Who Does What in the WIM Office?

Missionaries – the young and not-so-young – have asked what those in the West Indies Mission office do every day. Here is a basic overview:

Elders Ipson and Gilley are the current AP’s helping President Gamiette, President Ricks and President McIntosh, administer the mission. Together these two fine young leaders complete reports (i.e., baptisms and other data), notify missionaries of changes to their assignments (called “transfers”), assist in the organization of zone and district meetings. . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Prevention and referrals for treatment are the primary responsibility for Sister Ellison, the WIM Nurse. Her day-to-day assignments involve referring missionaries to appropriate medical care, educating about and encouraging good health habits, informing missionaries on how to use proper first aid to manage simple health issues and educating them about what is in first aid kits in each apartment throughout the mission. Sister Ellison and her assistant Sister Luster also work together to keep the young elders and sisters, as well as Mission President Gamiette flying around the West Indies. Their job is to arrange air flights to and from the mission and to meetings on various islands . . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Sister Childs is the office receptionist but has lots of other assignments as well, such as referrals (people who have expressed an interest in knowing more about the church), first and last wills and testaments (transcribing notes made by young missionaries at the beginning and the end of their mission), recording baptisms into the Church’s official database. . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Elders Luster and Sappington share responsibilities for the expenditure of the Lord’s sacred funds. Their job is to pay bills, provide a monthly living allowance for young missionaries so they so they can eat and put gas in their cars, balance petty cash on 11 islands, make sure the mission stays within budget. . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Sister Sappington is responsible for making certain all missionaries and couples are in each of those 11 countries legally (all the countries have their own requirements and regulations which must be met one-by-one), applying for visa permits, keeping track of missionaries coming and those going home; ordering materials and supplies (water filters, teaching supplies, missionary nametags, etc.) . . . and “other duties, as assigned.”

Everyone in the mission office is here to help in your efforts to bring souls to Christ.