We've been wondering how our bros are in the Samoa Islands.
Here's a first hand account that tells us what it was like in some parts,
and what they did to protect themselves.
Love to all,
Bob n Lois
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Just a litlle update from Samoa.
Everyone remembers Rosetta and her family, when I couldn't get through to her on the phone I emailed her and this is the response.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rosetta Levu"
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:41:53 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Brothers and Sisters,
ALL the friends here in American Samoa are safe and sound.
The Eastside Pago Pago was the hardest hit. Lisa Te'o a sister that works with me lives in Pago Pago and she has shared eyewitness accounts of what they saw.
The Earthquake was felt by all around 6:50 a.m.. We live on the Westside of the island. After the Earthquake the one radio station announced that there was not yet any warning of Tsunami. As the announcer was speaking, she screamed on the air that the water had entered the Radio Station, then there was silence and the power was down. Pago Pago is about 10 miles away from where we live.
I was at work already because I had a 7:00 a.m. meeting. Immediately after the earthquake, I was able to get through to my parents and Fo'i by phone to make sure they were okay. We all continued our normal routine. Fo'i and Jordan were still at home getting the kids ready for school. Jordan does our laundry on Tuesdays and his father was dropping him off but the laundromat was closed so he went back home. 7:20 a.m., several workers come into the store and told us to turn on the radio. I heard the warning on the radio and began to worry about my family. I walked outside and what timing, Fo'i and the kids in our truck were approaching. I waved them down and left work with them. We went back to get Jordan and Fo'i's sister flagged us that they got Jordan in the back of the truck. We then turned back around to go to my mom and dad's about 5 miles away. There was no communication the circuits were overloaded and we just couldn't get any communication. It took us 45 minutes to get to my parents. Mom had all our water, food packed. We moved all to our truck and went to the mountains.
The mountains are about 7 miles away. We went to Fo'i's family and met 2 other witness families up there. We got to the mountains at about 9:00 a.m.. We had the radio on and heard the death toll increase to 14. Then around 11:00 am, the warning was lifted and we were allowed to go back to our homes. We went to Fo'i's home near the ocean to assess any damage. No damage to any of their 2 homes near the ocean. We then drove to the eastside and stopped 2 miles from Pago Pago because traffic was so bad. When we saw the damage later that evening on TV we were shocked. Two parts of the island were devastated. Pago Pago in the East and Leone in the West but not much damage if you lived in between.
We hear of Jehovah's hand in protecting his people:
Lisa lives near the missionary home in Pago. She says the homes next to the Missionary home were hit by the wave but the Missionary home was not. Also, homes around Lisa's families homes were hit by the waves but not their home. Nonetheless they took all the kids up to the mountain and saw all that happened. There were 3 waves. She explains the water just rose and rose and moved inland and brought boats, cars, homes, then when it receded back into the water it was as if it sucked everything it touch back to the water. Then the water was shallow and you could see the rocks, then it would come 2 more times. The only inconvenience Lisa and family suffer are not having electricity or water for at least a month. Also, all land lines around Lisa's family's home were down but their's was working for friends and family to contact them.
Another account was per Lisa came from Brother Brad and Ruth Bennett. They explained they saw the wave coming and froze but the wave split and went around the home they were house sitting for Brother Steve and Francis Riggs. This house too was not hit by the wave.
Friends as we see, hear, and experience events related to these last days, we know Jehovah's day is coming and is very near. We pray that these events will help the people of American Samoa to be more receptive to Jehovah's message of the Kingdom.
As for Samoa, we hear the town of Apia was leveled but we haven't seen any news reports.
Friends, we are very busy these last days but we LOVE and miss all you. We also feel and know your love for us and the friends here.
We love you....
Agape...
Rosetta and Aifo'i Levu
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