President Michael and Sister Tamara Houghton arrived 1 July from Colorado, USA to preside over the Australia Melbourne mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They will serve for three years.
Sister Houghton relates, "We are so excited to serve in the Australia Melbourne Mission. We visited Australia about 13 years ago and loved it. We feel it is a blessing to serve here."
She adds, "We have missionaries from over 30 countries. Their varied cultural backgrounds adds so much joy to the mission. We have 5 languages that missionaries are called to speak in our mission: English (the mission language), . . . Samoan, Tongan, Mandarin and Vietnamese.
President and Sister Houghton lead missionaries in teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to interested individuals and families, and in giving regular community service.
These missionaries include 188 young men and women who range in ages 18 to 25 as well as some senior-aged couples.
President Houghton shares, "A personal goal [of mine] is to serve our Heavenly Father by inviting others to come unto Christ, and experience the joy from feeling our Saviour’s Love. A goal we have for the mission is to help our missionaries become disciples of Christ, and to serve valiantly in their native countries. . . . We have a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to return and be with Him one day."
Before coming on their mission, President Houghton was known as Dr. Houghton to many patients and colleagues in Northern Colorado where he served as an orthopedic surgeon. The Houghtons just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. They have twin sons and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren. Their youngest daughter is serving a mission in Lima Peru.