Stephen and Elaine Biddulph

4 - 10 APRIL 2016

A young elder with whom I had been working in Belgium/Netherlands Mission had to return home this week because of medical challenges. He had had depression much of his life, and he was also a very driven elder who had served valiantly for 18 months. Eventually, the rigor of the mission and his own stress took its toll. He was taking medication to help, but hadn't been on it long enough for it to take full effect. We were trying to get him through that period to see if the medication would improve things. However, he began having dangerous feelings and emotions that he didn't seem able to control and that put him at risk. I was concerned for his safety, and we had the psychiatrist in Liege, Belgium talk with him and give his opinion. He called back and said that he had the same concerns as did I. I reported my concerns to the mission president. He interviewed the elder that day and they both came to the conclusion that he needed to return home for care.

So often when missionaries must return home early before their normal time is up they feel like they have failed the Lord, their families, and themselves, and they emotionally beat themselves up pretty badly. The Church wanted him escorted home because of the worry, so, I got another all-expense paid trip back to USA - this time to Bangor, Maine.

This was decided on Wednesday (6 April), and early on Thursday I was underway. Elder Ryser dropped me off at the Frankfurt airport where I caught a Lufthansa flight to Amsterdam, Netherlands. I met the elder, his companion, and a senior couple at the airport, got him all checked in, and then waited for our flight. It was pretty chaotic getting through all the security and passport checks.

The elder and I had become pretty close just talking over the telephone, so, meeting for the first time in person was not such a big deal. We both felt comfortable and at ease with each other. He felt that it was in his best interest to return home, and he was quite accepting of the situation. I spent time on our return trip coaching him on things he should do upon returning home to get medical and counseling support, as well as ensuring that he was able to talk openly with me regarding his feelings about his mission and uncertainties about returning home.

We flew from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, then, caught a regional plane to Bangor, Maine. We arrived in Bangor at 10:30 p.m.which was about 6 a.m. for us in Europe. I had been unable to sleep on the plane, so, I was pretty sleep deprived. The family was wonderfully supportive and all were joyous to see the Elder return. They seemed so appreciative of my care and willingness to come all the way there with their son. The stake president and wife were also there. I rode with them over to the church where he met for a few minutes with the elder and released him from his mission with an honorable release per the mission president (President Bunnell). They then dropped me off at my hotel and insisted on returning the next morning and taking me back to the airport for my return trip,

The next morning President Martin showed me around Bangor a little before dropping me off at the airport. Bangor had been one of the paper capitals of the USA in earlier times, but, due to competition and other factors, several of the paper mills shut down. Bangor population has dropped considerably. The military installations that used to be at Bangor have also diminished considerably. I saw the home of Stephen King, the well-known author of horror novels. He taught high school in Bangor before becoming a best-selling author.

I flew from Bangor to Philadelphia. The flight down the eastern seaboard was great. I saw much of the seaboard from Maine down to New York. I had a six-hour layover in Philadelphia. I didn't want to go outside the secure zone, so, I just walked around, got something to eat, and sat around waiting for the flight to London. Our flight to Heathrow airport in London wasn't too bad. I had two seats to myself, so, I could stretch out some for leg room. London was its typical rainy, cloudy self. We arrived about 6 a.m. in Heathrow and didn't leave for Frankfurt until 11:00 a.m. The long layovers were monotonous. But the flight back to Frankfurt was just over 1 hour. We flew down parts of the Rhine River and I was able to see Rudesheim at the confluence of the Main and Rhine Rivers, Wiesbaden, and the surrounding countryside. Germany looked so beautiful to me with its fields of brown and green, many forested areas, and little villages of white stucco and red roofs. It felt good to be back in Germany again. I caught a taxi home and found Elaine happily waiting for me. I really don't know why she likes me so much! But I'm deeply blessed.

The next morning we were off to church in Offenbach where I conducted Sunday worship service and testimony meetings. Said goodbye to Elder Stark who served in Offenbach for several months and is being transferred. Good to be back home. Spring is coming on. Last Wednesday they moved us out of our office space in the area office. We now work out of our apartment. Our little second bedroom was turned into an office space. They have set it up as nice as they could for us, and we are appreciative of their kindness. I think it will turn out to be fine for us.