Battling seasickness, 14 people traveled by boat for seven days from Kiribati to Fiji—a distance of 1,256 miles (1,092 nautical miles or 2,022 km)—to attend the first-ever South Pacific Adventist youth congress, outside of Australia or New Zealand. They were among the 1,800 who attended the six-day congress starting Dec. 30, at the FMF Dome in Suva on the island of Fiji to share, serve and celebrate diversity of cultures. 

Pastor Kabwata Toakai, group leader and director of youth ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kiribati, said the difficult trip was worth it. The group came by boat because it was cheaper than flying, allowing more young people to attend.

“This is the largest group Kiribati has ever had at a congress such as this,” he said. “Before we have had only one or two delegates. Having [this youth] congress in Fiji provided this opportunity to more of us.”

Kiribati representatives and others were able to hear several presentations on HIV/AIDS, community outreach and diversity. A Jan. 3 presentation held that young people are responsible for fighting HIV/AIDS.

“Today’s youth are the ‘AIDS generation,’” said Dr. Arvin Chaudhary, director of HIV medicine for the Western region of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific. “They have never known a world without HIV. Millions of young people have already died from HIV. But it is largely a silent issue.”

Using medical and scientific evidence, Dr. Chaudhary upheld the church’s belief that abstaining from sex outside of marriage and monogamy within relationships would help stem the spread of HIV. “HIV/AIDS is a behavioral disease. If we control our behavior, we can control the disease,” he said.

Another presentation dealt with how communities can help their young people address youth issues such as drug and alcohol abuse. The prescription is as simple as caring, said international public health researcher Dr. Gary Hopkins,  an assistant professor of health promotion and education at Loma Linda University, California, United States.

“This effect can be seen in medical treatment,” he continued. “For example, research has shown that people who are battling breast cancer live longer and recover better if they are supported by a group of people who care for them.”

Congress participants also celebrated diversity with a Saturday evening concert. More than 500 performers from at least 11 countries sang, danced and shared other aspects of their unique cultures in a colorful and energetic celebration of the many cultures of the South Pacific.

“We need to understand, appreciate and perpetuate what is best in each of our cultures,” said Dr. Erika Puni, a Samoan and a leader of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific, based in Sydney, Australia.

On the first day of the congress, participants were divided into small groups, which met each day to build friendship, discuss life issues and pray together. The groups were also challenged to consider service to others as a lifestyle.

Many attendees took that message literally and took several opportunities to give back to their host country. They helped raise money to support the primary school at Fulton College by getting their hair braided, raising more than FJ $700 (U.S. $416). Congress participants also worked with the Suva City Council where one project included cleaning up central Suva.

“A lot of people coming to Fiji, particularly from Australia and New Zealand, were almost more interested in what service opportunities we could give them rather than the congress itself,” said Pastor Gilbert Cangy, director of youth ministries for the Adventist Church in the South Pacific.