International Zone and Family History

International Zone Conference

The Georgia Atlanta North Mission has seven Spanish speaking branches and one Portuguese speaking branch.  The missionaries that work in those branches comprise the International Zone.

President Kuck, first counselor in the mission presidency, and his wife in the red blouse are sitting in the front row.  This week the international zone conference was held at their home.  They both served missions in Peru before they were married.

The International Zone Leaders

Elder Watson, Elder Parrish and Elder Katterman.

The Sister Training Leaders

Hermana Wersland and Hermana Richins.  

These missionaries are nothing short of tremendous.  Sister Erickson and I are continually impressed with their talent, enthusiasm, dedication and testimony which reverberates throughout the zone and the mission.

The mission, in all zones, is training the missionaries to emphasize the importance of the family and the temple.  To that end, each missionary takes upon them the responsibility that they are here to strengthen families.  In addition each one has created a personal Family History notebook that includes a fan chart of their ancestors plus pictures and special family stories.  This notebook can then be used to as a method to interest their contacts in the Gospel.

Sister Erickson has started her Family History notebook with a fan chart of her ancestors.

Our Family

Sister Erickson's family history notebook will also include pictures of our children.  It is a delight to share our family and our experiences with those we meet. We strongly believe that by leaving our family for two years and serving as missionaries, the Lord will bless them in areas in which they otherwise would not be blessed.

Our daughter, Lisa, and our son, John, enjoying a football game in Las Vegas a couple of years ago.

A Special Family

As we get to know the members of the branch, we are overwhelmed and touched with their warmth and love for us.

Luciano and Suzi Aires with their two daughters, Yasmin and Helena, and their son, José.  Luciano and Suzi attend one of our EnglishConnect classes and then go home to practice English with their kids who speak both English and Portuguese.  They also serve as ordinances workers in the Atlanta Temple.

The Couple of the Week

Last year in Paris we met Elder and Sister Swendsen from Alberta, Canada.  They served as humanitarian aid missionaries in Serbia.

They recently returned home and are now preparing for their next assignment as the new President and Matron of the Cardston Alberta Temple.

So ends another wonderful week in the mission field.