According to Pele, Brother Croxford was “the friendliest man I had ever met.” Pele said that Brother Croxford told him later that when he saw all the people going to church on Sunday, dressed in white, with Bibles in their hands, he had no idea just where to start! But, start he did, with fine results. Pele tells us how he felt at that time:

“I knew he [Brother Croxford] wanted to talk with me, but I put him off because I had no time for it then. As chairman of the Ex-Pupils’ Association of Government Schools, I was very busy. One Saturday evening, however, he came to my home for a meal, and we talked until the wee hours of Sunday morning. I asked him many questions, and every answer he gave was read from the Bible. I was convinced beyond any doubt that this was the truth I had been looking for.”

Though happy to learn the truth, Pele had misgivings about the consequences. He and his family were prominent in the church, some being pastors. He was fairly well known because of his school, sports and church activities. In his mind was the question, What would the Ex-Pupils’ Association think about this new religion he had embraced? What might the patrons of the Association, their Highnesses Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese III, think and say about him?

In Samoan custom, matais with high titles exert much influence. It is almost unthinkable for a Samoan, especially one without a title or high standing, to oppose the customs and religion of his forefathers. This was Pele’s position when he accepted the truth.

PELE MEETS WITH THE HIGH-RANKING ONES

Pele tells us what happened: “I prayed as I never had before, asking Jehovah to direct me in the way that I should go. In the few months that followed I studied incessantly and until late at night. One day I received a letter from the high chief of our family, calling me to an evening meeting at Faleasiu to discuss this ‘new church.’ Taime Solomona, another family member interested in the truth, was there too. As soon as I got there the high chief opened the meeting. In the family assembly were six chiefs, three orators, ten pastors, two theological teachers, the high chief who was presiding and older men and women of the family. They cursed and condemned us for disgracing the name of the family and the church of our forefathers.

“Then the chairman said: ‘It would be better to have a debate. You give your doctrines and beliefs; we give ours, and we will see who is right.’ I felt like Jeremiah, burning up inside, eager to talk. Even though some yelled, ‘Take that Bible away! Leave off that Bible!’ I answered all their questions from the Bible and disproved their arguments. How thankful I was that I had studied God’s Word as never before!

“It went on all night, until four in the morning. Finally, neither word nor sound was forthcoming from them. Their heads were bent down. Then the high chief said in a weak voice: ‘You won, Pele.’ I replied: ‘Pardon me, Sir, I did not win. This night you heard the message of the Kingdom. It is my sincere hope you will heed it.’ After departing, we looked for a bus to go home, tired but happy for the victory of God’s truth. The seed of truth had taken root on Upolu.”

THE STUDY GROUP GROWS

One afternoon in July a young man named Maatusi Leauanae overheard two men talking about the “new truth.” Maatusi asked: “Where is this new truth?” One of the men worked at the hospital and he explained that there was a Bible study group that met each week, on this day, at the hospital. Maatusi was very interested in hearing about this “new truth.” So he went to the hospital and looked in. Seeing a large group assembled, he became shy and turned away to leave. At the gate he met John Croxford just arriving to conduct the study. Brother Croxford urged him to join the study, which he did. There he was introduced to Fuaiupolu Pele and several others, two or three doctors, a customs official, several office workers and a man from the agriculture department. Then followed an hour’s study in the book “Let God Be True.”

In 1952 Pele and his wife, Ailua, symbolized their dedication to Jehovah by water immersion. Maatusi Leauanae liked what he was learning but for some months was irregular in attendance. When he returned for regular study, the love and interest the group showed him, along with the truth he had heard, convinced him that he had found the true religion. Another young government employee, Siemu Taase, soon joined the group. He and Maatusi were baptized in 1956.

John Croxford left Western Samoa in 1953, but he had planted seeds of truth in good soil. Many already mentioned are still serving loyally in Jehovah’s work. More were to come.

FIRST CONGREGATION FORMED

The Society approved the formation of the first congregation in Western Samoa in early 1953. A special pioneer couple from Australia, Ronald and Olive (Dolly) Sellars, arrived in May 1953, and they helped to get the congregation organized. The authorities would not extend their permit to reside in the country, so in January 1954 they moved to American Samoa.

Brother Pele tells us: “When Brother Croxford left, everybody thought that was the end of the ‘new church.’ But our attendance was more than 40. Brother Ted Jaracz stopped to see us on his way back to Australia from the New York convention in 1953. We gathered at my house in the evening, and he gave us some talks that I translated.”

Soon thereafter, Brother Pele named his newborn son after the three brothers who had come to Western Samoa, John Croxford, Ron Sellars and Ted Jaracz. His name is Uitinesesioneronitete in Samoan, or in English, Witness-John-Ron-Ted.

[Picture on page 199]

Fuaiupolu Pele and his wife were among the first Samoan-born Witnesses in Western Samoa