What a Great Surprise on the Golf Course!

As I stated in my last blog, I was going to make a special blog on the great surprise we had on the golf course in Newport Beach.  Kevin wanted to take Connor golfing on a nice course.  Connor is on his high school golf team which has won State once, and he hopes they win it two more times while he is still in high school.  Therefore, Kevin just randomly chose a beautiful course near the condo we were staying in. 

 

About 10 minutes before arriving at the course, George mentioned, "You know, I have an old missionary companion who I haven't seen in about 25 years whose name is Bill Thrasher.  I ought to try to look him up and see if he's still a golf pro and what he's doing."  We soon arrived at the golf course where Kevin and Connor got out.

 

While I was taking pictures, the golf course attendants were loading Kevin and Connor's clubs in their golf cart.  

 Right after I took this picture, a guy in a golf cart yelled up to us, "Are these your clubs with Brigham Young University on them?"  By this time, Kevin and Connor were down getting their cards ready for the round.  George yelled out, "Yes, they're my grandson's."  He told us that he had, also, gone to B.Y.U.  George asked him what year, and he told him he graduated in 1975 (served 2 1/2 years in Viet Nam after his mission.)  George told him he was just a baby and that he had graduated in 1969.  They both laughed.  

We left Kevin and Connor there and went on our way to the mall with Angie and the girls.  On the way though, we stopped to wash the car.  Immediately, we got a call from Kevin.  He said, "Dad, come back.  The guy you were yelling at is your old missionary companion!"  What????  Could it be?  Kevin just happened to notice his name tag when they got in the cart.  Yes, indeed, it was "Bill Thrasher"--now known as "Will Thrasher," a golf pro, golf instructor, club salesman, club repairman, Mr. Everything associated with golf.  He was just as stunned when Kevin said to him, "You used to be my dad's missionary companion."  We quickly returned. 

Elder Thrasher was George's favorite companion of all in the Western States Mission where they served together as Zone Leaders.  Upon coming home, I got out all the old scrapbook pictures.  No wonder they didn't recognize each other--they hadn't seen each other in over 20 years, besides maybe both of their eyesight isn't quite what it should be now.  Hah!   

As you can see from all the newspaper articles and pictures, they worked hard, and they played hard on their preparation day.  

What a great time they had reminiscing of all their good times together.  So what do they look like now?

Way too many memories and catching up to do in such a short time.

 

  

So, Bill came to dinner with us that night and came over to the club house at the condo the next.  Ever since we returned from California, he and George have e-mailed and called.  When people mean so much to you, we have decided you must make every effort to keep that friendship going.  Bill is a great person who meant so much to George on his mission.  We are so grateful that they just "happened" to run into each other on the course that Kevin just randomly picked.  Coincidence?  I think not.