Elder Robert and Sister Raija Maddock
Dr. Maddock and the new medical doctor, Dr. Swenson, both thought it might be a blood clot and tried to get a scheduling for an ultrasound on that leg, but to no avail. There were no machines available. So Elder Howlett was told to just take it easy, get an aisle seat on the plane so he could get up and walk around often, and to get an ultrasound in America as soon as he returned.
Elder and Sister Howlett left the Drs. office, but Elder Howlett decided to go to our own office and see if he could help the Hallidays get ready to make the trip to Kassel to deliver a new microfilm reader. However, at work, Elder Howlett’s knee and leg completely gave out on him when he was trying to help load the microfilm reader in the Halliday’s car. It hurt so badly that he couldn’t even touch it, or put any weight on it at all. It was a miracle that his leg didn't go out on our trip in Switzerland.
Elder Steve and Sister Lana Barlow
Sister Howlett had to call Elder Barlow down from Building 16 on Steinmühl Strasse—just down the street from the FamilySearch office—to help Elder Halliday give Elder Howlett a blessing. Both Elder Barlow and Elder Wilkinson
Elder Steve and Sister Pat Wilkinson
came down to assist in the blessing and help Elder Howlett get home, and up the three flights of stairs to our apartment.
Sister Irene and Elder Ron Halliday
A very good blessing was given by Elder Halliday to tell Elder Howlett that he could make it home safely on the plane to America in 5 days from then, but that he should carefully follow all the directions of the doctors to make it safely.
After arriving home, Dr. Maddock was called again and they were told to give Elder Howlett the RICE treatment. That meant: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
Sister Howlett carefully followed the directions, making Elder Howlett rest the whole next day, which was Saturday, using ice and a compression sock given to them by the doctors. It seemed that Elder Howlett’s body was warning him that he must stop and rest, which he finally had to do. However, by Sunday he could get around with a walker which a friend, Peter Zarse, let him use. It was our last Sunday and we needed to say good-bye to all our friends in the Friedrichsdorf Second Ward.
Elder Howlett survived that block of meetings and also a special potluck dinner at Tim and Michele Manners’ home. The Manners and their family were moving away to England in a couple of weeks, so our Sunday School class had a going away party for the Manners and the Howletts.
Michele and Tim Manners
It was a very special time to say good-bye to some of our special friends in our English-speaking Sunday school class. Sister Howlett had enjoyed being the class president of that unique class and it was very nice to enjoy the day with all of our friends. We left early so we could have a nice nap and allow Elder Howlett the chance to rest his leg again, in preparation for attending our last fireside with all our Senior missionary friends. There were more than forty of the senior missionaries there that night where the Frankfurt Stake President, Axel Leimert and his wife spoke to all of the senior missionaries. It was a very special evening and we got a nice tribute of a song sung to us in our honor.
Each day Elder Howlett’s leg got a little stronger again, and he was able to help Sister Howlett in packing some of the last things needed to take home, and help a bit with cleaning the apartment. It was necessary to leave it as clean as possible because Elder and Sister Halliday had to move into that apartment at Kurmark Strasse 6, Nieder Erlenbach, the same night we flew home, 21st July.
The doctors had also instructed us to get a wheel chair for Elder Howlett at all the airport stops. It was actually helpful because we were given special treatment and were able to get taken to the front of all lines, including the very long Customs line in Dallas/Ft Worth airport.
Elder Grant and Sister Pat Howlett as they were leaving from Frankfurt Germany airport.
We arrived home about 10:00 p.m. at the Port Columbus airport and were greeted by almost all of our Ohio children, their spouses and grandchildren. How wonderful it was to see all those loved ones waiting for us and waving to both of us as we came to the terminal. It was a very special bit of heaven.
We had tried to serve well and felt the Lord direct our paths to accomplish sometimes the almost impossible tasks. We know that angels must have been with us to help us finish our mission so well. We were truly blessed!
This is the final entry telling about our FamilySearch Support mission of the Europe Area centered in Frankfurt, Germany. We were released as missionaries by our stake president, Benjamin Ogles, on Thursday morning, 22 July 2010. It was hard taking off our badges and not being able to wear them after that. Perhaps that is part of the reason we want to serve another mission. However, the main reason we want to serve again is because it is a joy to serve the Lord’s children in any part of the world and He always pours out blessings on His missionaries and their families.
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