Biographical information has been released on two more of the seven presidents of new missions announced in the Dec. 19 Church News. Six of the new missions opened Jan. 8, and the seventh begins in February.
Adolfo Avalos Rico, 48, to preside over the Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission; Oaxaca 2nd Ward, Oaxaca Mexico Stake; regional representative, former stake president and counselor, high councilor, and bishop; served in the Southeast Mexico Mission, 1961-63; public school teacher; received degree in education from Superior School for Teachers in Mexico, master's degree in education from BYU; born in Mexico City, Mexico, to Tomas and Maria de Jesus Rico Avalos; married Josefina Lozano Herrera; five children. She is a ward Young Women president, former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president, and ward Young Women president; born in Tula, Mexico, to Agricol and Josefina Herrera Lozano. (Lozano is president of the Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission.)Rufino A. Villanueva Jr., 57, to preside over the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Mission; Bacolod 1st Ward, Bacolo Philippines North Stake; regional representative, former mission president's counselor, stake president, and bishop; institute of religion director; received bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in supervision and administration; born in La Carlota City, Philippines, to Rufino Galang and Margarita Dominguez Alvarez Villanueva; married Josefina Piedad Sacro; 10 children. She is stake music chairman and ward Relief Society president, former seminary teacher, district Relief Society president and counselor; born in Castillejos, Philippines, to Maximo Valdez and Delila Espiejo Piedad Sacro.