The rest of the story

On his mission in Spain, in his first area, Chad was able to teach and baptize this young boy named Imanol. Imanol's family had just been baptized but they wanted him to have the discussions and decide for himself. Imanol was a cute little kid who gave Chad pokemon stickers and pictures he had colored. Chad gave him this "Stripling Warriors-- Momma's Boys" tie.


While still on his mission, Chad received a card saying the family had been sealed in the temple. But that was the last he heard from them.
Ten years later, via facebook last September, Chad heard from Imanol's mother that he had received his mission call-- to the Ogden, Utah mission! This is the mission area we now live in.  Several months passed after hearing this good news and Chad knew that Imanol would now be here.  So he contacted the mission president.  The mission president gave Chad Imanol's phone number with permission to meet and take him out to lunch.  Chad was able to contact Imanol and we went down to Ogden one Saturday to meet him.  Here is Chad, Imanol (now Elder Bustos) and his companion Elder Bess.

It was a short but fun experience to meet Elder Bustos and have him meet the family. Elder Bustos had a surprise for us-- under his sweater he was wearing the same tie Chad had given him at his baptism!



We had another surprise, too. While talking to Elder Bustos, we found out that the missionary (Elder Larsen) Chad served with when they taught and baptized Elder Bustos, also now lives in the Ogden area. Chad was able to contact Scott Larsen and we arranged to meet the following Sunday.  We attended the Spanish branch where Elder Bustos serves.  Chad, Elder Bustos, and Scott Larsen were able to recreate the same photograph that had taken place twelve years earlier.  Chad did not teach a lot of people in Spain, and it was a special experience to know that one not only stayed active and faithful, but has now been able to serve a mission.