Head of State Pays Tribute To Tasa - with video clip

Written by Pio Sioa
Thursday, 17 January 2008
The Head of State His Highness, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi paid special tribute to 16 year old Tasalautele Paul, during her funeral service on Wednesday. His Highness had visited her while she was under medical attention at the Auckland Hospital, where she died last week from a brain tumour. His Highness’s tribute in it’s entirety Tasa Paul (Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese, Mulivai Cathedral Apia, 16 January 2008) I hope Tasa’s family will forgive me for intruding. I wanted to say something because I owe Tasa and because I want to share a special moment with her, with family and friends. I owe Tasa because in our last meeting I promised that I would write and I didn’t- and I can honestly say it was not for lack of trying that I didn’t. I did not catch her while she lived yet even in death I am trying. I don’t ask to speak at funerals but I asked a favor and I am grateful that it was granted because I want to underline a point- that when I said to Tasa that we are going to pray for you and I am going to write you, I meant what I said. After our morning prayers in a hotel in Auckland, I asked after Tasa- she had an operation the day before. There was a pause and then a muffled cry from Helen which seemed to come from the depths of her soul- she could not articulate. Asi spoke with a voice choking with emotion and tears streaming from his eyes. “The operation was well enough but the doctors found two tumors in her spine which are inoperable.” So I said, “Reorganize our schedule for the day to include a visit to Tasa in hospital”. We walked into her room somewhat tremulous and a little nervy. She was fast asleep. Helen and Tata tried to wake her up. It was not easy. I tried to intervene because I was aware it was a day after long surgery and anesthetics. But her family persisted until eventually she seemed to awaken. There was a visible movement in the body, a slight shake in the head. The eyelashes lifted slowly, there was recognition. A glow in her face, the eyes closed again and then her face broke into a beautiful smile. And the eyes opened again. I said, “What a top of the morning, as the Irish would say. Darling, your smile captures the mood of a beautiful day.” That is the moment I want to share with you today. It seemed like God’s moment. They say that if you want to see God on earth, you see him in children’s faces. The face, the glow, the smile, the eyes- it was the image of youth at its blooming best symbolizing promise, energy and love and its power to transform. I asked and maybe I shouldn’t have: “How do you feel?” And she said almost inaudibly with childlike innocence and simplicity, “I feel better”. It rends one’s heart and you wonder whether you should have asked, knowing what she went through and the doctors’ prognosis. I prayed for her. I prayed for her when the image of our meeting crossed my mind, which invariably happened when I looked at the dawning of a beautiful day or a lovely flower, or in a quiet moment of reflection and I would murmur in prayer “Dear God, spare her, she is so beautiful.” The news from her family was not good. Being human, occasionally before or after prayers, I was occasionally tempted to ask the awful question, “Why?” In our grief, we try to presume God’s logic and purpose without success. Eventually we find solace in acknowledging that the extent of God’s love is outside Man’s knowledge and understanding. It is unknowable. Indeed it is a mystery. I am inspired by the words of her grandmother Frieda: “We’re not mourning her death, we’re celebrating her life. We’re celebrating her 16th birthday by wearing pink, which is her favorite color.” I am reassured by the way Mark rounded off our recent conversations with the assertion, “As you know Tupua, my children are the most important in my life.” Father Joe at the family service last night said: “Do not grieve, for Tasa will always be with us.” The memory of the glow and the smile of our earlier meeting lend meaning and poignancy to our parting. It will always remind me of youth at its blooming best and the power of this image to transform us; that the depth of God’s love is a mystery beyond Man’s comprehension. I wanted to say these things and more when you were alive, Tasa. I am comforted by the thought that maybe God intended me to say these things to you now in front of your family and friends. I feel your presence and I know you hear as in the words of the great writer “the murmurings of my heart. God bless you Tasa, until we meet again. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 January 2008 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Polls

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Google Satellite Map of Eveni Carruthers

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

"Where the natives buy and sell"

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Latest Comments

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
all the way

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
samoa god blezz all of each one of you for playing for our country

Deadly Catch For Fisherman
The poor fisherman who minded his own business while trying to get home to his family is assaulted a...

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
Having the World cup in NZ is the closest we will get to having the world cup near Samoa. We need a ...

To Err Is Human! To Suffer From That Same Err Is A...
10 to 12 deaths first year of RHD----

Social Network

Join the Newsline Team on Bebo

www.bebo.com/newslineS

Become part of the Newsline Bebo Network

Get News via your Email

Subscribe to Samoa Live News Headlines by Email

Get the Latest News on your Blackberry or PDA

Subscribe in a reader

Sounds from Samoa

Listen to broadcasts from LiveSamoa.com
Courtesy of Plantation Feet, SBC(540am) and
Radio Polynesia(99.9 FM)

http://www.samoalive.com/sliveradio.asx

Live on Weekdays from 8am to 9am

Have your Say

We want your Opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you would like to submit a letter for possible
publication in the print edition of the Newsline,
please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We want your News

Submit News from your Area
If you would like to submit News for possible
publication in both the online and print version
of Newsline please feel free to email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Become a News Blogger
Have a passion for writing? Interested in
writing articles for Newsline? Email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We are looking for Bloggers from
around the world to contribute to our site.