Groundbreaking Ceremony in Chuuk Lagoon

Romanum Island, in the beautiful Chuuk Lagoon, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 10am on Saturday, July 2, 2022, for the Romanum Branch, established in 1984.

Branch President Siramino Walter conducted the groundbreaking ceremony outdoors amongst tropical foliage and an island breeze. The opening song was followed by the invocation given by Kanta Kuss, 2nd counselor. Remarks were presented by Tarsisio Walter.

District President Gacayan offered the Dedicatory Prayer. The program concluded with a closing song and a benediction by Brother Joel Joseph.

Church leaders, members, and friends, totalling ninety-five, were in attendance. Invited guests in the community included Titakus Ran (acting principal Romanum), Kachichuru Ranu (Traditional Chief Romanum), Misael Emmis (associate judge Romanum), Engr Rey Carlos Jr. (Engr Plec Construction), Mari Grace Lunabotan (Accountant Plec Construction), Jhonny Walter (Speaker municipal Romanum), and Fanantin Conrad (President Saint Joseph Parish Romanum). Donned in orange vests and colord helmets, they took shovels in hand to break ground.

Romanum Island, one of the inner islands of the Chuuk lagoon, is located about 630 miles southeast of Guam. There is a lot of excitement among the members as they look forward to their new meetinghouse. It is expected to be completed in July of 2023.

Chuuk is renowned as one of the four “Meccas” of wreck diving. In 1944 the US Navy conducted Operation Hailstone, the largest surface bombing campaign in history, wiping out a Japanese fleet stationed at the island.

District President Gacayan shared his feelings of the groundbreaking saying, “We are grateful for a Prophet of God, and we are grateful for his message of hope, his message of healing and message regarding the importance of gratitude. We express our gratitude to God for this beautiful blessing of this new meetinghouse for Romanum Branch.”

Nephi states in his first chapter, verse 25, “And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.”

God remembers his children in the isles of the sea. Hurrah for Israel!