New Mission Presidents Prepare for July By Brittany Karford, Church Magazines Accepting assignments from the First Presidency, 108 new mission presidents have been called to begin serving on or around July 1, 2006. The new presidents and their wives are humbled by the calls to serve in this capacity, each in their own way. For John Douglas Whisenant, he is “going home.” The soon-to-be president of the Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission served in this very same mission in his own days as a missionary. “I was there when the first stake was organized in São Paulo in 1966,” he said. “When we talk about the growth of the Church in a short time, I think of those days and look at the Church in Brazil today. There are now 26 missions and about 200 stakes—incredible.” David B. Iwaasa is also returning home—to his heritage. Both he and his wife, Jane Kadonaga, are third-generation Japanes Canadians and will be heading the Japan Fukuoka Mission come July. “Jane and I have a deep love for the Japanese people and want to share the joy of the gospel with them,” Brother Iwaasa said. He feels, just as in Nephi 3:7, that the Lord has prepared a way for them to accomplish this calling, as he has been privileged to serve as a bishop of a Japanese-speaking ward in Japan and in a stake presidency of a Japanese stake. Sister Iwaasa has also served in a Japanese ward and stake. “As a consequence, I feel that we can understand many of the challenges facing those who become members of the Church in Japan,” Brother Iwaasa said. Peter Leonard Joyce expressed his feelings over different challenges, as he prepares to serve in the Utah Ogden Mission: “I don’t know of many areas in the Church with 144 stakes and about 1,500 wards and branches,” he said. Yet adapting to this mission environment is a challenge he looks forward to. The location is special to his wife, Sheena, as the missionary who taught her the gospel 42 years ago resides within the mission. “It's not a small world,” she said. “It’s a big Church.” The new leaders are: Texas Houston South, Calvin W. Allred Nevada Las Vegas West, Douglas M. Andrus Jr. Costa Rica San Jose, Luis Ricardo Arbizú Uruguay Montevideo, Frederick H. Ashby Uruguay Montevideo, West Lewis C. Bankhead California Oakland, James C. Beck Bulgaria Sofia, Blair S. Bennett New York New York South, Steven D. Bennion Zimbabwe Harare, Andre Bester Germany Berlin, K. Günter Borcherding Paraguay Asuncion, Matthew G. Bradley Nigeria Uyo, J. Wayne Brockbank Utah Provo, Harold C. Brown Colombia Bogota North, Hernando Camargo South Dakota Rapid City, Joseph S. Cannon Korea Seoul, Man Goo Cho Washington Spokane, David R. Clark Venezuela Maracaibo, Fidel Alberto Coello Philippines Baguio, Eleazer S. Collado Russia Moscow South, Philip L. Collins Argentina Neuquén, Carl L. Cook Philippines Bacolod, Dany T. Daquioag Florida Tampa, Clark A. Davis Thailand Bangkok, Karl L. Dodge Mexico Mexico City South, Gary B. Doxey Spain Bilbao, Kenneth L. DuVall Nigeria Ibadan, Steven G. Dyreng New York Utica, Jay W. Eckersley Peru Lima Central, Jeffrey C. Elmer Massachusetts Boston, Edward C. England Nigeria Lagos, Chad L. Evans Spain Madrid, Brad W. Farnsworth Peru Lima South, Francisco W. Fierro Montana Billings, Craig G. Fisher England London, Clayton F. Foulger Brazil Belo Horizonte, Daniel K. Frei Mississippi Jackson, Parker J. Fuhriman Papua New Guinea Port Moresby, Tevita Funaki Greece Athens, John Galanos Mexico Cuernavaca, Wayne L. Gardner Nigeria Enugu, W. Blair Garff Hungary Budapest, G. Walter Gasser Madagascar Antananarivo, Ricardo V. Gaya Jamaica Kingston, David W. Gingery Honduras Comayaguela, Sergio A. Gómez California San Fernando, Robert L. Goodrich Russia Rostov-na-Donu, Michael A. Harrison Portugal Porto, James F. Henry Japan Tokyo North, Allen F. Hill North Carolina Charlotte, Brad R. Hobbs Brazil Belém, Roger D. Hoggan Taiwan Kaohsiung, William S. Hsu Japan Fukuoka, David B. Iwaasa Canada Halifax, S. Gardner Jacobsen Brazil Belo Horizonte East, P. Randy Johnson Brazil Porto Alegre South, Ren S. Johnson Utah Ogden, Peter L. Joyce California San Francisco, W. James Keller Philippines Laoag, Mark L. Lewis Micronesia Guam, Gary L. Marshall Colombia Bogota South, Rene Arturo Martinez Georgia Atlanta, H. Warren Mathusek Australia Sydney South, Brent W. McMaster Venezuela Barcelona, Alexander Mestre England Birmingham, Richard W. Moffat Maryland Baltimore, T. Dean Moody Chile Santiago East, Sofocles E. Morán Canada Winnipeg, Judd D. Morgan Mexico Tampico, Brian H. Moss Nebraska Omaha, Jan E. Newman Taiwan Taipei, Norman S. Nielson Mozambique Maputo, Blair J. Packard Ohio Cleveland, Kenneth V. Peterson Switzerland Geneva, Paul T. Peterson Haiti Port-Au-Prince, Fouchard Pierre-Nau Norway Oslo, Lynn J. Poulsen Canada Calgary, Gene F. Priday Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Donald E. Pugh Venezuela Valencia, Abraham E. Quero Australia Adelaide, Robert E. Quinn West Indies, Reid A. Robison Oklahoma Tulsa, Kent M. Seal New York New York North, Richard M. Searle Brazil Salvador South, Getúlio W. J. Silva Singapore, Bryan Skelton Peru Piura, Carlos A. Solís Idaho Pocatello, K. Brent Somers Argentina Bahía Blanca, Raúl H. Spitale California Santa Rosa, Charles C. Stoddard Illinois Chicago North, William H. Stoddard Scotland Edinburgh, Lynn L. Summerhays England London South, Jeffrey C. Swinton Portugal Lisbon, Craig B. Terry Dominican Republic Santiago, Richard W. Thomas Cape Verde Praia, Ronald C. Tolman Mexico Monterrey West, Ernesto R. Toris China Hong Kong, Lee H. Van Dam Mexico Hermosillo, Omar Villalobos Spain Barcelona, W. Christopher Waddell North Carolina Raleigh, W. Budge Wallis Brazil Porto Alegre North, J. Douglas Whisenant Chile Viña del Mar, Gerardo J. Wilhelm Brazil Sao Paulo East, Craig D. Wilkins Cambodia Phnom Penh, Robert W. Winegar Washington D.C. South, B. Jackson Wixom Jr. Belgium Brussels/Netherlands, Paul R. Woodland Chile Concepcion South, Jorge F. Zeballos Mexico Guadalajara South, To be announced