Gospel Day in Palmerston, Cook Islands

The term “gospel” is the translation of a Greek noun meaning “good news.” May God speak to your heart as you watch and listen.

This is the only published (First published by Cook Islands News in 2009) account of Gospel Day on Palmerston, and it's written by one of the island's children. It gives an extraordindary insight into a day which combines religion and home made entertainment. It was written thanks to journalist, Sandra Patterson from Rarotonga who spent five weeks on Palmerston in 2009 helping out at the local school.

"...At two o'clock, Pastor Tere closed the uapou in prayer - and Mama Aka rang the church bell. It is the custom on Gospel Day that after the bell rings, the day is no longer holy. The little kids started organising games. I quickly got dressed in my togs, t-shirt and pants, and ran down with my sister Taia to play soccer at the blue house. The teams were split in half, not very fairly, but nobody minded, just as long as they got to play. The elderly people played cards under the trees. After asking permission, my cousin, Rimaati, and Rainnier, my neice, and I went swimming at the Duke's Pool, which is also known as Vai Eli...."