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Talofa lava,
The Utah Samoa Return Missionaries Association is still going strong! Anyone can join and membership is free! your attendance is required...So for our future members and our current members faamalosi mai. O loo moni lava le talalelei. I have just returned from Samoa, I was blessed to witness the Temple dedication and also the Teuila festivities. What a sight! But the saddest part was, I had to enjoy it by my lonesome!! For our other members and association in Samoa and also in NZ during Pres Te'o let's talk and plan a reunion for the 2007 put together. If this can be arranged then please contact us. Our website is still at: http://groups.msn.com/UtahSamoaReturnMissionaries
you can post a message on our message board. or just email me directly. Like I said i was able to enjoy myself during the Teuila and the temple dedication, but it's better done when there are more to share it with.
Ma le faaaloalo lava.
ps. I heard the South Pacific games will be held in 2007.
jazzypk@msn.com
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Richard Vellinga passed away Friday, September 9 of liver cancer. Richard served for 2 1/2 years in Samoa from 1965-1968. He was 58 years old. He loved the Samoan people to the end. He watched the slides he took in Samoa for the first time in almost 40 years just a few weeks ago. He told me that he was surprised he still remembered peoples names and names of villages in which he served. I remember as a child watching him do the Samoan slap dance at family reunions. I was able to help him arrange a Samoan toanai'i for his family for which I was grateful. He was a great man and a faithful member of the church. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Grant Davis
Cousin to Richard and Fellow Samoan Mission Alumnist
Viewing: Thursday, September 15th, 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Leavitt's Mortuary, 36th Street and Quincy Ave., Ogden, Utah
Funeral: Friday, September 16th, at 11:00 A.M. Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the Corner of 1000 West Street and Gordon Ave, Syracuse, Utah. Viewing at 9:30 to 10:45, at the Chapel.
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That's the same book Brandon Holyoak mentioned in his post. On the link below to the UH Press, just type in the name or the book, or even "Samoan" and it will come up. I've never had any problem ordering stuff from UH press.
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Having only learned a modest amount of respect language when I was serving from 1965-67, I was impressed by those missionaries who excelled in it and could rattle off a respectable greeting speech, lauga fa'afetai or lauga fa'amavae. Then, having forgotten most of what I once knew, I was recently intrigued to discover a book some of you might be interested in:
In 2002 the University of Hawaii Press published "O Si Manu A Ali'i" by 'Aumua Mata'itusi Simanu, a female talking chief who honed her oratory skills as an educator in Samoa and more recently as a tacher at UH.
The 681-page softbound book, which is outstanding, can be ordered online through the UH Press website at [no breaks intended]:
http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/cart/shopcore/?db_name=uhpress
...but beware, it's 99% in Samoan and written for people already fluent in Samoan who want to gain greater insights into the "va feiloa'i" and "saunoaga a tamali'i ma failauga." SOIFUA.
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Hey Brandon,
I did the same thing you are doing. I served in Samoa 1989 and 1990, and then took my wife back to Samoa 10 yrs later in 2000. It was the best! Total cost for airfare (from SLC, UT) plus all expenses came to about $4K for both of us, including Hawaii car rental, PCC, etc.
Some tips we learned:
- We contacted our local health dept to find out about shots and get the right ones.
- We took diarrhea pills with us.
- ALWAYS use hand sanitizer. And, guy-to-guy, I mean it: USE it all the time...your wife will know what I mean... this cuts down on diarrhea which makes a trip horrible.
- Have spare toilet paper.
- Have spare granola bars.
- Use sunscreen, and we took hats
- We had suitcases that we stored at friends' houses, and backpacked much around the islands.
- In one place we stayed, we had access to a friend's bungalow with kitchen, so we went into town to buy food from the grocery store and market and came back to prepare it. This was much cheaper.
- Be prepared to pay a few tala to families who own the land that some sites reside on. They look after the site and try to monitor it, so the "entrance fee" is certainly worth it and goes to a worthy cause.
- We certainly depended on some Samoan friends/contacts I had from my mission days. Aiga o Wendt, Aleni Fuatimau, Toloa'i Ho Ching were the best hosts!!
- We rented a jeep to tour the islands-- most economical and flexible... I think I even tried to get a temporary drivers license but it seems that the police let me not worry about it (Samoa faigofie!)
- Once we drove to the south side of Upolu and just followed tourist signs to fale's on the beach side, hosted by a member family (Stake pres of Upolu Southeast)- I think it was only $10/night, but they gave us gifts worth far more than that.
- We stayed with a Catholic family in Falealupo in Savaii for my wife to experience true remoteness-- that was great! I got to practice my faaSamoa with the matai all over again. I recited his area's faalupega I found in a book somewhere and that impressed him. We brought a few oso's as well.
- Search the web for sites... There were some I had no idea about while I was on my mission: Papase'ea, Taga blowholes (HUGE! and IMPRESSIVE!), underground lava tubes on the Northern side of Savaii, etc., the Rainforest catwalk in Falealupo (~70 ft above ground- ~$20/person, but worthy cause).
- Of course have your passports ready with roundtrip tickets in hand. If you are staying for less than 30 days, you don't need a permit.
- Traveler's checks seem to be less acceptable worldwide, but banks will still accept them.
- Snorkeling is the best! There is a good place just east of Apia... the web will probably describe it. Bring your own mask and snorkel though, the rented ones look dirty, and we want to maximize the comfort of your faletua, correct?
- American Samoa airflight to (Western) Samoa: I tried to make reservations before we got there, but when we did, they did not have my reservation recorded. We still got on a flight anyway.
- Bring walkie talkie radios, in case you are separated in the maketi and she needs you to help barter a deal for a souvenir.
- I probably would have brought a camcorder, but be very careful about getting it dirty or lost.
- Bring ziploc baggies for the boat ride Upolu-Savaii-- my dear toalua has a weak stomach as it is.
- Teach your faletua beforehand to wear a ie lavalava.
- Be sure to take pictures and later include in a family scrapbook. Trust me... involving your wife in your experiences will reduce the number of times you bug her later with "When I was in Samoa, this is how it was/is...."
- Try your best to do a little bit of everything. We went to a Catholic church on the same Sunday as LDS, we went to a siva, the temple, etc.
Boy, is this too much or what??? Once I got going, it was hard to stop. It was a fun experience for the both of us, and we have started talking about returning to Samoa with our kids when they are a little older to give them a good experience, maybe in 10 years???
Ia manuia lava le malaga a lau susuga ma le paia a lau faletua. Return and report!!!
Ia soifua,
(Elder) Paul Pulley
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Brandon:
I was in Samoa with my family last November and early December 2004. No shots necessary to enter although some folks would like to be safe not sorry. We didn't get any since I am a devout coward. Passport is required but no Visa (if 30 day stay or shorter .. at least not extended stay). I have always purchased an International Driver's License from AAA before going to Samoa although I am not sure that it is mandatory. You will need to arrange for a temporary driving permit when you arrive if you expect to rent a car (or you get picked up). We rented from Sonny Ah Kuoi at Funway Rentals (close to Aggies) which we have done several times. However, there are a number of reasonable and reputable places to rent a car. We took our rental over to Savaii on the Ferry and it worked out just fine. Bottled water is becoming more of a "staple" (unless you can get a cup of boiling hot Koko Samoa). All in All it is an overwhelming experience and the beauty, in spite of the cyclones that have hit the islands from time to time, is breathtaking.
Riki
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I'm from Seattle Washington, and in a couple of years I will be travelling to Tokelau. I was wondering if Tokelau is in your mission boundaries, and if so, if you know if there are ANY LDS members living there, and if they hold Church on Sundays. I want to be able to go to Church while I'm there! If so, please tell me what city they attend Church in. Thanks!
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Can anyone help me find Scott Sundholm? Ia faamolemole iate outou, ia fesoasoani mai ia te au i lenei mea. Faafetai tele lava.
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Ia, ua ou fia momoli lenei message i au uo sa ta masani mai le galuega...I am just sittin here procrastinating homework...read Black's imeli e uiga i le taumafaiga mo se vasega fou, Wong's imeli about his wife and lana alu atu i le taua. I just want to say Ta te alofa atu ia outou taitoatasi. E ui ina valavala tatou i lenei vaitau, tou te felatai i lou loto. Not to be se faafafine or anything. I just miss my USOS you know. Ia tatou nofonofo ise taimi i luma, faasolo le mafaufau i le misiona ma faafetai atu, aua le matuai SEKUELI PALEGI o mea sa tupu i lena lua tausaga ma aso oloo i luma a tatou feagai ai. Ia manuia mea uma ma aua te fefe e lafo mai se imeli! Soifua...HOLYOAK
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Packages can take up to two weeks to Pago Pago, American Samoa even if they are sent priority. Mail is not deleivered every day from Hawai'i. The schedule is based on the commercial flights that leave several times a week from Hawai'i. Once the package gets to American Samoa it can take another week or so to get to Western Samoa. Since your missionary is in Savai'i I am sure that it will take another week or so to eventually get to him. As far as Christmas goes I would send your package now. My familly lives in American Samoa and I live in Utah, if I send packages around Thanksgiving it is not gaurnateed to get to them by Christmas. The holidays are very busy so ship early. Good luck.
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