Laauli Etena and Faletua Sala
A Full Week of Saying Goodbye to Savaii
Ethan and I washing our hands after food.
It has been a long and sad week of goodbyes. On Tuesday night, the mayor made me a feast. Ethan arrived in my village on Wednesday day and helped me to pack. The problem is that I didn't realize that we would wind up leaving the village with so many gifts. Wednesday night, the whole womens' committee threw me and Ethan a farewell party with gifts, food, and a whole lot of tears. Thursday night we had lunch BBQ with my across the yard neighbours, then dinner at Mele's family's house with pig and great Samoan foods. Friday we went to Sapapalii where the primary school did a gift presentation and thank you ceremony for Ethan. Every student gave Ethan something. It was quite a site to see little children with tears in their eyes and thank yous for the book reading that Ethan did for them. Then of course, we had a great big dinner with Ethan's family. Saturady was Grandmas birthday. Since the Pastor was attending the lunch, there was A LOT of food; he lead the prayer for our meal and blessed her for her 85 years. Saturday evening we all had a simple meal and hung out, talking chatting, remaniscing, and enjoying our last days. There were tears...but we tried to make it a happy evening. Then Sunday we went to church twice. Ethan did a speech in front of the whole congregation. But the most exciting and least known part of our weeklong festivities was the second Sunday meal at the Pastors house. We didn't know what to expect, although we did try to find out many times from different sources. So, we headed over there, totally clueless of what to expect. We sat down in the big fale at tables and watched as the High Matai and Pastor honoured the two visiting pastors from San Fran. Then they left and the Matai and the Pastor honoured Ethan for his hard work with gifts (A fue, a tootoo, taanoa, and many other honourable gifts). They saved his most precious gift for last and that was to welcome him with a new name to their village. For his 'tautua' (service) to his village they gave him a Matai name. Amazing. His name is Laauli, which is a son of Malietoa and a very highly respected Matai name. Ethan was extremely honoured and choked up. He did a great job reading a speech to thank them that his father had helped him write. His father did not attend the ceremony because he really wanted it to be the villages gift and nit his family's gift.
I translated the whole thing for him as I sat next to him. I was told Ill make a great Faletua (chiefs wife) because I help him with the language and everything. This moring we woke up at 5AM to do prayer one last time with his family, everyone cried and that was the end. We left for Taga, picked up my bags, stopped and gave hugs at everyones house, and then headed back to Apia on the boat. We have more gifts than a small army would know what to do with and we are sorting through them now. Well write more and hope everyone is well, but right now we are tired and ready to rest off this last week.
Ethan and all the Teachers at Sapapalii Primary School
Sala, Laauli Etena, and Ethan's dad Taoai - I think now that Ethan is a Matai, he should make a rule that all Matai get nipple rings, not jsut the full tatau! (Just kidding)
It has been a long and sad week of goodbyes. On Tuesday night, the mayor made me a feast. Ethan arrived in my village on Wednesday day and helped me to pack. The problem is that I didn't realize that we would wind up leaving the village with so many gifts. Wednesday night, the whole womens' committee threw me and Ethan a farewell party with gifts, food, and a whole lot of tears. Thursday night we had lunch BBQ with my across the yard neighbours, then dinner at Mele's family's house with pig and great Samoan foods. Friday we went to Sapapalii where the primary school did a gift presentation and thank you ceremony for Ethan. Every student gave Ethan something. It was quite a site to see little children with tears in their eyes and thank yous for the book reading that Ethan did for them. Then of course, we had a great big dinner with Ethan's family. Saturady was Grandmas birthday. Since the Pastor was attending the lunch, there was A LOT of food; he lead the prayer for our meal and blessed her for her 85 years. Saturday evening we all had a simple meal and hung out, talking chatting, remaniscing, and enjoying our last days. There were tears...but we tried to make it a happy evening. Then Sunday we went to church twice. Ethan did a speech in front of the whole congregation. But the most exciting and least known part of our weeklong festivities was the second Sunday meal at the Pastors house. We didn't know what to expect, although we did try to find out many times from different sources. So, we headed over there, totally clueless of what to expect. We sat down in the big fale at tables and watched as the High Matai and Pastor honoured the two visiting pastors from San Fran. Then they left and the Matai and the Pastor honoured Ethan for his hard work with gifts (A fue, a tootoo, taanoa, and many other honourable gifts). They saved his most precious gift for last and that was to welcome him with a new name to their village. For his 'tautua' (service) to his village they gave him a Matai name. Amazing. His name is Laauli, which is a son of Malietoa and a very highly respected Matai name. Ethan was extremely honoured and choked up. He did a great job reading a speech to thank them that his father had helped him write. His father did not attend the ceremony because he really wanted it to be the villages gift and nit his family's gift.
I translated the whole thing for him as I sat next to him. I was told Ill make a great Faletua (chiefs wife) because I help him with the language and everything. This moring we woke up at 5AM to do prayer one last time with his family, everyone cried and that was the end. We left for Taga, picked up my bags, stopped and gave hugs at everyones house, and then headed back to Apia on the boat. We have more gifts than a small army would know what to do with and we are sorting through them now. Well write more and hope everyone is well, but right now we are tired and ready to rest off this last week.
Ethan and all the Teachers at Sapapalii Primary School
Sala, Laauli Etena, and Ethan's dad Taoai - I think now that Ethan is a Matai, he should make a rule that all Matai get nipple rings, not jsut the full tatau! (Just kidding)
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