COVID-19 Delay

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We are so excited to serve as Mission President and Companion in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. President Hammon served in this mission 40 years ago. When he was set apart as Mission President recently, Elder Uchtdorf indicated the Lord was granting him this great blessing to return to the country where he had served as a young missionary. We were scheduled to fly to Germany on Monday, June 29. We were devastated to receive an email last evening telling us our flights to Germany have been cancelled because Germany is still closed to citizens of non-European Union countries because of the Corona Virus.

Although our hearts are truly broken, we will trust in the Lord “and lean not unto our own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) The Church has called an interim Mission President to serve until we arrive. Elder Michael Cziesla, an Area Seventy, and his wife Margret will begin serving July 1 after the departure of President and Sister Boyer and their four children. We just spoke with Elder and Sister Cziesla via Zoom along with President Boyer. Elder and Sister Cziesla are wonderful individuals with powerful spirits who currently reside in Darmstadt, Germany. We know the mission will be in excellent hands. Elder Cziesla served his mission in Ogden, Utah and Sister Cziesla served her mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. He is a practicing attorney and they have five children.

This is our first post on this site because Jake Boyer is the current Mission President. He and his wife, Angela, have been doing an incredible job under unimaginably difficult conditions. We love them and appreciate all they have been doing for the mission. Although President Hammon has been set apart as Mission President, he will not assume that role until he arrives in Germany. We did not want to detract in any way from President and Sister Boyer by posting until shortly before we arrived. Elder Cziesla will be set apart this Friday in order to begin his service July 1. For similar reasons we will not post again until we have firm travel plans.

We know the Church is doing everything they can to get us to Germany during this difficult and unprecedented time. We would ask for your prayers because we know “the prayers of the faithful shall be heard.” (2 Nephi 26:15)

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