Hundreds of Methodist Church ministers and their wives across the country and retired church ministers gathered on Friday to begin the four-day commemoration of Piula Tuai.

The commemoration is an annual event held by the Methodist Church for all old students of the Piula Theological College across Samoa and the globe, who are and were serving as church ministers, and to celebrate and unite for peace and the betterment of the church going forward. 

Due to travel restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and closed international borders, old Piula students serving and residing abroad could not attend. But that did not stop hundreds in Samoa from participating.

Kicking off Friday, all old Piula students in Upolu, Savai’i, Apolima and Manono gathered and opened a four day conference at the Methodist Church in Faleula.

The programme also incorporated health initiatives to promote healthy living which saw all participants take part in the Saturday jazzercise, followed by sports in the afternoon and several other performances to conclude the day.

Former student Lauagaia Sinaumea with her late husband, Sinaumea Leota served for over 30 years.

She told the Samoa Observer that the conference embolds and promotes peace led by old students of Piula, which emphasises the need to unite and join hands to improve the college.

"It's also a very good opportunity to reminisce on the good and hard times we were trained at the college and learn more about God and Christianity," she added. "There's more than just joining hands and uniting but that's my own favourite part about the Piula Tuai."

On 12 July 2020 the Piula Theological College ended its academic year with 13 graduates. Out of these 13 graduates, 10 received a diploma in theology with one graduating with a bachelor of divinity, and two graduating with a bachelor of divinity with honours. 

The four-day conference at Faleula will conclude on Monday 11 January 2021.