Retired Methodist Reverend Urima and his wife, Fogavai Faasii, will dedicate their remaining days in the service of God at Vailoa, Aleipata after their retirement. 

A Church service was held at the Methodist Church, Faleula on Sunday to ordain 13 new Methodist ministers and honour four long serving retiring Ministers. Rev. Faasii and his wife were among them. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, the couple expressed great joy at having achieved more than 20 years' service to the Lord and his people.

 “We give back the glory and thanksgiving unto God because without Him we would have never closed another chapter in our lives," said Rev. Faasii.

“All the work that we were able to do was not through a person’s strength and knowledge, it was through God’s guidance and help that we overcome so many difficulties.

“God has made each days added to our lives and we will honour Him always."

The 70-year-old and his wife entered Piula Theological College in 1983 and graduated in 1987.

Mrs. Faasii said that they had the chance to work at Wesley College in 1987 till 1988.

“In January of 1988 we travelled to Fiji from God’s opportunities through the Methodist church for more training and education but my husband was ordained in 1992 and as we waited for our first village we travelled to Fiji to further his studies in Theology and as we returned to Samoa my husband continued his work as a teacher at the Theological College," she said. 

“In 2004 we were chosen to our first village which was Afega but we were there for only two and half years but we were called back to Wesley College because my husband was offered to be the principal from 2006 to 2008.

“After being the principal we left for Manurewa, New Zealand to serve and later we went to American Samoa. In 2016 to 2017 we came to work in the Methodist Office and then got called to serve at Lotopa which we served until we have retired."

The 61-year-old mother of five also stated that they encountered many challenges and difficulties in their line of work.

“But we humbled ourselves before the Lord through prayer and He was very kind to us," she said. 

“Our work is very significant because there is so much riches and wealth found in God through his spiritual teachings which we must share to every one of his people but above all else we must always have love for our people.”