All New in July

Posted by Hermana Kähnlein in her final blog post:

El 1º de julio la misión recibió un nuevo presidente. A partir de ahora y hasta julio de 2018 el Presidente y la Hermana Díaz estarán liderando a los misioneros desde Valparaíso hasta La Serena, es decir, liderando la gran Misión Chile Viña del Mar. Bienvenidos!!

(On the first of July the mission received a new president.  From now until July 2018 President and Sister Díaz will be leading the missionaries from Valparaíso to La Serena, that is, leading the great Mission of Chile Viña del Mar. Welcome!!) 

 New Mission President – 

Raúl Antonio Diaz Navarro and his wife Jean Grace Wall de Diaz.

 On the 4^th and 5^th of July, we had a special combined Stake/District Conference with presiding authority Elder Zeballos (70) and Elder Giuffra (Area 70).  They combined the two units, shook up some boundaries, and came out with two stakes. 

At the end of our meeting, you could hear from the street some loud cheering “Chi chi chi le le le Viva Chile”!  The Copa America 2015 final game was being played between  Chile and Argentina - and Chile had just WON!! (first time ever!)   At that moment, Elder Zeballos was speaking, and he said with a smile - knowing all understood exactly what the cheering really meant - “I see some are very excited about the new Stake!!!  A man has been chosen and called. Come tomorrow and see who he is!”

New Stake – Estaca de Valparaíso Oeste

We are now in the new Estaca de Valparaíso Oeste (West).  Presidente Leighton (a native Chileno) is in his mid 30's.  He has two children and his wife, Maria Jose, is expecting twins.  1st Coun is Jose Mosqueiras, and 2nd Coun is Jose Torres, our current Bishop.  Presidente Leighton was in our ward the following Sunday and we sustained the new stake clerk (from our ward), exec sec, and 6 or 7 new high councilors.  How fun to start a new stake!

 New Cemetery – Cementerio 1 to Cementerio 3 (Playa Ancha)

New Apartment – From 1006 to 1004 (across the hall, and into the sun)

New President of the Quorum of the Twelve – Russell M. Nelson

Russell M. Nelson is president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was set apart to this calling by President Thomas S. Monson Wednesday, July 15, 2015. As president of the Twelve, he is referred to as President Russell M. Nelson and succeeds the late President Boyd K. Packer, who died July 3, 2015.  It is the Church's practice that the senior member by date of assignment to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles becomes quorum president.  The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest presiding body in the government of the Church.  Its members serve under the direction of the First Presidency, a governing unit of three men — the president and two counselors.

In addition to their primary responsibility to be special witnesses of the name of Christ throughout the world, the apostles have heavy administrative responsibilities as they oversee the orderly progress and development of the global Church.

Welcome to the Mission!!  We have great respect for all mission presidents.  It is hard work!!  They serve diligently for 3 years. We are so grateful that President Diaz is “en la lid” with great enthusiasm.  We will try to be obedient, diligent missionaries!

Presidente and Hermana Diaz meeting office leaders

President Diaz is ready to go and "in the fight" (en la lid).