Warren and Alisa Gubler, of Visalia, California, are volunteering as full time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand for the next year and a half.
They are life long members of the church and raised five children (ages 23-32), including their youngest daughter who helped Brigham Young University's Women's Rugby team win the 2019 USA national championship. They also have three grandchildren.
Warren, an attorney, is working in the Pacific Area Office of General Counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Auckland. Alisa is working in Public Affairs, Government Relations and is assisting in the legal department.
On weekends they serve in one of the two young adult congregations of 18 to 30 year olds in Auckland.
One of the ways they lend a hand at church is by leading a self-reliance class on starting and growing your own business.
They were also asked to teach a lesson on, “How to be a Good Citizen," a perfect topic for them since Warren served on Visalia’s city council for nine years and recently completed a two year term as mayor.
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Read more about their appearance on national TV here: Dart Throws Family in Spotlight
Alisa, or Sister Gubler as she is called as a missionary, says, “We were so excited to receive a mission call to New Zealand. We absolutely LOVE it here! The people are warm and loving and have helped us feel very welcome. It's fun to receive Facebook friend requests from young adults in our congregation."
There are around 65,000 full time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints globally, most of whom serve for 18 to 24 months.
This includes approximately 6,000 senior missionaries who serve in such areas as humanitarian, healthcare, self reliance, member/leader support, records preservation, family history, visitors' centers and historic sites, and many others.
All missionaries serve without pay and are self-funded or supported by family or friends.
These people lend a hand in the congregations and communities in which they worship and live, often rendering community service, like these young missionaries in Auckland. Real Missionaries Give Real Service at Community Centre
Missionaries serve, as Elder Gubler says, “because they love God and His Son Jesus Christ, and they love people. We serve one by one, according to our capacities and talents, wherever we are needed.”