RIP Frank

You may recall from an earlier post (Frank's Calling - Feb 26/12) that I spoke of a man named Frank who was asking about me down at the mission where I volunteer. Frank was a very special person to me.

On March 20, 2013, Frank passed away in a fire that engulfed the building where he lived.

I am in shock and filled with deep sorrow. This is a great tragedy.

As the week has gone on since I found out the news, I've prayed many times for Frank. I imagine him "up there" in a bright white suit, cleaned up with a nice hair cut, his shining blue eyes, and perhaps even his teeth back.

Frank was someone who was less fortunate than most, he often used the local mission for his meals and other essentials, and Frank also suffered with some sort of mental illness. It was often difficult to speak with him, depending on what his mood was like that day, so you had to assess the situation and see if he was temperamental or not and then proceed to either keep your distance or engage in conversation.

Frank was one of the first people I started to get to know down there, and he seemed to take a liking to me as well. He wasn't very trusting, as anyone living some time on the streets wouldn't be, but he seemed to trust me just a little. He always said "Hello" as I walked by. He often would squeeze my hand while talking with him. His finger nails were long, yellowed and not so clean most times. When he was in a good mood, he would laugh and smile ear to ear showing off his hardened gums, since he had no teeth.

Some people said he had a very young mental state, no more than a ten year old, but I would have to disagree. He was extremely witty, often catching you in phrases that no ten year old could catch on to. He asked me once where I worked. (Somehow he thought I worded at a bank). I told him I worked at an Engineering Company. He said, "Are they all engineers that work there?". I said, "yup, they sure are". He asked me then if I was an engineer, and I said, "no, I just work in the office there." Frank said "well I guess they're not all Engineer's then are they."

He caught me. He outwitted me. And he laughed and laughed and laughed, saying " I got you eh?" over and over.

I sure liked ole Frank. His heart was pure. And this is why I know that Frank has seen the face of our Lord, Jesus. Frank knows I've been thinking about him since I found out. This I am sure of also. Frank was the reason I came back to the mission. My life has changed such a great deal because of this, and Frank helped me get there.

Hats off to you Frank. Enjoy your clean suit, all the food you can imagine to eat, all the questions you ever had (and there were lots of them), you now know the answers. I will miss you Frank.

With Love,
The girl from the bank.