2019 Mission Presidents Called to Chile, Russia, Armenia/Georgia, and More

Contributed By Church News

  • 25 March 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.

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.)

Mark R. Alder and Beki B. Alder

Philippines Antipolo Mission (newly created)

Mark R. Alder, 60, and Beki B. Alder, four children, Jennings Lane Ward, Centerville Utah North Stake: Philippines Antipolo Mission (newly created). Elder and Sister Alder are currently serving as senior missionaries in the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.

Elder Alder is a former stake presidency counselor, stake and ward Young Men president, bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the California San Diego Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Lawrence Wesley Alder and Carolyn Ranck Alder.

Sister Alder is a former ward Relief Society meeting committee member, Primary teacher, and temple ordinance worker. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Barry H Bright and Donna Bright Linford.

Maria R. Da Silva de Becerra and Jorge M.
Becerra Oroza

Brazil Santa Maria Mission

Jorge M. Becerra Oroza, 52, and Maria R. Da Silva de Becerra, five children, Los Mangales Ward, Santa Cruz Bolivia Equipetrol Stake: Brazil Santa Maria Mission, succeeding President Marcelo Louza and Sister Andrea Philippelli Louza.

Brother Becerra is a former stake president, bishop, bishopric counselor, and ward financial clerk. He was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to Jorge Eduardo Becerra and Lily Gaby Jorget Oroza.

Sister Becerra is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, Sunday School teacher, and seminary teacher. She was born in Curitibanos, Santa Catarina, Brazil, to Gentil Alves Barbosa and Maria Da Silva de Barbosa.

Maksim Byrdin and Ol’ga Byrdina

Russia Yekaterinburg Mission

Maksim Byrdin, 47, and Ol’ga Byrdina, five children, Stavropol Group, Moscow Russia Stake: Russia Yekaterinburg Mission, succeeding President Ray M. Beck and Sister Julie B. Beck. 

Brother Byrdin is a former mission presidency counselor, branch president, bishopric counselor, and high priest group leader. He was born in Moscow, Russia, to Oleg Evgenievich Byrdin and Tatiana Alexandrovna Pankova Byrdina.

Sister Byrdina is a former ward Young Women presidency counselor, Relief Society teacher, Sunday School teacher, and seminary and institute teacher. She was born in Moscow, Russia, to Vladislav Ivanovich Pomoshnikov and Antonina Ivanovna Chertova Pomodhnikova.

Fernando R. García Carrion and Carol G. Moreno
de García

Perú Cusco Mission

Fernando R. García Carrion, 49, and Carol G. Moreno de García, three children, Los Postes Ward, Lima Perú Canto Grande Stake: Perú Cusco Mission, succeeding President Henry Herrera Linares and Sister Alicia Cordova de Herrera. 

Brother García is a former stake president, mission presidency counselor, bishop, and high councilor. He was born in Santiago de Chuco, Perú, to Telmo Roque Garcia Ulloa and Andrea Violeta Carrión Castillo.

Sister García is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary and Relief Society presidency counselor, Relief Society ministering supervisor, and Sunday School teacher. She was born in Trujillo, Perú, to Antonio Gregorio Moreno Flores and Irma Teofila Castillo Vera.

Scott D. Hintze and Janice B. Hintze

Argentina Córdoba Mission

Scott D. Hintze, 63, and Janice B. Hintze, five children, Manti 10th Ward, Manti Utah Stake: Argentina Córdoba Mission, succeeding President Pedro Fco. Correa Cárdenas and Sister Hilda A. Aravena de Correa. 

Brother Hintze is a temple ordinance worker and a former mission presidency counselor, stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Ecuador Quito Mission. He was born in Roosevelt, Utah, to Lyle Sears Hintze and Nadine Day Hintze.

Sister Hintze is a temple ordinance worker, a former stake Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary and Relief Society president, ward Primary and Young Women presidency counselor, Relief Society teacher, and ward music chair. She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, to Lee Roy Barton and Zella Rae Christensen Barton.

Alan Meza De La Cruz and Abish
Ramos de Meza

México Saltillo Mission

Alan Meza De La Cruz, 43, and Abish Ramos de Meza, three children, Colinas Ward, México City Bosques Stake: México Saltillo Mission, succeeding President Kevin S. Cahoon and Sister Jeri L. Cahoon.

Brother Meza is a current elders quorum secretary and former stake president, stake presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, bishopric counselor, stake Young Men president, high councilor, and missionary in the México Veracruz Mission. He was born in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, México, to Edmundo Meza Ceniceros and Maria Adelina de la Cruz Rosales.

Sister Meza is a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and stake and ward music chair. She was born in Distrito Federal, México, to Jorge Alejandro Ramos Rivera and Maria del Rosario Fernandez de Ramos.

Paul Picard and Elodie Picard

Armenia/Georgia Mission

Paul Picard, 41, and Elodie Picard, three children, Vienna 4th Ward (English), Vienna Austria Stake: Armenia/Georgia Mission, succeeding President Allen B. Bostrom and Sister Sheri L. Bostrom. 

Brother Picard is a bishop and former stake Young Men presidency counselor, high councilor, stake and ward executive secretary, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, ward clerk, and missionary in the Russia Rostov-na-Donu Mission. He was born in Bordeaux, France, to Michel Picard and Juliette Joakim Picard.

Sister Picard is a seminary teacher and nursery teacher and a former stake and ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary president, Sunday School teacher, and family history center director. She was born in Lagny-sur-Marne, France, to François Alain Pratique and Joëlle Marguerite Roux.

Jeanette Vergara and Carlos Vergara Barria

Chile Rancagua Mission

Carlos Vergara Barria, 55, and Jeanette Vergara, three children, Regional Ward, Valdivia Chile Stake: Chile Rancagua Mission, succeeding President Reed J. Harris and Sister Kathleen C. Harris.

Brother Vergara is a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, district president, branch president, and missionary in the Chile Viña del Mar Mission. He was born in Curicó, Chile, to Luis Alberto Vergara Pérez and María Eliana Barría.

Sister Vergara is a ward Relief Society president and former stake Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, and seminary teacher. She was born in Ancud, Chiloé, Chile, to Juan Guillermo Comicheo and Erna del Carmen Cárcamo Alvarado.

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