2017 Mission Presidents Called to Serve in Argentina, Philippines, U.S., and More
Eight new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July.
Philippines Tacloban Mission
Eduardo M. and Ma Cecilia Argana
Eduardo Mendoza Argana, 53, and Ma Cecilia Monasterial Sacabon Argana, four children, Muntinlupa 1st Ward, Las Piñas Philippines Stake: Philippines Tacloban Mission, succeeding President Wayne E. Maurer and Sister Tracy Maurer. Brother Argana serves in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, stake Young Men presidency counselor, ward Young Men president, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Philippines Davao Mission. Manager, Corporation of the President. Born in Muntinlupa City, Philippines, to Ernesto Dela Cruz Argana and Teresita Gravador Mendoza Argana.
Sister Argana serves as a seminary teacher and is a former stake Relief Society secretary, ward Young Women presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Philippines San Pablo Mission. Born in Ligao City, Philippines, to Jose dela Fuente Sacabon and Elena Monasterial Sacabon.
Oregon Portland Mission
Jonathan W. and Julie A. Bullen
Jonathan William Bullen, 63, and Julie Anna Harris Bullen, four children, Silver Creek Ward, Park City Utah Stake: Oregon Portland Mission, succeeding President Craig B. Ballard and Sister Melissa Ballard. Brother Bullen is a former high councilor, stake Young Men presidency counselor, ward Young Men president, bishopric counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Australia East Mission. Managing director, Colmena Group. Born in Logan, Utah, to Reed Bullen and Kathryn Bowen Bullen.
Sister Bullen is a former stake Young Women secretary, ward Young Women president, and ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor. Born in Logan, Utah, to Lorin E. Harris and Vola Allen Harris.
Brazil Manaus Mission
Jose and Sueli Caetano
Jose Caetano de Morais, 58, and Sueli Vieira Caetano, five children, Poá Ward, São Paulo Brazil Itaquá Stake: Brazil Manaus Mission, succeeding President Rui B. Castro and Sister Elizabeth T. Castro. Brother Caetano is a former mission presidency counselor, stake president, bishop, regional welfare specialist, and missionary in the Brazil Recife Mission. Director, Seminaries and Institutes. Born in Exú, Brazil, to Francisco Caetano da Silva and Antonia Mendes de Morais.
Sister Caetano serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake Relief Society secretary, ward Relief Society president, and seminary teacher. Born in Santo André, Brazil, to Valdemiro Simplicio Vieira and Flora da Silva Vieira.
California San Jose Mission
M. Truman and Linda Hunt
M. Truman Hunt, 57, and Linda Ann Nielsen Hunt, six children, Wanderwood Ward, Sandy Utah Crescent Stake: California San Jose Mission, succeeding President Glen D. Mella and Sister Elizabeth Mella. Brother Hunt is a former stake president, bishop, ward Young Men president, ward Young Men adviser, and missionary in the France Toulouse Mission. Chief executive officer, Nu Skin Enterprises. Born in Salt Lake City to Heber Truman Hunt and GeNeal Richins Hunt.
Sister Hunt serves as a ward choir accompanist and is a former ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward music chairman, Young Women adviser, and Primary teacher. Born in San Francisco, California, to Peter Lamont Nielsen and Relda Skinner Reed Nielsen.
Adriatic North Mission
David M. and Rebecca S. Melonakos
David Michael Melonakos, 62, and Rebecca Alice Stephens Melonakos, five children, Newton-Conover Ward, Hickory North Carolina Stake: Adriatic North Mission, succeeding President David J. Grant and Sister Judith W. Grant. Brother and Sister Melonakos served as senior missionaries in the New York New York North Mission. Brother Melonakos serves as a ward mission leader and is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Indonesian Mission. Retired business controller, Corning, Inc. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to John Melonakos and Christina Markoul Melonakos.
Sister Melonakos is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, stake and ward Young Women president, seminary teacher, and Sunday School teacher. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Keith Thomas Stephens and Alice Berg Stephens.
Argentina Resistencia Mission
Sabina A. and Alejandro S. Patanía
Alejandro Salvador Patanía, 56, and Sabina Angela Tesoro de Patanía, five children, Colinas Ward, Mar del Plata Argentina Stake: Argentina Resistencia Mission, succeeding President Rodolfo C. Franco and Sister Cristina Franco. Brother Patanía serves as a high councilor and is a former Area Seventy, stake president, bishop, high councilor, and missionary in the Argentina Rosario Mission. Owner, office equipment business. Born in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, to Sebastian Patania and Olga Haydee Piccione Patanía.
Sister Patanía serves as a ward Relief Society president and is a former stake and ward Primary president, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. Born in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, to Pascual Tesoro and Maria Ficco Tesoro.
California Roseville Mission
Jack D. and Sharmon O. Ward
Jack Donald Ward, 64, and Sharmon Oaks Ward, six children, Belvidere Ward, Rockford Illinois Stake: California Roseville Mission, succeeding President Michael F. Marston and Sister Annette L. Marston. Brother Ward serves as a director of public affairs and is a former Area Seventy, stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the Italy South Mission. Partner, Reno & Zahm LLP Attorneys at Law. Born in Blue Island, Illinois, to Sylvan Donald Ward and Beatrice Dorrell Stackhouse Ward.
Sister Ward serves in a stake Primary presidency and is a former ward Relief Society and Young Women president, seminary teacher, ward missionary, and Cub Scout leader. Born in Provo, Utah, to Dallin Harris Oaks and Verda June Dixon Oaks.
Nevada Las Vegas Mission
Katherine and Richard G. Youngblood
Richard Grady Youngblood, 56, and Katherine Joy Echard Youngblood, four children, Signal Mountain Branch, Chattanooga Tennessee Stake: Nevada Las Vegas Mission, succeeding President D. Jack Snow and Sister Peggy M. Snow. Brother Youngblood is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, institute teacher, and missionary in the Japan Tokyo South Mission. President and CEO, Blood Assurance, Inc. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Earlton Barbour Youngblood and Sandra Diane Youngblood.
Sister Youngblood is a former ward Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society secretary, institute teacher, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. Born in Provo, Utah, to Jim David Echard and Katherine Caroline Echard.
