As the nation counts down to White Sunday, a small church called the Ekalesia Nasareta Vaitele Fou, is quietly preparing for the occasion.

The church is under the supervision of Pastor Esekia Alopule and his wife Aitofi Esekia.

During an interview with the Samoa Observer, Ms. Esekia said they have less than 50 children who cannot wait for their big day.

During the past three weeks, they have been busy with rehearsals every evening.

The rehearsals cover dances, skits, and learning verses from the Bible. 

“This is like a day where the children are able to say thank you to their parents for their duty in nurturing their lives and for their white Sunday shopping,” she said.

Ms. Esekia was asked about the challenges and the cost of White Sunday.

“I have three kids and I spend almost $200 tala on their white Sunday shopping and I estimate that it is more than that as my husband has gone to town for the rest,” she added.

Ms. Esekia shares that they always look around in search for the cheapest store. 

“But these days, almost every store is the same in terms of their prices,” she said.

For White Sunday, Ekalesia Nasareta will divide the children.

“There is the first category of the young ones from the ages of 2 to 7 and the teenagers from 8 to 16 years of age,” she said.

Ms. Esekia said the grown children will focus on the story of Adam and Eve’s initial sin.

She feels there’s a big lesson there for everyone.

“From my perspective as a pastor's wife, we can see how the devil seems to be very meek in his ways and wherever the children may drift to in this life, it is very important that they value their relationship with God as He is their source of life and everything else,” she said.

She wishes to encourage all the children to repent and return to the Lord.

“I know that many children nowadays aren’t participating in these white Sunday programs as they find no more interest in churchly functions anymore,” she added.

Ms. Esekia said that the value in these messages is that through the imitations of Bible stories, it would plan a seed that will never go away.