One of the First Members on Pohnpei Shares His Testimony

Brother Robsin Paul Welbert was born in Pingalap, a small island near Pohnpei.  When he was young, his family moved to Pohnpei. The first missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Pohnpei in 1976.  His parents and grandparents were among the first members who joined the Church in 1977.  Robsin remembers when these first missionaries came to Pohnpei.  They first met in a member’s home.  When the house became too small, the meetings were moved to a school, and finally moved to the current building which was the first Church built on Pohnpei.  Robsin later moved to Guam for better employment and lived there for about 22 years before returning to Pohnpei.  He is now a taxi driver on the island.  Through this employment, he has had the opportunity to share the gospel with others.  He is not afraid to let people know that he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  One time a person said to him: “Oh I know those Mormons!  I threw away their book!”  Brother Welbert humbly replied: “I am a member of that Church called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The book that you threw away is a true book!  It is called The Book of Mormon.” 

When he was younger, the members of the Church were persecuted and often excluded from participating in events and family gatherings. He said: “Everywhere you went, people just hated the Church and persecuted the people.” It was a difficult time to be a member of the Church.  Now there are Church missionaries all over the island and the Church is more well-known.  There doesn’t seem to be any more persecution.”  Brother Welbert feels that by letting people know that he is member of the Church, maybe when these missionaries show up at their door, they will be more receptive and better able to ask questions.     

 He served a mission to the Marshall Islands from 1992 to 1994 and attended the missionary training center (MTC) in the Philippines.   Brother Welbert says: “I remember when the older people, who have now passed away, used to come here.  There is a new generation that attends the church now, but the Church is still true.  I want the younger generations to know that the Lord’s Kingdom is rolling forth on the earth today.  I have seen the Church grow here.  My faith is really strong.  I know that what our prophets have said is true.  People are starting to believe that the Book of Mormon is true and they’re coming to church.  That’s part of the gathering.  When our people are able to learn and understand, they come!  I believe that there will one day be a temple on Pohnpei.”