Church Calls New Mission Presidents and Wives

• 28 January 2015

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Eight mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July 2015.

Bulgaria Sofia Mission

Michael Douglas Barclay, 61, and Susan Kloepfer Barclay, seven children, Manti 4th Ward, Manti Utah Stake: Bulgaria Sofia Mission, succeeding President Michael S. Wilstead and Sister Denise Wilstead. Brother Barclay serves as a stake presidency counselor and is a former ward Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Germany Munich Mission. Consultant, Barclay Mechanical of Utah. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, to Daniel Paskins Barclay and Enna Jo Young Barclay.

Sister Barclay serves as a ward music chairman and ward organist and is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women adviser, temple organist, ward Young Women president, and ward Primary presidency counselor. Born in Logan, Utah, to Frederick Paul Kloepfer and Janet Balling Kloepfer.

Ghana Kumasi Mission

Michael Laurence Cosgrave, 67, and Cynthia Gunn Cosgrave, eight children, Highland 38th Ward, Highland Utah Stake: Ghana Kumasi Mission, succeeding President Leon A. Holmes and Sister Elizabeth A. Holmes. Brother and Sister Cosgrave recently served as a senior missionary couple in the Ghana Accra Mission. Brother Cosgrave is a former counselor in stake and district presidencies, bishop, branch president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Irish Mission. Physician, Premier Family Medical. Born in Dallas, Texas, to Laurence Dean Cosgrave and Ella Mae Mackay Cosgrave.

Sister Cosgrave is a former counselor in stake Young Women and ward Relief Society presidencies, ward Young Women and Primary president, ward family history consultant, and ward Primary chorister. Born in Salt Lake City to Harold Woodrow Gunn and Geraldine Margaret Kluge Gunn.

Spain Barcelona Mission

Merril Taylor Dayton, 66, and Debbie Hutchings Forrest Dayton, 12 children, Eighteenth Ward, Salt Lake Ensign Stake: Spain Barcelona Mission, succeeding President Mark L. Pace and Sister Anne Marie Pace. Brother Dayton is a former bishop, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, stake mission president, elders quorum president, and missionary in the West Spanish American Mission. Professor of surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine. Born in Salt Lake City to Sharon Reed Dayton and Lois Whitaker Taylor Dayton.

Sister Forrest Dayton is a former stake Young Women president, ward Young Women and Primary president, ward Primary presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and Cub Scout leader. Born in Salt Lake City to LeGene Bay Hutchings and Patricia Francis Williamson Hutchings.

Germany Berlin Mission

Christian Hans Fingerle, 47, and Sibylle Evelyn Ketzinger Fingerle, five children, Usingen Ward, Friedrichsdorf Germany Stake: Germany Berlin Mission, succeeding President Henry W. Kosak and Sister Elke Kosak. Brother Fingerle serves as an Area Seventy and is a former stake president, stake Young Men president, bishop, branch president, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Switzerland Zurich Mission. Area director, Church Educational System. Born in Waiblingen, Germany, to Hans Ludwig Fingerle and Ursula Marie Meissner Fingerle.

Sister Fingerle serves as an assistant stake seminary supervisor and is a former ward Primary president, stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and EFY session director. Born in Ebingen, Germany, to Walter J. Ketzinger and Monika K. Schichel Ketzinger.

Zimbabwe Harare Mission

Talafuka Jackson Mkhabela, 54, and Dorah Majujwa Mkhabela, three children, Florida Ward, Soweto South Africa Stake: Zimbabwe Harare Mission, succeeding President Bryson C. Cook and Sister Janice L. Cook. Brother Mkhabela serves as an Area Seventy and is a former stake president, bishop, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, and branch presidency counselor. Attorney, private practice. Born in Limpopo, South Africa, to Marufu Jackson Mkhabela and Anna Mashaba Mkhabela.

Sister Mkhabela serves as a member of the Young Women general board and is a former branch Relief Society president and ward Relief Society, Primary, and Sunday School teacher. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Peter Magezi Mjujuwa and Annah Tsatsawani Majujwa.

Mississippi Jackson Mission

Bruce Lee Olson, 63, and Judy Liana Olson, six children, East Mill Creek 15th Ward, Salt Lake East Mill Creek Stake: Mississippi Jackson Mission, succeeding President Mark J. McDonough and Sister Dorothy P. McDonough. Brother Olson serves as a gospel principles teacher and is a former bishop, high councilor, stake Sunday School president, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Texas North Mission. Attorney and partner, Ray Quinney & Nebeker. Born in Salt Lake City to Ernest L. Olson and Mary Harris Olson.

Sister Olson serves as a Primary teacher and is a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president, and ward Sunday School teacher. Born in Lovell, Wyoming, to Clarence Townsend and Irene Seibt Townsend.

Brazil Belém Mission

Alexandre Otsuka Stasevskas, 58, and Lelia Consuelo De Carvalho Stasevskas, three children, Vila Sônia Ward, São Paulo Brazil Stake: Brazil Belém Mission, succeeding President José C. Scisci and Sister Rosana Scisci. Brother Stasevskas serves as an MTC branch president and is a former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, and bishop. Brazil Area manager of architecture, engineering, and construction, Corporation of the Presiding Bishop. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Zenonas Stasevskas and Ayame Otsuka Stasevskas.

Sister Stasevskas serves as an MTC branch president’s wife and is a former ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward music director, and missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission. Born in João Pessoa, Brazil, to Luiz Pessoa de Carvalho Filho and Maria Fernanda Gomes de Carvalho.

Montana Billings Mission

Gordon Leo Wadsworth, 58, and Michele Louisa Gaffin Wadsworth, four children, Panaca 1st Ward, Panaca Nevada Stake: Montana Billings Mission, succeeding President Kris J Mecham and Sister Stephanie Mecham. Brother Wadsworth serves as a ward Young Men president and is a former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, and missionary in the California Arcadia Mission. President and chief executive officer, Nevada Bank & Trust Co. Born in Cedar City, Utah, to David Nephi Wadsworth and Charlene Rae Gardner.

Sister Wadsworth serves as a ward Young Women presidency counselor and is a former stake Young Women presidency counselor and ward Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society presidency counselor. Born in Boulder City, Nevada, to Stanley Joseph John Gaffin and Beverly Ruth Bulloch Gaffin.

• Missionary Work