In a recent meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, approval was given to realign the boundary between the Botswana/Namibia and South Africa Johannesburg Missions, and to transfer the Pretoria South Africa Stake and the Tzaneen South Africa District from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission to the Botswana/Namibia Mission. This change will be effective 1 July, 2015, and will affect 45 missionaries currently serving in the Pretoria, Sunnyside and Tzaneen Zones of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
This change in mission boundaries coincides with the splitting of the Pretoria Stake and the formation of the new, Mabopane Stake. Both the new stake and the adjustments to the mission boundaries were proposed and sustained by the members and missionaries in a special stake conference held this morning in Pretoria. The net effect of this move is that it transfers a stake and district from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. It will also immediately bolster the compliment of missionaries in the Botswana/Namibia Mission which has struggled to get missionaries into those countries due to visa issues for the past 18 months. As a geography reminder, these two countries are adjacent to South Africa, and are located on its northern border. The affected zones from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission are the northernmost areas of our mission, and a logical addition to the Botswana/Namibia Mission.
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Afterwards, we gathered all the missionaries that are now part of the new Botswana Namibia Mission. What a terrific, resilient group.
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The missionaries officially reassigned to the Botswana/Namibia Mission are:
Elder Theodore Dandrick Barendse
Elder James Rex Bryner
Elder Kenneth Dylan Christie
Elder Duwayne Fernando DeSouza
Elder Peter Mpaulo Diogo
Elder Enoc Teancum Garnica
Elder Seth Alexander Going
Elder Afina Hunt
Elder Ray Hunt
Elder Teemu Samuel Kankkunen
Elder Ken Kobbina Kenyah
Elder Brian Kusi-Poku
Elder Daniel Liera
Elder Jarom Alexander Lybe
Elder Albert James May
Elder James Almon McAllister
Elder Kelly McClellan
Elder Jorden Paul McQueen
Elder Elisha Mugenyi
Elder Sicelo Falakhe Ndlovu
Elder Václav Novotný
Elder James D. McKay Oldroyd
Elder Felix Paul
Elder Aaron Leslie Reynolds
Elder Turner McKay Richards
Elder Jacob Blake Saunders
Elder Duke Malcolm Smith-Holley
Elder Joshua Alexander Stilgoe
Elder Simon Ssendege
Elder Jared Michael Cornelis Stomps
Elder Mose Johnny Togiatomai
Elder Andre Edward Daniel Thompson
Elder Teamakaia Louis Adolph Bonard Tumarae
Elder Andries Petrus Van Heerden
Elder Kayl Michael Williams
Elder Mitchell Allen Williams
Elder Gerald Woniala
Senior Couples:
Elder Max Butler and Sister Janis Cardon Butler
Elder Steven Roy Campbell and Sister Loretta Evans Campbell
Elder Larry LaVarr Hansen and Sister Melanie Hansen
Elder Bryan Mark Winward and Sister Valerie Jean Winward
While we are obviously saddened to part with these great missionaries whom we have come to know and love as sons (…along with four of the best senior couples to be found anywhere), it is inspiring—and in fact more accurately, dizzying—to see the hand of the Lord move the work forward on this African continent. In addition to strengthening the ability to handle the burgeoning work of building the kingdom in the north, this is a pioneering opportunity to stretch and grow which will bless the lives of all involved. Even though these missionaries will be adding and expanding their experience, they will always be a part of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
We are excited to introduce the new Mission President and Companion— President and Sister Wilson
We know President and Sister Wilson and they are
outstanding people and seasoned servants of God. They have already served two years of their three-year call in the Botswana Gaborone Mission, and so are experienced leaders of a mission. Their home is in West Jordan, Utah and they are the parents of five children. President Wilson, who was born in
Columbus, Ohio is steeped in church experience having served as a counselor in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, and Young Men president. Professionally he worked as an engineer with Ceramatec, Inc. Sister Wilson, who is from Payson, Utah, has also served in many callings including as a former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president. Again, your sons will love serving with this terrific couple.
I testify to you that God is indeed in charge. And that this is but one more evidence of the hastening of the work. As the Book of Mormon asserts, “But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men…” (1 Nephi 9:6). Elder Neal Maxwell also reminds us that all things do work together for our good. “Trust in the Lord as He leads you along,” said Elder Maxwell. “He has things for you to do that
you won't know about now but that will unfold later. If you stay close to Him, You will have some great adventures. The Lord will unfold your future bit by bit."