American Samoa

Next I was sent to American Samoa. During my three months there, I stayed with High Chief Taliu Taffa, chief government interpreter and a highly respected man. His niece, a Witness in Fiji, had sent word ahead. So his smiling face greeted me as the boat docked. Throughout my stay, he was most hospitable. Of course, his household lived on the native diet, mostly raw fish and yams. The Samoans thrived on it, but after a while it became too much for me. I broke out in a rash of boils and became ravenous for European food, but I just did not have the money to buy any. Well, by then I was used to surviving ‘troublesome seasons.’

My task in American Samoa was to distribute 3,500 copies of the newly translated booklet Where Are the Dead? On arrival, I paid a courtesy call on the Governor to acquaint him with the booklet and to give him a copy. He thought there was already enough religious representation on the island​—the navy’s padre, the London Missionary Society, the Seventh-Day Adventists, and the Roman Catholics. However, he suggested that I present a booklet to each of them and have them advise the Attorney General whether they thought it suitable for distribution. The padre was sarcastic but not hostile. The Adventists cared not what I did as long as I took none of their flock. The Missionary Society parson was affable once we got onto common ground​—the papacy. I never did get to see the Catholic priest because a curious thing happened.

I had given a copy of the booklet to the Samoan policeman who had escorted me to the Governor. When I saw the policeman a few days later, I asked if he enjoyed it. He said: “My boss [the Attorney General] said to me, ‘You go see your priest and ask him if this good book.’ I get under tree and read book. I say, ‘This very good book, but if I show priest, he say, “No good book.”’ I say to my boss, ‘Boss, my priest say, “Very good book.”’”

Later, while I was witnessing along the harbour front, the Attorney General came over and invited me to his office. There I outlined the booklet’s message as he looked through it. Then he picked up the phone and ordered its release. The season had become very ‘favourable’ indeed! I bought a bike and set about distributing the booklets. In three months I had distributed all but one carton of 350 booklets.

Then it was back to American Samoa. The war was raging in the Pacific, with patriotic feelings running high. Since the authorities could not understand our strictly neutral stand, they banned us in many places. (John 15:19) However, they politely asked me to leave Samoa, and I returned to Australia.