Called to Serve - and Called to be Supported
The other morning Sister Schneider, the mission nurse, texted me about a missionary she is concerned may have a concussion along with a nose injury. He had been playing basketball with his zone when he turned and and hit his head against the back of another missionary’s head. She had his companion take him to the emergency room and told me she would monitor him. I’m so grateful for her and all she does.
Missionaries out serving, as well as their parents, can rejoice in the fact that these young adults have a large and qualified support system around them. Many leaders, professionals, volunteers, and staff work tirelessly behind the scenes to make a mission experience safe, spiritual, and even spectacular for each missionary. The support is here for them 24/7.
Elders: Scoresby, Anderson, Tolman, and Barnes
As I write this post, President Quinn and I have been mission leaders here in Santa Rosa, California for five weeks. Today we were just discussing the many things that we, as mission leaders, have dealt with and have overseen concerning our missionaries in that short period of time. We are personally thankful for all those who help carry the load. Here are some of those things including the insignificant and the serious. For instance:
Sisters: Tippetts, Callison, Paternoster, Gordon, Jensen
1 dog bite
1 broken foot - This missionary went home to obtain surgery and healing.
1 missionary with migraine headaches - This missionary returned home to get prolonged medical attention.
1 missionary returning to our mission - after recovering from surgery required from an injury with a knife falling on their foot and severing a tendon.
1 beloved grandfather of a missionary passing away. It is a huge sacrifice for the missionary to not be able to return home to be with their family. We are grateful that they could use zoom to be included in the funeral services.
1 fire - We were rerouted on our drive to the Eureka Zone due to a fire close to highway 101 about an hour south of Eureka.
5 baptismal interviews requiring a visit with the ‘In Field Representative” to obtain guidance.
3 reassigned missionaries leaving from our mission and preparing to go to their originally assigned missions after receiving their VISAs.
1 surgery on a thumb.
1 fractured elbow.
1 injured wrist
10 trips to the ER.
1 chopped down orange tree. Landlord was not happy about this. It looked like a weed!
5 weekly newsletters written for CASRM (the mission newsletter).
3 sets of missionaries needing extra spiritual guidance and a personal visit.
400 letters that President Quinn responded to giving love, guidance, and support.
100 + hours of spiritual training at zone conferences and training of new missionaries and leaders.
20 hours of interviews.
11 missionaries consulted with by Sister Quinn for mental health challenges.
25 Emed notes updated.
3 batches of chocolate chip cookies made.
6 hours spent with missionaries teaching and finding
1 missionary transferred to a service mission to be home to get necessary medical help while continuing to serve.
1 missing missionary or at least missing travel plans.
1500 miles of driving.
1 fender bender. Just today the President’s car got hit from behind while it was parked at the airport.
23 baptisms. The goal for July was 20, so this is amazing!
PLUS, many assorted calls to the nurse for earaches, stomachaches, sore throats, twisted ankles, fevers, coughs, female issues, bruised foreheads and yes, possible concussions.
130 hard working missionaries!
If you are a little geeky like me, you may want to know about how all the support comes together. Below you will find a list of all the people surrounding your son or daughter on their mission. I feel so much love, gratitude, and awe as I look at this long list.
I also feel great reverence for the Lord. It is His work, and it is He who makes this work possible to go forward everyday overcoming many challenges. Sister Larsen, our office secretary, said, “It will be hard to go home and use the computer without the help of the spirit.” I think everyone would agree that we are receiving help beyond our own capacity. I love this promise from the Lord:
“I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
Doctrine and Covenants 84:88
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So……just is case you wanted to know here is the list:
Support for each Missionary in the California Santa Rosa Mission.
Mission President and wife/Mission leaders: President and Sister Quinn - California Santa Rosa Mission
Mission Office Staff for the California Santa Rosa Mission
Sister Schneider, Elder and Sister Kunzler, Sister and Elder Larsen
Assistants to the President: Elder Bliss, Clark, and Colling (young missionaries) - They coordinate and help with missionary training, transporting missionaries, and many other mission duties.
Technical Support Missionaries: Elder Anderson, Kreimeyer, and Scoresby (young missionaries) – They have many duties requiring technical support for the mission.
Mission Office Secretary: Sister Larsen (Senior Missionary) – She takes care of the many office duties and keeps us all going. Her job description includes facilitating travel & ticketing and calendaring. She puts together the weekly CASRM (mission) newsletter, orders all materials and handles distribution of them and much more.
Mission Finance Secretary: Elder Larsen (Senior Missionary)
Transportation and Mission Vehicles Administrator: (Senior Missionaries) Elder and Sister Kunzler
Apartment Administrator: Elder Scoresby (young missionary) over renting apartments and apartment upkeep. The Wests, previous missionaries, did a great job of upgrading the living conditions here.
Mission Nurse: Sister Schneider (Senior missionary) She is over the physical health issues. She fields many calls a day giving out advice and checking up later with each missionary. She makes out weekly reports for our AMA
Mental Health Advocate: Sister Quinn (Mission leader)
Office staff also prepares the lunch for missionary training meetings.
Mission Area Specialists - North America West Area - 29 missions (This area, that our mission belongs in, runs along the US and Canada west coast including Alaska and Hawaii.)
(AMA) Area Medical Adviser: Elder Nielson - He is a retired pediatrician who provides professional advice and counsel to our mission.
Therapist: Denise Hansen LSW
Psychiatrist: Rachell Mitchell MD
Dentist: Elder Reading
(FR) Facilities Representative: Don Taber
(AMS) Area Mission Specialists: Dan Lewis. He supports our mission and helps and trains the mission leaders. He is scheduled to come visit in two weeks
(IFR) In-field Representative: Stephen McConkie. He is just a phone call away for advice.
General Authority Seventy over the area: Elder Mark A. Bragg Area President. 1st counselor Gary B. Sabin and 2nd counselor Adeyinka A. Ojediran
Support for Missions all around the world
General Authorities in the Missionary Department: Elder Marcus B. Nash is the Executive Director over this department. Elder Jackson from this group is coming to visit us next month to do a mission tour.
Missionary Department Leadership and Staff: David N. Weidman is the Managing Director. This is a huge department of many, many employees for the church. As Mission leaders we get a lot of training from the different staff members in all the different departments. We also receive daily communication from this department with missionaries coming and going.
Missionary Executive Council: Elder Quentin L Cook as the Chair of the Council
The First Presidency: President Russell M. Nelson, President Henry B. Eyring, and President Dallin H. Oaks
Missionaries in the office: Elders Bliss, Colling, Scoresby, Clark, Kreimeyer, and Anderson
