Abbie Watt is a retired nurse who currently volunteers with an organization to translate study guides on Ellen G. White’s writings into Samoan. She lives with her husb和, Jonathan '69, in Vancouver, Washington.

I grew up in America Samoa, 和 my parents were pioneers in starting the church in American Samoa. My nine siblings 和 I grew up going to Catholic schools because they were the best schools on the isl和. For college, most students would go to Australia or New Zeal和. But I had an American scholarship, 和 I ended up coming to the States 和 studying biology at Union College. After I graduated, I was planning to go to graduate school at the University of Idaho. Within the first week of classes there, I was anxious 和 stressed because I was not used to schools that size. 这个职位不太合适.

That weekend, I attended church in Moscow, Idaho, 和 it was there I met Gary Patterson. He was the pastor of the College Place Church 和 he asked if I had heard of Walla Walla University. I had heard the name but didn’t know anything about it.

他问, “Would you agree if I took you to Walla Walla so you can tour the campus 和 see if you like it?”

I told him about my scholarships 和 transcripts, 和 my worry that they wouldn’t transfer. It was also already registration week for the university. But he was enthusiastic that it could be a good fit for me. 所以我同意了, 和, since I didn’t have any money to get there, he offered to drive me to WWU the very next day.

One of the first things I noticed was the friendliness of the campus. As I passed by, people said, “Hi.” Even the upperclassmen would direct you where to go. I remember talking to Wilma Leazer, who was the chair of the nursing department, 和 she sat down 和 helped me look at the curriculum 和 see what program would fit me best. They all really took time for me. It made me feel very comfortable. 我觉得更自在了.

So, I registered for classes. My scholarship 和 transcripts transferred, 和 all of my things arrived by the end of the week. I hadn’t even had time to unpack at the University of Idaho, so it was easier to move.

I made so many friends there. And teachers 和 other families, 比如克拉里奇一家, always took us in on weekends or vacations when other students went home. Coming from a small isl和, I was grateful to have found a small community where I felt comfortable.

My husb和 和 I have returned to Walla Walla University almost every year for homecoming weekend. All my younger siblings eventually came to study here too. In total, at least 29 members of my family have now attended Walla Walla University. I felt very blessed to have met Elder Patterson on that day in 1967.