From Pohnpei to Saipan to Guam, a convert shares her story

MELSIHNER HADLEY

Melsihner Hadley is from a small Atoll off the island of Pohnpei called Pingelap.  She said the people there are a forgiving people, welcoming all that come to their island.  It is part of their culture.   She went on to describe her conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “The first elders that came to Pohnpei had the opportunity to teach my parents and my family when were living in Saipan.  As a second grader on Saipan, she had to learn English.  After her second grade year, her family moved back to Pohnpei.  With a smile on her face she said, “Lo, and behold, one of those missionaries, Elder Porter, came to my island!”  When she saw him, she got so excited!  Because The Lord had prepared her to learn English, she was able to invite the missionaries to her home.   Chuckling, she said, "My friends thought I was making something up because I spoke to them in English!"  She was baptized in 1977 along with her parents and sister, Melsihna.  She met her future husband Francisco Hadley in Saipan.  They were married in Pohnpei a few years later and had seven children, 5 boys and 2 girls.  Francisco was not a member of the Church at the time.  In 1994, after their third child was born, Melsi read the entire Book of Mormon.  She had read it before, but never seemed to get through the entire book.  This was a turning point in her life and in her family’s lives.  She felt different inside, happier.  Others could see the change in her too, especially her husband.  He began listening to the missionaries that would come to their house often.  His heart changed and he was baptized in March of 1995.  After Francisco was baptized, he became the spiritual leader in their home. They set a goal to be sealed in the temple.  That dream became a reality in July 2006.  They were sealed together and to five of their seven children in the Manila Philippines Temple.  Soon after their sealing, Francisco became a branch president. Three of their seven children later went on to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They sacrificed their family time for Melsi to complete her degree at BYU-Hawaii.  Upon returning, she was able to get a job with the Church in finance for the Facitities Management in Guam.  They all moved to Guam where Francisco was also able to find a good job.  Last year, their son, John, was asked to record the 2023 youth theme song, “I Can Do All Things Through Christ”, in Pohnpeian.   This brought a lot of joy to all of them.  Melsi and her husband, Francisco, are now serving as 2^nd counselor and assistant matron in the Yigo Guam Temple presidency.   They look forward to the time when their other two children will be sealed to them as well.  Her testimony is strong.  She said, “I have faith in Jesus Christ and know that He’ll see us through anything.  I know that if we try our best, He’ll do the rest.”