An Emotional Surprise

 

Mom with LeGrand and Marie Fletcher

Sunday, June 19, 2011,  was Father's Day.  After attending church and preparing a dinner for my husband and family, my Mom's husband, Harold,  came to eat and visit with us.  In hand, he brought two file folders of my mothers that contained things she had written that he "thought I might want to have."  They were individually and  simply titled:  "  LeGrand Fletcher" and "choices".

As I read them, I felt like my Mom had reached out of heaven and given me a gift!   I don't believe that Harold bringing them to me that day and at this time in my life is a coincidence.  It was a definite message from her to me.  And I know that my Heavenly Father is watching out for me and trying to help me through a most difficult time.  Thanks Mom!  Thanks Heavenly Father!   It was "an Emotional surprise! "

The fun thing about it, is that is what Mom titled her story about Elder Fletcher and I'd like to share her story with you all.

"An Emotional Surprise"  by Eleanor Harnish Falzone

"It has been a really emotional week for me.  Harold and I have been trying for about 6 months to find the missionary who baptized me.  We went on the internet and tried several options....we had no luck.  His name was LeGrand Fletcher and I could only remember that he had lived in Ogden before his mission.  Anyway, I was about to check with the church to see if they had any records of a missionary in the Cheyenne area mission in 1955 and 1956.  On Wednesday (May of 2003)  last week I received a telephone call from LeGrand!!!   I was speechless!  He and his wife were at the MTC in Provo, about to head out to Nauvoo for the 6th mission.  He said that in all the years he just had never had the opportunity to get back to Cheyenne and they were going to be coming thru on their way to Nauvoo.  We invited them to stay here with us, and they accepted.

He called several times before they arrived early Friday morning, so we had a chance to get a little bit re-acquainted before they came.  I set up Friday evening with my kids and those grandkids who could come, to meet with LeGrand and his wife Marie. Believe me, this was one of the most wonderful times I've had in my life!  We talked for hours on end and my kids were just amazed at him and his wonderful wife.

LeGrand just cried and cried over the fact that I had stayed in the church even though Bud had given the missionaries a pretty bad time...Anyway, when LeGrand found that I had remained active for 47 years, all my kids had married in the Temple, we had two  Bishops in the family- right here in Cheyenne - 4 grandsons on missions...he was so emotional.  [For those of us who were there, you'll remember that the tears just streamed down LeGrand's face.]   ...He says that when you are a 'young whippersnapper' of a missionary, you just always wonder if you made any difference in the lives of those you were involved with.

We had stayed in touch for about 5 or 6 years after he'd left here, but as often happens when our lives get busy with kids and life, and in our case - 17 moves in 15 years - we lost touch...

He had kept a truly marvelous Missionary journal and so was able to read to my children many of the entries on his visits with us in our home and the full detail of my baptism.

Yesterday, Mothers Day, during my Bishop son-in-laws talk, he surprised me by asking me to come up and repeat the story of my conversion and why, as a mother, I had needed and accepted the gospel.  I was truly scared to death and hope that I was able to convey to the members of our Ward, the reason for my conversion.  You see, when I became pregnant with Kathi, I began to panic.  I prayed and prayed for the help to take on the life of a child, and to be able to raise it in the way in which He would approve.  I really did need all the help I could get at that time.  Kathi was just 2 weeks old when the Elders knocked on my door.

708 E. 19th   Cheyenne Wyoming

His journal says I came to the door with this tiny, new infant and just opened it wide and asked them in.  I was converted from the first discussion.  I just KNEW that this was the answer to my prayers."

So, Thank you Mom for your steadfastness in living the gospel of Jesus Christ and to His church on this earth all the years of my life and your life....especially when it was not easy for you to do so.  I'm sorry I didn't always appreciate or understand how difficult it was for you....but, I will continue to try and live as you would like me to, and to keep the faith. I sure want to be with you forever!   Thank you for this little message from you, right in black and white, right at the time I needed it.