DAY 14 & DAY 15: FAMILIES REACHED OUT VIA HELP LINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

​Members of the SVSG Measles Outreach reckons that Fatima Filia Solomona, a 37 year old mother of seven children from Luatuanuu, is one of the bravest heros of the measles epidemic thus far. 
 
With her husband Filia Solomona being the 80th victim of the measles who passed away just days before Christmas, Fatima gathered around her seven children ages ranging from 1 to 17 years old to thanked SVSG for reaching out to them.  
 
And having worked with families like the Solomona’s for years, where the father is the sole breadwinner, the Outreach Team understood the dilemma faced by Fatima, yet, she showed us nothing else but a brave smile.
 
Fatima and her children were amongst the 14 families who were referred to SVSG via the Help Line or the social media, for assistance during the festive season as they mourned the loss of their loved ones to the measles.  Leading SVSG village representatives for Luatuanuu, Faletua Valasi Aila Patea is tasked with monitoring Fatima’s family and reporting to SVSG on its progress.
 
At Nuu-fou, the Outreach Team travelled further inland from the main road to reach the 71 year old grandfather Mataio Matamata, whose 18 months old grandson Novema was lost to the measles. 
 
According to Lui and Caroline Mataio, the grieving parents of Novema, “we have just moved to Nuu-fou 7 months ago, built a home and cultivated the land, only to loose our baby to the measles.”  
Missionaries from Missouri, Jim and Mindy Wiese who were part of the outreach team encouraged Mataio Matamata and the family to keep the faith as the God of healing is always in control through His merciful love and grace.
 
The Outreach Team covered six villages of Luatuanuu, Vaiusu-uta, Nuu-fou, Vaitele-fou, Palisi and Leauvaa in response to our people’s call for assistance.

From Day 1 to Day 15, the SVSG Measles Outreach 140 families with a total of 66 deaths from the measles.
 
This is a huge coverage achieved only through the love of God planted in our people’s hearts, both here and abroad, to lend a helping hand to our families in need.
 
“We are humbled by it all as we continued to serve with a joyful heart, bringing forth God’s healing to the parents and children who have lost loved ones to the measles. Thank you to the Wellington Housing of New Zealand for the donation of $200.00 as well as Le Teine Polynesian Dance Group from Australia that donated $1,200.00 towards the Measles Outreach.  Faafetai! Faafetai! Faafetai lava” Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President