2019 Mission Presidents Called to Canada, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, and More
The First Presidency has called 164 new mission presidents and companions who will begin service in July 2019.
The following new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2019. Biographies of other mission presidency couples will be published throughout 2019 on news.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. (See other published biographies.)
Leticia and Darren Ashcraft
Florida Orlando Mission
Darren Ashcraft, 49, and Leticia Ashcraft, six children, Nampa 34th Ward, Nampa Idaho East Stake: Florida Orlando Mission, succeeding President David K. Clark and Sister Denise Clark.
Brother Ashcraft is a former stake presidency counselor, stake Young Men presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission. He was born in Tucson, Arizona, to Ronnie Dean Ashcraft and Jeanne Bryars Ashcraft.
Sister Ashcraft is a Primary activity days leader and a former stake Young Women president, Primary pianist, Primary activity days leader, and missionary in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission. She was born in Provo, Utah, to C. Scott Grow and Rhonda Lee Grow.
Cindy and Clint Ensign
Canada Toronto Mission
Clint Ensign, 63, and Cindy Ensign, four children, Newcastle Ward, Sandy Utah Granite Stake: Canada Toronto Mission, succeeding President Jeffrey L. Shields and Sister Patricia Shields.
Brother Ensign is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the Canada Halifax Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Milton Dale Ensign and Joyce Murdock.
Sister Ensign is a former Relief Society compassionate service leader, institute teacher, gospel doctrine teacher, and early morning seminary teacher. She was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, to Karl J. Toth and Virginia Monahan.
'Isileli T. and Milika M. Fatani
Papua New Guinea Lae Mission
’Isileli T. Fatani, 51, and Milika M. Fatani, five children, Mapelu Ward, Nuku’alofa Tonga Liahona Stake: Papua New Guinea Lae Mission, succeeding President Sitiveni Fehoko and Sister Kilisitina Fehoko.
Brother Fatani is a mission presidency counselor and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, ward mission leader, and missionary in the California Ventura Mission. He was born in Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga, to Tevita Lupeitu’u Fatani and Lolo ’Olive Langi.
Sister Fatani is a former ward Young Women president. She was born in Ha’ateiho, Tongatapu, Tonga, to Sione Taulanga Vake and ’Akanesi Paletu’a.
Martín P. and Gabriela Fernández
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
Martín P. Fernández, 46, and Gabriela Fernández, three children, Resistencia 2nd Ward, Resistencia Argentina Stake: Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission, succeeding President Alejandro Calquín Sepulveda and Sister Susana Calquín.
Brother Fernández is a mission presidency counselor and youth adviser and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Argentina Bahía Blanca Mission. He was born in Resistencia, Argentina, to Carlos Rubén Fernández and Beatríz Ogayar.
Sister Fernández is a youth adviser and a former stake Relief Society president, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, missionary preparation teacher, and missionary in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission. She was born in Resistencia, Argentina, to Juan Osvaldo López and Rosita Mambrín.
Shannon R. and Matthew S. Hurley
Idaho Idaho Falls Mission
Matthew S. Hurley, 46, and Shannon R. Hurley, six children, Chambersburg 2nd Ward, Chambersburg Pennsylvania Stake: Idaho Idaho Falls Mission, succeeding President Brent J. Nelson and Sister Cheryl A. Nelson.
Brother Hurley is a stake president and a former bishop, stake Young Men presidency secretary, ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, and missionary in the California San Diego Mission. He was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to Robert Eugene Hurley and Barbara Ann Rock.
Sister Hurley is a ward Young Women president and a former ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, and ward Primary presidency secretary. She was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to Kenneth Jerome Erler and Nancy Lee Erler.
José L. and Iris Gastelum de Isaguirre
México Monterrey West Mission
José L. Isaguirre, 44, and Iris Gastelum de Isaguirre, three children, Infonavit Ward, Culiacán México Humaya Stake: México Monterrey West Mission, succeeding President Mark J. Maucotel and Sister Audrey Pratt Maucotel.
Brother Isaguirre is an Area Seventy and a former assistant area auditor, stake president, high councilor, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the México Monterrey South Mission. He was born in Navojoa, Sonora, México, to Leobardo Isaguirre Peralta and Petra Leyva Gaxiola.
Sister Isaguirre is a Sunday School teacher, a former stake Young Women president, and ward Relief Society and Young Women president. She was born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México, to José Luís Gastélum Bejarano and Mariana Ávila Mendoza.
L. Jean Claude and Mimie Kanyanga-Mabaya
Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission
L. Jean Claude Mabaya, 58, and Mimie Kanyanga-Mabaya, four children, Sans-Fil Ward, Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Masina Stake: Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission, succeeding President Larry D. Shumard and Sister Gayle Shumard.
Brother Mabaya is a former Area Seventy, stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, and branch presidency counselor. He was born in Kalunga, Kasai-Occidental, DR Congo, to Simon Kisanga Lutumba and Mitshika Simonade Nyange.
Sister Mabaya is a former ward Primary president, ward Primary and Relief Society presidency counselor, and branch Young Women presidency counselor. She was born in Kananga, Zaire, DR Congo, to Gustave Kanyanga and Brigitte Kuedi.
Javier and Leticia Escobarete de Romero
México Monterrey East Mission
Javier Romero, 59, and Leticia Escobarete de Romero, four children, Camacho Ward, Poza Rica México Palmas Stake: México Monterrey East Mission, succeeding President Jorge A. Regalado Campos and Sister Norma Ramos de Regalado.
Brother Romero is a current stake clerk and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, and missionary in the México México City North Mission. He was born in San Luis Potosí, México, to Javier Romero Martínez and Ana Maria Romero.
Sister Romero is a Ward Relief Society president and a former stake Primary and Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and institute teacher. She was born in San Luis Potosí, México, to Jose Asuncion Escobarete and Irene Aranda Cisneros.
