My mum told me the story of the gospel and how it came to Rarotonga.  The message of the story is that people will know the word of God.

THE GOSPEL

My mum Rouru Motu was born in Atiu and raised in Rarotonga. She was born on 31 March 1966. She has one older brother.

When she was a five year old, her parents decided to move to Rarotonga for a better life for the family. Her dad had a job at the power station and her mum and dad also wanted a better education for them.

Another reason for coming to Rarotonga was because of the kind of house they had, which was kikau and their transport was bicycles and a few motor bikes and cars. They had big churches and a few hotels and they used New Zealand coins, because they were New Zealand citizens.

Their songs were Maori songs and now it’s called old school. The dancing has changed. Now we are dancing like Tahitians. My mum told me the story of how the gospel came to Rarotonga.

On the 26th of October 1824, John Williams with Papehia and Vaapata went to Rarotonga to bring the gospel. First, they had to ask Makea Nui. The problem was Makea Nui only knew how to speak Maori and Papehia and Vaapata knew how to speak Tahitian. So John Williams translated and asked Makea Nui if they could bring the gospel to their island and they said yes.

Thanks to these heroes and Makea Nui for accepting the gospel. If not for them, we would still be cannibals, and I wouldn’t be here today.

That’s why you see Makea Nui’s Palace across from the Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church.