This tiny island in the Pacific Ocean maybe small, but they got many things "big" to boast about. I decided to write about this nation after watching this inspiration movie called "Gridiron Gang" (see football). The movie actually had a couple or more Samoans, which not many (particularly us Midwesterners) know about. One famous Samoan, which I never knew until I re"searched" on the internet is Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson! Cool, huh?....
Wikipedia "Along with his father and grandfather, several members of Johnson's family are current and former professional wrestlers, including his uncles , the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika Anoai), and cousins such as former WWF Champion Yokozuna, former WWF Tag Team Champion Rikishi and current wrestler Umaga (formerly known as Jamal). When he declared his intention to join the family business, his father resisted, but agreed to train his son himself, warning him that he would not go easy on him."
"Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year."
"Acappella singers the Samoan Gospel Heralds sings this beautiful and popular song Sweet Chariot.
Emmanuel: God with Us - Music Videos
"Filmed in Riverside, California. Samoan lyrics and music by Namulauulu P. Pouesi. English translation by Daniel Pouesi. Vocals: Aliitasi Pouesi Summers. Recording Engineer: Lauaki Agaiotupu Pouesi. Footage: Living Bible 1, directed by Edward Dew...."
American Samoa Hit By 8.3 Magnitude Earthquake - Tsunami's To Hit Pacific Areas !!!!
"About 7:00 am, a powerful earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale hit 120 miles south of American Samoa. Damages are unknown. Tsunami's are soon expected to impact the Pacific Region. Located in this region are American Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Pago Pago, French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia. "
"SYDNEY, Australia — A massive earthquake struck Thursday under the Pacific Ocean floor near Samoa generating a tsunami that could have been destructive if it had been closer to land, authorities said. No damage was reported.
U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 and striking 27 miles beneath the sea floor about 185 miles southwest of Pago Pago at about 7:20 p.m. local time.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported the temblor as magnitude 7 and recorded an 3-inch rise in sea levels near the epicenter.
"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated," the center said in a bulletin posted on the Internet. "It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter."
The center said if a tsunami had not struck within two hours of the quake, the threat was over.
Sam Ahsan, senior observer at Samoa's Meteorological Division in Apia, speaking by telephone almost three hours after the quake, said there had been no reports of tsunami or other effects."
"At least 34 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami that swept the Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa, according to early reports.
The quake, of magnitude 8.3, struck midway between the two islands at 6.48pm BST, sending a tidal wave into Apia, the capital of Samoa and a 5ft tsunami into Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa.
One agency reporter said there were "bodies everywhere" in the main hospital on the Samoan island of Upolu, including at least one child. She said three or four villages had been wiped out along a popular tourist coast near Lalomanu, on the island's southern coast.
Although Samoan and American Samoan officials have not yet been able to confirm the death toll, early reports suggested the number of dead on Samoa was at least 20, and around 14 on American Samoa . Lemalu Fiu, a doctor at a hospital in Apia, said the figure was expected to rise as staff began tending the injured.
In Samoa, the wave reportedly sent water and debris surging up to 100 metres inland, sweeping away villages and cars and leaving terrified residents fleeing their homes for higher ground. In Apia, witnesses said they had experienced shaking that lasted for up to three minutes. Businesses and schools were forced to close and the city was left virtually deserted with thousands of people gathered on nearby hills, according to reports.
Officials said they were checking reports of fatalities, including people who may have been swept away by the surge, but telephone lines and power cuts were hampering rescue efforts. Villagers reported cars and houses washed out on to reefs.
One resident, Teresa Sulili Dusi, told her local radio: "Our house has been taken by the tsunami and we have lost everything. Everything dropped on the floor and we thought the house was going to go down as well. Thank God, it didn't." She said the family had been forced, with others, to flee to higher ground.
Graeme Ansell, a New Zealander who was at the beach village of Sau Sau Beach Fale, on Samoa, said it had been levelled by the wave. "It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out," Ansell told a New Zealand radio station from a hill near Apia. "There's not a building standing. We've all clambered up hills, and one of our party has a broken leg. There will be people in a great lot of need round here."
Officials on both islands were still trying to find out the numbers of those affected and precise details following the tsunami. Filipp Ilaoa, deputy governor of American Samoa, said they were having difficulty getting information from coastal regions. "There is some water damage to residences," Ilaoa said. "To what extent and how much, and how many villages are affected, that is a mystery at this time."
The Pacific tsunami warning centre said it had issued a general alert for the region, which includes the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Hawaii and said it was monitoring the situation. Hawaii, which was initially put on tsunami alert, was later downgraded.
The US Geological Service said the earthquake struck around 20 miles below the ocean floor and was followed 20 minutes later by an aftershock of magnitude 5.6.
Brian Atwater, a tsumami expert for the USGS, said that although the earthquake and tsunami were big they were not on the scale of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that killed 150,000 people, and was 10 times as strong. Samoa and American Samoa have a combined population of around 250,000."
HUMANITARIAN:
"NASHVILLE, TN (ANS) -- One of Christian music's most celebrated groups, The Katinas, located in Nashville, TN, is feeling the aftereffects of the recent Tsunami that swamped their native Samoa half a world away earlier this week. They lost both friends and family in the disaster.
The effects of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake and resultant walls of 15-20 foot high tsunami waves that ravaged Samoa this past Tuesday, Sept. 29, were personally felt by the group in Nashville, TN, who can claim Samoa as their native homeland.
In the wake of waves of death and destruction that surged more than a mile inland on the tiny island nation, the band is already organizing a relief effort for their homeland -- a 'Hope For Samoa Benefit Concert' to be held next Wednesday, October 7 at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee -- just outside of Nashville. The church is located at 1210 Franklin Road in Brentwood.
Among the famous friends in music already set to join them: GMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant and American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle.
Nationally known radio personalities, Doug & Kim, from Salem Broadcasting’s popular 'Doug & Kim in the Morning' will emcee the event.
Salem’s Nashville anchor station has also denoted free radio spots for the event. The benefit concert is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. with additional artists to be set.
In an open letter on Wednesday, the Katinas noted:
"As most of you know by now, an earthquake that registered at 8.2 on the Richter scale and tsunami that hit yesterday morning has devastated our homeland of Samoa. Our Dad, 4 sisters, brother and 2 nephews that live there are okay. However, some of our friends and close family members are still missing.
"We have confirmed news that one of our cousins from the village of Leone (our Mother's birthplace and place where our Dad pastors) died yesterday in the aftermath of the tsunami. The latest death toll has surpassed 100 and many are still unaccounted for."
The Katinas said they have been planning their 3rd annual missions’ trip to Samoa this November.
"Yesterday’s events have made us even more passionate to go and help our people," they wrote..
"Samoa is dear to our hearts. Growing up there prepared us for what we’ve been doing for the last 20 years. We have been blessed to travel the world and minister the message of Jesus through music. Now we are blessed to give back to the very place we come from.
"We need your help. We have set up a 'Samoa Relief' fund to assist with some of the immediate and long term needs on the island. We are still gathering information on what those needs are. However in the meantime we are doing whatever we can to help.
"Here’s how you can help:
**Pray for the comfort of our people. Pray for the search of those who are still missing. Pray that God would heal our people both spiritually and physically.
**You can go to our website at www.katinamissions.org and make a monetary donation. All donations are tax deductable.
"Thank you so much for your time and love for Samoa."
The letter is signed by Sam, Joe, James, John and Jesse Katina.
_______________________________________________
For additional benefit concert information, and for interviews with the Katinas contact:
Dianne Rogers
Brimstone Services
Phone: (615) 941-8207
E-mail: dianne@brimstoneservices.com "
"American Samoa, a group of five volcanic islands and two coral atolls located some 2,600 mi south of Hawaii in the South Pacific, is an unincorporated, unorganized territory of the U.S. It includes the eastern Samoan islands of Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Rose; three islands (Ta'u, Olosega, and Ofu) of the Manu'a group; and Swains Island. Around 1000 B.C. Proto-polynesians established themselves in the islands, and their descendants are one of the few remaining Polynesian societies. The Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen sighted the Manu'a Islands in 1722. American Samoa has been a territory of the United States since April 17, 1900, when the High Chiefs of Tutuila signed the first of two Deeds of Cession for the islands to the U.S. (Congress ratified the Deeds in 1929.) Swains Island, which is privately owned, came under U.S. administration in 1925.
Until World War II the United States operated a coaling station and naval base in Pago Pago. During the war, the islands were an important U.S. Marines staging area. "
"We flew into this beautiful Pacific Island nation and stayed at a hotel in the capital city of Pago Pago.
I had my five children with me on this trip. They are Gina, Joel, Joy, Joshua and Joseph. The people were very welcoming to the cross and us. As I walked the island from one end to the other the reception was glorious. Many came to Jesus to pray and follow Him in life.
I preached at a couple of churches and did interviews with the newspaper, TV and radio. It was a powerful witness.
I have lost all photos of carrying the 12 foot cross in American Samoa but I do have a couple of newpaper articles.
One of the most beautiful views of my life was looking out through the palm trees at a small cove with the ocean beyond. The beauty was simply awesome.
This was some of the best snorkeling I have ever done in the world also. It looked like there were millions of fish in the crystal clear waters.
We spent a week at this wonderful place.
A pilgrim follower of Jesus,
Arthur Blessitt
Luke 18:1
"I flew into the capital city of Apia on the island of Upolu, Samoa. The people were very receptive to the cross and me. Many people came to Jesus. I had a very good interpreter named Alani. I did an interview with the local newspaper and led the reporter to Jesus. I carried the cross during the day and at night I witnessed to a band and led them all to Jesus. Almost everyone at the nightclub prayed to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
I seemed to have lost all the photos of the walk with the cross in Western Samoa but do have one newspaper cliping. Praise God.
Newspaper report of the cross and Arthur Blessitt in Western SamoaThis was a wonderful place of lovely people.
God bless Samoa.
A pilgrim follower of Jesus,
Arthur Blessitt
Luke 18:1
"
" DJPraise www.djpraise.tk
Video de los Katinas muy bueno y pa mas videos asi visiten mi pagina q sale en el video ok ;)"
*my personal favorite song from this group "Lord, I saw your face last night
When I looked in the sky
You were smiling
You told me it would be okay
You would make a way
In my dark times
CHORUS:
Every time I hear your voice
Every time I feel your touch
It makes me know that I can face tomorrow
One more time
When all my friends go away
I'll be glad to say
You're still near me
Even when the wind blows by
I feel warm inside
You're so lovely
CHORUS
I need you, don't leave me
Without you I can't survive
CHORUS
I know that I can face tomorrow
'Cause you will walk me through
My pain and sorrow
I know that I can face tomorrow
One more time
I can face tomorrow
You can face tomorrow
We can face tomorrow
One more time"
*played this during a road trip in Wisconsin from Chicago to St. Paul around 2000
My-Space
*one of my first favorite Christian groups
Related Sites: Sound Click Artist ""We grew up listening to these artists," says James. "We lived in American Samoa, 2,000 miles south of Hawaii, so the only way we could keep up with what was happening in Christian music at that time was through the cassettes and records our cousins mailed us from the states. That's how we discovered these songs; they're the reason for our love of music."
-Concerts:
The Katinas "Rock the Rock" Event 07'
" The Katinas in American Samoa, with their event called "Rock the Rock"."
-Dance
Impact World Tour Day #3 (Fargo, ND on Sun., Oct 9th 11') -Island Breeze: Samoan "Fire" Performance
"The best time to enjoy American Samoa - and especially the island's capital - is during the dry season (May-October). The risk of tropical cyclones (hurricanes) is reduced at this time and, not surprisingly, it is also when most of the major festivals are held."
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