2019 Mission Presidents Called to Ecuador, Singapore, Korea, and More

• 5 February 2019

The First Presidency has called 164 new mission presidents and companions who will begin service in July 2019.  Image by Aaron Thorup, Deseret News.

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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.)

Washington Seattle Mission

Larry K. Beardall, 63, and Laurie Beardall, four children, Willow Hills Ward, Sandy Utah Granite Stake: Washington Seattle Mission, succeeding President Sterling A. Rasmussen and Sister Cheryl Rasmussen. 

Brother Beardall is a stake presidency counselor and a former stake and ward Young Men president, bishop, high councilor, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Keith Eugene Beardall and Maurine Spratling Beardall.

Sister Beardall is a stake temple and family history consultant and a former stake and ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Primary president, family history center director, and ward missionary. She was born in Provo, Utah, to Harry Stanley Nielsen and Lois Gifford Nielsen.

Uruguay Montevideo West Mission

Keith M. Dunford, 61, and Lori B. Dunford, eight children, Snowflake 9th Ward, Snowflake Arizona Stake: Uruguay Montevideo West Mission, succeeding President Ryan K. Olsen and Sister Julie Olsen. 

Brother Dunford is a stake self-reliance specialist and a former stake president, bishop, high priests group leader, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Spain Barcelona Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Max Patterson Dunford and Katie Pearl Thornhill Dunford.

Sister Dunford is a stake self-reliance specialist and a former ward Relief Society and Young Women president, branch Primary presidency counselor, Primary music leader, and missionary in the Spain Madrid Mission. She was born in McNary, Arizona, to Darrell Lake Brimhall and Hazel Pearl Bryant Brimhall.

México Culiacán Mission

Victor Esparza Villasana, 60, and Angelina Ramon de Esparza, three children, Azcapotzalco Ward, México City Camarones Stake: México Culiacán Mission, succeeding President Carlos A. Gabaldón Royval and Sister Ana Laura Gabaldón. 

Brother Esparza is a stake presidency counselor and a former stake president, mission presidency counselor, and missionary in the México México City South Mission. He was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, México, to Antonio Esparza and Josefina Villasana.

Sister Esparza is a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and a former stake Young Women president, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the México México City South Mission. She was born in Sabinas, Coahuila, México, to Dámaso Ramón and Cruz Dora López.

Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission

Boyd S Foster, 61, and Laurie Foster, six children, Clark Ward, Ririe Idaho Stake: Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission, succeeding President John F. Larkin and Sister Robyn Larkin. 

Brother Foster is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the New Zealand Wellington Mission. He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Dewain Claxton Foster and Melba Leone Sauer Foster.

Sister Foster is a Relief Society teacher and a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, ward temple and family history consultant, and ward organist. She was born in Ashton, Idaho, to James Basil Manwaring and Edna Adams Manwaring.

England Leeds Mission

M. Kirk Green, 60, and Sally Thomas Green, six children, Centerville 7th Ward, Centerville Utah South Stake: England Leeds Mission, succeeding President Martin J. Turvey and Sister Debra L. Turvey. 

Brother Green is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. He was born in Billings, Montana, to Melvin Carl Green and Eleanor Marie Slater Green.

Sister Green is a stake Primary presidency counselor and a former ward Relief Society and Young Women president, Young Women adviser, ward Primary presidency counselor, activity days leader, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She was born in Salt Lake City to Raymond Earl Thomas and Joyce Holbrook Thomas.

México Ciudad Juárez Mission

Robert C. Henke, 59, and Mary Ann Henke, five children, Providence 12th Ward, Providence Utah Stake: México Ciudad Juárez Mission, succeeding President J. Randall Owen and Sister Suzette B. Owen. 

Brother Henke is a stake president and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the El Salvador/Costa Rica/Honduras Mission. He was born in San Diego, California, to Douglas Carl Henke and Donna Mae Hammett Henke.

Sister Henke is a ward Young Women president and a former stake and ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, ward Primary presidency counselor, and Relief Society teacher. She was born in Ogden, Utah, to Garnel Melroy Larsen and Charlene Larsen.

Brazil São Paulo West Mission

Brett Horsley, 49, and Amy Horsley, five children. Logan 19th Ward, Logan Utah Central Stake: Brazil São Paulo West Mission, succeeding President Thomas W. Thomas and Sister Ellen Mathias Thomas. 

Brother Horsley is a priests quorum advisor and a former temple ordinance worker, stake president, bishop, elders quorum president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission. He was born in Downey, Idaho, to E. Spence Horsley and Deborah Field Horsley.

Sister Horsley is a Relief Society instructor and a former temple ordinance worker, stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women president, and ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor. She was born in Provo, Utah, to Hal Leon Marchbanks and Terry Smith Marchbanks.

Brazil Natal Mission

Emilton Miranda, 53, and Aparecida Miranda, three children, Santana Ward, São Paulo Brazil North Stake: Brazil Natal Mission, succeeding President Eliseu Colleoni and Sister Tania Teresa Colleoni. 

Brother Miranda is a stake Sunday School president and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, district presidency counselor, and missionary in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro/Brasilia Mission. He was born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Milton Miranda and Ephigênia Guiette Gallo Miranda.

Sister Miranda is a stake Primary presidency counselor and a former stake Relief Society president and presidency counselor, stake temple and family history consultant, ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, and district Young Women president. She was born in Mirassol, São Paulo, Brazil, to Francisco Alves Pereira and Rosa Francisca Pereira.

Washington DC North Mission

Reid L. Neilson, 46, and Shelly A. Neilson, five children, Bountiful 50th Ward, Bountiful Utah Heights Stake: Washington DC North Mission, succeeding President Stephen C. Johnson and Sister Beth Johnson. 

Brother Neilson is an assistant Church historian and recorder and a former high councilor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Japan Sapporo Mission. He was born in Glendale, California, to Ralph Reid Neilson and Katherine Larkin Neilson.

Sister Neilson is a Primary teacher and a former ward Young Women president and ward Young Women presidency counselor. She was born in Logan, Utah, to Loren Runar Anderson and Mary T Anderson.

México México City Chalco Mission

Michael C. Rush, 52, and Debbie Rush, four children, McArthur Ranch Ward, Highlands Ranch Colorado Stake: México México City Chalco Mission, succeeding President Francisco Zapata Orozco and Sister Maria Esther Marin de Zapata. 

Brother Rush is a high councilor and a former bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Peru Lima North Mission. He was born in La Mesa, California, to Julian Roy Rush Jr. and Sandra Nielson Rush.

Sister Rush is a ward Primary presidency secretary and a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, and Sunday School teacher. She was born in Englewood, Colorado, to Daniel Howard Spencer and Vera Avalene Larsen.

Korea Seoul South Mission

Nathan M. Sargent, 46, and Nicole N. Sargent, six children, Lake Creek 1st Ward, Heber City Utah East Stake: Korea Seoul South Mission, succeeding President Roger W. Turner and Sister Terri L. Turner. 

Brother Sargent is a stake presidency counselor and a former high councilor, bishopric counselor, elders quorum presidency counselor, Primary teacher, and missionary in the Korea Seoul West Mission. He was born in Ogden, Utah, to Milton Kenneth Sargent and Becky Boyer Sargent.

Sister Sargent is a Primary activity days leader and stake language missionary and a former stake Young Women presidency secretary, ward Primary president, and ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor. She was born in Salt Lake City to Michael Antone Neider and Rosemary Curtis Neider.

Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission

Alan B. Tingey, 65, and Susan F. Tingey, eight children, East Mill Creek 12th Ward, Salt Lake East Mill Creek North Stake: Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission, succeeding President Pablo Moreno Hortua and Sister Libia Moreno. 

Brother Tingey is a YSA stake president and a former stake president, stake Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Guatemala/El Salvador Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Burton Stafford Tingey and Beverley Davis Tingey.

Sister Tingey is a YSA stake welfare specialist and a former stake Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She was born in Salt Lake City to Reed Eugene Fogg and Lorraine Snarr Fogg.

Nigeria Lagos Mission

Emmanuel O. Udoh, 54, and Tina Elizabeth Udoh, six children, Mgbuosimini Ward, Port Harcourt Nigeria West Stake: Nigeria Lagos Mission, succeeding President Cornelius O. Tay and Sister Caroline Olabisi Tay. 

Brother Udoh is a secretary to an Area Seventy and a former mission presidency counselor and stake presidency counselor. He was born in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, to Michael Okon Udoh-Nseme and Arit Okon Etim.

Sister Udoh is a ward Relief Society president and a former institute teacher. She was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, to Izegaegbe Anthony and Imonokha Margaret.

Singapore Mission

Leonard Woo, 62, and Rita Woo, four children, Newton Ward, Singapore Stake: Singapore Mission, succeeding President Paul S. Rowley and Sister Robin M. Rowley. 

Brother Woo is an Area Seventy and a former mission presidency counselor, stake president, and branch president. He was born in Singapore to Shee Cheng Woo and Wan Tai Ho.

Sister Woo is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake and ward Relief Society president, branch Young Women and Primary president, and institute teacher. She was born in Singapore to Hoh Sim and Liang Hiang Sim.

Arizona Gilbert Mission

Gordon K. Wright, 60, and Lynette A. Wright, six children, Allen 3rd Ward, Allen Texas Stake: Arizona Gilbert Mission, succeeding President Richard W. Wheeler and Sister Linda N. Wheeler. 

Brother Wright is a sealer, stake mission preparation instructor, and area temple and family history consultant and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Belgium Antwerp Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Donald Nicoles Wright and June Edwards Wright.

Sister Wright is an area temple and family history consultant and a stake Primary presidency counselor and a former ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Cub Scout leader, Nursery leader, Primary teacher, and activity days leader. She was born in Provo, Utah, to Ruel Acord Allred and Betty Best Allred.

Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission

Leopoldo Zuñiga, 44, and Gabriela Zuñiga, five children, La Paz Ward, Córdoba Argentina West Stake: Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission, succeeding President Robert T. Smith and Sister Kristine Smith. 

Brother Zuñiga is a bishopric counselor and temple ordinance worker and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the Chile Antofagasta Mission. He was born in Vicente López, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Julio Alberto Zuñiga and Silvia Esterkin.

Sister Zuñiga is a temple ordinance worker and seminary supervisor and a former stake Young Women president, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. She was born in Laboulaye, Córdoba, Argentina, to Raul Isidro Fantini and Delia Esther Fantini.

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