As our disaster relief team was purifying water at Pago Pago, Baptist Church; Randy and I began talking to a young Filipino lady who had brought containers to be filled with clean water. During our conversation, we found out that Maricha was living in American Samoa where her husband was employed by a commercial fishing company. Maricha sadly began to tell the story of her husband whom she had not seen in over a year. He was involved in a fishing boat accident in which he received a spinal injury and was first taken to the hospital in Pago Pago. After finding the injury to be very serious, they flew him to New Zealand and eventually to San Diego, CA. Maricha talks with her husband over the phone but she and her 4 year old daughter Samantha were missing him greatly. Her husband was having another spine operation on the following Monday after our visit. You could see the pain and heaviness in her eyes. We felt Christ’s compassion for this new friend and grieving mother. We were able to purify some water for Maricha and give her a few small things for her daughter along with a monetary gift. As we prayed for Maricha and her family, she was deeply touched and thanked us many times as tears ran down her face. She is a believer and trusted in Jesus as her savior as a young girl in the Philippines. On this day, God sent Randy and I to encourage and pray for His child, Maricha.
American Samoa, Saturday 11/07/2009
We were asked by the Pulenu’u (mayor) to come and purify water in the village of Aumi. We setup at the local church and were able to purify many containers that were brought to the site by the villagers. We were then asked to relocate up the cove to an area where some village people needed water and it was too far for them to carry the water by foot. We played with the children, giving them lollipops and talking with them. A neighbor family was preparing a special lunch of bread fruit, coconut milk, and mackerel. They began burning coconut hulls early in the morning to heat the rocks. Once the rocks are heated, the coconut milk and mackerel are wrapped into the shape of a large ball with aluminum foil and placed on the rocks along with the bread fruit which is scraped and placed into a basket. This is one of their favorite meals and is ready for eating in about an hour.
After filling all the containers we headed up the coast to an area where a boat taxi would take us over to the island of Au’nuu for a charge of one dollar. This small island of .60 sq. mi. is part of American Samoa and has a population of less than 500 people. We boarded one of the boat taxis and began the short ride over, in rough water, to the island of Au’nuu. When arriving, we walked to the only village store on the island to get some cold water and quench our thirst on this very hot day. As we were standing under a shaded porch outside the small store, Randy and Ben began to talk with a young man 21 years of age by the name of Phillip. Phillip was curious about our presence and listened we explained who we were and what we were doing in American Samoa. After several minutes of conversation, Randy changed the subject to spirituality and asked Phillip this question, “When you die, do you know for sure that you are going to heaven?” Philip was not sure of the answer, although He did believe in God. Philip listned closely as Randy began to share the Gospel story of Jesus Christ and explained how Christ had died for our sins and made a way for us to have eternal life. When asked if he would like to receive the free gift of eternal life, Phillip answered yes. Randy led Philip in a sinner’s prayer and we congratulated him on his decision to follow Christ. We then gave him a tract to review later. Ben lives on American Samoa and is a missionary teacher at Happy Valley Baptist Academy. Ben left his phone number with Philip and encouraged him to call when he was on the Island. Phillips tee shirt says “Chance Um” and that is the world’s view. Christ says that today is the day of salvation for those who believe. How exciting it was to see a young man repent of his sins and ask Christ to come into his heart by nailing down his salvation. We know the angels were rejoicing in heaven and so were we in American Samoa!
American Samoa, 11/08/2009
At 9:00 am in the pouring rain, standing outside in a small round concrete shelter, 15 members of the Chinese Baptist Church in Pago Pago gathered to witness baptism. They were celebrating with four new believers and Pastor Paul Fu had asked Randy to join him in conducting the baptismal service and then speak at the 10:00 service. As Amazing Grace was sung in the Mandarin language, one by one they walk down to the bluish green water at the shore line of the Pacific Ocean to meet Pastor Fu and Randy. As each new believer confessed Christ as Lord, Randy and Paster Fu each prayed for them and immersed them in the water. This was truly a humble and moving experience that will stand as a spiritual highlight in our minisrty.
Afterwards, we drove a few miles to the Chinese Baptist church in Pago Pago where Randy delivered the message about the servant hood of Christ Jesus. The humble disposition of the Chinese people touched our hearts. After church, they prepared a feast of beef and radishes, meat, dried swallow wings, rice, broccoli and carrots. We left with our stomachs filled and our hearts overflowing with joy for the opportunity to worship and fellowship with our Chinese brothers and sisters.
