To assist with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extensive humanitarian outreach in Micronesia, Elder Craig and Sister Brenda Brooksby arrived in Guam on October 19, 2024. They will join Brett Child, Welfare and Self-Reliance Director, in providing much-needed support for the people and communities scattered throughout Micronesia.
Elder and Sister Brooksby landed on Guam on October 19, 2024. Their home is in Northern California. Serving a full-time mission fulfills a lifelong dream for them.
Elder and Sister Brooksby grew up in Cedar City, Utah. As a young man Elder Brooksby served a mission in Minnesota. Sister Brooksby had always intended to serve a full-time mission. When she and Elder Brooksby met after his mission and decided to marry in 1979 in the St. George, Utah temple, Elder Brooksby promised her that someday they would serve a mission together.
As newlyweds, the Brooksbys moved to Logan, Utah where they were blessed with two children while Elder Brooksby completed a degree in mechanical engineering. He was hired by Livermore National Lab in Livermore, California where they have lived and raised their 4 daughters and one son for the past 41 years.
Elder Brooksby recently retired, and staying true to his promise, immediately joined his wife in beginning the application process to serve a mission. They had the enthusiastic support of their growing family, which by this time had grown to include 19 grandchildren.
Although the mission application allows for assignment requests, the Brooksbys trusted that the Lord knew where he wanted them to go and what He needed them to do, so they did not request a specific mission assignment.
When they opened their call, the entire family was surprised and excited. Elder Brooksby was not the only one to ask, “Where is Guam?”
“It just felt so right,” explained Sister Brooksby. “I have been blessed with very little worry or anxiety over this call.” The mission call spurred a flurry of research on Micronesia and Guam by grandkids, friends, and co-workers who would send messages and video links.
Now, as the Brooksbys have traveled to “the other side of the world” to serve their mission, they are comforted knowing that God will watch over their loved ones as they are apart.
As humanitarian specialists, they will aid in providing much needed help to friends throughout Micronesia who need a helping hand. In its humanitarian efforts, the Church’s focus is to help people become more self-reliant.
The church has been at the center of the Brooksbys’ lives. Both have served extensively in a broad range of callings. Sister Brooksby has served as a stake self-reliance specialist in California, and Elder Brooksby as Bishop, giving them valuable experience in addressing welfare and self-reliance needs.
As the Church of Jesus Christ moves forward in its mission to bless the lives of people spiritually and temporally, Micronesia is blessed to have the Brooksbys to assist in the cause.