SAVAII HEARS THE GOOD NEWS

Now let us turn our attention to the largest and most unspoiled island in the Samoa group, Savaii. Much of this island is uninhabited and features lofty mountains, a jagged volcanic ridge with some 450 craters, nearly impenetrable jungles, and rugged lava fields. The majority of the residents live in small villages scattered along the coast. It was in 1955 that the good news first reached Savaii. Len Helberg and a group of publishers from the island of Upolu briefly visited to show the film The New World Society in Action.

Six years later, two missionary sisters​—Tia Aluni, the first Samoan to attend Gilead, and Ivy Kawhe, her partner—​were invited to move from American Samoa to Savaii. Arriving in 1961, the two sisters found accommodations with an elderly couple living in Fogapoa, a village located on the eastern side of the island. Later, they were joined for a while by a special pioneer sister, who had once lived on Savaii. To encourage and support the new group of between six and eight persons, brothers from Apia visited once a month and gave public talks. These meetings were held in a small fale in Fogapoa.

Tia and Ivy remained on Savaii until 1964, when they were assigned to another island. For the next ten years, there was little spiritual activity on Savaii. Then, beginning in 1974, several families moved to Savaii to help revitalize the work. These included Risati and Mareta Segi, Happy and Maota Goeldner-Barnett, Faigaai Tu, Palota Alagi, Kumi Falema‘a (later Thompson), and Ron and Dolly Sellars, who moved from American Samoa. The small group formed at Fogapoa met at the Segis’ fale, located next to the beach. Later, a missionary home and Kingdom Hall were built nearby. In time, another group was established at Taga, a village situated on the west coast of Savaii.

Beginning in 1979, more missionary couples were assigned to Savaii to assist the local publishers. These included Robert and Betty Boies, John and Helen Rhodes, Leva and Tenisia Faai‘u, Fred and Tami Holmes, Brian and Sue Mulcahy, Matthew and Debbie Kurtz, and Jack and Mary Jane Weiser. With the missionaries setting a fine lead, the work in Savaii moved forward steadily.

On Savaii, however, traditions and family ties held a tight grip on the people. Up to one third of the villages banned Jehovah’s Witnesses from preaching in their communities, some even making public radio announcements to that effect. Hence, it took much time and patience to help new ones to make progress. Even so, many came into the truth, including some with serious health problems.

OVERCOMING HEALTH PROBLEMS TO SERVE JEHOVAH

One such person was Metusela Neru, who fell from a horse and broke his back when he was 12 years old. “After his accident,” recalls one missionary, “he walked as if he were folded in half, and he was in constant pain.” When Metusela began studying the Bible at 19 years of age, he resolutely endured his family’s opposition. Because of his disability, what would otherwise have been a five-minute walk to congregation meetings was a 45-minute ordeal. Nevertheless, Metusela made fine progress and was baptized in 1990. He later entered the full-time ministry as a regular pioneer and qualified as an elder. Since then, more than 30 of his relatives have attended meetings in Faga, and several have been baptized. Today, despite his ongoing health problems, Metusela is well-known for his smiling face and happy personality.

Another person who overcame severe health problems to make spiritual progress was Saumalu Taua‘anae. Saumalu was severely disfigured by leprosy and lived in the remote village of Aopo. Because his village was so isolated, he first studied the Bible through correspondence with Ivan Thompson. Then Asa Coe, a special pioneer, moved to Savaii and took over the study. When Saumalu attended his first meeting in 1991, it required a two-hour drive to Taga, a village on the opposite side of the island.

So self-conscious was Saumalu about his disfigured appearance that when he first attended a special assembly day, he listened to the program from his car. He was deeply moved, though, when during the intermission at lunchtime, brothers and sisters lovingly approached him and extended a heartfelt welcome. He gratefully accepted their warm invitation and enjoyed the rest of the program sitting with the audience.

Soon Saumalu and his wife, Torise, began attending meetings at Faga, traveling more than an hour each way to be there. Saumalu was baptized in 1993 and, in time, qualified to be a ministerial servant. When doctors later amputated one of his legs, he still drove his car to meetings. Their village has banned the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses; hence, Saumalu and Torise zealously witness to others informally and by means of the telephone.

Today, they live in Apia, where Saumalu receives regular treatment for his many health problems. Instead of being bitter, he is well-known for his positive, joyful outlook on life. Both he and his wife are greatly respected for their strong faith.

‘Jehovah Has Answered My Prayers’

FAIGAAI TU

BORN 1932

BAPTIZED 1964

PROFILE She pioneered on the islands of Upolu and Savaii from 1965 to 1980. She now lives on Savaii.

I WAS born with severely deformed clubfeet. As a result, the soles of my feet curl back under my heels, making it very difficult for me to walk.

When I first heard the truth, it sank deep into my heart. I wanted to attend congregation meetings, but walking along the hard and rocky road to get there seemed impossible. Eventually, I became very skilled at making my own shoes from rubber sandals. These allowed me to walk more comfortably.

I started pioneering soon after my baptism. Then, after pioneering for nine years on the island of Upolu, I moved with my sister and her husband to Savaii, where there was a need for Kingdom preachers. Here I special pioneered along with my niece, Kumi Falema‘a.

Kumi and I traveled by bus each week from Faga to Lata, a small village located on the west coast of Savaii. After conducting a Bible study with a woman in Lata, we walked five miles [8 km] to the village of Taga to study with another woman. We stayed the night with this woman and her family and then returned to Faga on the morning bus. This routine continued for about two years. Happily, both of these women and their families later became active Witnesses.

When my relatives left Savaii, I stayed behind to look after a small group of sisters and interested women at Faga. I conducted the weekly Watchtower Study and Congregation Book Study and led the sisters in the house-to-house ministry. Once a month an elder traveled from Apia to conduct one of our Sunday meetings. Because the village chief forbade us to sing Kingdom songs at our meetings, we read the words aloud instead. Five years later a missionary couple, Leva and Tenisia Faai‘u, arrived from New Zealand to help our little group. Others followed. Today, Savaii has two flourishing congregations, one at Faga and the other at Taga.

Although I never married, I love children and always drew close to them. Some children even lived with me for a time. Seeing my spiritual “children” grow and take their stand for Jehovah has filled me with joy.

Now I am old and can no longer walk from door to door. I conduct Bible studies at my home and witness to people I meet at the local hospital. Even so, my limitations frustrated me, so I prayed to Jehovah to help me to do more. Then, missionaries in my congregation introduced me to telephone witnessing. Looking back over my life, I see that Jehovah has truly answered my prayers.