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Show Maile Tuiloma participates in health and hygiene lesson taught by health missionaries, Judy Bowman and Sweet Koloamatagi. . 1 i ; i demonstrated to Samoan wife, Maile Tuiloma, by health missionary, Annaliisa Rinne. Improved oven is 4 i : BY J MALAN HESLOP Church News Editor PESEGA, WESTERN SAMOA missionaries are busy in Samoa; their aim is to bring added happiness to the people. missionary was Since then considerable progress has been made in teaching the people the important lessons of sanitation and health. 1971. Today, Sister Annalissa Rinne, a retired doctor from Saio, Finland, heads a team of health missionaries that is taking both the gospel and the message of healthy living to the people. She is a convert of 16 years. Our goal is to teach the prevention of healthy living habits and want the people to become We start with the things they have and go from there, teaching them in the Samoan way. We must first understand the people and learn their ways and then progress from there. Samoa is a land with a rich culture. We do not want to change that. We hope to raise their standards of hygiene, health and happiness. By nature, the work does not move fast. Progress is slow as ideas and habits are altered to meet a rising g. tj I lealth The first health called to Samoa in Sanitation is subject of lesson by Sister Sweet Koloamatagi. illness,' said Sister Rinne. We teach standard. Missionaries teach in the villages houses and in the tales (native open-ai- r with palm leaf roof supported by poles). They talk about food preparation, hygiene, waste disposal, fly control, general cleanliness and many other health practices. The work can go forward as fast as the priesthood leaders get the idea and give the needed support, Sister Rinne explained. "When inspired leaders get the idea, the work goes forward. Pres. Patrick L. I. Peters, Samoa Apia Mission, has been very supportive ot the program. Near the mission home a fale has been built for training purposes. It is small, but has incorporated the important items for good housekeeping in rural Samoa. A practical but economic outhouse has also been built for teaching purposes. Fly traps, underground ovens, food storage equipment and many other teaching aids have been prepared and put to use. Even though the islands have the appearance of being green and lush with taro, bananas, breadfruit and coconuts growing in abundance, there are some areas where malnutrition t i can exist. I " Most of the cooking is done on three "We want, to stones. Sister Rinne said. help them build ovens and other things that will make cooking enoor and better. "One i ot our strengths is an inspired mission president. lie has earn'd many Samoan sisters to work as health missionaries This is importau. In cause they learn and teach well. lien they remain in Samoa and continue in teach and set proper examples. They will be fine wives and mothers. They are a great strength. We want the people to be happy by being healthy. We want them to also progress poet for spiritually. When they learm themselves as children of God, they gain spiritual strength and happiness. t Sister Judy Bowman, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, demonstrates use of fly trap to Samoan boy. |