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Commissioners David and Doreen Edwards returned recently from a 16-day tour of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, accompanied by Divisional Leaders Majors Don and Jan Mowery.
More than 200 enthusiastic Salvationists and friends greeted them at their first United Meeting in the Marshall Islands, held at Majuro’s Rita Corps.While in Majuro, they met with the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education to discuss the problems and challenges facing the country as it relates to poverty, health and education. Joining them was Dr. Apu Lawrence Biswas, Director of Health Services for The Salvation Army in Bangladash. Biswas was formerly the Director of the International AIDS team that visited Majuro. Later in the week, they met with the Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia to discuss the Army’s impact and service to that country.
In Pohnpei, 24 soldiers and friends of the Kolonia Corps, led by Lts. Scott and Jeanette Hamel and Lt. Ella Lani greeted the visitors. Edwards spoke at Sunday’s Holiness meeting, with several responding to his challenge to accept Christ as Savior. Senior and Junior soldiers were enrolled, and later in the afternoon Major Jan Mowery enrolled Guards and Sunbeams at the Madolenihmw Outpost.
Chuuk was the next stop, where Captains Dave and Linda Harmon and Hermes and Rufina Otis greeted them. The Harmons are the commanding officers of the work in Guam, with responsibility for overseeing this outpost. While in Chuuk, three Junior and 18 Senior soldiers were enrolled.
Traveling on to Guam, the Edwardses conducted Officer’s Councils, where Commissioner David Edwards focused on MISSION2000 and the “Call to Prayer.” Commissioner Doreen Edwards spoke on the history of women in ministry and their current opportunity to minister in the Army.
The team also attended an appreciation banquet for the community where Captains Harmon and the Advisory Board expressed appreciation to the community for their generous response with the Army in relation to the Korean Airline crash last September. Commissioner Edwards presented a certificate of appreciation to the Harmons for their leadership and ministry during those dark days.
While in Hawaii, the Edwardses conducted the Holiness meeting at the Kauluwela Mission corps, where Commissioner Doreen Edwards paid tribute to Gladys Shimabukuro for her long time service to the Home League. Concluding the day was an evangelistic United Meeting at the Leeward Corps, with more than 200 in attendance.
