Brazil Santa Maria Mission

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July 1, 1998

The Brazil Santa Maria Mission was organized on this date, and encompasses 62 units, including six Stakes, and four Districts:  Alegrete Stake, Bagé Stake, Livramento Stake, Rosário do Sul Stake, Santa Maria Stake, Uruguaiana Stake, Ijuí District, Quaraí District, Santo Ângelo District, São Borja District.  Duane Herman Zobrist (born in Salt Lake City, Utah), was called as the first President of the new mission together with his wife and companion Sharon Ann Jones Zobrist (born in Henderson, Nevada).  They came from the Pasadena California and Waynesboro Washington Stakes and were called to serve until July 1, 2001. 

President Zobrist dedicated and consecrated the mission together with Sister Zobrist, his assistants Elder Wilson and Elder Gunnell, and the mission secretaries Elder Hastings and Elder Marcelo.  119 Elders and Sisters were reassigned from the Porto Alegre North and Porto Alegre South missions to serve in the Brazil Santa Maria Mission. 

President Zobrist designated as his counselors in the Mission Presidency Adir Saldanha from Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Waldomiro Radtke from Santana do Livramento, Rio Grande do Sul. 
 

September 8-9, 1998

Mission tour with Elder Adehmar Damiani of the Brazil Area South Presidency and his wife.  The Conferences were held in Livramento, Ijuí, and Santa Maria.

October 2, 1998

The mission hymn was composed by a Counsel of missionaries.  The hymn was based on a Rio Grande do Sul folksong "Noites Gaúchas".  Participating in the Counsel were: President, Elder Lindsay, Elder Hastings, Elder Romig, Elder Gunnell, and Elder Marcelo.

December 31, 1998

Completed the first six months of the mission with 609 new converts, 115 Elders, and 26 Sisters serving in the mission.  President Waldemiro Radtke was released as counselor of the mission and President Rui Balsadua Castro was called and designated as counselor of the Brazil Santa Maria Mission by President Duane Herman Zobrist.

May 5-7, 1999

Mission tour with President Craig W. Zwick and his wife.  The conferences were held in Livramento, Santo Ângelo, and Santa Maria.

July 17, 1999

One year commemoration held at the mission home with all of the Stake Presidents and their wives.  There was a wonderful lunch and a concert provided by the missionaries serving in Santa Maria, under the directions of Elder Lindsay and Elder West.

July 18, 1999

The Santiago District was organized with three Branches: Santiago Branch, Vila Nova Branch, Vila Rica Branch.  Santiago was part of the Santa Maria Stake previous to the division and organization.  Rubens Campos de Araújo was confirmed as the first President of the newly formed District, with Emir Rodrigues da Silveira as first counselor and Modesto Ribeiro as second counselor.

August 14, 1999

Live concert of the Santa Maria Mission held in the 13th of May Theater at 8:00PM.  The concert hall was filled to capacity with many friends of the Church, all of whom were well received.  Performed at the concert were musical selections of the Church and Elder West with a chorus of missionaries, directed by Elder Lindsay, and flautists Sister Frost and Elder Stevenson.

December 26, 1999

The São Borja District was discontinued.  The two Branches of São Luiz Gonzaga and Getúlio Vargas were combined with the Santo Antônio das Missões Branch which together were made part of the Santo Ângelo District.

December 31, 1999

We finished the year, the decade, and the century;  1886 new converts entered in the units of the mission during 1999.  We are very thankful to the Lord for this blessing of being Called to Serve.

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Mission President: 
Roger W. Mack
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