Nine new missions - all developing countries overseas - were announced by the First Presidency this week. The new missions are: Brazil Belo Horizonte, Chile Antofagasta, Colombia Barranquilla, Liberia Monrovia, Mascarene Islands, Mexico Puebla, Mexico Tampico, Philippines Quezon City West and Spain Las Palmas.

The Liberia Monrovia Mission began March 1, and the rest of the missions will begin July 1, bringing the total number of missions in the Church to 221, an all-time high.The new missions reflect the increase in the number of missionaries, especially local missionaries who are successfully introducing the gospel to their countrymen.

As of the end of 1987, some 10,608 missionaries from lands outside the United States were serving, a 7 percent increase over the 9,940 serving at the end of 1986. A total of 35,200 missionaries are now serving worldwide, according to Missionary Department statistics.

Among the milestones included in the announcement of the new missions are:

- Mexico now has 14 missions, the largest number of any state or country except the United States. (Two missions, Mexico Chihuahua and Mexico Tuxtla-Gutierrez, were created in January.)

- Africa has seven missions. In addition, two island missions off the coast of Africa were also created: The Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean, and the Spain Las Palmas Mission, with headquarters in the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic.

- Brazil has 10 missions.

- The Philippines has eight missions. (The Philippines Cagayan Mission was created in January.)

Descriptions of the new missions include:

Brazil Belo Horizonte - Created from the Brazil Brasilia and Brazil Campinas missions, the new mission will have a non-member population of about 10.5 million, with 7,825 members in the Belo Horizonte and Ribeirao Preto stakes and the Uberlandia, Campo Grande and Sao Jose De Rio Preto districts.

The Brasilia mission will have 6.9 million people and 7,091 members in the Brasilia, Brasilia Alvorada and Goiania stakes, and the Cuiaba and Manaus districts. The Campinas mission, with a population of 4 million, has 12,719 members living in the Araraquara, Campinas, Marilia and Rio Claro stakes.

According to Pres. Demar Staniscia of the Brasilia mission, the new mission in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil is made up mostly of converts of the past few years. Although growth in the areas of the new mission is continuing at a constant, significant pace, Pres. Stanscia said, "We feel that when we have a new mission established, growth goes even faster."

Chile Antofagasta - Three missions - Chile Santiago North, Chile Santiago South and Chile Vina del Mar - were divided to give Chile its sixth mission. The new mission, with a population of 822,000 people, has 20,000 members in the Arica, Arica El Morro, Iquique, Calama, Antofagasta and Caliche Chile stakes and the Chanarel, Copiapo and Vallenar districts.

With a population of 2.1 million people, the Santiago North mission now has 36,000 members. They reside in the Santiago Conchali, Santiago Las Canteras, Santiago Renca, Santiago Independencia, Santiago Huechuraba, Santiago Quinta Normal, Santiago Pudahuel, Santiago Nunoa, Santiago Las Condes, Santiago Republica, Santiago San Miguel and Santiago Cinco de Abril stakes and the Easter Island and Juan Fernandez Island branches.

The Santiago South mission, with 1.9 million people, has 32,648 members, living in the Santiago La Florida, Santiago Puente Alto, Santiago La Cisterna, Santiago El Bosque, Santiago San Bernardo, Penaflor, Rancagua and Curico stakes and the Buin, Santa Cruz and Rengo districts.

The Vina del Mar mission has about 866,000 people, of whom 29,600 are members, living in Valparaiso, Valparaiso South, Achupallas, Vina del Mar, Quilpue and Villa Alemana stakes, and the Coquimbo, Ovalle, Illapel and San Antonio districts.

In the new mission areas, "Sacrament meeting attendance is increasing, and the members are very good at fellowshipping," said Pres. Arch O. Egbert of the Vina del Mar mission.

The new mission covers some of the driest deserts in the world, where the extreme aridness "makes your skin prickle," declared Pres. Egbert. Some desert areas have not, in recorded history, had a rain fall, and overnight temperatures range for 25 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the people live either in the more temperate coastal cities, or along Andes river valleys, parallel with the coast, where they grow abundant crops. Many grapes are exported from this area. The region is also rich in minerals.

Colombia Barranquilla - Created from a division of the Colombia Bogota Mission, the new mission includes the tourist and coastal areas that have a Caribbean influence. The new mission has 13,938 members in the Barranquilla and Bucaramanga stakes and the Cartagena, Cucuta, Monteria, Santa Marta, Sincelejo and Valledupar districts. Some 5.1 million people live in the mission.

The Bogota mission now has a population of 5.9 million people of whom 15,391 are members. Stakes in the Bogota mission are Bogota, Bogota Ciudad Jardin, Bogota Eldorado, and Bogota Kennedy. The districts are Duitama, Ibague, Neiva, and Pitalito.

The new mission is a fast-growing region where many of the members are new converts and leadership is still developing, said Elder John Jacobsen from Glendora Calif., serving in the Bogota mission. Following a period of rapid growth, the mission is emphasizing fellowshipping as much as converting. Youth programs are strong and the number of local missionaries is increasing all the time.

Liberia Monrovia - The new Liberia mission, which began March 1, has missionary couples working with some 133 members in Congo Town and New Krutown branches, said Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the First Quorum of the Seventy and second counselor in the United Kingdom/Ireland/Africa Area.

Liberia was dedicated Sept. 2, 1987, for the preaching of the gospel by Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Council of the Twelve. "I think the Spirit has been brooding over these [African] lands for a long time," he said at the time.

A rain forest area with agriculture as the mainstay of life, Liberia was settled by freed slaves from America in 1822. It is an English-speaking country that is under American protection.

Mascarene Islands - Created from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission, the Mascarene Islands Mission has 365 members, and a non-member population of about 11 million. One island, Mauritius, with an English-speaking population, is part of the British Commonwealth, while another, Le Reunion, has a French-speaking population and is under the French government. A few members live on Madagascar.

In the Mascarene Islands, "We are not just baptizing youths, but families as well," said Pres. R.J. Snow of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. "There is a very favorable attitude toward missionary work."

He said the tropical islands area was opened in 1979 when Elder Joseph T. and Ruth Edmunds, a missionary couple, worked there. They met Alain and Danielle Chion-Hock, who were baptized in France and moved to the islands. Since that time, membership and missionary work has steadily increased. Even missionaries from the islands are serving in England and Canada, said Pres. Snow.

Mexico Puebla Mission - The Mexico Mexico City East Mission was divided to create the Mexico Puebla Mission, which has 12,157 members, and a population of 1.7 million. In the mission are the Puebla La Paz, Puebla Valsequillo, Puebla Popocatepetl, and the Puebla Fuertes stakes and the Tehuacan district.

The Mexico City East stake has 4.2 million people and 27,003 members, living in Tula, Valle del Mezquital, Mexico City Pachuca, Chalco, Mexico City Azteca, Mexico City Netzahualcoyotl, Mexico City Aragon, Mexico City Moctezuma, Mexico City Oriental, and Mexico City Anahuac stakes.

According to Lehi Gracia Lopez, regional representative of the Puebla Region, the Church in the Puebla mission is well-established with a number of fourth-generation members. The stakes in the mission often have a higher activity rate than average, and have strong priesthood leadership. Puebla members also send from three to seven busloads of members to the temple each year.

High valleys, with a temperate climate, cradle agriculture and some manufacturing areas in the mission area.

Mexico Tampico Mission - Some 23,341 members live in the Mexico Tampico Mission, which was created from the Mexico Mexico City North and Mexico Monterrey missions. The new mission has a population of 1.2 million and includes the Ciudad Victoria, Reynosa, Matamoros, Valle Hermosa, Cuidad Mante, Tampico, San Luis Polosi and Madero stakes and the Tempoal District.

The Mexico City North mission has a population of 6.6 million, and 25,879 members, living in the Celaya, Leon, Mexico City Camarones, Mexico City Industrial, Mexico City Linda Vista, Mexico City Arbolillo, Mexico City Zarahemla, Mexico City Tlalnepantla, Mexico City Villa de las Flores and Mexico City Valle Dorado stakes.

The Monterrey mission has a population of 2.7 million and 36,475 members in the Piedras Negras, Monclova, Saltillo, Monterrey Anahuac, Monterrey Mitras, Monterrey Roma, Monterrey Libertad, Monterrey Paraiso, Monterrey Moderna, Monterrey Valle Verde stakes and the Nueva Rosita and Nuevo Laredo districts.

According to Pres. Servando Rojas Ornelas of the Mexico City North mission, the Tampico-Ciudad Madero areas have been among the fastest growing in Mexico City North Mission for the past few years. Priesthood leadership is being developed in most stakes.

The gulf coast region of the new mission is typically hot and humid in the summer, and is made up of low valleys with few low-lying hills and mountains. The Tampico-Ciudad Madero area is a major seaport with associated industries of oil refining and fishing. Citrus fruits and hay and grains are crops of the more northern parts of the state.

Philippines Quezon City West - A division of the Philippines Baguio and Philippines Quezon City missions resulted in the creation of this new mission, which has 13,620 members and a population of 1.7 million. In the mission are the Tarlac and Angeles stakes and the Olongapo, San Antonio, and Balanga districts.

The Philippines Baguio Mission has a population of 2 million with 22,656 members in the Dagupan, Lingayen, Urdaneta, Munoz, Baguio and San Fernando La Union stakes and the Laoag and Vigan districts.

The Philippines Quezon City Mission has 17,724 members in a population of about 2.5 million. In the mission are the Quezon City and Cabanatuan stakes and the Alicia, Baliuag, Ilagan, Orion, Solano and Tuguegarao districts.

The Quezon City mission was divided after being in existence for only two years, said Elder George I. Cannon of the First Quorum of the Seventy and president of Philippines/Micronesia Area. The new mission is one of the fastest growing areas of the Church. It includes large Air Force and Navy bases, several large cities and an expanse of countryside in the lush, tropical climate.

"The stakes have solid priesthood leadership, but it is still a challenge to develop leadership for the large number of people coming into the Church," he said. The emphasis is on retention of the converts, and to maintain the close coordination between priesthood leaders and full-time missionaries. "We feel things are moving in the right direction," he said. Members understand the mission of the Church and take advantage of the nearby Manila temple.

Spain Las Palmas - A new mission headquartered in the tourist-rich Canary Islands off the coast of Africa is the result of divisions of the Spain Seville and Portugal Porto misisons. The new mission has 1,797 members in the Madeira and Canary Island districts, and a total population of 526,000.

The Spain Seville Mission has 3,258 members in a population of 5.3 million. Members live the Andalucia Sur, Cordoba and Malaga districts. The Portugal Porto Mission has 2,800 members and a total population of 3,258. They live in the Porto stake and the Coimbra, Sao Joao de Madeira and Vila Real districts.

According to Charlie Rose Lewis, regional representative in the Madrid Region, the Canary Islands district is actively working toward stakehood. Some of the most rapid Church growth in Europe is taking place in the Spain and Portugal missions, including the Canary Islands.

These islands, populated by Spaniards, have long white beaches where many European tourists come, providing a major source of revenue. Other income is earned through agriculture crops on the islands, such as raising bananas and tomatoes.