Senior Missions around the world.

I thought it might be interesting to learn about how different Senior Missions can be around the world.  We have kept in touch with some of the Senior couples we met in the MTC.  There were four couples in our group.  We were going to Australia, another went to the Philippines, another went to Greece, and the last went to Bosnia.

Here in Rockhampton we have a strong ward.  1 1/2 years ago they were a branch in a District which is now a Stake.  We get asked to teach seminary, institute, and the new member, plus non-member, Come Follow Me Class.  We have also talked in Sacrament Meeting.  I got asked to teach the Relief Society Lesson the day before because someone got sick. We follow-up on lists given to us from the Elders Quorum Presidency trying to visit widows, less-active, and part-member families.  A big part of what we do is going to teaching opportunities with the Sister Missionaries and work with new members and friends (investigators). We host a break the fast potluck every fast every fast Sunday and have also had them in our home where Elder Wright teaches them about the Priesthood. Dave has got to both baptize, confirm, and do ordinations of the Priesthood. We fly down to Rockhampton about 3 times a year for conferences in Brisbane.  One is coming up in May when they will be having a Senior Missionary Conference. We are looking forward to that. We also have many zoom meetings a transfer (6 weeks) About 8 and others can be added if the President feeIs it is necessary. 

I would now like to share what two of the Senior couples from our group have shared about their mission.

Elder and Sister Kanell

They are a mission to Athens, Greece. There are about 800 members in Greece. His parents came to America from Greece, and he speaks it fluently. Sister Kanell has had many operations on her knee and walks with a crutch. She knows very little Greek. Going to Greece on a mission has been her husband's desire ever since joining the Church, so she was anxious to support him.  I mentioned to her that Easter must be a big deal in Greece and here is her reply with some information about what they are doing on their mission. "Easter is a big celebration here! Our Mission President has encouraged us to attend some of the Greek Orthodox celebrations! It's all very interesting here. Our Branch is small, and we struggle to fill callings! I am the YW President, but I often also teach YM, Sunday School and Primary in one class!  Elder Kanell is the Second Counselor in the Branch and is working hard to help the Greek first counselor and Branch President to get the Branch on track. There is a ton of work to do here, I hope that we are even making a small dent! It is Spring here in the 60's but feels cooler because of the wind." 

Elder and Sister Smith 

They are on an English-speaking Mission to The Adriatic North Mission. It covers 5 countries. They are stationed in Sarajevo but travel a lot. They have a blog: smithsinsarajevo@blogspot.com  I will quote a few things from their blog. "Our week started out with us in Montenegro where we had been for a week.  He headed back to Sarajevo on Monday by way of Croatia. We love the Dalmation Coastline, it is very beautiful. With all of these border crossings our passport books are getting filled up. We will probably have to get new ones before we are done here." "We are happy that as of late we have been able to help share our beliefs with several people that speak English. We had a friend from China, that chose to make covenants with God through baptism a couple of weeks ago. This week friends from Turkey, and Sierra Leon decided to become members. . . we meet so many people from all around the world. "Helen has been asked to be our Church's official representative here in Bosnia.  That means she has to sign all the legal papers for visas and apartments and such. She even has an official stamp that she has to stamp everything with. All she needs now is a sheriff's badge." "Next we went to Mostar to see our dear friend Ljubica, who lives there. She and Helen have become great friends." We ask Ljubica who painted the pretty little picture behind them on the wall and she said a young sister missionary that had served in this mission a few year ago. When I looked closely at it, she had signed it. It was Callie Perrin , who is from our home town in Idaho. How crazy is that, what a small world." "This week we spent a couple of days getting our visa application submitted. Here in Bosnia you are required to get a blood draw to make sure your blood is clean along with a mental examination. ( I was very worried about that test LOL) But we passed and they accepted our applications. Because of the blood draw we are told we won't be able to donate blood back in the US for 10 years. Ater 10 years I'll probably be donating organs instead of blood. 

The blog is very interesting. They do a great job. I was surprised to find out that Sarajevo is predominantly Muslim. They do get to give lessons along with the missionaries which they love like we do. It seems they get to go to a Temple every couple of months. They also work with Senior Couple on humanitarian missions. And they drive about 5 or 6 hours to various places for Zone Conferences.

I hope this blog lets you see how very different Senior missions can be. I really believe that the Lord sends you where you will be able to do the best you can based on your health, life experiences and desires.