Pacific Climate Justice TREK

Brock Sivon

Hello everyone!

Today is Sunday June 14th, 2026 and what a great experience it has been so far! We started off the day by going to a church service at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church about a 15 minute walk from our hotel. We began by singing a few choruses, followed by an opening prayer, as well as readings from the books of Genesis, Psalms, and Romans. It was a great opportunity to experience worship in another part of the world and see how faith can bring people together across different cultures and communities.

The main message today came from the book of Matthew and focused on how Jesus is our healer, Savior, and Creator of this world. The pastor spoke about the beauty that God has created all around us, from gigantic trees and diverse animals to changing weather patterns, beautiful sunrises, and colorful sunsets. As humans, we have the responsibility to care for the land and God’s diverse creations. If we fail to do this, we experience the negative consequences, some worse than others, many of which we have been learning about here in the Pacific. One important takeaway was that any ordinary person can be involved in making a difference. I love the quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” It was a powerful reminder that meaningful change often begins with a small group of people who care enough to take action.

At the end of the service, there was a baptism for a baby. This was a neat experience to witness, as it represented the commitment of the parents and church to raise the child in faith and follow Jesus. The baby was happy throughout the entire ceremony, which made the experience even more memorable.

In the afternoon, we gathered as a group in our hotel lobby to listen to a brief lecture on the consequences of climate change by our very own group co-leader, Dr. Clayton, who is an expert on the mental health impacts of climate change. These impacts include severe health risks, food and water insecurity, extreme weather events, the destruction of homes and communities, and increased mental health challenges. Climate change affects all aspects of life and still there are large research gaps regarding mental health and how people are being affected in the Pacific. Learning about these challenges helped us better understand the lived experiences that many communities are currently facing.

The last part of the lecture included an introduction to the human-subjects research that we, as a group, will be conducting in Tuvalu. We will be interviewing people whose voices are often overlooked, even when living on the front lines of climate change. We will ask about their stories, how they are being impacted, what they want the world to know, and many other important topics. Through these conversations, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and help share perspectives that are unheard.

Finally, we had a group reflection and talked about our experiences from the past few days. Many of us mentioned how beautiful the tubing experience was and how we were surrounded by such incredible diversity. At times, it felt like something straight out of Jurassic Park because of the stunning nature and scenery. We discussed what we loved most, including the opportunity to swim beneath a massive waterfall and experience nature in such a unique way.

During the discussion, someone in our group brought up the question, “What do you think the Navua River and the area around it will look like in 1,000 years?” We shared a few responses, but one stood out the most: “This beautiful diversity could all be gone.” That statement really stuck with me. To think that the forests, rivers, wildlife, and natural beauty we have the privilege of experiencing today could one day disappear is heartbreaking. The possibility that our kids may never have the opportunity to witness these places firsthand is a sad thought.

Ultimately, today was filled with moments of reflection, learning, and appreciation. I was reminded of the value of protecting our world and the importance of listening to those most affected by its changes. That leaves me with one question: What do you love the most, and are you willing to fight for it?