The LDS Church is nearly 1,000 couple missionaries short despite the church's efforts to recruit more volunteers.

"There are 2,110 senior couples and there is a need for 3,093 couples at present times," according to a recent report on the church's Web site. The same report gave a detailed list of the needs for missionary couples.

Richard Clark, former president of the Germany, Berlin Mission, appreciated the help coming from those couples.

"[Senior couples] are extremely valuable," Clark said. "They can go into little branches ... and develop leadership in the branch. You can use as many as you can get."

Clark explained that there are a few difficulties facing the couples who want to serve a mission. For those who serve in a foreign country, learning a new language can be a challenge. Proselyting among strangers can also intimidate some.

Gretel Thaller, from Heber City, served two 18-month-long missions with her husband, Werner. After serving in the United States, they served overseas. Although Thaller said she and her husband had some problems common to any inner city during their first mission in Salt Lake City, she enjoyed her stay in Germany.

"I don't think there was any difficulty," Thaller said. "He was a branch president in Wolgast [Germany], and I was over the music. Our main thing was to reactivate the inactives. It brought us closer because we worked together."

The online report lists the many fields in which couples can serve, ranging from welfare services to family and church history or the Church Educational System.

Because missionaries can serve in different countries, the costs of a mission can vary greatly. A couple serving in Croatia will pay around $1,000 a month, whereas a couple in England can pay up to $3,000 a month.

"For the time of your life, serve a mission," states the online report of the church.



Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Sep 2004