Our man, Frank

Tonight was haircut night…for Nigel Frank, our friend with the dreadlocks that was baptized last Saturday.

What shall I tell you first? About his baptism? Or his haircut?
They were both very exciting occasions!

From 10-27-09Frank

We’ve been teaching Frank for the 4 weeks we’ve been in Trinidad. We have visited him and taught him almost daily through that period of time. When I say “we”, I’m referring to the two young elders, Elder Lang and Elder Cotton, and to us two old folks, Elder Bullock and I.

We’ve had some very eventful evenings teaching Frank who lives alone. During that period he has quit smoking cigarettes and marijuana and quit drinking alcohol and coffee. He has read the Book of Mormon almost daily. He has moved out the two young girls who had moved in with him. He has stopped “liming” with his old friends. Liming means hanging out and drinking.

Frank has made a lot of changes in his life in four weeks time. It took him a while to conquer the cigarettes or he would have been baptized earlier. We are so proud of him.

Saturday he was baptized in the ocean which is a five-minute drive from our apartment.

The water was just the right temperature and they waded in to where it was waist deep.

Elder Chambers didn't hesitate to join them in the water fully dressed when he realized he was needed to witness the baptism!

Notice Frank tucking his dreadlocks into the back of his baptismal suit as he walked.

From 10-27-09Frank

Elder Lang gave him a few instructions.

From 10-27-09Frank

Hooray, they did it!

From 10-27-09Frank

A perfect photo of four happy men!

From 10-27-09Frank

Right after the baptism, we had a testimony meeting. In his testimony, Frank described his baptism in this way. “It was different than just going under the water. My whole soul felt refreshed as I went down under the water and came back up. I was wishing I could go under the water a few more times!”

Sunday he was confirmed and that night we visited him again. Elder Cotton asked him when he was going to cut his hair. Frank had mentioned previously that he was going to do so. Once again, he assured us he was going to cut it.

Elder Cotton pleaded, “Oh please, Frank, cut it before I am transferred on Wednesday. We’ll bring over the clippers on Tuesday night and cut it. I’ve just got to see you cut it!”

So, when we drove up in front of Frank’s house with the clippers tonight, we were wondering if he really wanted to cut off his long dreadlocks. Elder Bullock said, “Let’s not put any pressure on him,” and we all agreed we wouldn’t.

When we walked in his front room and took our usual seats, we could see that Frank was scurrying around getting ready for his haircut.

He was ready…and so were we. We had brought the clippers and had 3 cameras ready to document the big event.

From 10-27-09Frank

Frank asked for a prayer before the haircut began. After the prayer, Frank indicated he was ready for the haircut to begin and Elder Cotton started cutting off all the long dreads with scissors.

From 10-27-09Frank

It didn't take long for Elder Cotton to snip all off. He saved the little one in front for last.

One last quick snip and the front lock was history. Frank was looking pretty calm, wouldn't you say?

From 10-27-09Frank

The pile of dreadlocks...

From 10-27-09Frank

Then, Elder Cotton started plowing through the hair that remained with the clippers. It was slow going because his hair was so thick and curly. Frank said, “I want it shaved with the shortest setting possible,” and so he shaved him bald.

I just had to jump in to help clip off his beard.

From 10-27-09Frank

Aren't we cute?

From 10-27-09Frank

The room was dimly lit so I’m not sure how well we did. We’ll see tomorrow in the daylight. We may have to have a second go around to clip whatever hairs were missed.

Frank looked like a new man. He looked ten years younger after his hair was cut...and he was still grinning.

Here's the finished product!

From 10-27-09Frank

Frank is wearing a huge smile these days! He is thrilled to have been baptized and for the new direction his life has taken.

Here he is wearing the huge hat that he used to wear over his big mop of hair with his big smile.

From 10-27-09Frank

Actually, when I think about it, Frank doesn’t just look like a new man, he is a new man!