Credit: ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA


Thursday, October 1, 2009
Katinas Organize ’Hope For Samoa’ Benefit Concert to Aid Disaster Ravaged Homeland Natalie Grant, Melinda Doolittle, Among Artists to Highlight October 7 Benefit Concert
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
NASHVILLE, TN (ANS) — One of Christian music’s most celebrated groups, The Katinas, located in Nashville, TN, is feeling the aftereffects of the recent Tsunami that swamped their native Samoa half a world away earlier this week. They lost both friends and family in the disaster.
Local Christians Get in the Picture in Chester, England
The effects of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake and resultant walls of 15-20 foot high tsunami waves that ravaged Samoa this past Tuesday, Sept. 29, were personally felt by the group in Nashville, TN, who can claim Samoa as their native homeland.

In the wake of waves of death and destruction that surged more than a mile inland on the tiny island nation, the band is already organizing a relief effort for their homeland — a ‘Hope For Samoa Benefit Concert’ to be held next Wednesday, October 7 at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee — just outside of Nashville. The church is located at 1210 Franklin Road in Brentwood.
Among the famous friends in music already set to join them: GMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant and American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle.
Nationally known radio personalities, Doug & Kim, from Salem Broadcasting’s popular ‘Doug & Kim in the Morning’ will emcee the event.
Salem’s Nashville anchor station has also denoted free radio spots for the event. The benefit concert is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. with additional artists to be set.
In an open letter on Wednesday, the Katinas noted:

“As most of you know by now, an earthquake that registered at 8.2 on the Richter scale and tsunami that hit yesterday morning has devastated our homeland of Samoa. Our Dad, 4 sisters, brother and 2 nephews that live there are okay. However, some of our friends and close family members are still missing.
“We have confirmed news that one of our cousins from the village of Leone (our Mother’s birthplace and place where our Dad pastors) died yesterday in the aftermath of the tsunami. The latest death toll has surpassed 100 and many are still unaccounted for.”
The Katinas said they have been planning their 3rd annual missions’ trip to Samoa this November.
“Yesterday’s events have made us even more passionate to go and help our people,” they wrote..

“Samoa is dear to our hearts. Growing up there prepared us for what we’ve been doing for the last 20 years. We have been blessed to travel the world and minister the message of Jesus through music. Now we are blessed to give back to the very place we come from.
“We need your help. We have set up a ‘Samoa Relief’ fund to assist with some of the immediate and long term needs on the island. We are still gathering information on what those needs are. However in the meantime we are doing whatever we can to help.

“Here’s how you can help:
**Pray for the comfort of our people. Pray for the search of those who are still missing. Pray that God would heal our people both spiritually and physically.
**You can go to our website at www.katinamissions.org and make a monetary donation. All donations are tax deductable.
“Thank you so much for your time and love for Samoa.”
The letter is signed by Sam, Joe, James, John and Jesse Katina.

_______________________________________________
For additional benefit concert information, and for interviews with the Katinas contact:
Dianne Rogers
Brimstone Services
Phone: (615) 941-8207
E-mail: dianne@brimstoneservices.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/youredge
This area is a village in Apia where public’s servants and volunteers had just completed searching for survivors by removing all the rubble from homes that had been decimated by the tsunami’s terrible power. ABC news had reported that some villagers had been seen gathering fish after the first and second waves had hit. Not fully realizing that a third and fourth wave was already on its way to the island, watchers reported that villagers were gathering fish when the third and fourth waves hit the island. This is why officials are uncertain of what the actual death toll we actually reach.
There was an announcement that the local government would be providing twenty mass graves for the ever-growing number of dead. Ceremonially to the citizens of both Western and American Samoans this is distressing. As tribal funerals are very traditional and is probably best described by a friend of mine as follows.
Samoan Funeral
Firstly, it has been my experience that whenever I participate in any Samoan cultural event I miss countless subtle details and very rarely have a good idea about what is going on, so please keep in mind that this experience is being told from my point of view and there probably are several points which have been missed or misinterpreted.
The mother of my vice principal passed away and so a few of the teachers at my school, the principal, and some of the village matai (chiefs) prepared to go visit the family to represent the village and the school. They decided to bring me so that I might experience more Samoan tradition.
We piled into two trucks along with about fifteen fine mats, a bolt of lace, a bolt of fabric and a huge wreath of flowers painted gold. We all wore traditional Samoan clothes: puletasi for the woman and ie faitaga for the men. When we got to the house we formed a procession. I was put in front, holding the wreath. Behind me, the others held out the fabric and the lace in a long line like a train. We waited for our turn. Important members of the family are entombed on the family’s property. Some tombs are rather grand in scale but most are a few slabs of concrete layered on top of one another pyramid-like. The tomb was open in front of the house and the inside lined with lace.
We entered the house and laid our gifts around the pusa oti (coffin). We then went back outside to sit facing the family. Here we presented our gifts of money and fine mats. In return we were presented with gifts of fine mats, tinned fish, money, fabric and a cooked pig. This exchange of gifts is very important and this procedure is followed by each family or group that visits the family of the deceased. There are church services in addition to this custom we just weren’t involved with it.
Everyone there (a good fifty people) thought it was quite hilarious watching a palagi (outsider) participate but, as always, they were extremely grateful that I was making the effort to understand the Samoan customs.
Once we returned to the village there is a consulting with the matai about how the gifts we were given should be split up. The Samoan culture is all about service to one another. You give and you receive. Everything you have you share. You always take care of your family and your village because they will always take care of you. The matai themselves are granted their title after proving service to their community. For large events such as weddings, funerals, and births families and friends give greatly to one another. The term for this is fa’alavelave (which also, funnily enough is the word for trouble).
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