Elder and Sister Wiser

• Sister Wiser was born in West Virginia and grew up in Kentucky.  She joined the Church when she was a teenager.  After graduating from high school, she moved to Utah.
• Elder Wiser was born and grew up in Oregon.  He attended BYU before and after serving his mission to the Japan Sapporo Mission.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Marketing.
• Elder and Sister Wiser met while driving from Utah to California to their mutual friends’ wedding.  Elder Wiser was friends with the groom and Sister Wiser was friends with the bride.  They were engaged a few months later.  They have been married for 39 years.
• Both are retired federal government workers.  Their careers have taken them to many places in the world.  They have moved 21 times during their marriage and have been in the Asia area for 16 years.
• They have four children.  Three were born in the United States and one was born in Seoul, Korea.
• The children’s graduations were in Tokyo, Jakarta, and two in the United States.
• They were called to serve as Public Affairs missionaries in Micronesia Guam, which later was changed to become the Area Communication Council.  They were the first communication senior couple missionaries to serve in the Micronesia Guam area and helped pioneer the transition from the moniker of Public Affairs to Communication.
• The Wisers were able to travel to all of the major islands in Micronesia during their mission.  They even traveled by boat to a remote island of Chuuk.
• Their calling includes Micronesia Guam Humanitarian support and Elder Wiser was also called to serve as a counselor in the Micronesia Guam Mission Presidency.
• They will return to their home in Utah following their mission.

Reflections about their mission to the Micronesia Guam area…

When asked how they managed all three areas of their assignments, they said that all three melded together and complimented each other well.  As different projects presented themselves, everything always fell into place.  “It just worked.”

The Wisers are skilled researchers and this was very useful in their callings and assignments.  “Every island is unique and there are many languages spoken here – none of which are taught at the MTC.  The younger missionaries do their best to pick it up after they arrive.”  The Wisers quickly studied the different cultures and traditions of each island and used that information for their missionary work.  But more importantly, what really made a difference in their work was the interpersonal relationships they built.  “Personal relationships trump everything.”

On one memorable occasion, a greenhouse needed to be built in Kosrae.  Elder Wiser confessed that “he was the most unskilled worker” but then he quickly added, “the most important part of the project was doing the work with them.”  On another occasion in Kosrae, the governor accepted their invitation to a Polynesian event at the church after building a relationship with the governor.  He also invited another missionary couple to Kosrae, the Bundys, to a monthly prayer meeting.  In addition, the governor’s wife noticed how well the Church painted a speed bump and told her husband that all seven of the island’s speed bumps needed to be painted the same way the Church painted theirs.  As a result, the Church helped paint the speed bumps.

Another one of their favorite memories was a wheelchair project for disabled children on Pohnpei.  Every chair and walker was customized for the specific need of each child.  They partnered with MedQuest for this project.  The Wisers were deeply moved by this project and how it blessed the lives of these children.

As the Wisers prepare to return home, they have ten to fifteen humanitarian projects in progress for the incoming senior missionaries to complete.  Many of these projects continue within their developed relationships with the Salvation Army, Catholic Church, and others for worthy causes.

Final thoughts…

Elder and Sister Wiser said: “God is really preparing these islands for the arrival of the Yigo Guam Temple. We see it almost every day.  People engage us and speak positively about the church.  Hearts are being softened and people are becoming more open and prepared.  For the first time, local radio and television stations are opening their doors so that we can broadcast general conference.”

From all of us here in the Micronesia Guam Mission, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your friendship, your contributions, and your devotion to the Lord.  You will be missed.