Surprise from Spain!

August 8, 2020

It seems that every missionary always has that ONE convert that is "theirs"...Calli's was Mati. Mati and Calli met while Calli was serving in Tarragona with Hermana Olivia Hofstetter. The two companions met Edu who was already a member and his best friend Mati.  Edu helped the sisters teach and convert  Mati. Mati was a chain smoker and had tried everything to quit. The four of them formed "Team Bazinga" and each of them gave up something to help Mati.  He was able to do it for the first time in his life and was baptized. Over the course of their time together, they all grew close.  Mati always looked over "his" missionaries and made sure they were taken care of. He fed them very well. Even after Calli was transferred, Mati would show up in her new area with a box of food, making sure she was eating. We were able to text and face time Mati a couple times. Between visits, Calli's letters and pictures and videos of Mati we all just loved him. The entire time Calli knew Mati and Edu they talked about coming to America, that was their dream. While still serving, Edu was able to make his way and eventually married Hermana Olivia Hofstetter. Calli got the announcement on her mission. After she returned, one of the first people she went to visit was Edu and Olivia.  Over the year and a half her and Mati continued to talk, face time and message each other. He was always still trying to get to America but kept hitting road block after road block.  One day, the first of August, Olivia called Calli and told her that her and Edu were coming to town and wanted to get together. They planned a double date of razor rides, hiking and going to the lake.  Edu and Olivia arrived and came in the house to visit for a minute before heading out.  A few minutes later the doorbell rang. Jason was standing in the entry way and opened the door, as soon as I saw him, I knew who it was and screamed. Calli was in the living room visiting, she turned around, saw Mati and leaped out of her chair and ran to give Mati a hug. We were all shocked...he was actually here...he made it!! It was amazing to finally meet him in person. We all talked for a while about how he made it here and his future plans, before they all took off for the day. He is hilarious. He and Edu had us laughing so hard. 

Calli and Mati. He was so excited he could finally hug and put his arm around her, something they could not do in the mission. 

TEAM BAZINGA reunited again!!

I had remembered this picture on Mati's baptism day and had them stand in the same order for the picture above. It was incredible seeing them all together again. 

They had a BLAST doing all things American...They went shooting (one of Mati's dreams), ate at In and Out and went paddle boarding at the lake. They ended their day at Sweet Rolled Taco before they hit the road to head back to Provo. Mati is doing so well. Still an active member, he has stayed away from smoking and was serving as Sunday School President before leaving Spain. Such a blessing they will be in each other's lives. 

Just some fun and random pictures of them together from her mission.