Day 6 – Don’t go chasing waterfalls…

After a little TLC at the resort we slept in and rose to find that some of us were not feeling the best. In the true survivor style that this group has adopted they simply pressed on. The amazing staff at Saletoga Sands were fantastic once again and also managed to fix our key to the van that had broken in two pieces (Samoan style). For some reason everyone waited until the very last minute to check out at 11am and, on our departure, Gavin the owner managed to drop by and say hello. He mentioned that he remembered the previous Project Samoa Teams and asked how Alan our Principal was. We gave him our thanks, said that we would be in touch for the future and then we were back on the road again chasing our first waterfall. You never know what you are going to get here in Samoa and that is half the fun. We pulled into a little grass opening where our map told us it was and a gentlemen sitting in a fale jumped up and invited us to bring our van in further, then further and even after I asked him if it was ok to enter and see the waterall he said no problems and insisted I drove further… then the van was bogged. Conveniently, it was at this time he decided to tell us there was a price to see his waterfall. A group of us agreed and pressed on foot up to the peak of the waterfall. It was an amazing sight. We were impressed until we saw a little scrub track and we decided to take it. It lead to the very top and it was there that Julian donated his thong to the water taking a beautiful shot for the memories. Fuipisia Falls was an amazing place in the end that I would recommend. Taking our money worth in photos we got back to the van where the gentlemen was waiting. Teneeka had to grab the wheel while Julian, Josh, myself and the thrifty Samoan waterfall owner pushed the van out of its resting spot. We travelled back to our side of the island and attended mass with our new local friends as guests to their parish. We were asked to do the offertory and the priest gave us blessings and many thanks for our work (which was translated to us later). The music at a Samoan mass is something out of this world. Their voices fill the air and create such a presence, it never ceases to amaze me. After mass, our friend Sita had arranged for us to have a ‘real Samoan experience’ and invited us to her home for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is Samoan for three dinners becuase her nephew cooked up a storm! Their generosity showed us all the true spirit of Samao. As John Paul (her nephew) stated “in Samoa it is an honour to serve” he then explained as a Marist student one of his core values was to live poorly. He went on to say that this meant whatever you may have, no matter how little, you should learn to know that that is enough. Therefore, the rest you can give. I will leave you today to think about that as much as we have tonight around a table with our new family.