| Pacific Islands 2010 |
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Hawai’i, New Caledonia, Fiji
My summer was spent in three locations: Hawai'i, Fiji, and New Caledonia. Each assignment had different challenges and excitements. Hawai'i was all about good food and good stories. The laid-back island mentality was definitely a challenge for the frantic planner that lives inside me. However, the concept of beauty in just being was truly a blessing. Fiji’s challenges were wrapped in blessings as well. For the first time I New Caledonia was a lesson in language. My partner and I did not know any Overall, the blessings of community are what made my summer extraordinary. The God within each one greeted the God within others, and we were divinely one. Emily Rose
Some of my most beautiful truths in life have come from differences. Traveling with World Service Corps this summer brought some of those opinions and disagreements to light. I traveled to Fiji to find a land full of beauty, deep tradition, and devout faith. What I wasn’t expecting was to feel the most connection through a community in disagreement. It was our third night of bible study. We were in the home of one of the My mind raced almost as fast as my heart. This is a controversial issue that exists in my country as well. At the time I knew very little about the Fijian feelings towards same-gender relationships. While I would soon find out a few through our discussion, I knew that I needed to be extremely careful as to not accidentally (or intentionally) impose my personal beliefs on the congregation and the members gathered. We were there to grow and learn as a community. I didn’t want to, as an outsider, tell this group what to believe. I listened as opinions were stated against same-gender relationships. Slowly, we began to work through Doctrine and Covenants 164. What took place was a lesson in community for myself and the others gathered. One man, who in fact had some of the strongest sentiments against same-gender relationships in the beginning of our study, was now silent. He cleared his throat, and we all listened expecting the cycle of disagreement to simply continue. “I get it,” he said. The man continued to explain to us that while he had not been swayed in his opinion of these relationships, he had been swayed by the idea of how we treat each other. We are the Community of Christ. All are welcome. All have worth. All are loved. As we sat together in this tiny room, sweating from the heat of the summer, the heat of the debate dissipated. We found that in these principles we all agreed. As a world church, the Community of Christ is dealing with vast political, cultural, and societal differences. Part of our calling is to work past and through these. Here’s the part most tend to leave out. We WILL disagree. The world is so beautifully filled with different ideas and beliefs that to picture a world without them is not only inaccurate, but sad. We will disagree, on many things. What makes our community different is our willingness to find unity in our diversity. Although I was leading the lesson, the community taught me just as much in return. Emily Allen
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encountered a Community of Christ church in which the worship felt nothing like what I was used to. Songs were sung in Hindi as well as English, and the worship style was 
French, which was the official language of the country. Despite the potential for distress and negativity, the language barrier actually brought me great joy. It was so neat to participate in a communion service where familiar hymns were sung in French. Along with that, it was amazing to see what parts of the human experience transcend language. God transcends language when prayers are made in English, French, and Tahitian – as they were in one service. The love, enthusiasm, and grace of the congregations in New Caledonia truly did surpass any language barriers that existed.
congregational members spending our time in fellowship, study, and of course, a meal. Our discussions brought us to the issue of same-gender relationships. As we were viewed as representatives of the world church, we were asked to give direction on this topic.
