousins Jose Luis and Erica—Guatemalans that opened their home to us for dinner even though they had extended family in town.
 Hermana Lechuga
Hermano and Hermana Duartes

Hermanns Duarte and Lechuga—when they found out we would be in town, they threw Elder Denton a party—complete with plenty of Spanish music for dancing.
Hermana Portillo with Stephanie and Jacquelyn
Hermana Portillo and her four children—we dropped in for a visit, then later came by for lunch and Tucker left with a surprise gift of a hammock.

Don’t forget the Garcias--an extended family spread over three floors of one house, a house filled with good food and energetic kids.
Hermana Rodrigues
I was served food from all over Central America—each dish was delicious and different.  I met people from all over the world, and surprisingly enough, I didn’t miss all the excitement that the city has to offer.  We did walk through Manhattan one day, where we saw
 


Central Park

 Ground Zero
 preschool class holding a rope as they walk down the street
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and about 1 million people who were basking in the only sunny day all weekend, but I could sense Tucker’s need to return to Long Island and his people.
 Hermanas Herman, Flores, Chirinos
 Sister Stevenson
I met new people—eccentric people who live lives so foreign to mine. 


 

 I heard their stories and ate their food and sat in their homes and looked into their lives and played with their children—and I, too, fell in love with them.

I watched as my son went from place to place, playing with the children and hugging the men and women.  I listened as he joked or taught or prayed in Spanish, occasionally stopping to translate for me. I attended Church with them, and although their building was small, the Spirit they brought was huge.  I felt of his love for them and their love for him—a deep love that can only come through months of serving selflessly all day every day.  And best of all, they encircled me—a stranger—with their love, including me in their joyous celebrations and private memories.  They told me of the countless hours my son had spent serving them—schlepping water and debris from basements, chopping down trees and cutting utility wires, tearing up damaged wood floors and soggy sheetrock, organizing volunteers and finding those in need after Hurricane Sandy.  They shared funny memories—Sharpie marker mustaches and sombreros, practical jokes, and impromptu dancing. They remembered his laugh, his passion, and his exuberance.

Most of all, they expressed to me, often in their halting English, their genuine love for my son—their gratitude that he had shared his love of Jesus Christ with them, that he had spent two years of his life serving them, and that he would forever be part of them--a part of Freeport, NY--never to be forgotten among those he had served so lovingly.

The city will always be there—with its bright lights and entertainment.  Maybe next time.

17 comments:

  1. Speechless. such an amazing opportunity. thanks for sharing.

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  2. So glad you got to see his NYC!

    I'm sure it made those two years worth it...well,almost:)

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  3. What a wonderful gift you've given yourself. Precious times!

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  4. What an amazing time you must have had with such a grand son!

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  5. Love the writing as much as the experience! Thx for sharing.

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  6. Love the writing as much as the experience! Thx for sharing.

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  7. So great! I love the party decorations that say "Welcome Home Elder Denton!" :)

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  8. Traveling like a traveler, not a tourist -- those are the best trips. When I went to Hong Kong with Matt my favorite part ended up being the people he served.

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  9. Can't imagine how proud you must be of your son. What an awesome time to share with him and see his world the last two years!

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  10. What a wonderful experience to get to see where Tucker served!! BTW...my new (step)son-in-law (Jeffrey Lewis) just returned from his mission in New York in November and said he knew Tucker...well Elder Denton. Small world, eh?

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  11. What a wonderful experience to get to see where Tucker served!! BTW...my new (step)son-in-law (Jeffrey Lewis) just returned from his mission in New York in November and said he knew Tucker...well Elder Denton. Small world, eh?

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  12. What a wonderful experience to get to see where Tucker served!! BTW...my new (step)son-in-law (Jeffrey Lewis) just returned from his mission in New York in November and said he knew Tucker...well Elder Denton. Small world, eh?

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  13. What a truly wonderful experience! Sounds like he was an amazing missionary truly loved by all

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