Elisapeta Lafaele is 41-year-old mother of seven children from the village of Falefā.

She thinks there is no poverty in Samoa. 

Moreover, she told the Village Voice that she doesn’t agree with the opinion of some people saying that church contributions are a cause of poverty in Samoa. 

 “I don’t agree about church contribution being a burden.”

“The bible says to give and it will be given to you. It means that the amount you give will determine the amount you get back. 

“God has different ways of blessing us, and if we keep giving and serve him whole-heartedly, He will bless you and your family. You might not get it right away but you will definitely get it.  “It’s okay for people to complain because we all think differently. But to me, I don’t think that church donations contribute to poverty.

“And I don’t think that there is poverty in Samoa. We all work hard for our families and your future is in your own hands. So if you don’t work, then you will suffer. No one died of hunger in this country. 

“This is because we have lands and the sea to provide for us. It’s simple. If you don’t have a job, you can have a plantation or go fishing. We also have a lot of different talents from God that we can use to get money for our families.”

Nevertheless, she says she enjoys life in the village very much. 

 “Life in the village is different from the life in Apia.” “You find everything you need here in the village. Even if you don’t have a job, you can still earn money and get food from the land. 

“It’s not like Apia where you have to find a job in order for you to provide for your family. 

“Life in the village is simple and peaceful.”

Elisapeta stays with her husband Leafa Tepafoai Ieremia at Falefā and they have seven children. Their plantation is the main source of income for their family.