Welcome Home

A week ago tomorrow my older sis, Nicole, and I sat at the airport, awaiting the midnight hour to see our little sis, Lacey, for the first time in 18 months. Mom and Rick had flown out the week prior to pick her up as she completed her LDS mission in the Philippines. I was awe-struck, just as much as I was when other brothers and a sister returned from their missions.

As I watched her walk toward me, I knew she was the same Lacey I had known for nearly 23 years, with some notable differences. Her skin that was once as fair as the Utah snow that welcomed her was now tanned and golden from a humid sun. Her much thinner figure was the result of months of eating rice, fish, vegetables and lots of tropical fruit every day (all with only her hands, of course). Her shoes she had worn so bare from all the walking and climbing through rain forest pathways of rocks and mud that they provided her no more protection whatsoever. Her leg bore a scar from the burn of the primitive motorbike, when she and her companion were offered a ride home from a Filipino member. Her hands want to sign, whether in ASL or the equivalent Filipino sign language. Her mannerisms reflected that of a native, at times answering your question with only a raise or two of the eyebrows.

The most noticeable difference, however, was when she began to speak. She spoke with such an accent and in such fragmented English, only using one word here and there, that I found myself slowing down and trying to speak very clearly, as I would with any other foreigner. I couldnt' understand her and she couldn't understand me. You would never know she was raised in the United States. Even today, 6 days later, though her English is improving each passing hour, she still gets frustrated because she can't quite conjure up the English term she is looking for and she thinks everyone is talking too fast here for her to understand--so out pops the word or phrase in Ilonggo. This tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed girl I'm sure was a stark contrast to the Filipino people, but she was every bit as much a part of them.

She shone. Her smile radiated and validated the complete happiness and peace she felt in serving the Lord through a mission. What a gift to be given! Not only was she changed, but she changed countless lives through her sweet conviction of our Savior Jesus Christ. To me she is absolutely beautiful -- not only that first night seeing her, but even now as she starts to get on with her life. Her shoes she has replaced, but that light around her remains. I hope it always will. Welcome home, Lacey. Well done.