Local Man Called to Be Mission President in Own Area

A couple of days ago I discussed the angle of replicating results and wondered where they would call a counselor in the West Indies Mission. I thought they might call him to another Caribbean mission or even to Africa. In an interesting assignment twist the LDS Missionary Executive Committee has assigned the man to head the very mission in which he currently lives. Yesterday in an email an announcement was made on the West Indies Mission blog that Brother Gamiette has been called to lead the West Indies Mission when missionaries and the mission president were notified.

Diane Robison shared this on the West Indies Mission blog:

We are thrilled to announce the new West Indies Mission president!

He will be Claude R Gamiette from the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies

He will begin serving on July 1, 2009

He is an absolutely wonderful leader and teacher

How do we know this?

He is currently serving as President Robison's 1st counselor in the Mission Presidency and before that he served as President of the French District in the West Indies. We know him and his family very well.

And he knows this mission well

People here love him and his family

We do to!

West Indies missionaries will be blessed under his leadership

We can't think of anyone we would rather see take over this mission

Sister Gamiette is a great mother, beautiful sister, and experienced returned missionary. She is also lots of fun (and makes amazing french chocolate cakes!). Here is a funny little story I did on her last year.

The family is darling. I think this may be the first time a family has lived in the mission home. It will be so nice for the missionaries.

The missionaries all found out the news this morning in an email. Those that know President Gamiette have been wondering and wishing - now they get their wish!

Sister Di also included the following flyer!

I think it is interesting that the Executive Missionary Committee would call someone from the same area in which they live. It sets a new precedent. This will make the transition between the two mission presidents much easier as the new mission president won't have to be brought up to speed.

It isn't uncommon to call a man in Brazil to a different city but it is the first time I have seen that a man was called to his own mission area in the same geographic boundaries. It really is a creative calling and shows the revelation can take differing forms. I wonder if there have been similar assignments in recent years. I know it wasn't uncommon in the early days of the church for a man to return to teach relatives but today it is more rare. It will be interesting to track his results. There might be more callings of local men if this assignment proves successful.