Senior missionaries are invaluable to our mission!

June 2020

While we speak so much about young missionaries coming and going and what they are doing, we do not spend enough time in discussing what impacts senior couples are in missions. Without senior couples, missions would not function well.

Senior couples leave their homes and sometimes sell them to come join the missionary ranks to serve in a plethora of assignments.

Elder and Sister Glaus work in the Mission Office and serve as mission secretary, adding a pleasant and kind face when missionaries come to the Mission Office or when people happen to stop by and financial secretary, making sure all of the bills are paid. Plus, they do so many other things for the missionaries, like repairing slacks for the missionaries. It is amazing how tough missionaries can be on slacks.

Sister and Elder Glaus

Elder and Sister Aird also work in the Mission Office. Sister Aird is the referral secretary, travel guide, and receiver and distributor of the mail and packages, making sure missionaries come and go without any challenges and works with the new ones coming to help make their transition easier. Elder Aird is the Fleet Coordinator, working with cars, bikes, and anything mechanical. Our missionaries have numerous cars and bikes. He makes sure everyone who will drive in the mission has been certified to do so. He also does a ton of work coordinating bikes and cars.

 Sister and Elder Aird

Still another assignment is mission leadership support, meaning they work with wards (congregations) and stakes (an organization of congregations) and all of the their leaders and members. Elder and Sister Hunt are phenomenal! They also are our North half of the mission housing coordinators, which is a huge responsibility in any missionary because we want to keep missionaries safe and comfortable. Of course, we hope their parents teach them how to clean and make their beds before coming to the mission. Sometimes this happens, and sometimes, they forget everything they learned at home, and the housing missionaries "remind" them of their responsibilities, helping the missionaries understand that a "clean apartment invites the Spirit."

 Sister and Elder Hunt (Arizona)

We have a nurse and her husband who directs service, particularly JustServe projects. Elder and Sister Franks are from Tennessee and are wonderful, they help the missionaries with all their health and service needs. Plus, Sister Franks has become a Facebook guru on health and nutritional happiness.

 Sister and Elder Franks (Tennessee)

We also have some Church Service missionaries who are local members who decided to serve from home. They are invaluable to our Mission. They provide such stable support to us. One such couple is Elder and Sister Powell who hail from Menifee. They coordinate all housing in the five south zones. Marvelous people who serve and serve and serve from home!

 Sister and Elder Powell

Recently, Sister Hammon and I were invited by Elder and Sister Davis, who are Church Service missionaries, to their home to be a part of a wonderful BBQ dinner. Elder and Sister Davis served prior to us coming and then stayed on because they love serving missionaries. They are incredible people with the largest hearts ever! If you want examples of charity, Elder and Sister Davis are the best examples of it.

Sister and Elder Davis

It was a fun night. Elder Davis had reached out to our daughter Anna Rose to "get the dirt" on her parents. It was the cleanest dirt ever and caused more than a few tears.

Elder Davis at the grill

Sister Davis, Elder Hunt, Sister Hunt, Sister Powell, Elder Powell

Elder and Sister Glaus, Sister and Elder Franks

Elder and Sister Aird

Elder Maughan's father David created it. Elder Maughan served in our Mission early on with us. Plus, his parents and he came to visit. What an incredible family! The gift is a medallion with the Riverside's symbol of the "Raincross bell" carved in it. What a wonderful gift! We will cherish it forever.

We also have served with other senior couples who are delightful people.

Elder and Sister Hubbard (Missouri)

Elder and Sister  Thorne (Utah) and Elder and Sister McCracken (Idaho)

Elder and Sister Samuelson (Utah)

Elder and Sister Miskin (Idaho)

Some had to leave early because of the Coronavirus and others because of health reasons.

Elder and Sister Anthony (Idaho)

Elder and Sister Shirley just recently left for home after completing their mission. Sister Shirley did all of the referrals and travel. Plus, she became the mission photography and took thousands of pictures to post on Facebook and send to parents. Elder Shirley was the "car czar" and did everything mechanical and bikes. Incredible people with charitable hearts.

Elder and Sister Shirley (Utah)

Elder and Sister Fuller (Arizona)

Elder and Sister Powell (Utah)

Elder and Sister Whetten (Utah via Hawaii)

 We love these missionaries and all they do for the California Riverside Mission, our missionaries, and us. They are just spectacular! We could have never managed this Mission without these dear sweet missionaries, those who are here now and those who were here before.

One of our Senior Family Home Evenings at the Mission Home!

Tour of the Mission Inn (downtown Riverside)

It is challenging to give sufficient thanks to senior couples who do so much for the mission! Nonetheless, we wish to extend so many thanks to each of you and for your sacrifice, dedication, persistence, and service! May the Lord always bless you and your wonderful families.

We love and appreciate all of you!

President and Sister Hammon