It is a learning experience for the Te Atatu Youth from New Zealand. They are here to learn how different their lives in Samoa would have been as a majority of the visiting group are in the land of their ancestors for the first time.

Church minister Filemoni Crawley and his wife Alofa Crawley travelled to Samoa three days ago to spend time with the Youth at Tanoalei’a Vaivase-uta and engage in fellowship. 

According to Reverend Filemoni, this has been a long-term plan that is now coming to fruition. 

Since many of the other students attending are visiting for the first time, the main goal of this gathering is to allow the Te Atatu youth to come and experience the beauty of their home. He said they were attempting to allow them to visit their families and see the places where their parents were raised.

“The purpose of this journey is to allow our youth students, who are now in their 20s and 30s, to share and enrich their experiences of Samoan life and understand how their lives in New Zealand and Samoa differ," he said. 

“Being able to return to our native countries and the location where I started my career as a pastor and witness the difference in the living conditions of others is a wonderful honour."

The theme of the fellowship is "Fa'alautele le mea e tu ai lou fale'ie." 

“We came to see Samoan life, including the preparation of umu and all Samoan duties, and we shared our knowledge, skills, dances, Bible lectures, and social life experiences because we all have unique gifts," said Rev Filemoni.

"It is a fantastic chance for the youth to discover that although we come from various nations and backgrounds, we all serve the same living God."

Te Atatu and Tanoalei’a youths visited the Mapuifagalele Home for the Aged and they brought gifts, fruits, and vegetables to help them with their meals and other necessities. 

“Seeing the elderly there, who appear to be their grandparents who are already in Heaven at home, has been quite moving for several of the youth Te Atatu members who are visiting Mapuifagalele for the first time,” said Rev Filemoni.

According to 21-year-old Tanoalei'a youth member Dolly Sarai Neru, meeting new people and making friends with the Te Atatu youth has been a wonderful experience for her.

“I'm overjoyed that I was able to meet the young people from Te Atatu and form a fresh relationship with them apart from their shared residence,” she said.

“This gathering is a significant memory for me for the entire year since it began with getting to know new people and spending time with them. Since we come from various worlds, we never know them until we do.”