In 2018 the North American Division asked each of its nine unions to adopt one of the nine islands with an Adventist church and school in the Guam-Micronesia Mission.

The Lake Union Conference (LUC) adopted Kosrae, a small island 2,800 miles (about 4,500 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii with about 6,600 residents. 

For the past three years, students and church members across the Lake Union have been praying for our brothers and sisters who live on Kosrae. Many people across the Union have also mailed care packages to Kosrae residents since, for many months, ships were not allowed to deliver supplies to the islands due to COVID-19. Others have helped to raise funds to build a mission gym for the school.

During these three years, the school has grown from 50 to 76 students (pre-kindergarten through eleventh grade). The positive impact that this school is making in the lives of the students, many from non-Adventist homes, is unmistakable.

Since February 2021, a LUC administrator, pastor, youth leader, or educator has preached the last Sabbath (Saturday) of the month for their Sabbath church service via Zoom.

Kamran Masih and his wife, Saima, are missionaries from Pakistan and have served several years at the Kosrae Seventh-day Adventist School. In addition to serving as the school’s principal, Kamran teaches a freshman physical science class, helps with maintenance, and is the head elder at the church. Saima is the pre-K/K teacher and has 17 students in her classroom this year. She is grateful to have Mia Neth as her assistant. 

Kamran and Saima have two children. Their daughter, Misha, is in the second grade; their son, Abner, is in the kindergarten class.

Kamran shared the following: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness and for all of the Lake Union family who are praying for us. We are so humbled and honored by the partnership with the Lake Union.”

The church members on this island need us. Even though they are dedicated, they are few in number. Knowing that people in the Illinois, Indiana, Lake Region, Michigan, and Wisconsin conferences in the United States are praying for them is a source of strength and encouragement, they said.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church on Kosrae was established in 1973 and the Adventist school opened its doors in 1979. Classes are taught in English, which is important to many families. The Adventist school is respected for its strong academics and Christian values. The school is accredited by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

For Christmas 2021, each student received a water bottle from the Lake Union. “It is our desire that the students at the Kosrae Seventh-day Adventist School know that we are praying for them — and that we are glad to have them as part of our Lake Union family,” leaders said.

The original version of this story was posted on Lake Union Herald.