Hooks' to Return to South Africa

For the 4th time in their 23-year married life, Don and Margaret Hooks will leave their home, three sons, a daughter and 9 grandchildren behind to serve the Lord as two of the church’s nearly 6000 fulltime senior missionaries - and the best news of all is that they are returning to the very apartment and the very same friendly people they served on their third mission in 2006-08.

On July 13, the Hooks’ will enter the MTC, then return to Johannesburg, South Africa for a second 18-month mission providing educational opportunities (not welfare support) through the Perpetual Education Fund. The PEF is designed to help members living in poverty, lift themselves up by creating a strong foundation of self-reliance through the development of marketable skills.

Their first mission took them to the Dakotas where Elder Hooks served as Mission President (1991-94). After moving from Tucson, Arizona where he had retired after 36 years as a petroleum jobber for Chevron, the Hooks’ served their second mission in the Family History Center in St. George - he for 4 ½ years, she for 5 ½ years. Their third mission was their first time in South Africa.

The church’s goal is to soon have 25,000 seniors serving in any of hundreds of assignments in 334 missions around the world. An enthusiastic Elder Hooks encourages other seniors to consider this "adventure of a lifetime. There are calls to ‘preach the gospel, perfect the saints and redeem the dead’ in every part of the world - including welfare and humanitarian service; in temples, family history centers, mission offices, and historic sites . . . and, your grandchildren will still be here when you get back! Just go!!!"