"Service" was the word Malua's top student for the Bachelor of Theology programme used to summarise his four-year journey in Malua which ended on Saturday. 

Now armed with a Bachelor Degree from Malua Theological College, Fraser Taua'ivale who hails from Vato'omuli Palauli, Manono, Vaitele-Fou and America is ready for a life of service in God's ministry. 

Fraser has also been awarded a scholarship by the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.) to do his Master of Theology in Malua next year. 

Asked how he felt as his closed another challenging chapter of his life on Saturday, he said he was "humbled."

"Honestly I feel humble and glory be to God for granting me the opportunity to come to Malua," Fraser said. 

"I know a many people look forward to an opportunity like this but only few people actually get the blessing to get accepted in Malua. 

"So it's been a fortunate experience and I'm humbled and a little bit overwhelmed at the same time."

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Samoan, Fraser said that entering Malua was never part of his plans growing up, despite being raised in the ministry, with his parents being faifeau (church ministers).

However, it wasn't until his affiliation with community outreach programmes for the youths back in Garden Grove, America that sparked his willingness to "make a changes." 

"I felt like this is my calling," he said.  "I felt like everything in my life at the time pushed me to come to Malua. I was already involved in doing community work back at home and doing stuff for the youth within our community. 

"Then I realised that the people I loved the most and where I find the most joy was always in the church youth. I felt that that was an avenue where I can help and make change and God can use me as a vessel to improve the lives of the youths. 

"And this is the place I had to come if I want God to use me, to make changes especially with the youths back home."

Despite leaving the refuge of his home for the first time four years ago when he got accepted into Malua, Fraser said that "Malua has always been home" for him right from the start. 

"This was the first time I've been away from my parents and my siblings for years. 

"But Malua has always been home, since the very beginning. With the spirit of brotherhood and unity here in Malua, I felt like I did not miss a step. 

"Everyone here needs comfort, everyone here needs a shoulder to cry on, and everyone here needs encouragement. Luckily, everyone provides that and so it always felt like home."

He also admitted that life in Malua was no walk in the park. However, out of all the challenges he faced during his four-year journey in Malua, "discipline" and "time management" topped the list of obstacles he had to overcome. 

"Malua is a very disciplined school. So if you're someone like me who lacked discipline coming in to Malua, it's a bit of a wake up call. Everything is structured, and you have to manage your time wisely. 

"You have a lot of workload to handle with school work piling up at the same time.

"But that's the toughest part about it. You cannot hold your duties and obligations as a student just so you can make time to write your sermon or finish your assignment. 

"Here in Malua, you have to write your sermon and also make sure you fulfill all the other duties and work expected of a student at the same time. 

"But it prepares everyone for what awaits us in the future and in God's ministry."

For Fraser, the highlight of his four-year journey in Malua was the fieldwork programmes they were required to take up in his third year in Malua. 

"Our field work gave us the opportunity to take the theology that we learnt here and applied it in the actual world. We got to see how we can apply the theology that we learn in Malua into today's context."

Some of the places they visited as part of their fieldwork included the Samoa Victim Support Group, Tanumalala Prison, and the Home of the Elderly at the Mapuifagalele. 

Nevertheless, they were also given the opportunity to spend one week with the parishes within the Itu-o-Tane district in Savai'i last year. 

"I was fortunate enough to be at Tufutafoe in Savai'i and had the opportunity to see the practical side of things and life in the ministry. 

"It was really an eye-opener for me."

When asked to describe his four-year journey in Malua using one word, he replied saying: "service". 

"I say service because that's what lies ahead for us. A life of service in God's ministry, spreading his gospel. It also describes everything that I had experienced in Malua."

Fraser – who has been awarded a scholarship to do his Master of Theology in Malua next year – dedicated his achievements to his loved ones who have passed on.  

"I dedicate this to my grandfathers that are no longer here, Seumanufagai Autagavaia Fa'amasani Filo, Taisoua Talopaia Semika Aufotu, and Auapaau Fa'atoatoa Taua'ivale. 

"Not forgetting my late uncle who helped me through three years of this journey and whom I miss so much and I wished could be here to witness the fruits of his labour, my beloved uncle Leituala Toatasi Fatu Taua'ivale."

Lastly, Fraser used the opportunity to thank his parents Feagai and Filo Taua'ivale, his siblings, families and friends as well as his church family (E.F.K.S. Agabe, Garden Grove) in America, for their love, support and prayers during his time in Malua.