By Huguette Tuteirihia of Arenio Congregation, Tahiti 

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(shared as part of the International Leaders Meeting, June 2025)

They were there, waiting for answers to their questions. They were waiting for the revelation that God had always been present and important in their lives. Tears, sadness, and doubt were etched on their faces. I don’t know how to describe it; it breaks my heart. I felt the Spirit of the Lord rest upon me, this Spirit of love that came to comfort them and comfort me at the same time: tears, wounds, a deep need to be accompanied. Every moment was incredible because the Spirit of God touched each person I met. A Spirit of hope, a Spirit of consolation that finally brought them what they had always hoped for.

The Spirit of God’s love accompanied us. Laughter, joy, prayers, and hymns were prepared for each event. The most painful thing for me is realizing that they couldn’t describe what they felt. However, the silence and the tears flowing down their faces were signs of their sorrow. My heart aches with every tear shed; even in the silence, I hear their pleas, their prayers, and their expectations. I contemplate the Spirit of God resting upon them.

Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings that brought relief and comfort to every home that eagerly awaited your Spirit to work within them. You were always there, but perhaps they no longer felt it, so deeply had suffering taken root in their lives and doubts crept into their beliefs, their faith in knowing who you truly are. A God of love who loves them without limits. These people of the sea, who were filled with doubt, you brought together, enriching them with your spirit of love so they might cherish this incredible adventure within them, yes, and I confirm that the power of faith has worked!

Thank you, Lord, for this enriching adventure with your twelve missionaries. I leave the island of Hereheretue with my heart filled with hope for these people of the sea.

God, where will your spirit guide me today? I know it will guide me wherever you want. Thank you, Lord, for being by my side, for every moment is precious in your presence. Amen.

Prayer Phrase

“For in him all things…were created…” (Colossians 1:16).

The International Community

Find (or imagine) a globe or map of the world. Look at all the nations and find a country other than your own. Notice the geographic distance between your homeland and this one. Picture a person living there. Pray for this person. Sense God’s love connecting you just as the oceans connect the continents. Thank God for the spiritual connection you have with all of God’s people around the globe. Ask a blessing on the church as a community sharing Christ’s peace, drawing all into the family of God.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.