How the Actions of Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia to #LightTheWorld Can Make a Difference 

On December 1, the #LightTheWorld initiative began, calling upon everyone to perform a daily act of kindness in the days leading up to Christmas. The program follows a calendar and each day has a specific invitation.  

In French Polynesia, acts of service flooded social media, filled with stories of community acts, personal experiences and testimonies. Here are some examples:  

Geneviève and Fabien Mana are members of the Faa’a Takaroa Stake (group of congregations) and on “Day 1-Giving Tuesday,” they invited all to volunteer at the homeless shelter managed by Father Christophe at the Cathedral in Pape’ete. 

They prepared and distributed meals in the morning to the 50 homeless people who came in. Recently, they prepared dinners for 80 people and delivered them to those in need with “The Bus of Mercy.” Then they walked through the streets of Pape’ete to find them and distribute the meals. 

With very little money in her family, Sylvie Pang, living on the island of Raiatea, was able to find the resources to reach out. To light the world, she baked cinnamon rolls and offered them to children and youth at the activity center for disabled people near her home.

As a student couple struggling to build their own lives, Manu and Shine Dauphin live on a very tight budget. Nevertheless, on Day 1, they donated clothes to the General Hospital of French Polynesia in Pape’ete and invited people around them to do so as well.  

Vaiata Graffe, made a donation to the family of a young girl with a rare form of cancer who required emergency treatment only available in France. Despite their limited resources, her family could not let her face this ordeal alone and accompanied her to Paris. Vaiata also encouraged others to donate. 

On “Day 6-Fast Relief,” Vaiata and her family went without food for two meals and donated the money they saved to help the community association in Paea which helps children, youth and also the elderly. She wanted to be part of the association’s projects to bring light, joy and happiness to people of Paea for this 2020 Christmas, which has been darkened by the pandemic.

Likewise, the family of Tetuanui Teriitemoehaa donated clothes, shoes and toys to the Muriavai neighborhood center on “Giving Tuesday.” This center collects donations that assist more than 400 poor households in the city of Punaauia.  

And then on “Day 6-Fast Relief,” Tetuanui and his family donated their fasting amount to the Anavai Foundation, a new croudfunding site that supports a children and youth Christmas project. He hopes "other families will also choose to support such causes." 

Kimberly Hunter made the choice to be involved in an international cause. A few months ago, she gave a donation to buy a bag of Vitameal which feeds children who die of malnutrition around the world through the “Nourish The Children” initiative. The challenge of “Fast Relief” was an opportunity for her to give again and encourage others to do the same.   

For “Day 5-Pay it Backwards,” Mereana Lo Sam Kiou, her sister Natacha Maheahea and Farib Lebronnec from the island of Raiatea chose to support the same fundraising project.  The island high school sold meals to support their Christmas giving plan and these three women bought several meals and distributed them to persons in need.  

The Punaauia stake is organizing a goods collecting day on Saturday 19  December. Members and friends are invited to donate goods for a maximum of $20 NZD. Each participant receives a gift list of what they can purchase according to the amount they want to give.  

Under the leadership of Narii Pou, the young adults of the stake will coordinate the operations. Donations will be distributed to the 50 identified families in the area, regardless of their religious affiliation. 

As a disciple of Christ, serving is a way of life and is firmly anchored in the scripture, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. (Mosiah 2:17, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ)