The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
The President of French Polynesia, Édouard Fritch, recently invited citizens to join together in a day of fasting and prayer to seek God’s help as the country faces the many challenges of COVID-19.
The response was profound, with people of many faiths participating from their homes during the current pandemic-related lockdown.
Elder Frederic Riemer, Area Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia, called upon everyone in the country to take part. “Let us continue to show solidarity, to give what we can, to help where we can, and to serve whenever the need arises,” he said.
He also called upon everyone to “share the peace of Christ” to encourage unity and faith across the country.
He further stated: “We welcomed the opportunity offered…to reconnect with God, our Creator, with this weekend of enriching spiritual experiences.”
Members are asked to go without food and drink for two consecutive meals, or approximately 24 hours, usually on the first Sunday of every month. According to some who took part in the fast, joining with neighbours and friends of other faiths during the special national fasting day gave added purpose to this important part of their worship.
Tepurotu Mariteragi, from Paea, said: “It was a wonderful experience for our little family. Early that morning, we knelt together in prayer and poured out our souls to the Lord in favour of families who have lost a loved one, in favour of our fenua (country) and our people. We spent the day talking about gospel ideas and reading the scriptures.”
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
CubbySeptember 24, 2021
Samoa did much the same, praying for protection from Covid in March 2020. The entire nation was invited to join. As a missionary, I choose to join them in unity and faith. The islands of Samoa are Covid free, and so am I. For me it has been an incredible experience as I have not only been protected, but the Lord has guided me in assisting my family who has gone through the experience of covid. I was inspired to make covid kits and deliver them, one two days before the entire family came down with it. They had just moved and thought they had nothing until they opened the box. For one person who had it, I was inspired to purchase an air filter. I was even inspired as to exactly which air cleaner I was to purchase. As I brought it home, I wondered why. There was no need for it. Then about a week later the fires hit both Idaho and Utah. Compromised lungs for my family were blessed and I knew why the prompting. When the vaccines came out I prayed yes, or no. For me, the answer was yes. Then I prayed asking which of the three in the USA was available. I signed up for one, but again a small miracle as a different one was presented, the feeling was strong and we took it. I do not tell which one because I believe different people’s bodies respond best. To different vaccines and encourage all to pray. This week Samoa had two special days where everyone stayed home and the medical people went to everyone’s homes who still needed a vaccination. Given my experience, Imam sue French Polynesia will also experience many wonderful small events telling them quietly that the Lord heard them and is at their side.