THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS MIRACLE
Sene Polu’s Miraculous Recovery, Pondering Life in Samoa It’s a story no one will ever soon forget, nor should ever be far from people’s minds, particularly for those who have prayed, wept, worshipped and pleaded with the Lord to spare the life of one of Samoans injured soldiers from Iraq . This past Sunday in the US capital of Washington, DC, amidst the exciting news of America’s first ever African-American Democratic nominee for the Presidential election in November 2008, the conceding of America’s first ever woman contender who came that close to clinching the nomination, in the small little Samoan Community Christian Church of DC who worship at the Old Post Chapel in Fort Myer, Virginia, the congregants gathered again for their usual Sunday worship. Many were pleasantly surprised to be visited by SFC Senetari Pe’a Polu (Sene) and his wife Rosie and their children Charley and Chazity who last attended services on Mother’s Day. It has been several weeks since the Church has had its members together as a full congregation. During Memorial Day weekend, many of the church traveled to Fort Bragg , North Carolina for the “Toa ole Vateatea” Fellowship honoring Samoa’s youth, a gathering where autalavous from Fort Gordon and Jacksonville , Georgia participated. The Polus during that weekend had visited relatives in New Jersey and were also able to spend some R&R in New York . When the contact was made by the Polus for DC Church Treasurer Isapela Enesi-Coggins to escort them to church, it was a thrill for everyone knowing “ Samoa ’s Miracle” is surely recovering well. In their beautiful family “pea” provided by Sene’s sister Foaese Fano of American Samoa , the handsome couple and their children joined the Samoan community in praise and worship. It was only fitting then that as the Amata Lotu was sung to usher in the Holy Spirit, the popular hymn composed by the late Suliveta, which was taught by Solomona Aoelua and played by Dr. Fatilua Fatilua began with the lyrics, “Vivi’i atu ia, outou ia Ieova, aua e fa’avavau, lava Lona alofa. O tulivae uma, e to’otuli atu, laulaufaiva uma, ta’uta’u i Lou mamalu. Lo’u agaga e, vivii atu ia, Le Atua o le alofa, le Atua e paia.” Sene Polu was asked how he was doing as he appeared remarkably well and in great spirits, he replied in his usual upbeat voice, “I am doing wonderfully, the prayers and intercessions of so many people have truly blessed me and my family, I want to thank them all. I am deeply humbled and grateful to the awesome God we serve, He is truly alive as He hears the cries of His people.” (O lo’u manuia ia lea ua iai, oute lagona o tatalo ma le fa’atauanau a le to’atele o tagata ua matua’i fa’amanuia ai tele a’u ma lo’u aiga, na’o lo’u fa’afetai ia te i latou uma. Oute lagona ai le agaga fa’amaulalo aemaise le o’otia ile fa’afetai atu ile Atua fai mea ofoofogia o lo’o tatou auauna ai, o lo’o soifua pea lava o Ia ma fa’afofoga ile tagi atu o Ona tagata.) For every Samoan who has read and known the immensity of Polu’s injuries, his recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. Visited recently by Gen. David H. Petraeus Commanding General of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, young 12-year Chazity Polu filed this report, “My dad was chosen by his case manager Capt. Lyons to have lunch with Gen. Petraeus while he came out for his visit to check on the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital, on Thursday May 29,2008. Gen. Pretraeus presented my dad with his coin. Too bad he wasn't wearing his Samoan t-shirt instead he wore his Planet Hollywood t-shirt, cause if he wore his Samoan t-shirt then General Petraeus would have known that my Dad was the Samoan solder that Congressman Eni mentioned during his Armed Forces questioning that was on April 10, 2008.” While most people are always careful when around Sene Polu to be respectful and sensitive to what he has gone through, a more subtle inquiry was asked how exactly, is he really feeling, what is he truly experiencing personally, given everything that he’s undergone the past three months since the devastating event that nearly cost him his life. Without missing a beat as every tough Samoan young man would reply in that reassuring way that sets Samoans apart as true warriors at heart and putting everyone at ease, Sene had this to say in our native-tongue, “O le makua’i se-ki lava o si kakou mea lea ua iai!” The writer of this article could simply say, “Oi leai, o lena ua malosi mo’i lava oe, alii.” On a more serious note, he and his wife Rosie plan to retire in the native land and are looking forward to God’s greater plans in their lives and their family’s future. Sene is a Pentecostal associate pastor (a’oa’o fesoasoani) referred to by many of his military comrades as “Faifeau”, his wife Rosie is a Lead Worshipper of the known Assemblies of God churches in the West Coast and in Samoa. They feel strongly that the slow-pace of island home-living will be conducive to Sene’s continued recovery and enabling them to share their testimonies in a very personal way that will undoubtedly help many people know the saving grace of God’s love. Sene also has two sisters and a brother all serving in the CCCAS Ministry with roots deep in the Gospel for which Sene exclaimed, “God’s thoughts are higher than our own; His ways mightier than ours. It is His will I obey for me and my family.” Sina June, 2008 IIChronicles 20:15 "...for the battle is not yours, but God's."
