Wednesday, July 10, 2002
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Wednesday, July 10, 2002 |
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Peachtree City's Stokes heads for mission in Mexico The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently called Peachtree City's Mark Stokes for a two-year mission to Veracruz, Mexico. Stokes will report to the language-training center in Provo, Utah on Aug. 14, for a two-month Spanish course. For the next two years, his title will be "Elder Stokes," a title given to missionaries from the church which they use during their two-year missions. He will be among some 60,000 full-time missionaries representing the church. A resident of Peachtree City for 14 years, Stokes attended McIntosh High School, has completed a year and a half of college, and is a former golden gloves state boxing champion. Stokes says he enjoys working, loves his dogs and cats, and will miss snowboarding, wake boarding and boxing things he will now put aside and concentrate all his energies on his missionary work. "My mission covers the State of Veracruz on the Caribbean side of Mexico," Stokes said. "It's about 75 miles wide and 400 miles long and is a beautiful, tropical part of Mexico." Stokes has been saving money for several years and has earned enough money to pay his own expenses, estimated to be about $11,000 for the two years he will live in Mexico. "I serve on a volunteer basis," Stokes said. " No one forced me to do this. I was sent to the Veracruz area but could have been sent to any of over 350 missions throughout the World." Stokes explains that he was sent to this area by a prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, a man who he believes is "inspired of God ... like the prophets of old that you read about in the Bible." His older brother, Aaron, also is on a mission, but is serving in the Philippines. "When I volunteered, I told myself that I would serve the Lord and His children wherever the Lord wants me to be," Stokes said. "I am very excited about this area and the strength of the Church there. I also wanted a tropical experience, somewhere that I will be extremely busy day and night doing the Lord's work." During the church's service on Sunday, July 28, Stokes and his family will be the speakers. Visitors are welcome to attend the service which is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the corner of Hwy 54 and Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City across from Kroger. The service will conclude at 10:10 a.m. |
