Yesterday the whole base went to the funeral of a big YWAM supporter who was also one of the main intercessors for the Samoan government. He was an electrician and was killed saving a worker from electrocution. We went to the day of burial service, but I have heard that the full funeral lasts about a week. At the beginning, we lined up and held a length of lace at least 4 yards long, we walked in behind the casket and wrapped the lace around it. A few groups of children did the same until you couldn't see the casket through the lace. The casket was simple wood wrapped in a woven mat and some palms. The service was 3 hours long and most of the time people went up and talked about the deceased. This included his wife and his 2 of his children, who were just teenagers.
During the service, many Samoans laughed at what seemed to be inappropriate times or at things that made me want to cry (like the daughter talking about how she was grieving). I have been told that many Samoans laugh when things are difficult. Throughout the service, people brought flower arrangements and wreaths to the front and went to comfort the wife and children.
In Samoa, there are not graveyards. People are buried on their family's land. If a family owns land here, they do not sell it. Even if they move away, someone else takes care of it for them. If it is a very poor family, someone in the extended family will own land that they can bury the dead on.
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