CHUUK, MICRONESIA
During a May tour of Asia and the Pacific, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve dedicated the newly completed Namoneas Chuuk District Center in the Federated States of Micronesia on Wednesday, May 12.
Elder Christofferson is believed to be the first apostle to visit the Pacific island of Chuuk, formerly known as Truk. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Katherine Christofferson, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Seventy and Asia North Area president, with his wife, Sister Lesa Jean Stevenson; and Micronesia Guam Mission President Michael Dowdle and his wife, Sister Gayla Dowdle.
The state of Chuuk includes a large number of islands covering about 100,000 square miles in the Western Pacific. There are about 1,200 members in nine Church units there.
As Elder and Sister Christofferson were gathering their luggage at the airport in Chuuk, they heard the sound of "lovely" singing. As they stepped outside, they were greeted by local members singing "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet." Both were visibly touched. Before leaving the airport, they took time to shake hands with all the members, many having walked miles to see Elder Christofferson.
Prior to the dedication of the district center, Elder Christofferson hosted a luncheon honoring Chuuk Gov. Westley Simina. Elder Christofferson presented to the governor and the people of Chuuk a mobile desalinization unit and generator donated by the Church.
The unit fills a critical need for fresh water on an island that, up to now, has relied solely on rain water for the needs of the people. The donated unit has the capacity to convert 26,500 gallons of sea water per day into fresh water, for use by the citizens of Chuuk.
The governor and other leaders responded by stating how grateful they are for the principles of self reliance taught to the members of the Church in Chuuk, adding how they welcome and hope to see the Church grow on the island.
At the dedication, Elder Christofferson expressed his appreciation to the people for their kindness and for their attendance at the meeting. He taught them principles contained in the Word of Wisdom and encouraged them to keep their bodies free from addicting substances. He also encouraged them to be examples of honesty and fairness, to love one another, and to maintain a high moral standard. He then asked the question, "Together, will you be that wonderful example and hold up the light of Christ?"
Following his remarks, Elder Christofferson offered a prayer of dedication, blessing the building as a place of meeting and a place of worship. He blessed the people of Chuuk to be strong and blessed the island that the gospel would be spread among the people.
Speakers at the dedication also included Elder Stevenson and President Dowdle.
Elder Stevenson welcomed special guests including Governor Simina, President of the Senate Mark Mailo and Speaker of the House Alanso Cholmay. He bore testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and of "the blessings it brings to our lives." He continued by quoting the familiar scripture Mosiah 2:17: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God," and then said, "that is how it is. When we serve one another, we serve our Heavenly Father. We are His hands."
President Dowdle spoke of the beauty of the new building that reflects the beauty of the people. He said: "Today, for the first time, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ has come to Chuuk." He encouraged the people to continue to be faithful so that acceptance of the gospel may continue to grow in Chuuk.
The new district center is built in a beautiful location along the shore of the Chuuk Lagoon. The project includes a much needed boat ramp for the many members who travel from the outer islands by small boat to attend their meetings. The building is a pre-fabricated construction with interlocking wooden walls that are tied together by metal rods from the ceiling to the concrete floor. The exterior features white aluminum siding which adds beauty to the building and makes it stand out in the surrounding green trees.
The members on Chuuk have a tradition of dressing in all-white on special occasions. Sister Dowdle commented that it was "a truly magnificent sight to see these faithful members, with their beautiful complexions and sparkling eyes, all dressed in white shirts and white dresses for the dedication."
Prior to leaving Chuuk, Elder Christofferson and his associates visited an outer island, Romanum, where they were enthusiastically met by Branch President Tarsisio Walter and other local members. A small, newly constructed chapel was visited and Elder Christofferson was once again able to shake hands and personally greet each member. He also conducted a missionary meeting with the 16 missionaries assigned to the Chuuk islands.
Elder and Sister Christofferson's Pacific/Asia tour also included visits to Taiwan, Guam and Korea.
Accompanied by Elder Anthony D. Perkins of the Seventy and Asia Area president, with his wife, Sister Christine Perkins, they began In Taiwan on May 7, holding a missionary conference of the Taiwan Taipei Mission in Chu Pei, located on the West coast of Taiwan, about 40 miles south of Taipei. Elder Christofferson conducted a question and answer session that was well received by the missionaries.
Elder Christofferson presided over the Hsin Chu Taiwan Stake Conference May 8-9, and later on May 9 conducted a fireside for Young Single Adults in Taipei. Again, he and Sister Christofferson greeted and talked with each person attending the fireside.
They then traveled to Guam on May 10 where they were greeted by Church leaders and given "marmars," the traditional shell necklace of the Marshall Islands. Elder and Sister Christofferson and Elder and Sister Stevenson held a special meeting with the Church employees of the Guam Micronesia Service Center the morning of May 11. After the meeting, the Christoffersons and the Stevensons were taken on a tour of part of the Island. They stopped at the Hagatna Boat Basin, a local harbor where they visited briefly with the crew members of a traditional Yapese sailing canoe that was making a historic round-trip voyage between Yap and Guam, a distance of more than 400 miles.
After returning from Chuuk, Elder and Sister Christofferson hosted a luncheon May 14 with the Governor of Guam, Felix P. Camacho, and the majority and minority Leaders of Guam's legislature, Senators Rory Respecio and Eddie Calvo. Elder and Sister Stevenson were also in attendance with local Church authorities.
Elder Christofferson thanked the Island dignitaries for their presence and for their stated commitment to protect and promote social and moral standards for the Island.
Governor Camacho also addressed the people in attendance and thanked Elder Christofferson and local Church authorities and members for their roles in promoting social and moral standards within the Island's community.
The visiting dignitaries were presented with a double-framed picture of Jesus Christ and "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."
The final visit of the trip was to Korea where Elder Christofferson presided over the Jeonju Korea Stake Conference on May 15-16. The next day, he spoke to about 150 missionaries from the combined Korea Seoul Mission and Korea Seoul West Mission. He admonished them to be bold by letting the Holy Spirit guide, to use the Book of Mormon as their key missionary tool, and to be united, reminding them "if ye are not one, ye are not mine."
