The Last Missionaries Arrive

The last missionaries to arrive from France were Serge and Marie-Louise Gollin, who came in November 1990. They too were assigned to the Marquesas, where they have done much to strengthen the congregations. The Gollins have learned Marquesan, and amazingly, they have visited every family on the six inhabited islands!

From the Gollins’ base on Hiva Oa, where Serge is the only elder, they regularly go to a number of other islands, including two where there are no publishers. On their first visit to Fatu Hiva, Serge was amazed at the cooperation shown by the local Catholic and Protestant deacons. At the end of their religious services, both men made announcements inviting people to attend a half-hour public talk to be given by Serge at a local school. What is more, the Protestant deacon came along and translated Serge’s talk into Marquesan, which at the time he spoke more fluently than Serge did.

To help the audience find the various scriptures in their own Bibles, Serge wrote them on a chalkboard. He also said the prayers, to which all responded with a clear “Amen.” The next day, the Gollins placed literature with every family on Fatu Hiva. Since then, they have continued to receive a warm welcome when visiting this island, which has a population of just under 600.

[Picture on page 120]

Marie-Louise and Serge Gollin serve as missionaries in the Marquesas