Earlier this year as the pandemic began to arrive in French Polynesia, both government and Church leaders asked congregations to discontinue in person meetings.
Local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called wards, were encouraged to provide support for families and individuals so people could continue learning and living the gospel at home.
In September, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints updated guidelines to help Church leaders and members return to worship and resume activities safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- At a primary activity, children find and identify numerous plants. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- Young women from the Faanui Ward, make enough pizzas for their activity and to share with others. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- For the first activity together since the beginning of the pandemic, the young women prepare pie tins for guava pies. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- A leader showing the young women how to make the pie crusts. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- Faanui Primary striving to finish the race with all the group
- After the pie crusts are finished the young women add the guava filling. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- At a primary activity, children find and identify numerous plants. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- Faanui primary activity included a "walk for your faith" hike. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- Bora Bora primary children get to know each other and work together during their activity. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- Young men of the Faanui ward broaden their cooking skills by grilling meat on the BBQ. French Polynesia, October 2020.
- eating what they have prepared
- Faanui-YW-with-birthday-cake.jpg
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The Faanui Ward, of the Bora Bora Tahiti Stake, immediately responded to this recommendation to resume activities for children and youth on Saturday, 19 September. The activities were organised by age group.
The Primary, for children ages 3-11, put together a day-long activity that followed the Church-wide gospel study curriculum, called “Come, Follow Me.”
Mahealani Tetuanui, a leader in the children’s organisation, said, “After six months at home, we wanted to touch on everything that the children have learned about the Book of Mormon since the beginning of the year, whether in Primary or in their homes."
The activity was called “Walk for Your Faith” and was a two kilometer hike in Faanui. On their route, each group had to find messages, complete challenges, and answer 20 questions.
Cinthias Shan, Primary President, said: “The children really enjoyed being together after such a long time without interaction. And regarding the Book of Mormon, they realized that it was important to have it along the way to solve their problems at every stage of the big race, but also in everyday life."
The Young Women program, for ages 11-18, allowed the youth council to decide what they wanted to do, and Anahei Chung, the class president, proposed: “We decided to reach to all members of our group and so invited all of our young women to prepare pizzas and pies and then take them to less active members.”
Tetinia Teriirere, Young Women President, said: “Our goal was three pizzas and three pies but in the end we made 12 pizzas and seven pies as the enthusiasm of the young women was infectious." After enjoying some pizzas and pies that day, each young woman also received either a pizza or a pie to take home. Some of them chose to share what they received.
Tetinia continued, “One of them offered her pizza to the missionary sisters, others gave them to young women in less active families. They were so happy to interact again and it was really good to meet again and share with others."
The Young Men organisation, for ages 11-18, took advantage of this return to activities to strengthen ties within the group. The invitation was extended to all young men to a barbecue to celebrate the “back to activities” as well as the birthdays of the young people from March to September.
For Bishop Tom Teriirere, “the meeting was important to reconnect with the young men in a friendly manner, and to reflect together on what to do to help the youth stay active and closer to the Lord."