After two years at sea, sailor's wife overjoyed

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 08 December 2020, 6:00PM

After two years at sea, the wife of a Vaitele Fou sailor is praising God after the announcement of the January 2021 flight that will bring her husband, Taualagi Sua, home.

After the disappointment which followed the cancellation of a 27 November flight that would have brought him home from before Christmas, Matile Sua says she has leant on faith for strength.

“The only thing I have to say is thank God. My husband was supposed to come on that [27 November] flight that was postponed. It’s true he didn’t come but I thank the Lord that we now have a day for his arrival,” said Matile, who is 55-years-old.

“I wasn’t worried. I have been okay. 

“The only thing for us to do is stay prayerful. We talk often and we strengthen each other, we encourage each other. We are okay here. 

“I am here with my children so what I do is tell him to stay strong. He is happy and he is doing well. We have been waiting for a date so praise the Lord.”

When the 27 November flight was postponed and the Government had yet to announce a new date, she said she kept in constant communication with her husband, who is currently on the M.S.C. Seaside, docked off the coast of Miami, Flordia.

“I also thank the Lord that my husband is healthy and he is strong. We just have to get on our knees and stay prayerful. All our thoughts and desires, God knows them all,” said Mrs. Sua.

“We aren’t worried about anything. My children and grandchildren are well. Everything is fine and he is doing well. The good thing is working and he will be working up until the day they leave. He still has an income and he still sends money home.”

Mr. Sua, 57, left Samoa for work in January of 2019.

After the 27 November flight was canceled, he was to travel to New Zealand to catch the 7 December flight to Apia. 

But then his seat was canceled.

The couple has five children and eight grandchildren.

Matile, a member of the Full Gospel Church led by Rev. Viliamu Eneliko and his wife Malia Eneliko urges families who are awaiting the return of their sailors to conquer their fears and worries with faith.

“For us who are waiting at home, let’s not be afraid. Let’s not be worried…some of my sisters who are waiting for their children or their husbands are consumed with worry and some people are very unhappy,” she said. 

“They say the Government does not care about the sailors. Well, the work we have before us is not to judge.  We have to pray and ask God for wisdom. He can ease the trials for us.

“But everyone is different. I know they are dying to see their husbands and maybe they are talking and in communications but the only thing people want is for the return of their husbands. I am comforted because I am here with my children and their children. My husband is doing well, he says they are eating well and they are on the ship where they are safe.”

From Florida, her husband told the Samoa Observer he was happy with the announcement of the 22 January flight.

“All I am feeling is happiness…that’s if the flight goes through. But it’d be really bad if it gets cancelled like those other flights were cancelled. I will not be happy at all. I don’t know,” Mr. Taualagi said.

Two hundred and ninety-seven Samoan sailors located in various parts of the globe – North America, South America, Europe and South Africa – will return to Samoa on 22 January, the Government announced last week.

They will transit through New Zealand.

 

 

 

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 08 December 2020, 6:00PM

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