Overcoming the challenges by sowing good seeds

By Fetalai Tuilulu’u 19 April 2017, 12:00AM

Fia Petelo is a 54-year-old father of two from the village of Luatuanu’u.

While most people associate village life with peace and paradise, he says there are a lot of challenges.

“The great thing about being in the rural villages is that we can eat and live freely off the land,” he said. 

“On the other hand, the main struggle is that if no one in the family is working, then you will struggle.”

The plantation though is always there. 

“Here at Luatuanu’u we look at finding different forms of making money.” 

 “Some villages only rely on a single money making method like taro. But we do more than just plantation, we look at the sea and other areas where we can make money.”

One of the biggest challenges is the ongoing fa’alavelave.  

“I think everyone in Samoa goes through the same thing,” he said. “I know we all go church and we must contribute, we are also required to do village activities and that is where the most our money goes.”

But he said each family should give in accordance to what they have.

 “The question is? What should be our priority? Families or contributions?” 

“This is something we should be thinking off. We cannot do both everyday knowing that some families cannot afford it.”

Fia said sometimes people need to learn to say no if they cannot afford it.

But he also believes givers are the blessed ones.

 “They say that the more you give the more you get in return,” he said. 

“No sweat will fall without any reward, what you sow now is what your children are going to reap. So we have to be encouraged and keep sowing good seeds.”

By Fetalai Tuilulu’u 19 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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