1300 Members Flock Into Gerehu for District Conference

The hot Port Moresby weather and climate did not deter their high spirits as more than 1300 strong faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregated at the Gerehu chapel on Sunday April 15, 2018 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

They had come to attend the first district conference for the 2018 year. They came from as far as Anaita, Baramata, Kuriva, Sabusa, 9 Mile, 8 Mile and Gerehu, the seven branches that make up the Gerehu District. While those from the surrounding area of Gerehu came on foot, public transport or with their own transportation, those from outside the city arrived in 25-seater buses that were full with men, women and children. It was a joy seeing these faithful members arriving at the Gerehu chapel from their remote locations, some more than 20 kilometres outside of Port Moresby city.

The chapel was beautiful with flower pots organised and arranged neatly by the faithful women of the Gerehu congregation.  As the young members of the congregation softly sang musical hymns those present felt a beautiful spirit as they listened and contemplated the conference messages to be given.

Addressing the congregation, Charles Tuigamala, President of the Gerehu District welcomed everyone and thanked them for their presence. “Thank you for coming today. It shows your love and faith.  I feel impressed to speak on ministering according to new changes made in the Church,” he said.

He counselled the members that the Lord has spoken through their leaders who are receiving continuous revelations in these difficult times. “The Lord has spoken.  Following the example set by the Lord, the Saviour, we will be ministering, we will teach the gospel in its simplicity. Let us follow the example of the Saviour, to go everywhere we can and minister to our brothers and sisters. We can minister by a text, by a phone call or by an email. Brothers and sisters, the Saviour’s ministering was simple, he ministered by the sea, on the mountain. He ministered to men who were fishermen, and they followed him. Then those same men went about ministering to others.”

President Habe Yuwa, First Counsellor in the District Presidency said that God is declaring to us that he has work for us to do. “God has work for each of us.  It is up to us to be able to see beyond our challenges and to see that His will is greater than ours,’’ he told the congregation.

Mission President Voi Taeoalii as the last speaker of the conference reminded the congregation about their commitments and invited them to hearken to the Holy Ghost as the master teacher and to listen, do and obey. “We must listen to the promptings, we must hearken and do,” he said. He encouraged them to read their scriptures and nourish their bodies spiritually. “May you strive to hearken, may you be more obedient, may we all desire to minister to those who are in need of comfort,” he said. This was also President Taeoalii’s last conference with the Gerehu District as he will leave PNG in the middle of the year.