By
Ricky Joel
I
am from Pohnpei, and I have been a member since the first year the missionaries
arrived. I was blessed and given a name by one of the second companionship of
elder missionaries to arrive on the island, and I consider myself an active
member ever since. When I reached the appropriate age to proselyte with the
missionaries, I added proselyting to my list of priorities as a way to get
myself out of trouble, and I will admit that I got myself in trouble when I was
not at home or with the missionaries. As a member and preacher (a nickname
given to me in high school by people who invited me and the missionaries into
their homes), I have enjoyed seeing many others joined the church expanding our
congregations from a small missionary apartment, members’ homes, a school
cafeteria, small chapels, and to now the recent Panasang Pohnpei Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.
 |
| Rickey Joel (front left) meeting President Gordon B. Hinckley (center) at Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus. |
The island of Pohnpei is divided into four municipalities, and each of these
has a king or what we call a Nanmwarki. One of these municipalities is called
Madolenihmw, and it is here that the early missionaries found work more
challenging. The king of Madolenihmw was and is the highest ranking king, or
the king of the kings of Pohnpei. One of the early missionaries was almost
beaten to death in this area. When the church was trying to build a
meetinghouse here, their building supplies were stolen by the locals. When the
locals went to their church, they saw bats in their church building. Seeing it
as an omen for what they had done to the Mormons, they decided to return the
stolen supplies.
One day, the king of Madolenihmw got really sick. He sought out help among his
people, but all aid from doctors and medicine men seemed to be of no help. One
day as the king was bedridden in his home, his right-hand man went out and sat
down outside his house, thinking what other possibilities were available to
help the king. As he was worrying, he raised his head towards the road, and at
the highest point on the road he saw the missionaries, and the light shining
behind them highlighted the answer to his prayer. He ran out to stop them and
told them that his king is sick and that he knew they could heal him. He
brought them into the king's home, and there they blessed him. After giving the
Nanmwarki a blessing, they were on their way when the king's right-hand man
stopped them and asked them to go back in the house because the king wanted to
speak to them. When they went in, the king told them that they now have his
permission to go wherever they wish to go and preach their word and let no one
persecute them no more.
It
is in Madolenihmw last month where our Savior Jesus Christ, our King of kings,
has established his stake on Pohnpei. I am grateful for the king of
Madolenihmw, his right-hand man, all the missionaries that have served on
Pohnpei, and the members who have been a testament to me that God lives, that
He does work in mysterious ways, and that if we have faith in his son Jesus
Christ, exercising our patience to His timing, things will happen, Great
Things!
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