Closing prayer wraps it all up

During the closing ceremony three representatives, one from Cook Islands, one from Samoa and the third from Tonga, prayed a special prayer for our Pacific neighbours who so recently experienced the natural disaster of a tsunami. Even though the prayers were in different languages, you could feel the emotion as the nation combined for a one minute silence for our Pacific brothers and sisters.

The closing prayer was by Bishop Tutai Pere.

“Our most gracious and precious heavenly Father, in the Name of thy dear SonJ esus Christ – our Lord and Saviour, we bow our heads before You, uniting our hearts and soul in one anthem of praise and thanks giving – thanking You for a truly successful Pacific Mini Games 2009 that we have just had, and now finally reaches its end. Though our hearts have been shattered and bewildered, gripped and mingled both with a face of gladness and sadness, a smile filled with both joy and sorrowfulness, overwhelmed with success yet flooded with grief, a voice of rejoicing yet with a tumultuous inner feeling of groaning and travailing – yet through it all – the real champions and heroes of the games are not only the medal winners at this game – but more so our Tongan and Samoan warriors who in the midst of such a disastrous adversity, bore the brunt and the most torrent and turbulent force of our current dilemna – endured and victoriously held the race on to the very end.

Thus, if there be one lesson to be learned at this game – it is the lesson of hope, love, peace, comradeship, friendship, real sportsmanship and fellowship that we have all shared one with another

- Jeremiah 42:6 reminds us: “Whether it be good or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God”.

– The Apostle Paul sums it all up in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things, through Christ Jesus which strengtheneth me”.

– And 2nd Corinthians 13:11, “Finally, brethren, farewell, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you”.

Bon voyage and safe travels to all our returning sports dignitaries, athletes and delegations, friends and visitors – back to your beloved home destinations, families and loved ones.

For our Cook Islands people – I pray that we continue to gladly share the moment – of a game successfully accomplished, of a job well done,

And a dream certainly come true. And the Peace of Christ which passeth all human understanding, keep your mind and heart in the Love of our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ … to Him – always be the glory, praise and honour, both now and for evermore. Amen.”