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TO’OA
KRISTIN TAYLOR AND THORN MINISTRY IN SAMOA |
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By To'oa Kristin Taylor |
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Children spend their
childhood dreaming of how their lives will, where they will travel and
what they will become. To some those dreams fade as the pressures of
life begin to mount and the road to their destiny becomes covered in a
blinding fog. However, with faith as your torch, you can cut through
the haze and enter the blinding light of a life full of wonder and
blessing.
As adults, we face many crossroads, which will ultimately determine our
fate. I hit such a road when I was gifted the chance to travel to Samoa
to sing in 1995, following the death of my parents. Looking back from
2002, I can't imagine my life, had I not said yes to that wonderful
adventure. So many lives would be different today. Do we understand the
importance of each decision we make?
The opportunity to sing in paradise was only the light that beckoned me
to Samoa, but is not what draws me to return year after year after
year. It was the cry for help from many of the disabled poor whose
voice calls me back time and again. To see the tears of the suffering
and walk away and do nothing is a sin against not only man but is
offensive to God.
Christianity teaches ‘it is in giving that we receive.’ Until you give
beyond hurting...(I am not speaking only financially), you may never
experience the pure joy of knowing that Jesus was speaking truth. For
many years I struggled not only to find the medical supplies the
hospitals and substations so desperately needed at the time, but then
had to pack, ship and find a way to fairly distribute them throughout
Samoa. This was a painstakingly difficult task that was not looked upon
with gratitude by many, but often skepticism and jealousy. I thank God
for the gift of a true friend I found in Carol Ah Chong, who tirelessly
fights to keep THORN alive and well in Samoa in my absense.
In October of 1998 God forever changed my life through the loving
gestures of both Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, who surprisingly gifted
me with his royal family title of To'oa, and the following day Cardinal
Pio further blessed me with his presence at the blessing of THORN as an
Apostolate in the Catholic Church. Both of these events solidified that
they officially recognized and appreciated the work I was trying to
accomplish. Both of these tremendous men sincerely asked that I devote
my life to the people of Samoa. |
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The
chance to travel to Samoa to sing in 1995 ultimately changed
Kristin Taylor's life and so many disabled poor lives in Samoa
forever.
(Photo Courtesy To'oa Kristin Taylor) |
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Samoa’s Head of State, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II bestows on
Kristin Taylor his royal family title To’oa for her humanitarian
work.
(Photo Courtesy To'oa Kristin Taylor) |
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To'oa Kristin Taylor founder and Carol Ah Chong of the Lay
Apostolate THORN Ministry, being blessed by Cardinal Pio.
(Photo Courtesy To'oa Kristin Taylor) |
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By my accepting the title of To'oa and the blessing as founder of the Lay
Apostolate THORN, I did just that. I walked away from both events in tears. The
reality that I was loved by the people of Samoa, changed the course of my life
forever.
How many of us are blessed with two families, two countries and two adopted
fathers (one the father of the church in Samoa, Cardinal Pio and the King who so
graciously embraced me into his family) is a blessing only God can give.
One of my special trip was attending the celebration of His Highness' 90th
birthday and the installation of the next Arch Bishop and to visit many of the
villages as missionary of Christ. If I have a chance to sing... I will sing
Amazing Grace, for how could any of this happen if not by the grace of God?
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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