Hi my name is Anetta..

Hi, my name is Anetta. I’m 14 and I am a Christian girl from Samoa. We have just moved into our new house that we can’t afford. My parents have asked me to find a job to help financially. I applied for KFC down the road and got it. I can now contribute financially. I go to church on Sundays, but I would rather be at work if I am being honest. I enjoy making my own money and sharing it with my family more.

Hi my name is Anetta. I’m 17 years old and I still believe in Jesus. I’m still working hard trying to focus on my studies. Everything is still the same, I’m still the same.

However, today is different.

I noticed he keeps coming to my work. I’m not sure why but, I feel awkward around him. I got a message online. He looks familiar. It’s the same guy that comes through my drive thru. He wants to meet. So do I.

Hi again. My name is Anetta. I am a Samoan Christian Girl who has just fallen in love with a Muslim boy. I think this is love.

My family don’t know. I don’t know how to tell them. Will they accept him as he is? I don’t want him to change and he’s told me I don’t have to either. He loves me as I am. I believe him. We’ve been together for 2 years and I’ve just realised I haven’t met his family. He tells me his family travels a lot.

I think and I wonder if they’ll like me. I begin reading about Islam. The perceptions of Islam is bad. The world thinks so. I don’t think so. He is my world.

It’s time to meet his father. He is a business man. We go to his office. We sit down across his desk. He tells him.

His father doesn’t want to look at me. They’re speaking Urdu. I can tell he’s not happy. He says in English and looks at us “You need to speak to his mum. She’s in Pakistan. When she comes we will talk.”

It’s time. She’s here. He picks me up. We go to his house. I’m sitting on the couch. Next to him. I finally meet his mother. I can tell straight away she’s a strong woman. All 3 of his older sisters are here. I’m next to him and his parents sitting across from us. His mother is looking at me. Judging me. They’re speaking Urdu to each other. I don’t understand what’s happening. His sister yells across the room saying ‘It’s not fair, I should be able to see my niece or nephew’. I see they’re upset. I see they care about their religion. I see they care about him.

He hasn’t said anything to me yet. He remains quiet next to me. She takes a book out, it’s the Quran. She begins to read it to her son. Finally his mum speaks to me. She’s friendly but firm. She asks me “what religion are you?”. I tell her I’m Christian. She looks confused and asks “what kind of Christian?” . I tell her I believe its Presbyterian. She starts speaking Urdu and is upset with my answer and stares at her son with anger. She looks at me and asks “When you have your baby, how do you plan on raising it? As a Muslim or as a Christian?” Without hesitation I said, as a Christian… that wasn’t the right answer. Energy in the room changed.

It became chaotic. She started yelling and screaming. The sisters were distraught and upset. They began yelling at him asking him why. He was still quiet. They were all yelling in Urdu. I don’t understand, but I understand. I began crying.Thoughts in my head were saying. This is my fault. I’m sorry I said the wrong thing. I’m sorry I was honest. The sisters tell me, they can not accept my child or me into their family if I am not Muslim and it is not fair for me to take away their brother’s/son’s child away from them. They would like to be apart of the child’s life and they will not be able to accept their brother or son if he chooses to stay with me.

He remains quiet. I look at him upset. He grabs my arm and walks us out of the house. He’s angry. But I’m not sure why. He looks at me and says “The most Christian thing about you is the necklace you wear, the cross pendant. Why would you say that without discussing with me first”. He blames me.

Hi my name is Anetta and I have just accepted Allah into my life. I am becoming a Muslim wife. My dads calling. I hang up. My sisters are calling. I hang up. I want my child to be apart of everyone’s life. I do not want to live with that burden. I must do this for my child. I must do this for him. My family will always love me and forgive me.

I’ve just learnt Anetta is not a Muslim name.

Hi my name is now Anisa I am 19 years old and I am going to Marry a Muslim man because I am pregnant with his child. It is also important in our religion for our child to be born into a married family.

His family is happy. He is happy. His relatives are happy. I’m not happy.

Today is my wedding day. I’m getting married today. My family are calling. They don’t know. I know. They don’t. They weren’t invited. I’m sorry.

My name is Anisa. I am 19yrs old and I’ve converted to Islam, my family don’t know. You weren’t Invited. His mum picked my dress. His sisters are dressing me. I’m covered. I’m wearing a Burqa. I’m crying. I’m sorry. I did it. Everyone is happy, except me. For your child Anetta. Keep telling yourself that.