Mormons train in Manukau

CAN'T WAIT: Ross Pokere from Manukau starts his training as a Mormon missionary today at the new training centre in Manukau and will head off to Adelaide when he’s finished.

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Ross Pokere's new life is about to begin.

The 19-year-old is among the first intake of new missionaries starting their training today at the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary training centre in Manukau.

The Manukau resident is second of six children and his older brother, Warren, is now serving a Mormon mission in Oakland, California.

Before starting at a training centre, missionaries receive a letter of assignment from the president of the church in Salt Lake City telling them where they will serve. Young men are sent out for two years and young women for 18 months

Ross has been assigned to Adelaide.

The Manukau centre is the newest of 15 training centres worldwide and replaces the centre in Hamilton which is closing. Initially it will house 60 to 70 missionaries, with 30 graduating each month.

Every week around the globe close to 500 young Mormons between the ages of 19 and 25 leave families, friends, school and careers to travel to one of the missionary training centres.

About 80 percent of missionaries are trained at the church's largest training centre in Provo, Utah. It is home to an average of 2700 missionaries at one time or 24,000 each year.

Trainee missionaries receive religious instruction and language training and learn teaching skills.

They also develop a respect and cultural understanding for the areas and countries they will serve before travelling to destinations in more than 120 countries.

Their training lasts from three weeks to three months, depending on their language needs.

After his mission to Adelaide, Ross hopes to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is a skilled rugby player and will apply for a rugby scholarship.

- © Fairfax NZ News