Birth
Home Calling: 25-05-1867
Native Place: Bora Bora Islands
Place of Vision: Cook Islands
Papeiha was once a cannibal from the Bora Bora islands, who later became the ambassador of Christ to cannibals in the Cook Islands. Under the guidance of missionary John Williams, he served at Raiatea. He then joined Williams in the exploration of the Cook Islands.
After an arduous journey, John Williams’ team found the Rarotonga Island. Since the Rarotonga people were known to be cannibals, no team member wanted to step on the Island. Then the brave Papeiha volunteered to go. He tied his Bible to his head and swam to the shore of Rarotonga. Surprisingly, the natives’ reception was friendly, and so few others from the ship joined Papeiha. They were offered food and comfortable shelter too. But……
In the night, the entire village came with swords and clubs to kill them. Somehow Papeiha, along with the rest managed to escape and reached the ship. As the others wanted to leave immediately, Papeiha said he wants to stay back to preach the Gospel. As he again swam back to Island, the tribals were surprised to see him coming and tried to kill him instantly. But, Papeiha bravely announced that he was once like them, but Jesus changed his life. His bravery amazed the islanders, who started listening to him.
Papeiha stayed in Rarotonga for several months and brought many of them to Christ. Even after knowing Christ, the natives were afraid to burn away their idols. After much prayerful imploration, a priest decided to burn his idol against the wishes of the village. All the villagers thought that Papeiha and the priest would die. But as Papelha burned the idols, the villagers saw that their Gods neither cried in pain nor rescued themselves. The natives understood that if the Gods can’t save themselves from becoming ashes, how can they save them. The result is, today, Rarotonga is a Christian Island, with many natives becoming missionaries to the other Cook Islands.
Papeiha continued his missionary work among other cannibal Islands until his home call in 1867.
