By Newsroom contributor, Sariah Magaoa
Since the start of the pandemic three years ago, travelling between countries has been one of the major restrictions caused by the outbreak of Covid-19.
But since the small island nation of Niue began its ‘quarantine-free travel’ earlier in June this year, travel restrictions have eased allowing residents and non-resident travellers to enter the country freely.
As a result, on Monday 29th August, the New Zealand Auckland Mission leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were finally able to visit Niue for the very first time in three years.
The visit included New Zealand Auckland Mission President Garrick Parr and his wife Sister Susan Parr. They were accompanied by his first counsellor and wife, President Alan Leuluai and Sister Rosalie Leuluai.
Leaders from the New Zealand Auckland Mission, President Garrick Parr and President Alan
New Zealand Auckland Mission President, Garrick Parr, and his wife Sister Susan Parr (right), with First Counsellor in the Mission Presidency, Alan Leuluai, and Sister Rosalie Leuluai (left), with members of the Church in Niue. © 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.President Parr said, “the purpose of the visit was to strengthen the Niuean Church members' faith in Jesus Christ and to instruct, support and minister to the leadership and members.”
The mission leaders were only on the island for the week but during their time there, they were able to tour the island, visit the local chapels and mission quarters, visit with and minister to families, participate in arts and craft displays from the sisters of Niuean branches, and join in the celebration of 70 years of Church missionaries arriving on the island with wonderful dance, music and singing.
Other events included training and instruction to Church leadership, holding a combined branch conference, and a devotional meeting with youth and young adults.
Members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Niue, with visiting leaders from the New Zealand Auckland Mission. 2022.
Members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Niue, with visiting leaders from the New Zealand Auckland Mission. 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“I was so very impressed with the youth and YSA [young single adults], their desire to serve missions in the future, and gratitude for the copies of Preach My Gospel we were able to leave with them,” said Sister Parr following the devotional.
The highlight of their trip though was being able to visit and meet with the Niuean saints, share and hear messages of the Saviour Jesus Christ and His gospel.
“Something that will remain with me throughout my time in Niue, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in our leadership meetings, activities, visits and church meetings. I also felt that our Father in Heaven created Niue for His children to reside and enjoy the peace and life that comes from living upon the isles of the sea,” said President Leuluai.
Sister Leuluai said, “In the early 1970s my dad came to Niue to help construct a building. His name is Toi, just like the village. He often spoke of how friendly everyone was and he never went hungry because he was always given food or invited into homes to eat. Our grandchildren’s other grandma comes from Avatele, and I was eager to visit her village and walk upon her papakainga [ancestral homeland] to feel the wairua [spirit] and mauri [life force] of her people, to strengthen my connection to Maligi [Grandma], as she is important to our grandchildren.”
Sister Leuluai was also looking forward to reconnecting with Michael Posimani, but he sadly passed away when they had arrived on the island. “I served a proselyting mission with him on Mindanao Island in the Philippines and my husband was his Bishop when he was living in Papatoetoe. Sadly, he passed before we arrived in Niue, but I was so thankful and grateful to have attended his funeral and to have met his family and all those who influenced his life and helped to shape him into a faithful son of God.”
The New Zealand Auckland Mission leaders departed the island on Monday 5th September.