Spare a thought for them.

As the children of Samoa get excited about new clothes, gifts and lots of food for White Sunday tomorrow, many child vendors hustling on the streets of Apia can only dream of being pampered the same way.

The Weekend Observer went around the streets of Apia to ask some of these children their wish for this White Sunday. 

Twelve-year-old Tepa Auva’a from Falelatai sells popcorns and soft drinks to help ease his family’s financial burden. 

“For White Sunday I only want a white outfit so that I can use to recite my memory verse and perform in our evangelism performances,” he said. 

“In my own opinion, White Sunday is important to me because it is a day where we kids can feel special and be spoiled. 

“My memory verse from the Bible that I will recite is from Proverbs 15: 1-3: A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up. When wise people speak, they make knowledge attractive, but stupid people spout nonsense. The Lord sees what happens everywhere; he is watching us, whether we do good or evil.”

Tavita Ioane, 15, from Lefaga is another one. He sells boxes of matches and earbuds. 

“All I want for Sunday is to have brand new white clothes so that I can be just like all the other kids in church but I know that my parents might not be able to afford one,” he said.

“But that is also okay, I don’t want to burden them with unnecessary things when there are more important things we can use the limited amount of money we earn for.

 “My memory verse that I have been practicing for a long time is Psalms 127: 3-5 ‘Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing. The sons a man has when he is young are like arrows in a soldier’s hand. Happy is the man who has many such arrows’.”

Nine-year-old Tua Toetu from Malie was selling taro chips when the Weekend Observer spotted him. 

“For White Sunday, I would only like to get new shoes, but then I know that it is all up to my parents. I am assisting my parents by selling these items but they are also selling other things just like me,” she said.  

“We are a small family but there are a lot of things that we need the money for, but I am happy to help them. 

“I will be reciting Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not be afraid-I am with you! I am your God-let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you’.”