Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Rita Church Members Visited FSM President Falcam

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): June 10, 1997 –
FSM Vice President Leo A. Falcam this morning, June 9, 1997, in the
Office of the President, received members of Rita Congregational
Church from Majuro, Marshall Islands, under the leadership of Rev.
Enja.

The group sang two numbers of Marshallese religious songs after
which Rev. Enja Enoj prayed for the providence, guidance, protection
and sustenance of the FSM and its President, Vice President, the
Governors of the FSM States, and other leaders and the people of the
FSM.

Leroj Likbar Anni who is also a member of the House of Iroij in
the Parliament or Legislature, on behalf of the group, placed a
necklace made up of shells on Vice President Falcam’s neck and also
presented him a gift of several handwoven coconut leave fans that the
group brought with them from Majuro.

Vice President Falcam in an impromptu remarks thanked the group
for visiting the Office of the President , their beautiful and
inspirational songs and presented them a framed photograph of FSM
President Jacob Nena and asked that the picture is displayed in their
church and that they remember them in their prayers.

Falcam requested the group to relay his greetings to President
Imata Kabua, of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and to the
Government and the people of Marshall Islands. Falcam also told the
group that he and President Kabua knew one another and played tennis
together years ago. He also asked the group to relay his greetings to
Rev. Jude Samson, who was his classmate in Honolulu, Hawaii. Falcam
concluded by noting that attentions of governments of the two
countries usually focused on their relationships with developed
countries, Japan and the United States, that relationships between
the FSM and the Marshall Islands were taken for granted.

Falcam introduced Dr. Eliuel K. Pretrick, former Secretary of
Health Services and Kapilly Capelle, former Director of
Administrative Services who were with the Vice President when he
received the group.

After a short program, a group photo was taken in front of the
president’s Office Building with Vice president Falcam. The entire
program was video taped by the staff of the President’s Office of
Information to air on ICTV.

The group visited the hospital and the jail to sing of consolation
and to pray for the patients and the prisoners on June 9, 1997 and on
June 10, 1997, they paid a courtesy call on Governor Del Pangelinan.

The 28 member Rita Church group from Majuro arrived Pohnpei on
June 6, for visits with Sekere Congregational Church. The
Congregation of Sokehs Pah hosted a dinner given in their honor on
June 9, 1997. They departed Pohnpei on June 11 for a week in Kosrae
before returning home.