‘Oh come let us adore him, Oh come let us adore him, Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!’
“What a surprise and a joy awakening this Christmas morning to the sound of a Christmas carol coming from the speakers in the courtyard outside our hotel room in the Solomon Islands,” said Jeff Champlin. He and his wife Linda Champlin are Americans, currently living in New Zealand, but spending Christmas in Honiara.
In many parts of the world ‘Merry Christmas’ has been replaced with ‘Happy Holiday,’ taking Jesus Christ out of the Christmas Season, but not so in the Solomon Islands, a remote Pacific nation with 900 islands, approximately 350 of which are inhabited.
“The light of Christmas is everywhere,” Jeff said.
“The hotel staff and the people we meet wish us ‘Merry Christmas’ and as we passed through town we saw churches – most of them open air pavilions – filled with faithful people worshipping and singing,” he continued.
“The day got even better once we arrived at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house in Honiara where the small, yet growing congregation meets,” said Linda.
“We felt the Spirit through the Christmas music and messages about the birth of the Christ child, the teachings and light of Jesus Christ, and that God gave us His Son because he loves us,” she added.
The Church members, after the worship service, wanted to see one of the many inspiring Christmas videos produced by the Church for its members all over the world to view and share, according to the Champlins.
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In the Solomon Islands very few people have access to the internet or have laptops, tablets, or smart phones, therefore their opportunities to see videos primarily viewed or distributed online are limited.
Jeff said, “This gave us an opportunity to help “Light the World” with a small and simple act of service.”
Linda added, “It was a joy to see the light in their eyes as they viewed the inspiring video: ‘Why we need a Saviour – A Christmas Message for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’”
Sharing this video is one of the suggestions for Day 25 of the Church’s world-wide Christmas initiative to #LIGHTtheWORLD in 25 days over 25 ways.