Elder Frandsen Returns Home

Elder Frandsen Comes Home

Lafe was really tired and trying not to let on that was the case.  He was so torn about coming home that he barely slept the nite before he left.  In fact, he stayed up later talking to President Brown about the future and what he should expect.  I loved President Brown’s advice:  He said to ‘Go home.  Don’t go back home.’  Lafe has taken that to heart.  He is not the same person he was when he left.  And, he doesn’t want to ‘go back’ to being the same person he was.  Instead, he is coming home to move forward.  They had to be at the airport by 5:30 for their 7:00 flight.  And, he couldn’t fall asleep thinking about coming home.  So, he was working on adrenaline when he arrived. 

It was so sweet.  We made sure we left plenty early to be there for him.  I didn’t want him coming down the escalator without anyone waiting for him.  Paul and Mary and the kids were the first ones at the airport.  And, it was a good thing they were.  There were 29 missionaries released from Cleveland that day.  And, 9 of them flew into Salt Lake City.  There were many people and many signs awaiting many missionaries when Lafe arrived.  Lafe sat toward the front of the plane.  And, since he was a Spanish-speaking Elder, he didn’t go out with most of them.  So, he didn’t wait for the other elders but was one of the first to come down the escalator.  

An adoring crowd greeted him.  Pat made up signs for each of the grandkids to hold with pictures of Lafe on his mission.  Stephen made a large sign, reminiscent of the sign Lafe was holding when he came home entitled ‘Welcome home Pig-dog.’  We all started to cheer when we saw his face looking down at us.  He came directly to Pat and just hugged her while they both sobbed.  He held her for almost three minutes.  Then he did the same for me.  It was so sweet. He really appreciated our support on his mission.  And, he really changed his fundamental focus and was so thankful for that change.  We have loved having him on a mission.  It has brought us joy and happiness each week as we awaited and then read his letters.  It has given us hope and increased love as we have prayed for him multiple times a day for two years.  And, even though the prayers for our children will never stop, there is something special about praying for a missionary that brings you together as a couple.  

Abby was the first to break the airport roping system and run to Lafe.  She threw her arms around him.  Then one by one he hugged each nephew and niece and then brother, sisters and in-laws.  His eyes were red.  His smile continual.  And, Pat and I just soaked it all in.  We took many pictures.  We talked a mile a minute.  We picked up the luggage and decided it was time to move on.  We had reserved a room at Brick Oven Pizza in Provo where we could all eat and not have to clean up after a meal at home.  And we needed to leave in time to make it for our reservation. 

Pat and I drove Pat’s car to the airport.  And, since it had seven seats, we decided the oldest from each family, along with Hannah, would ride back in the car with him.  Michael, Mack and Aaron were our passengers. (Edie wanted to ride with her cousins her own age.)  As we were driving, Aaron asked Lafe what his favorite memory was of his mission.  And, Lafe just started sobbing again.  That happened intermittently until he went to bed that nite.  

Lafe looked around him as we drove home and noticed the changes here and there.  But, mostly he couldn’t get over how brown and dry it was.  He has lived in the lush lands of Ohio for two years.  And, after going back there for a week, I can see what he means.  There isn’t a brown spot in Ohio—at least not one that I saw.  He looked up at the mountains.  They seemed familiar.  He kept looking at the kids.  They seemed familiar.  

And, since Pat had sent him many pictures while he was gone, I suppose he wasn’t as shocked as he could have been.  His suburban was definitely familiar.  Jonny and Mel were driving it since they had used it to get everyone to and from Grand Junction.  Only, it must have a coolant leak somewhere.  It started to overheat.  We had to catch them and add antifreeze to it.  (Happened again this weekend while Lafe was driving to SLC to help Hannah buy and transport a couch.)  We ate pizza, talked and then it was time to come to Spanish Fork.  

President Dunn had specifically asked that he not go to his home before he was released.  So, he had us text him as we left Provo so he could meet us at the Stake Center.  We drove into Spanish Fork.  Many new stores along the US 6 corridor.  We drove along 11^th east and he saw the sign that said, “Welcome Home Elder Frandsen—with each of his family members having put their footprints on it with a personalized message.  He had us drive him to one of his friends, who had returned home two days earlier (He was one of the other two who had their farewells on the same day) and he ran in and said Hi to him.  

Then we drove to the church with just Lafe, Pat and I.  The rest of the family went home to wait for him to be released.  

President Dunn took him back to his office for an exit interview.  When he came back out and down the hall, he was sobbing.  President Dunn had us all express our feelings at the triumphant return of our son.  Then he said it was time for us, his parents, to remove his nametag.  At that, Lafe turned around, started sobbing again, and walked back down the hall.  After composing himself, he came back out and Pat and I each removed a nametag.  He was released.  We drove home.  

Pat and I each had our ‘Lafe Homecoming Projects’ we had done in preparation for his return.  One of mine was painting the playhouse.  Pat said he wouldn’t notice it.  But, he walked toward the back of the house before going in and said, “Oh, you painted the play house.”  And, I hadn’t even paid him to do that.  He noticed every project we had done.  And, he was thankful for all of them.  He went up to his room and just sat on the bed, not sure what to do.  He didn’t really want to unpack, as that made it seem even more real.  But, with family and friends and ward members dropping by, there wasn’t much time to unpack.  He kept his suit on for the whole day.  When it was time to go to bed, Michael slept in the same room.  In fact, it wasn’t until we were back out in Ohio that he actually had a bedroom to himself.  He said, “I haven’t slept alone for two years.  I’m not sure I can.”  But, we decided it was time.  Hannah had her own room.  

I was glad Rita and Joan made it possible for you to come back up for Lafe’s talk.  I know you could feel the special spirit that was there as Lafe talked.  Lafe prepared his talk several weeks in advance during his study time.  And, he asked his branch if he could talk his last Sunday to try it out.  He changed it a little before he gave it here.  But, just as it was sweet to have those three boys go out together, it was sweet to have them be there together and for our families to sing the same song we sang when they left.  I just soaked in everything Lafe at the church.  It is the last time as a parent I will be able to do that.  Pat went on home with everyone else to get dinner ready.  But, I sat down in the pews and just watched all the people, old friends, missionary companions, and ward members come up to talk to him.  He was so cognizant of them.  Each person got a bear hug and a comment.  Finally, as the chapel cleared out, I reminded him that he was the guest of honor at a dinner at our home.  So, we drove home again.  

Tracy