My “American Parents”

Today we went to visit my “American parents”.

I met Teddy and Mike a month after moving to the US. Teddy was bringing a beautiful African momma that lived near her to have her hair done at my aunt’s place.

They needed some more hair extensions and wanted Teddy to go get them but neither my aunt nor the other lady speaks enough English to let Teddy know what they needed. My aunt called me since I speak English, and I arrived to act as the interpreter so that they could understand each other😀.

Teddy asked me if she could call me every now and then to help her communicate with her African neighbor. I agreed and we exchanged information. She would then call me every once in a while and I would gladly interpret for her.

One day she called to have me help her communicate with her neighbor and asked me what I was doing, and I told her I just came from the DMV and passed my drivers permit exam. She asked me if I knew how to drive and I told her that I knew how to drive, but not how to parallel park and the person I had asked to help me with that asked for $1,500 to teach me and I did not have enough money for that.

She offered to teach me how to parallel park the next Tuesday and Thursday and I offered to pay for gas to thank her, but she refused to let me pay. Those two days of practice were all that I needed to be comfortable with parallel parking, and I was ready to take my test for my driver’s license. She even offered to take me to the test herself after I scheduled the appointment. When the date for my test arrived she was very excited to take me to the DMV, and after I passed the test she took me to a Mexican restaurant for lunch to celebrate before dropping me off at home.

A few months later I applied at a job that required you to have a car to get to work. When they asked if I had a car I replied yes even though at the time I didn’t have as much as a bicycle 😂. I was offered the job on a Friday starting the next Monday, and I ended up saying “Lord, I don’t know how you will make me have a car before Monday but one thing I don’t doubt is your miraculous way to do wonders.”

When Monday came, I had to ask for a ride from a friend (that Monday was Oct 5th, my birthday ☺️☺️☺️) for the first day orientation and the same friend gave me a ride home after my shift. I didn’t know how I was going to make it to work the next day without a car, but I was determined to make it and would ride the bus if I had to.

As soon as I got home, Teddy called me and said, “Hey Lynda, so Mike and I were thinking, since you have your driver’s license, we can let you use one of our cars while you are saving up to buy your own.” I was in disbelief and tears 😭 were wetting my cheeks and I said, “You know today is my birthday and I have been praying for a car!” Teddy responded “Well guess what? You got a birthday present! Let’s get to the Clerk office tomorrow and get the car in your name so that you can start getting around.” She was so excited to get everything in my name, I have never seen a person that excited to give their car to someone, she was even more excited than I was, and it had me in tears.

I kept the car for seven months while I was saving up to buy my own. Every time the car would have an issue I would go to their place and they would fix it and would give me an amazing Cadillac while I waited for my Honda to be fixed.

Seven months since the day they transferred their Honda to my name, I called them and I said I think I have enough money saved to buy my own car. Teddy said that it was probably too early and asked if I was sure I had enough money. I told her that I had been working four jobs and saved up a lot, they helped me find a car and I purchased it.

I still went to them every time my car had an issue, they would fix it and would let me use one of their cars while waiting for mine to be ready to hit the road.

When I graduated from The Medical Institute of Kentucky, Teddy was so excited and cooked food and brought all kinds of desserts to the party.

One day I asked them what I could do to pay them back. That’s when Teddy looked in my eyes and said, “Honey you don’t have to, just pass it on.”

Those words will stick with me forever. That’s why I always try to help anyone that I can, because I believe in this world we all need each other.

This couple took me under their wing and made sure I didn’t lack of anything in a country where I didn’t know anyone. I call them my guardian angels.

I buy a gift card every Christmas and drop it at their mailbox because Teddy would never let me hand it to her. She always says I don’t have to or she will just say, “Don’t you dare!” 😁, but I still do it anyways. I always go to their place when nobody is there, drop off the gift card and run away before anyone catches me 😁.

I will forever be grateful for this amazing couple, these “American parents” of mine.