In the summer of 2002, moments before my eldest son entered the MTC for his mission in Argentina, he was approached at the hotel by a woman who said she had an assignment to get a photo of some missionaries for use by Lladró, the famous porcelain figurine maker in Spain. He said OK and let her take some photos of him holding some scriptures.
My wife has long wondered if they ever made anything based on his photos. That question was answered last week when we spent a few days in Barcelona, Spain (based on a very low-cost travel deal she learned about from Clark Howard). We walked into a Lladró shop in the heart of Barcelona and were amazed to see a figurine of two missionaries, right below one of the Christus. The elder holding the scriptures open appears to be my son. He was wearing a striped blue tie just like the one in the figurine, gray pants, short sleeves, and the face and hair look a lot like him. It just came out last year. We’re pretty sure that’s him. How strange! I haven’t had time yet to take a decent photo, but here are some quick shots in bad light, one from our dim hotel room. Yes, I buckled and bought one, contrary to my normal tightwad approach. (Barcelona, by the way, is one of the most wonderful cities I’ve visited. Especially love the architecture, the food, the big market, and the old city.)
Way cool Jeff! A brother on the LDSMusicians list made a post about his giftshop carrying this “new LDS missionary” Lladro figurine, along with a link to a photo of it, probably about a year or so ago– maybe even longer. So I know it’s been out at least that long.
How awesome that it’s your son!
I was terrified for a moment and thought you were referring to Spanish Porcelain as the material the urn was made of, and that your son had died. AGH!
Whenever I use the word “tightwad” to describe my spending habits (or lack thereof), my wife kindly says, “You are not a tightwad; you are merely frugal with money.”
I’m glad to see I am not alone!
Nice figurine. Too bad your son will not see any compensation for his work! 🙂
Do you mean monetary compensation? If so, try again. The compensation from spreading the Gospel truths far outweighs anything that money could possibly buy!
Jeff, if it’s okay with your son, maybe you can post a picture of him, taken about the same time, alongside the photo of the figurine.
That’s awesome, Jeff! What a special souvenier that will be!
This is SO cool. How many missionary dads or missionaries have something like this for a souvenir?
Very, very cool.
Theres a zoomable image and 3D view here:
http://www.lladro.com/figurines/01008273-MISSIONARIES/
yeah, I think that does look quite a bit like him! How awesome!!
Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Thanks for all the information.