South African Suit

Nov. 7, 2012
I saw Steve Hadley at Kathy Egan’s funeral and visited with him.  The first time I met him was at the Egans home when Kathy arranged a dinner and meeting with him and his mother.  He told us about the mission ( since he had recently returned), about the changes the Probost had made and stories about Bryce like putting Elder Ronny on a chair and getting under the chair and lifting them both when he couldn’t get out for exercise.  
I asked him at the funeral if he had gotten an “African” suit on his mission.  He told me he didn’t have the money to buy one.  I thought about the suit hanging in Bryce’s closet and felt prompted to ask him if he would like it even though he is quite a bit taller than Bryce.   He said he would like it and so for Bryce’s 25th birthday, I sadly folded up the suit and sent it to Steve’s home address.  It still smelled like Bryce.  I knew that Bryce wanted Steve to have it, so I did it!  I didn’t hear from Steve until today and had wondered if he ever got it.  I kept reminding myself that he was a “guy” and to not worry but I was happy when on Facebook I got this message:
I am so grateful for Bryce's suit. I have worn it several times to church and the temple. I feel like he is tagging along with me. I want to come visit you in person down in Utah County next week. I feel it would be great to catch up, and it would be great to thank you in person.

Steve is the tall one in back standing next to Bryce

I talked to Teresa last night.  Her son served 3 days in South Africa before being in a fatal car accident.  She sent her son's clothes to SA for the missionaries there and said that her favorite coat of Brian's was hard to part with but she could feel her son telling her to just send it!  She got a letter back from one missionary thanking her for the coat...the first birthday present he had ever gotten.