Our friend Brad

This is a picture of Bradley Tuttle with his sisters Sara (l) and Gayla. Early Saturday morning, July 1st, Brad took his own life. Brad was like another brother to me (Shanee) and like a son to my mom and dad. Growing up, he and my brother Josh were best friends, and Brad's younger sister Sara and I were best friends. He has worked for my dad on the farm for many years now. He was one of the most likable, easygoing guys we know. He was family.

He was obviously hurting very much and in his pain made the terrible decision to take his life. We loved Brad very much, and though we are thousands of miles away in Thailand right now, we are hurting and crying with the rest of you all who loved him. We want to be with you so badly. Honestly, this is the hardest thing we have ever gone through. We are praying for Brad’s parents, sisters, and wife he left behind. We are sorry you have to go through such a horrible thing.

We want to remind you all that the hope we have in a situation like this is that our God, the Creator of Everything, knows what its like to lose someone He loved. We have a God who understands grief. When our God was a man, he wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. He is not immune to the suffering of His children. His love is unconquerable, and His Spirit is our Comforter. So our prayer for you is that you will turn to Jesus Christ, the God of all comfort, and ask for His help. He is holding us up as we cry, and He wants to do the same for you.