These are our new friends, the Gonzalez family. It has been so much fun getting to know them. We met them at Geyer Springs and we were instant friends. I am so glad that God blessed us with them. Alfonso and Robert have so much in common! It's actually unbelievable how much they have in common. Both of their families are from Mexico, but they both grew up in California and then moved to Arkansas when they were teenagers. Both Robert's and Alfonso's families moved to Arkansas from California to create a safer environment for them to be raised in and both of them came to Arkansas to visit and then never went back. Robert came to Arkansas to visit his aunt and uncle and his parents decided to stay. Robert never went back. His dad went back and brought their stuff, but Robert never got to go back and tell his friends goodbye. Can you imagine being in the 9th grade and getting moved from the life you had always known AND not even getting to tell any of your friends and family goodbye? Also add in there the huge culture shock of growing up in California and then coming to Arkansas. One might think that would be a unique story, but Alfonso's story was almost identical. I think if they had been girls, they would have hugged each other and cried, because it was so obvious that they felt completely understood by the other person. But, being men, they just laughed and shook hands! Their lives are so parallel. They both married an American girl from their Arkansas hometowns. The similarities just go on and on. Plus, Shonda and I have so much in common and love hanging out as much as the guys. They already feel more like family than friends!
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Gonzalez Family
These are our new friends, the Gonzalez family. It has been so much fun getting to know them. We met them at Geyer Springs and we were instant friends. I am so glad that God blessed us with them. Alfonso and Robert have so much in common! It's actually unbelievable how much they have in common. Both of their families are from Mexico, but they both grew up in California and then moved to Arkansas when they were teenagers. Both Robert's and Alfonso's families moved to Arkansas from California to create a safer environment for them to be raised in and both of them came to Arkansas to visit and then never went back. Robert came to Arkansas to visit his aunt and uncle and his parents decided to stay. Robert never went back. His dad went back and brought their stuff, but Robert never got to go back and tell his friends goodbye. Can you imagine being in the 9th grade and getting moved from the life you had always known AND not even getting to tell any of your friends and family goodbye? Also add in there the huge culture shock of growing up in California and then coming to Arkansas. One might think that would be a unique story, but Alfonso's story was almost identical. I think if they had been girls, they would have hugged each other and cried, because it was so obvious that they felt completely understood by the other person. But, being men, they just laughed and shook hands! Their lives are so parallel. They both married an American girl from their Arkansas hometowns. The similarities just go on and on. Plus, Shonda and I have so much in common and love hanging out as much as the guys. They already feel more like family than friends!
