New Mission Presidents Called to Serve in Ecuador, Guatemala, Ukraine, and More

• 14 March 2017

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

Ecuador Quito Mission

Steven Chad Barlow, 48, and Christina Evans Barlow, five children, Mueller Park 7th Ward, Bountiful Utah Mueller Park Stake: Ecuador Quito Mission, succeeding President Roger G. Christensen and Sister Christine Christensen. Brother Barlow is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission. Executive and cofounder, Health Catalyst. Born in Bountiful, Utah, to Jon Kay Barlow and Becky Christensen Barlow.

Sister Barlow is a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, Primary teacher, Relief Society teacher, and Primary chorister. Born in Salt Lake City to Richard Louis Evans Jr. and Tamara Ashby Evans.

Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission

Alirio Baldemar Díaz Flores, 43, and Mirian Aydee Orellana de Díaz, three children, Bougambilias Ward, Quetzaltenango Guatemala West Stake: Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission, succeeding President Rick L. Smith and Sister Lynda Smith. Brother Díaz serves as a high councilor and is a former stake president, mission presidency counselor, bishop, missionary in the Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission, and temple recorder at the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple. Born in Chiquimula, Guatemala, to Alirio Díaz Rivera and Clara Rosa Flores Martinez.

Sister Díaz serves as a Relief Society compassionate service coordinator and is a former stake and ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and institute teacher. Born in Jalapa, Guatemala, to José Daniel Orellana Zeceña and Gladys Aydee Espina de Orellana.

Benin Cotonou Mission

Dalebe Martin Goury, 53, and Ruth Simone Goury, four children, Lekki Ward, Lagos Nigeria Yaba Stake: Benin Cotonou Mission, succeeding President Pierre-Paul Morin and Sister Colette Morin. Brother Goury serves as a bishop and is a former bishop, branch president, high priests group leader, elders quorum president, and ward mission leader. Country operations manager, OneSubsea Services. Born in Yopoue, Ivory Coast, to Maurice Yoro Goury and Gaby Odette Goury.

Sister Goury serves in a ward Relief Society presidency and is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the England London South Mission. Born in Beverley, England, to Alan John Kennington and Myra Eva Kennington.

El Salvador Santa Ana Mission

Clarence Leon Kelley Jr., 49, and VaDawn Harris Kelley, four children, Wilson 4th Ward, Ogden Utah West Stake: El Salvador Santa Ana Mission, succeeding President Ronald L. Spjut and Sister Gayle Spjut. Brother Kelley serves as a ward Young Men president and is a former high priests group leader, bishop, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Costa Rica San Jose Mission. Aerospace engineer, Lockheed Martin. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Clarence Leon Kelley and Elois Lorrainne Blackburn Kelley.

Sister Kelley is a former stake and ward Primary president, stake and ward Young Women presidency counselor, stake girls camp director, and Primary chorister. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Jed W. Harris and Carol Babcock Harris.

Ukraine Kyiv Mission

Edwin Charles Kumferman, 56, and Karen Denise McCubbins Kumferman, six children, Rexburg 14th Ward, Rexburg Idaho Center Stake: Ukraine Kyiv Mission, succeeding President Kenneth B. Packer and Sister Cari Packer. Brother Kumferman is a former bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, ward executive secretary, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Belgium Brussels Mission. Russian professor, Brigham Young University–Idaho. Born in Hawthorne, California, to Donald Herbert Kumferman and Beverly Ann Mayer Meeker.­

Sister Kumferman serves as a Primary activity days leader and is a former stake Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward organist, and stake mission preparation teacher. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, to Ray Woodrow McCubbins and Margaret Mae Durham McCubbins.

Washington Tacoma Mission

Lowell Scott Leishman, 59, and Kristine Kasteler Leishman, four children, Mueller Park 5th Ward, Bountiful Utah Mueller Park Stake: Washington Tacoma Mission, succeeding President John D. Blatter and Sister Diane Blatter. Brother and Sister Leishman recently served in the Arizona Tempe Mission. Brother Leishman is a former bishop, high councilor, stake executive secretary, elders quorum president, and ward Young Men president. Retired, Academy Mortgage Corporation. Born in Salt Lake City to Lowell Lavar Leishman and Constance Faith Geurts Leishman.

Sister Leishman is a former stake Relief Society president, stake Young Women presidency counselor, and ward Young Women and Primary president. Born in Salt Lake City to Orson Wallace Kasteler and Marilyn James Kasteler.

Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission

Lee Merrill Shumway, 55, and Rebecca Crockett Shumway, five children, Elko 5th Ward, Elko Nevada West Stake: Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission, succeeding President E. J. Caffaro and Sister Shari Caffaro. Brother Shumway serves in a mission presidency and is a former stake president, bishop, ward mission leader, elders quorum president, Young Men adviser, and missionary in the Ecuador Guayaquil Mission. Chief financial officer, General Moly Inc. Born in Snowflake, Arizona, to Lenn Minnerly Shumway and Carmen Pratt Shumway.

Sister Shumway is a former seminary teacher, ward Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, Primary chorister, and nursery leader. Born in Safford, Arizona, to Keith Crockett and Kathleen McBride Crockett.

Colombia Cali Mission

Ray Patrick Whitesides, 56, and Alexandra Diaz Whitesides, four children, Garden 11th Ward, Pleasant Grove Utah Garden Stake: Colombia Cali Mission, succeeding President Sergio Prícoli Caniella and Sister Raquel Porley de Prícoli. Brother Whitesides serves as a high priests group leader assistant and is a former mission presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, and missionary in the Colombia Cali Mission. Temple recorder, Corporation of the President. Born in Salt Lake City to Evan A Whitesides and Erma Patrick Whitesides.

Sister Whitesides is a former ward Young Women and Primary president, branch Relief Society president, and seminary teacher. Born in Cali, Colombia, to Jesus Antonio Diaz and Fanny Astudillo de Diaz.

• Missionary Work