Stephen and Elaine Biddulph: Trip to Salt Lake City

27 Juli - 2 August 2015

This week has been a bit crazy for us. On Monday the Infield Representative (IFR), Gordon Smith, asked me to escort an elder back to Salt Lake City, Utah who needed to return early from his mission for emotional reasons. He was considered not stable enough to fly on his own. Of course, I agreed. Elaine stayed at home and kept the office going and called missionaries to reschedule talk times. On Tuesday (28 July) I flew from Frankfurt to Madrid, Spain where I met the elder and the mission president and his wife (President and Sister Pack). I interviewed the missionary for awhile, then, the Packs kindly let us sleep at the mission home and fed us some supper. The mission home is very nice in a very affluent and attractive neighborhood. Spain from the air, at least the part I saw around Madrid, was very arid and kind of barren. I was happy that I was serving in beautiful Germany.

The elder returning home was quite introverted and not very communicative. He understandably felt disappointed and guilty that he couldn't finish his mission. Almost all who return early feel like this. We put so much emphasis on missions that missionaries develop a large part of their identity and self-esteem on serving a successful mission. When things go wrong, even if it isn't within their control, they feel like losers. I've counseled many in the time we've been here, and I always emphasize the Lord's love and compassion for them, try to lift their spirits and focus them on taking care of business at home by getting the help they need and getting on with their life. Statistically, those who return home do not return to their missions very often.

We arose at 4 a.m. and Pres. Pack drove us to the airport. We caught a flight to Paris where we just made our non-stop flight to Salt Lake City. The flight was late leaving Madrid and we had less than an hour to make the connection in Paris. The arrival gate and our departure gate couldn't have been any further apart, and we had to get through a police customs check. We ran the last distance and just made the gate as it was closing.

The trip to Salt Lake City was remarkable. They wouldn't let us (me and the missionary) sit together because someone had booked me as business class and he as economy. We tried to change it, but couldn't do it because the flight was full. So, I had pure luxury flying over. I sat by myself in one of these fold-down bed seats. The stewardesses kept pouring on us all kinds of food and drink while the poor economy class were lucky to get a tiny bag of pretzels. I finally had to start refusing. Considering that I had to turn right around and fly back, I didn't feel so bad about having the luxury. The very nice thing--almost like a tender mercy--was that the plane flew right near Yellowstone Park (where I spent my boyhood summers) and down Jackson Hole, past the Teton range, Palisades Reservoir (where my parents had their summer home). I could see southeastern Idaho beyond the Tetons to Newdale (Elaine's home town) and Rexburg (my home town). It was a wonderful fly-by down memory lane. I felt that the Lord planned that just special for me. How kind He is.

We arrived without incident in Salt Lake and I delivered the elder safe and sound into the embrace of his parents and sisters. I gave them some counsel and recommendations before they left to return home. Then, I caught a shuttle to the La Quinta Inn near the airport and crashed for a few hours. I slept until about 4 a.m. My flight wasn't until 9:30, but I couldn't sleep anymore, so at 6:30 I had a muffin and O-juice and returned to the airport to await the flight. We flew from Salt Lake to Atlanta and from there straight into Frankfurt. This time I was economy, but I was in a seat without anyone next to me and had plenty of legroom. I arrived back in Frankfurt at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, 31 July. Elder Randy Ryser, the AMA, picked me up. I felt pretty good and worked a full day in the office talking to missionaries and getting caught up on my work. About 4 p.m. Elaine and I took a walk through the cemetery and caught up with each other on news.

I felt no excitement or frankly any interest in being back in Salt Lake. Nothing had changed and it felt like the same old place. I wasn't excited about seeing Utah Valley from the air. I had virtually no attachment to the place except that our children and grandchildren were living there. I'm sure that if I had seen them I would have felt more attachment. While in the hotel I briefly turned on the news and it was the same old junk. I felt so happy that I was on a mission and set apart from all the daily garbage that goes on and that the world fusses about. I found myself anxious to return to Germany and to Elaine and to my assignment.

Saturday afternoon I spent mostly on the phone with missionaries and mission presidents regarding mostly sisters who are struggling with various issues: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc. I love this work. I love being with Elaine. I truly felt that Frankfurt was my home and I was joyful at being reunited with it. Well, it's pretty strange, but that is the way it seems to be. I've added some additional photos from our Fussen-Garmisch trip last weekend.