God, Culture and Us - Daily iInspiration And Motivation From Malia Leifi

It’s been a minute for me to post another episode. I have shared a lot that death put everything in perspective for me. In the next few episodes I will share about the passing of my son recently. He passed away in his sleep on October 28 2024 and I haven’t been the same since. You should never have to bury your child regardless of age. My family, friends and church family are our biggest support in our season of mourning for my son, brother, father, cousin and uncle. So in the few episodes I will share stories of my son and how he can make me laugh even when I am mad at him. Today is me letting those that are listening know why I have posted an episode!

In this episode I share about my friend Safaira who passed away while in seminary. How we became friends in the short time we shared housing and her sharing her traumatic experience that almost cost her life years before not knowing she will pass away 12 hours later. Everyone knows by now that death put things in perspective for me what is important and what isn’t. I didn’t share this on the podcast but someone asked me recently about this because they heard a rumor it was ghost. Samoan we have superstition’s however I can honestly shared the truth and it has nothing to do with ghost!

In this episode I ask a question that I ask myself. I share a bit more about my fear of speaking in front of people and for a pastor’s wife that is not a good fit! Samoans celebrate our children once a year in October it’s called White Sunday. I share about my disappointment in myself recently and crying spell. I had my pity party now it’s time to get back on track. Don’t stay in that position of negative mind games that the devils like to play with us. Get up dust it off and keep moving.

In this episode sharing the start of my podcast journey and amazed at the downloads, puzzled on how this works I could not be more thankful people want to listen to my life’s lessons on being uncomfortable in my own skin! To sharing on our journey now in finding a home church for us. Yes I am guided back to a Samoan community church, however this time I believe it’s different and there is a lesson to be learned even at my age.

In this episode I share this past weekend I went to my nephews wedding. How I haven’t seen them for over 20 years and the only connection to our family with through my sister Mena. How I felt not being a part of their life after their father my brother passed at a young age.

In this episode I share about running our own race the apostle Paul reminds us in scripture that we each have a race to run. It doesn’t mean we are not going to have opposition coming against us through family and the people you surround yourself with. Pastors and their families are not exempt from the same opposition everybody else faces. It can be lonely the struggle is real. We need to learn from marathon runners and their attributes that build their character.

In this episode I share a few thoughts I had while on my trip to a funeral of my cousins. My thoughts as I was on a plane full of people how we all have a story to tell. Remembering my first day after arriving to Samoa in seminary. I look at things differently after cancer scare and don’t take things for granted.

In this episode I share a few things as to why am so grateful God wakes me up everyday. Grateful for my husband, my family, my children and my friends that are close to me. Am even grateful for my days in seminary as hard as it was for me, yes I am grateful for those years. What are you grateful for? It’s a good question to ask yourself once in a while.

In this episode sharing my dad’s last wishes before he passed and how today that memory impacts my life. How my mother was a stay at home mom taking care of us kids her 2 youngest and her 5 grandchildren while the rest of the family works to meet the day to day needs of our family. I look back at the those final words of wisdom from my father and I honor him by keeping what he said dear to my heart. God left behind His words of wisdom to help us daily through our everyday struggles. Times may change but the struggle is the same and real! Keep God and His word close to our heart!

I was thinking as to my why did I start this podcast and came up with 3 reasons for my purpose! From all my experiences I am able to share how God’s grace brought me through the fire. How things that happen are only for a season and a reason if we look closely to the life’s lessons that God is trying to teach us. Even through this language barrier and people’s judgement we can all go through what we think is hell knowing that God is directing our path! This too shall pass I use to tell myself when it became difficult.