Lolopeni the elei maker and farmer

By Talimalie Uta 14 September 2017, 12:00AM

Nothing worth having comes easy.

Lolopeni Penai, 37, of Levi Saleimoa knows that much.

“These days, good things come only to those who work hard and never give up because the harder you work for something the greater you will feel when you achieve it,” he said.

“In this world there are no shortcuts to what you want unless you’re cheating then you’ll get it… but when you get it doesn’t feel right at all.”

“That is why if you work hard on your own means you will get the greater reward of all time.”

Lolopeni is an elei maker. He used to work for one of the fashion businesses in town but decided to stop as he opted to stay home with his wife. 

They have been happily married for two years now.

“Currently I am unemployed but I’m using my talent as an elei maker to make a living not under someone’s authority but on my own,” he said.

“I like it because it gives me all the time I want and I will also have time to work on our plantation.”

As you’ve probably worked out, Lolopeni is also a farmer.

“The plantation is our source of food and income … and thank God for that, because by comparing to other countries, without money they have no life at all… but in Samoa, if we run out of money we have our lands to support us.”

He added: “I don’t know why some families are finding life very hard when I know for a fact that we all have lands gifted to us by our forefathers.”

“Well, I don’t mean to judge but basically it’s their fault, if they chose that pathway then they deserve the consequences of staying hungry in this world.”

Lolopeni also wants to encourage everyone.

“Please don’t give up easily,” he said, “if you want to learn the value of hard work, you need to endure the pain because in the end, the results are sweet.”

By Talimalie Uta 14 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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