I am honoured to be a member of Tuitui Salevao’s Executive Committee.

The role has been interesting and has given me insight into the many wonderful ministries the NZMWF is involved in. I am extremely grateful to Amelia Hoglund, the past Treasurer and Sarah Andrews at the Connexional Office for their patience in answering my many questions about Xero.

As a first generation Samoan-Kiwi, I have lived all my life in Auckland. Growing up I attended the Methodist Central Mission in Auckland with my parents and siblings. In the late 1970s we moved to the St John’s Samoan Methodist Parish in Ponsonby, where my husband and I are still members. I am a member of the Women’s Fellowship for both St John’s and the Sinoti Samoa (MTSSEMNS).

My husband and I met at church and on 11 February, we celebrated 33 years of marriage. We have two adult children, Kristian (29) and Olivia (24), and one very entitled fur baby named Harold (3). Harold loves to assist me when I am working at home but has a tendency to sleep on the job!

I am very privileged to be working for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic order of religious Sisters based in Mission Bay.

I was saddened to read about the decline in the NZMWF community numbers and closure of some communities in the regions due to members aging. This motivates us in our mission to encourage and inspire our young women to join us to grow our communities and carry out our ministry.

I look forward to continuing on this journey with this wonderful group of women and to serving the community in any way we can. I leave you with this blessing:

Holy Wisdom
guide us
enlighten us
motivate us
enthuse us
inspire us
so that together we see your vision with more clarity.
Amen.

(Josephite Prayer Book, Volume 2)