Freddy Freddy Freddy. Where do I even begin? I've mentioned Freddy in previous posts and he is someone very important in my life.
Freddy lived in Togu as a teacher with his wife and children. (I forget how many children he has.) Him and his brother were discouraged with the horrible problems in the government and began speaking up. His brother was executed and died in his arms. In his lasts breaths he made Freddy promise to take care of his family. Freddy escaped and has been exiled from Togu. He went to France to attend school and then was granted citizenship in the US. Unfortunately, none of his credits could be carried over so he began school again and drove a cab in Chicago to support his rather large family. Once he told us how happy he was because all his kids finally had shoes.
Vyki had to go to Chicago for her cancer treatments every month or so and happened to get into Freddy's cab. She looked over at him and he was listening to someone on his phone and crying. He was listening to his mothers funeral. They got to talking and became fast friends. Each time Vyki went to Chicago Freddy waited on her hand and foot and drove her around everywhere without accepting cab fare. On the other hand, I don't think anyone will ever really know just how much Vyki did for Freddy because she kept it mostly secret. When I went to Chicago with Vyki I finally got to meet the man who had become a brother to her. You can't help being around him without being filled with compassion, gratitude, humility... The kindest and most spiritual man I've met. That week when we got to know him was amazing. Before we left, Vyki had a surprise for him. A card with enough money in it to send him to Ghana for 2 months where he could see his family for the first time in 10 years. I get chills just thinking about it. I cannot imagine not looking at my beautiful babies every day and the next time seeing them they're all grown up.
It was quite a process for Freddy to get his paperwork, but after months was finally able to go. Before leaving he found out his niece living in Togu got breast cancer and there is not only little medical care there, but because of the type of cancer it is most likely she'll be taken advantage of by the doctors who end up working with her. Unfortunately, it is very common. About the same time, he got a phone call from his family saying his brother had just had a heart attack and he wouldn't receive care until all medical expenses were paid beforehand. He died while Freddy was wiring the money and now is responsible for the financial care of his other brothers children as well.
As Freddy waited for things to fall into place so he could leave, Vyki was getting worse. After he left for Ghana, Vyki's main request was that Freddy not know of her condition getting worse while he was with his family, even if she passed away. As you know, she passed away and it was while he was away. I was getting emails from Freddy begging for information as to why Vyki wasn't calling. It was so difficult to keep it from him. When he returned home his cousin broke the news and Amanda and I listened to him sob on the phone. Ugh. It was so heartbreaking.
Amanda had Freddy use Vyki's miles and he flew out to Utah for a week to visit her grave, visit with us, and mourn with us. It had been a year since I met him in Chicago and was so excited to see him again. My kids had sent him pictures, letters, and talked to their uncle Freddy over and over on the phone and couldn't wait to meet him. We set aside a week just to spend time with Freddy and it ended up being a wonderful experience.
Meeting Freddy at the airport. The kids worked hard coloring the poster.
Freddy went to mine and Amanda's ward and then had a Sunday BBQ with family and friends.
Us girls and Freddy spent a day in Salt Lake touring temple square. Freddy isn't LDS but knew nearly every question about the church that was thrown at him. He loves the church, loves the history of the church, and is a strong Christian.
No, we did not plan on having the girls be color-coordinated. Funny.
Before we left temple square we went to the bookstore to get some things for Freddy. He has an English Book of Mormon and struggles with the language. He wanted one in French and I suddenly remembered I had one at home. When I was a child my family and I were on vacation and stopped at a little store. I saw a bookshelf with Book of Mormon's in several different languages, including French. I asked the store owner how much it cost and he said,"nothing; the best things in life are free." Crazy that I still remember that. As I started learning French I (tried) to use that Book of Mormon alot because I had heard that was the best way to learn a foreign language. I told Freddy the story and dug the book out of a box in the garage when I got home. I wrote my testimony in it and gave it to him before he left. He called me during his layover, so excited to tell me how much he had already read.
The little I have written about Freddy is really just, well, a LITTLE compared to all he has endured. It's difficult to not question how so many people can be so blessed, and so many people have so much taken away. With all that Freddy has lost, he has been so incredibly blessed. Vyki and Freddy needed each other and somehow she stepped into his cab one day. He now has a large family here in Utah. He really calls us his family. I am his "seestah." Because of Vyki he got to see his children again and has gotten to learn about the gospel. Just recently, the biggest miracle of all, 5 of his children are now US citizens (and share his one room apartment...needless to say, he's looking for a new place.) I'm so grateful to the Lord that I can know Freddy and that I have once again learned to be humble and grateful for all the MANY blessing I have.
