Elder Platt and Ben got on a flight Tuesday night to fly to Salt Lake and arrive Wednesday morning. The airport was good but hard and we have the Nakata‘s and the Olivas family there to send our missionary off. With the weird red eye flight—Elder Platt had a hard time distinguishing between his dreams and reality and probably with all the adrenaline and sleep deprivation he started to act confused and have some hallucinations. One point on the airplane he thought Brielle and his mom were sitting in front of him and that I was crying and so he kept patting the ladies head or tapping her shoulder and telling her it was OK and then also talking to the person next to him and saying “that’s my mom”.
When they landed in Salt Lake and got the luggage in the rental car they were getting directions to their breakfast place to meet the Colwells. After a while of getting directions Cael said I can’t do it and been asked what do you mean? So I had a secret plan and I can’t tell you…forget it. Brielle really gets a kick out of the secret plan story.
After breakfast they drove down to Provo to meet Isabelle Bangerter on campus. Elder Cael Platt was acting especially loopy/sleepy closing is eyes and acting intoxicated as they say and chatted about school and life on campus at BYU. We sure had fun with the Bangerter family in Alaska!
Breakfast with Austin Colwell- Who just got back a week before from his mission in Chicago!! Austin really was an inspiration to Cael and one of the reasons Cael was excited and wanting to serve. Austin would share is testimony and love for his family in such a heartfelt and thoughtful way as a young man while we were in the same ward here in Hawaii— what a good boy!!
Ben and Cael also had a good visit with the Davis family. Annika Davis just got back from her mission in Cambodia and had a life changing experience there. She had good advice and things to tell Cael to get ready for. She is such a happy cheerful young lady! If she can do it then so can this guy!
Dropping off at the Provo missionary training center— it’s just that. You unload the bags give your hugs and say goodbye. I was on FaceTime listening to the play-by-play. It was raining really hard and so the covered garage makes it very convenient to carefully get the missionaries out and on their way. I was so glad that Ben was there. As Cael started to walk away with his welcome missionary he didn’t even turn back to wave goodbye he was off and on his way! My momma heart really felt this one hard… so happy/proud of my boy!
Lunch with Oshyn at In and Out. Even though E.Platt hasn’t had an appetite … he still manages to socially enjoy food when friends are around.
Our last lunch at the food court. We were trying to be adventurous and support the new restaurant in the food court but it ended up being very disappointing. The dessert crêpe was supposed to be a Nutella banana with ice cream on the side, but the only Nutella was just a measly thin spread up on top with a few brown bananas thrown haphazardly all over. Cael suffered through it and only shared a couple of bites with me 😂
Our last family photo at the airport.
Aloha ‘Oe Elder Platt. One of the most sweet and endearing traditions in our Hawaii ward is saying farewell to those who are leaving. The entire congregation sings along the words of the song (I cry every time) and at the very end everyone can come up in place leis on their friend before they leave. It is just an emotional moment- but also meaningful, thoughtful, and appreciated.
See you in two big brother— Brecon
The rest of the leis from the Wahiawa 1st ward. He really got buried in love from our ward family.
Elder Platts district online MTC.
