Mary will never forget the morning of 17 December 2024. Before leaving for her teaching job at Malapoa College in Port Vila, Vanuatu, she prayed Psalm 91 over her life and her family, declaring God’s protection over them all.
She did not know that an earthquake would strike at midday.
“I was in my classroom, marking exam papers,” she said. “When I felt the tremor, I ran outside. The whole building was shaking. I thought of my family. I thought of God.”
That morning prayer came rushing back to her mind. “I said, ‘Lord, You are my refuge and my fortress.’ Then I went to work like any other day.”
When the earthquake finally stopped, Mary returned to her classroom to find something extraordinary. “All my colleagues’ papers and laptops had fallen. Tables were turned. But mine, everything was untouched. My laptop, my students’ exams, even my chair. It was as if a hand had held them steady,” she said.
As she stood in the quiet aftermath, Mary realised what had just happened. “And I just remembered that God saved them,” she said.
At that moment, she saw her untouched desk as a powerful sign of God’s protection.
“And I just remembered that God saved them. And God gave me a message, ‘Why are you running when I am here right with you?’ Like verse seven, it says, ‘Though tens and thousands will fall at our side, for us we will still stand because he is, he is our protector, he is our refuge in every little thing.’”
For Mary, the earthquake was not just a moment of fear, but a moment of faith confirmed, a reminder that even when the ground shakes, God’s presence never does.
Across Vanuatu, people have been rebuilding with quiet strength as communities support one another through the long journey of recovery. Global Mission Partners has walked alongside local churches by helping deliver essentials, such as clean drinking water, blankets, mats, and basic health items, so families can find stability again.
Local churches have also created safe spaces for prayer, conversation, and trauma support, which are helping people process their fears and rebuild confidence after the earthquake. Through these shared efforts, hope continues to rise, and God’s presence is felt in every step forward.
Donate to the COCOA Christmas Offering during December and help people like Mary to restore their hope with Healing the Trauma counselling.
Every act of compassion, every prayer, every dollar given helps bring hope and strength to communities in Vanuatu as they continue to rebuild. Your generosity reminds families that they are not forgotten and that God’s love is steady even when life feels uncertain.