The team at the Pacific Area Newsroom is remembering 2021 with 21 stories that helped lift and inspire, amid the challenges of COVID-19.
#1 December 17: Helping Kiwis in Tough Times This Christmas
After another challenging year, many New Zealanders are facing a Christmas and New Year with dwindling food, savings and hope.
#2 December 10: Papua New Guinea Journalists Learn About Church's Basic Beliefs, New Temple and Christmas 'Light the World' Initiative
Television, radio and newspaper journalists met with Papua New Guinea leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Moresby today.
#3 November 7: Christchurch Youth 'Indexathon' Helps Families and Genealogists Around the...
Inspired by the Prophet's message to gather Israel, members set what they thought was an ambitious goal to index 250,000 records in 2021.
#4 October 13: Young Queensland Volunteers Make Light Work of Helping Others
Young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their Muslim friends in Queensland are helping an Australian charity to bring light into communities in Vanuatu impacted by energy poverty.
#5 October 5: New Zealand Latter-day Saints Roll Up Their Sleeves
Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are responding to the COVID-19 challenge by being vaccinated.
#6 September 21: Giving People a Hand Up in the South Pacific
Two South Pacific women were able to dramatically change their lives through hard work and an innovative educational program.
#7 August 16: Even During Construction, the Auckland New Zealand Temple is Increasing 'Hope and Peace Through Christ'
Members of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Ian S. Ardern, Elder K. Brett Nattress and Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, visited the grounds of the Auckland New Zealand Temple this past weekend.
#8 August 11: New Solomon Islands Church Leader Focuses on Helping People Draw Closer to Jesus Christ
In March of 1987, the nation of Solomon Islands was dedicated by Elder James E. Faust ─ an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ─ for the preaching of the gospel.
#9 July 23: Australian Church Leader Shares Her Faith in Jesus Christ and Her Love for Others
"With our hearts knit together in love we can share in this work we all love so much and invite others to join us.”
#10 June 24: Church Volunteers Lend a Hand at Auckland City Mission
Teams from the Church’s Pacific Area Office spent three days helping to share meals and hygiene supplies for those in need.
#11 July 15: Smart Gardens Offer Healthy Options in Kiribati
For the last two years families and communities in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati have been benefiting from the creation of intelligently designed gardens.
#12 May 24: New Historical Exhibit Spotlights Faith and Commitment of New Zealand's 'Labour Missionaries'
A new exhibit in New Zealand tells the remarkable story of faith that led to the construction of a school and a temple in the 1950’s.
#13 April 14: VIDEO: Pacific Area Leaders Lead Weekend of Love with Wellington Latter-day Saints
#14 April 12: VIDEO: Easter Gathering in New Zealand’s Northland Points People to Jesus Christ
This special gathering for Māori and other members and friends of the Church set out to strengthen faith in Jesus Christ, family relationships, and friendships.
#15 April 8: Volunteers Help Deaf Children in Fijian Community
Members of the Samabula 1st Ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in a service project for the Harland Hostel for the Deaf in Fiji on 27 February.
#16 April 8: Auckland Young Adults Help Families in Need
Young adults from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Auckland lead a service project at a local agency that helps find housing for families.
#17 March 30: New Water Pump System Benefits Two Tongan Villages
On Friday 12 March, the village of Fatai hosted a closing ceremony to mark the completion of the installation of new electric water pumps to their water system. The project was received with excitement as the new water system will benefit hundreds of people, including families and school children.
#18 March 14: French Polynesia’s First Lady and Latter-day Saint Women Mark International Women’s Day with Service to Families
Women of the Punaauia Tahiti Stake Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commemorated both International Women's Day and the Relief Society's anniversary with a community project recently.
#19 March 8: Young Papua New Guinean Woman Saves School Library
To mark the celebration of International Women’s Day read a story about a remarkable young woman, Christina Augerea, who grew up in the Papua New Guinean village of Hula, and saves her primary school library.
#20 February 25: Residents of a Vanuatu Community Help Their Presbyterian Neighbours
On the northern end of the island of Malekula, in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu, Church members and friends recently participated in the Pacific-wide "Come and Help” month by tidying a beach on the small island of Wala.
#21 January 28: Street Outreach to Those Experiencing Homelessness Continues in Brisbane
For the past three years, members of the Brisbane Australia Logan Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have served a meal every Friday to individuals experiencing homelessness.