Papara, Tahiti
It is accurate to say that almost every connection and every current ministry that we have here derives from our humble service with Operation Christmas Child and their gracious national directors, Edualdo and Aline Cicero.
By God’s gracious direction, we happened to be on Tahiti in November of 2020, on a short-term mission trip, when we were invited to the initial vision and planning meeting at the Ciceros’ home.
We prayed then for God to use us and the program to spread the Gospel to the more than 60,000 children of French Polynesia. He answered those prayers in powerful ways, and coincidentally through that service began connecting us to people, islands, and other ministries.
We had only just arrived on Tahiti (September 2021) after our big move from the states when the nine 40-foot shipping containers arrived at the warehouse in Fa’a’a with a huge need for laborers to help unload.
How exhausted and happy we were to help put 64,000 shoeboxes (about 12 per 50 pound cardboard box) into the warehouse in anticipation of their distribution.
Our fellowship with the volunteer laborers opened doors!
Soon we found ourselves on the team which launched the first evangelism and discipleship group in the nation, in our hometown of Papara.
Hana (now face to face with the Lord), her three daughters, Linda, Mayline, Norine, and others all pitched in share the shoeboxes and the Gospel with about 90 children. Rene’ added her charming and funny presence in the skits.
A year later, we held a neighborhood event in our yard, to which about 20 children came. Modest numbers, yet something amazing happened. Three little girls from a different neighborhood asked if we could begin teaching them English, and thus the Residence Vaiopoia English Club was born, a thriving ministry still going strong three years later.
The following January (2023) we were invited to help a big effort on Raiatea, where we were part of a large team that shared with nearly 1,400 children over three days. It was on this trip that we saw Punari’i Li share the Gospel for his first time. What a joy and revelation that was! Then in May we visited Taha’a with a smaller team, where God graciously and powerfully answered so many of your prayers. Punari’i was on that team as well, and soon after he came to Rene’ and me in private and requested that we teach him the Bible. As a result we started him with The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus in French. Almost immediately Punari’i began sharing this book with family and friends, and just like that we had a small group form in our home, another ministry that has continued well for the past two years.
In the coming months, we anticipate visiting two or even three new islands with Punari’i, for ministry with children and adults. We ask that you pray for more open doors, more Gospel opportunities, and more islanders to disciple.
We also ask that we might connect with motivated students who are interested in pursuing a more advanced education through our Polynesian Bible Institute.
We are at the end of this phase of the Lord’s ministry through us. Operation Christmas Child has concluded its initial campaign in French Polynesia.
We are grateful for your prayers and to our gracious Lord who faithfully answered them.
Below are Edualdo and Aline Cicero an Operation Christmas Child event. We are blessed by our friendship with them.
