Strength comes from God alone

By Sarafina Sanerivi 08 December 2016, 12:00AM

For Leiviivia Malifa, from the village of Tuana’i, the key to a good life is your faith in the Lord.

Speaking from experience, Leiviivia says that her faith in God is what gives her the strength to keep going every day.

Aged 73, the joyful grandmother says that her life is great and peaceful all thanks to the man above.

“Through the grace and the love of the Lord, life in Samoa is peaceful,” she told Village Voice.

“In all the great things this nation achieves, we must always remember that the glory belongs to God and God alone. Our village relies a lot on the Lord and that’s where all the goodness comes from.

“So my advice to the younger generations is to always put your faith in the Lord and you will receive all the blessings from heaven.”

Leiviivia says that living on the strength of God is the only way to make it in this world.

“One change I would like to see in Samoa is more people coming to the Lord,” she said.

“I want everyone to realize that they cannot live on their strength alone and that true strength comes from the Lord and nothing else.

“I am 73 years-old now and I still live on the strength granted to me by God.”

Although Leiviivia is in her old age, she still tries to help out around the house. Her daily task consists of cleaning up the house and land while the rest is left to her children.

“Right now in my old age, my tasks every day is to just help clean up around the house and our land,” she said.

“The children on the other hand take good care of me. They prepare my meals and they also do so much to make sure that I live as comfortably as possible.

“I love my children and grandchildren so much for the way they take care of me.”

Leiviivia’s message to Samoa is to always focus on taking care of your elders because that’s where your blessings will come from.

“In my personal opinion, taking care of your elders is very important,” she said.

“When I was growing up, I would take care of my parents and help out around the house. Once I had children, I had to take care of them too.

“I would go around gathering coconuts, koko or any other crop from my plantation to make enough to put my children through school and to take care of my parents.

“That’s my message to all the children of Samoa, take care of your parents and you will be blessed.”

But what is the secret to Leiviivia’s strength?

“I get sick sometimes but the key to my strength is prayer,” she said.

“I am able to eat almost anything, whether it’s tinned fish, chicken or fresh fish. Whatever we have available to us is what I eat to keep me strong.

“I also try to move around as much as possible to exercise my muscles.”

By Sarafina Sanerivi 08 December 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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