New MTC Presidents Called to Serve in South Africa, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and Guatemala in 2018

• 7 November 2017

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The First Presidency has called seven new missionary training center presidents and their wives; they will begin their service in January.

South Africa Missionary Training Center

Andre Cornelius Bester, 66, and Joy Elizabeth Lomax Bester, five children, Roodepoort Ward, Roodeport South Africa Stake: South Africa Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Stephen K. Ashton and Sister Wendy Ashton. Brother Bester serves as a patriarch and is a former president of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission, MTC presidency counselor, stake president, bishop, and missionary in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, to Peter Herman Bester and Joyce Mary Mills Bester.

Sister Bester served with her husband in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission and South Africa Missionary Training Center and is a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president; ward music director; and seminary teacher. Born in Widnes, Lancashire, England, to Roy Malcolm Lomax and Teresa Follon Lomax.

Chile Missionary Training Center

Brian Bartley Carmack, 61, and Leslie Kay Porter Carmack, four children, Foxhill Ward, North Salt Lake Utah Stake: Chile Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Richard B. Brady and Sister Janice Brady. Brother Carmack serves in a ward Young Men presidency and is a former president of the México Tijuana Mission, stake president, stake presidency counselor, and missionary in the Chile Mission. Born in Salt Lake City to Harold Don Carmack and Beverly Jean Bartley Carmack.

Sister Carmack serves as a Sunday School teacher. She previously served with her husband in the México Tijuana Mission and is a former counselor in stake Relief Society and ward Young Women presidencies. Born in Salt Lake City to Nolan Bud Porter and Helen Hackwell Porter.

Peru Missionary Training Center

Robert Spence Ellsworth, 67, and Laurie Benson Ellsworth, seven children, Pinnacle Vista Ward, Phoenix Arizona Desert Hills Stake: Peru Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Garry K. Moore and Sister LaNell Moore. Brother Ellsworth recently served as a senior missionary and district president in the Chile Rancagua Mission and is a former president of the Arizona Mesa Mission, stake president, mission presidency counselor, bishop, temple sealer, and missionary in the Argentina North Mission. Born in Globe, Arizona, to Maurice Chapman Ellsworth and Norma Owens Ellsworth.

Sister Ellsworth served with her husband in the Arizona Mesa and Chile Rancagua Missions and is a former stake Primary president, ward Young Women president, and institute teacher. Born in Seattle, Washington, to Ezra Taft Benson and Mary Beth Wheeler Benson.

Guatemala Missionary Training Center

Craig Alma Hill, 64, and Judy Ann Marker Hill, two children, Brookhaven Ward, Kaysville Utah East Stake: Guatemala Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Dan W Morris and Sister De Layne Morris. Brother Hill recently served as executive secretary in the Central America Area and is a former president of the Argentina Córdoba Mission, high councilor, branch president, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the Colombia Mission. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Harvey Ray Hill and Wynona Cummings Hill.

Sister Hill served with her husband in the Central America Area and Argentina Córdoba Mission and is a former stake Primary president, ward Young Women president, and ward Primary presidency counselor. Born in Ogden, Utah, to James Lynn Marker and Phyllis Maddock Marker.

Argentina Missionary Training Center

Roberto Oscar Pitarch, 66, and Maria Cristina López Pitarch, four children, Villa Lugano Ward, Buenos Aires Argentina Liniers Stake: Argentina Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Evrett W. Benton and Sister Cheryl Benton. Brother Pitarch serves as a high councilor and is a former president of the Colombia Medellín Mission, stake president, stake presidency counselor, MTC presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the Argentina North Mission. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Francisco Oscar Pitarch and Irene Amores de Pitarch.

Sister Pitarch serves as a ward Primary presidency counselor. She previously served with her husband in the Colombia Medellín Mission and is a former stake Relief Society president, stake Young Women presidency counselor, and ward Young Women president. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Antonio López and Consuelo Blanco de López.

Brazil Missionary Training Center

João Roberto Costa Martins Silva, 65, and Maria Lúcia Estaca Martins Silva, two children, Cidade Leonor Ward, São Paulo Brazil South Stake: Brazil Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Paulo R. Grahl and Sister Zuleika Grahl. Brother Martins Silva serves as a patriarch and temple sealer and is a former Area Seventy, president of the Brazil Fortaleza Mission, stake presidency counselor, and bishop. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Ramiro Martins Silva and Zilma Costa Martins Silva.

Sister Martins Silva serves as a Young Women general board member. She previously served with her husband in the Brazil Fortaleza Mission and is a former stake Relief Society president, stake Young Women presidency counselor, and ward Young Women president. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to José Estaca and Maria Pais de Figueiredo.

Spain Missionary Training Center

Thomas Robert Warne, 62, and Renae Kellis Warne, six children, South Jordan 9th Ward, South Jordan Utah Stake: Spain Missionary Training Center, succeeding President Robert N. Packer and Sister Shelley Packer. Brother Warne serves as a high priests group first assistant and is a former president of the Chile Rancagua Mission, bishop, high councilor, and missionary in the Spain Madrid Mission. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Thomas Edward Warne and Therese Wadsworth Warne.

Sister Warne serves as a Relief Society compassionate service coordinator. She previously served with her husband in the Chile Rancagua Mission and is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president. Born in Mesa, Arizona, to Raymond Sterling Kellis and Nadine McRae Kellis.

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