Announcement - Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

What a wonderful, cool, non humid day we have had. There has been a cloud cover all day and the temperature stayed in the high 70's. Perfect!!! And now as I write this journal entry, there is a fierce rain storm outside. Our lights went out for a few minutes and we have failed to be prepared with emergency candles. We have one tiny little flashlight that is only big enough to light a path for walking, nothing else. We need to work on that.

Today was productive for me as I made all the tablero cards for the transfer board. We have 19 new missionaries coming in March and I wanted to get them done before the President asked for them. Transfers are three weeks away and he'll be getting into making all the changes soon. I don't want to be the one holding things up.

The President had a special Zone Leaders council today at the mission home to address the issue of baptisms. Now that the conferences with Elder Aidukaitis are over, goals need to be made and met and how to accomplish them were most likely discussed. I needed to get a hold of two missionaries that were involved with that meeting, so I can get my Book of Mormon order sent, plus my order for supplies. Hopefully I will be successful in the morning and can get those two tasks marked off my list. Then my focus will be to fill the new missionary binders that are stacked on my desk. And the work goes on . . .

In looking on the internet at the Church News over the weekend, Rich saw where the new mission presidents have been announced. We quickly looked for our mission and found the name of our new president. His name is Richard Gulbrandsen. Then, today in President Argyles weekly letter to the missionaries, he said he wanted to inform the mission about the new president so they wouldn't have to hear it from someone else. He posted a picture and a write up about the president and his wife. I have copied that information as follows:

Sister Karen Gulbrandsen was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. Her parents are William J. Skousen and Joan Taylor. She was a gymnast in high school and her claim to fame is that she was twice the National Explorer Olympics Weight Lifting Champion. She enjoys snow skiing and water skiing. She attended Brigham Young University where she met and married President Gulbrandsen. She has served in all of the auxiliaries as a Primary President twice, Young Women's President, and counselor in the Relief Society. She loves the youth and they love her. In addition to her service in the kingdom she loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loves chocolate!

President Gulbrandsen was born in Salt Lake City and was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He later moved to Littleton, Colorado. His parents are Norman R. Gulbrandsen and Lois Stirling. He served as a missionary in the Mexico Mexico City Mission from 1973 to 1975. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1979 where he majored in accounting. He attended law school at Arizona State University and received his Juris Doctor in 1982. He is the managing partner of Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience where he practices as a trial lawyer. President Gulbrandsen has served as an Elders Quorum President, Young Men's President, Bishopric Counselor, Ward Mission Leader, Stake Mission President, Stake Presidency Counselor, and Stake President. He loves missionary work and has had a responsibility for missionary work in his stake for the past 17 years.

It didn't state in this article that President Gulbrandsen is 55 years old, has six children, and is currently a Stake President in Mesa, Arizona. We thought it interesting that his name is Richard and he served his mission in Mexico. So Elder Kroff and the President will speak the same kind of Spanish. He will have to learn the Castellano "zsho" instead of "yo." Rich still has a hard time not speaking Mexican Spanish. It comes out every once in a while.

It will seem strange having a new mission president. Since he has been involved in missionary work for 17 years, he will probably catch on quick to his role. We probably won't have to "train" him at all - ha!

It is still raining with some lightening and claps of thunder. I always think of the missionaries and hope they are safe and dry.