Dear Editor, I see in various forms of media, including Letters to the Editor and the Ocean Ancestors Facebook page, discussions and arguments that refer to the Bible.

I thank God the Cook Islands is still designated a Christian nation and that a number of locals still consider Bible guidelines for daily living.

I gave my life to the Lord at 10 years of age. 53 years later, I can honestly say my God has never failed me. I can testify to many provisions supplied right on time.

Even as a school principal, I recall thinking, ‘Lord we really could do with this or that’ and shortly after receiving a phone call or email offering what we needed. And I’m talking needs in the thousands of dollars.

Once early morning, in my office, stressing (yes, my faith isn’t that strong) about how on earth we would meet a deadline, a UK tourist cycled up asking if we had anything that needed doing! He had had his fill of sitting on the beach and ended up volunteering two weeks preparing and painting a building, as well as doing much needed IT work.

Our move to Mauke 16 years ago was a step of faith as we lived the first few years with no income at all and with not a lot since, but we have never been without and definitely are not poor in what really matters.

One very dry year we were down to one week’s water supply and then, the skies opened. The stories are many. God really is Jehovah Jireh, my provider.

Knowing this, I find it disappointing to see so much emphasis is being put on money, as if God has forgotten us.

The pursuit of money is the reason foreigners want to mine our ocean and, it seems, pursuit of money is the only reason some Cook Islanders want to let them.

Such short-term thinking I cannot fathom.

Genesis 2:15 tells us that God gave Adam the responsibility to take care of His creation. Even in a perfect world man was expected to work and that work was to care.

I would like to know where they have got the impression that God gave everything to be used by man. God clearly gave instructions for sustainability e.g. Deuteronomy 22: 6 - 7 says to leave the mother bird, but take the chick’s... ‘that it may go well with you’.

The present TIA daily reading is about Israel demanding a King instead of trusting God.

Proverbs 27: 23-27 warns us to know the condition of our animals and plants because riches do not endure and governments are not secure.

We need many more decades of research to discover if the nodules are already serving their God given purpose right where they are or whether they were given for us to harvest.

Trust in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

June Hosking.