This month Janice Auva’a-Walters reports on the Helen Kim Memorial Scholarship 2022 and we introduce Lautaliepaia- Arieta Aumua, better known as Talie.

Helen Kim Memorial Scholarship 2022

Growing up, my mother was very involved in the Sinoti Samoa Women’s Fellowship and I later became a member. I was aware of the Helen Kim Memorial Scholarship and for many years I admired the women who have been recipients. I prayed and hoped one day I would be a recipient. However, this round I applied with little faith. With support that has always been there, from my family, Sinoti Samoa and sisters within our executive, everything works in God’s timing, and this year, I am humbled and blessed to be the 2022 - 2026 Helen Kim Memorial Scholarship recipient for the South Pacific Area. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of an amazing sisterhood of women around the world. Helen Kim, an educator, politician, motivator, media manager and visionary, was born 27 February 1899 in Incheon, Korea. In 1923 she suggested that Methodist women in mission countries should form an organisation that would relate to the U.S. Church. This idea later became a reality through the World Federation of Methodist Women (WFMW).

WFMW was founded in 1939 and has always had a concern for the education of young girls and the involvement of young women in its activities. The Helen Kim Memorial Scholarship provides the opportunity for young women to attend a leadership course and the World Assembly. The scholarship is named in honour of Helen Kim, a young Korean woman who had a noble, Christ-inspired vision of a world sisterhood.

This year, due to the pandemic we were unable to meet physically with each other but we had sessions online via Zoom over two weeks. Each session began and ended with worship. It is always interesting to witness the various ways we can worship together online. Sessions allowed us to learn more about the World Federation, now the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, along with leadership skills that we can use throughout our scholarship and life. The facilitators worked hard to ensure we were always involved throughout the online sessions.

When applications are called for the next Helen Kim Memorial Scholarship round, I encourage all women to take a leap of faith and apply. I literally had faith the size of a mustard seed. God will always place us where he has called us to be but we also must put in the work. I encourage potential applicants to avoid letting the distractions of the world get in the way and put yourself forward to continue God’s work.I am the youngest daughter of Rev Tovia and Leotele Aumua, current Presbyter of Papatoetoe Samoan Wesley Methodist congregation and District leader of the Manukau District under Sinoti Samoa Synod.

National Executive profile

This month we introduce Lautaliepaia- Arieta Aumua, better known as Talie.

I am mother to my two sons, Javan-Paul (17) and Rubus (2) and fiancé to my partner of five years, Jason. I was born and bred in Wellington, baptised at the formerly known Petone Multicultural Wesley Methodist Church - now St Mark’s Wesley church - where my parents and extended family attended since migrating to NZ from Samoa in the late 60s. In 1996 we moved to Auckland to support my father in his calling to attend St John’s Trinity Theological College. He graduated in 1998 and his first appointment was at Henderson Methodist Church the following year. He moved to Panmure Methodist Church in 2007, and was appointed President of the Methodist Church of NZ in 2014. Since 2017 we have been at Papatoetoe Methodist Church. 

From a young age, I always knew my life’s mission was always to serve and therefore I am currently serving in various roles within our District, Synod and the Connexion. I am the Secretary for the Samoan Synod’s Women’s Fellowship, I sit on the Council of Conference as a Tauiwi representative and now am the World Federation Link for the NZMWF Executive 2021-2023.

This role offers many opportunities including meeting women from around the globe and seeing how we as a NZ unit serve on a worldwide scale.