Pohnpei, known as the "Garden Island of Micronesia", warmly welcomed visitors from the Guam-Micronesia Mission headquarters with flowers, hugs, and smiles. It was the first time in three years due to the COVID-19 shutdown that our borders received GMM officers. Also, it was the first visit for these three executive officers – President Matthew Kirk, Executive Secretary Remenster Jano, and Treasurer Donald Lloyd, Jr. – to be present on Pohnpei together. They were in time to celebrate a special event – the dedication of the newly renovated Kitti Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Located on the southwestern part of the island, the church renovation took about five years due to intermittent availability of funds. As members worked tirelessly to fundraise, they held church in an apartment building on the same property during the renovation. The original church building was constructed by a group of volunteers from Hawaii. However, the original building lacked supporting concrete columns and as a result cracks were being observed in the walls.

The renovation was initiated by Pastor Churchill Edward. One day during the early stages of construction, I asked him why he was enduring all the struggles of rebuilding, especially with lack of funds, lack of labor, etc.

He answered, "I am doing all of this because I want to leave behind a decent place of worship for our younger generation to come and worship God." I was so touched and impressed by his answer.

It made April 1 a high Sabbath indeed when the newly renovated Kitti Seventh-day Adventist Church building was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and officially declared open for public worship. Church members joined hands and hearts as they pledged to dedicate themselves anew to honor and glorify God in their new facility through loyal devotion, faithful stewardship, diligent service, and the enthusiastic preaching of the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. The new building will support the efforts of its 40 to 50 church members as they continue to be a beacon of light to the 6,000 residents of Kitti.