Frankly, I Want to Go to Heaven

Naturally, in a family with eight children, you learn to take care of others. When Mrs. Genie asked us to watch over Mr. Frank while she went to visit a relative, we were slightly uncomfortable. Even though we were used to taking care of others, never had we taken care of someone whom we had respected as much as Mr. Frank. In fact, we had never taken care of someone who was older than us until then. We accepted the offer almost immediately, not through thorough thought, but by reflex.  

Upon arrival at Mr. Frank’s home, we were introduced to the situation. Mr. Frank lay on his bed, rarely moving from it. We quickly noticed that even though he found it dull being in his stationary position, he was always in the best of moods. Despite the fact that most of what we said was not heard, he seemed to understand exactly what we were speaking to him about, and despite our incompetence in preparing his meals and anticipating his needs, his never-ending patience reflected his passion for heaven.

By the second day, we felt more comfortable with our new schedule and casually talking with Mr. Frank. We remember at one point in a conversation with Mr. Frank, he said that he would appreciate prayers for a quick and painless death in the near future. He didn’t say this morbidly, but rather joyfully, because he would be seeing his Father in heaven. We told him that we would rather not pray for his passing. He laughed and we quickly changed the subject for fear of returning to this depressing theme. However, the resolve he felt on this idea continued to strengthen during our time there.

On our third day Mr. Frank’s son Mr. Joe came by the house and told us of the death of a good friend of Mr. Frank, and that the funeral would be the next day. Expecting to see Mr. Frank sad, he instead seemed bummed out. “He beat me,” Mr. Frank said, after receiving the news. This seemed to reinforce Mr. Frank’s passion for heaven, which he expressed through song and prayer all night long. 

The next morning, after eating breakfast and saying morning prayer, Mr. Joe came by the house, wondering if Mr. Frank was ready to go to the funeral. Mr. Frank put on a pair of dress pants and his favorite shirt, the guayabera— a Mexican dress shirt—and set out to the funeral. We stayed back, hoping to clean the house up, for later that day Mrs. Genie would be returning.

The impact of Mr. Frank’s religious radiance and spiritual wisdom will never leave our hearts and souls. We once told Mr. Frank that we would be honored to be half the man he is, that he had set the bar high. Mr. Frank responded, “You set the bar high, you set the bar high.” We pray that everyone would set the bar high so that you’re not one who is camped out on the foothills, but living on the summit of the mountain of the Lord. 

Micah, 15, and Elijah, 17, have known Mr. Frank for 10 years. They are missionaries in Ecuador with their family.