Centenarian among mothers honoured by Methodist Church

The Methodist Church in Samoa honoured the lives and services of 49 mothers of the church, who have reached 70-years-old and above, at Foga'a Faleula on Friday. Among them was a very special mother, Tele Semu, of Tufulele, who is a 100 years old.

“I owe it all to God’s guidance and love for me,” Tele said about her long life.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here and enjoying myself if God did not guide me. I believe that He has done everything for me. Prayer is what keeps me going each day, without prayer you will not be able to connect to God. If you want to live a life of 100 years then commit your life to the Lord and listen to what he is telling you to do,” she added.

Mrs. Semu does not remember the year she started out as a Church Minister’s wife but she definitely remembers what a Church Minister’s wife’s role is in the church.

“As a Church Minister’s wife, it is my responsibility to keep the congregation together. I have to make sure I am always there to support my husband in everything he does. I shall respect every individual in our congregation, and make sure I am not belittling anyone,” she said.

She also spoke of a mother’s role in the lives of their children.

“A mother should always prioritize her children, and not let them wander off in the streets and becoming troublemakers. They should teach them about prayer, and let them learn how to stay connected with God. For me, I pray every day to God for the welfare of my children and I always nag at them if they are misbehaving,” she said.

Mrs. Semu is a mother of six. She told the Samoa Observer that the reason why she is still healthy and strong is that she always seeks God’s assistance and she is still doing house chores at home. 

Her children are Temu Aia Taaloga, Leatupu’e Tielu, Timo Aia Taaloga, Faimalo Samuelu, Lualima Leatupu’e Vito, and Tito Aia Taaloga.

“I am strong and healthy because I always ask God to heal my pain. If I have a sore back, I pray to God to heal the pain, and later on the pain is gone and I am healed. Sometimes my children would be mad at me if I go outside our house and weed the grass, pick up the rubbish and do chores but I know that, doing those small things keeps me healthy and strong. 

"Now I am 100 years old and I am still strong enough to move around and do the things I want,” said Mrs. Semu, smiling.

“You know, if I don’t do those work, I would be lying in bed sick. But look at me, I am not sick at all I am very healthy and strong,” she added.

She told the Samoa Observer that mothers should not say harsh things to their children but instead use their calm voice to teach them; because she believes in that manner their words will sink right into their children’s mind and heart.

“Honestly, mothers should not be shouting at their children for doing wrong deeds but instead make them sit down and communicate. They have to make sure that they are calm and open-minded and ready to hear what their child is going to say and not just jump to lecture their kids. I am telling you this from experience, sometimes my children make my head hurt because they disobey me, so if I am mad, I will not say anything good but instead I’ll just swear at them but that is not supposed to happen. 

"But if I am calm I will be able to control my words and tell them what they did wrong and rest assured it will get to their head and they will never do it again.

“Nowadays, the youth are not the same as our generations, we are used to having a family evening every day but now, these generations don’t know the importance of such events because, in the evening, they come home from work, take a shower, put on their make-up and go out roaming around."

Her advice to all the Church Minister’s wives is to always stay humble and committed to their husbands.

“My advice to all the mothers who were celebrated today is staying humble, be a loving mother to your children, take care of your husbands, and most of all look after the congregation you are called to serve. Serve with honesty and always support your husbands with all that they do. You are the one responsible for keeping God’s flock. You were chosen to serve the Lord and you shall do it wholeheartedly. Don’t take your calling lightly and don’t answer back to your husbands,” she said.

The mothers who were honoured

Apia Sisifo:

• Asotolu Laki Ah Fua (Talimatau)
• Uma Lualaai Lima (Talimatau)
• Puniloa Seipepa Lofipo (Puipaa),

Apia Sasa’e:

• Poutasi T Tanumaleu (Tanugamanono)
•  Aniutea Iosefa (Vaimoso)
• Faafiu Puipui (Sekema Fou)
• Vasati Tiva Loto (Sekema Fou)
• Eseta Laloifi Toala (Sekema Fou)

Upolu Sisifo:

• Tele Semu (Tufulele)
• Mama Pelesasa Lio (Fasitoo Tai)
• Falemoe Penina Samoa (Fasitoo Tai)
• Lesina Feterika (Levi Saleimoa)
• Natia Lili’a (Satapuala)
• Sa Fetuao (Satapuala)
• Tise Uaua (Satapuala)
• Otira Otila Fuimaono (Faleasiu Tai)
• Iviivia Aleipata (Faleasiu Tai)
• Tupu Itutu (Malie)
• Fiaava’e Leitaua Se’ia (Manono Uta)
• Sialega Taliaoa Asiata Viliamu (Afega)

Upolu Sasa’e:

• Vaioleti Tuaoi Taele (Utulaelae)
• Sula Taaloloivao (Leusoalii)
• Rasela Susana Tusa (Lufilufi)
• Ula Uili Leota (Lufilufi)
• Maria Loleta Enoka (Satitoa)
• Elisapeta Tuiavii Poloma Eteuati (Tiavea Tai)
• Faalavelave Mafulu (Salani)

Upolu Saute:

• Elisapeta Amiga Tuala (Matafa’a)
• Itulagi Afamasaga (Nuusuatia)
• Tamala Afioga (Nuusuatia)
• Tofuapupu Faleilua (Tafagamanu)

Salafai Sasa’e:

• Alatupe Asiata (Vaega Satupaitea)
• Aiga Matamua (Saloga)
• Lei Afakasi (Saloga)
• Silivia Faaofo (Pitonuu Uta)
• Sialia Seumanu Tala (Sapulu)
• Nuanua Samania (Satufia)
• Suemalo Utumapu (Safotu)
• Fia Tiatia Kome (Gataivai)
• Sene Aitauia (Avao)
• Tusipepa Galu (Salelavalu)
• Tuileva Mase (Sasina)

Salafai Sisifo:

• Safua Lama (Matavai , Asau)
• Sisigafu’a V Vifoa (Matagilelei)
• Tupea Saulele Setu (Samata)
• Malaefia Mase Tovia (Samata)
• Nuu A F Tulafono (Fogasavaii)
• Aida V S Ieremia (Fogasavaii)
• Soli Tia Elia (Satuiatua)

The ceremony was led by the Methodist Church President, Reverend Faulalo Leti Paaga. Families and friends were all gathered to celebrate this monumental moment for these elderly mothers / church minister's wife.