Fathers and Sons Connected Over Time Through Full Time Missionary Service

Elder Jonathan Scheible and Elder Steven Evans of Utah first met as full-time missionaries in Pau, France, which was part of the France Bordeaux Mission, in the spring of 1991 – 33 years ago.  They served together as trainers, as companions, and as representatives of Jesus Christ.  Their Mission President was Neil L. Anderson, now an Apostle of Jesus Christ.  Elder Scheible’s and Evans’ service together was the foundation for a lifelong friendship.  Their respective homes were a continent apart.  Elder Schieble is from Germany and Elder Evans is from Utah (USA).  Over the ensuing years, the distance separating them did not separate their friendship.    

Jonathan and Steven both married women who also served in the France Bordeaux Mission.  Jonathan is married to Maria Jose Colmenaro and Steven is married to Marilyn Smith.  The two couples have stayed connected over the many years since they served in France.  Today, the Scheible family lives in Grenzach-Wyhien, Germany which is just outside of Bael, Switzerland.  The Evans live in Oshawa, Ontario Canada, in the greater Toronto area.

The Evans have traveled to Germany four times to visit the Scheibles. Most of their children have also connected and developed enduring friendships.  The Scheible’s middle son twice stayed with the Evans in Canada and two of the Evans sons have stayed with the Scheibles in Germany.  Were it not for the covid pandemic, Oscar Evans would have been the third Evans son to stay for a time with the Scheibles in Germany. 

Oscar Evans commenced his full time mission to the Congo Brazzaville Mission in October of 2022 , a French speaking mission in the Africa Central Area.  Mission President, Brian Dunn, assigned the younger Elder Evans to serve as Congo Brazzaville Mission finance specialist.  While serving in that capacity, Elder Evans noted that an Elder Alexander Scheible would soon be serving in the Congo Brazzaville Mission.  Elder Evans shared with President Dunn that his father and Elder Scheible’s father had been companions 33 years earlier in France.  President Dunn felt impressed to give these missionaries a companionship experience like their father’s had in 1991.  The second generation companionship of Scheible and Evans, in a French speaking mission, was as good as the first.  They had a great companionship together rendering exceptional service, and they became fast friends.  Certainly, the friendship, forged in full time missionary service, of Elder Oscar Evans and Elder Alexander Scheible, will last through the years and the eternities as will the friendship of their parents, forged also during full time missionary service.

The 18^th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants describes the eternal joy that comes to those who bring even one soul unto Jesus Christ.  “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” (D&C 18:15).  Surely, similar joy exists for friendships born of together bringing souls unto Christ.

In the meantime, the senior Evans and Scheible couples will stay connected and hope to serve together at a future time as senior missionaries. 

The younger Elders Evans and Scheible commented, “we are truly grateful that we can continue the work of our parents, also teaching the gospel in French.  What a special blessing!  Who would have ever thought?  We are very thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for friendships that last for eternity.”