2Nd Quarter 2021

YOUTH & ADULT Mission 2021 • QUARTER 2 • INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION

AdventistMission.org Contents

On the Cover: Daniel Amattaeran, 29, was a hip-hop artist in Suriname when he sensed a voice asking, “What do you want to do with your life?” Girls or God? Story, page 4.

= stories of special interest to teens Your Offerings at Work

Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering three years ago Inter-American Division Inter-American helped construct a new wing for Southeast Hospital,

ission a Seventh-day Adventist facility, in Villahermosa,

dventist background) is expected to open in 2024. Read

A Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 stories from Villahermosa on pages 18-27. 1-800-648-5824 • AdventistMission.org 2 Dear Sabbath School Leader, Andrew McChesney Editor

Opportunities This quarter we feature the Inter- American Division, which includes The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering countries and territories in the Caribbean this quarter will help the Inter- Sea, Central America, and the northern American Division to open 13 part of South America. The region is Better Living centers of influence, home to nearly 300 million people and one at each of the following: has a Seventh-day Adventist membership  Antillean Adventist University (Puerto of 3.75 million. That’s a ratio of one Rican Union), Puerto Rico Adventist for every 80 people. This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath  Colombia Adventist University (North Colombian Union), Colombia projects are unique: All thirteen universities and colleges in the division  Cuba Adventist Theological Seminary will receive part of the Thirteenth (Cuban Union), Cuba Sabbath Offering to establish a Better  Dominican Adventist University Living “center of influence” where (Dominican Union), Dominican Republic students can train to become missionaries. You can find a list of the institutions of  Haitian Adventist University Academy (Haitian Union), Haiti higher learning on this page. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath  Linda Vista University (Southeast Offering three years ago that helped Mexican Union), Mexico fund projects at Antillean Adventist  Navojoa University (North Mexican University in Puerto Rico, University Union), Mexico of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad  Montemorelos University (North and Tobago, and Southeast Hospital Mexican Union), Mexico in Mexico. You can read stories from  Northern Caribbean University (Jamaica University of the Southern Caribbean Union), Jamaica on pages 4 and 8 and from Southeast  Central America Adventist University Hospital on pages 18-21. (South Central American Union), You can download the PDF version Costa Rica of the youth and adult Mission  University of the Southern Caribbean magazine at bit.ly/adultmission and (Caribbean Union), Trinidad the Children’s Mission magazine at  Adventist University Institute of bit.ly/childrensmission. Mission Venezuela (West Venezuela Union), Spotlight videos are available at Venezuela bit.ly/missionspotlight.  Belize Adventist Junior College (Belize Thank you for encouraging your

Union), Belize AdventistMission.org congregation to be mission-minded!  3 4 Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Girls orGod? Daniel didn’t liketheideathat theHoly young boybut hadn’t attended inyears. parents hadtaken himtochurchasa voice mightbetheHolySpirit. His “What doyouwantto withyourlife?” thinking, andhesenseda voiceasking, and girlscrowdedaroundhim. to theNetherlands.Hispopularitysoared, he wonlocaltalentshowsandevenatrip how todance.Danielloveddancing,and he wantedgirlstowatchhim.Helearned that girlslikedtowatchthedancing,and people jumpingononehand.Henoticed amazed attheflips,handstands,and television butneverinreallife.Hewas dancing inSuriname’s capital,Paramarebo. W One dayDanielwassittingonhisbed, Daniel hadseenthedancingon Surprised, hewonderedwhether the boy introduced him to hip-hop himtohip-hop boy introduced hen Danielwas11,aneighborhood the fameandfunofworld. Spirit mightbespeakingtohim.Heliked content was true. “It’s nottrue,”thefriend fun, andhaving lotsofgirls.” thought itwasjustabout singing, having things,” hethought.“Idon’t likethat.I seems tobeconnectedclosely withevil illegal drugs.Hewasconfused. “Hip-hop is associatedwithmurder, violence, and hear thathip-hophasgangsteroriginsand knew wheretheDVDhadcomefrom. one bought this?”heaskedhisrelatives.No see itinthenon-Christianhome.“Who a Christianministry, sohewassurprisedto About Hip-Hop”onthetable.Itwasfrom day, henoticedaDVDtitled“TheTruth relatives ashestudiedatcollege.One of 19,hemovedinwithnon-Christian “I havetocomebackGod.” “I amlost.Ilost,”hethought. were runningaboutandscreaming. The worldwasablazewithfire,andpeople saw Christ,wearingwhite,intheclouds. dreamed abouttheSecondComing.He being attackedbydemons.Onenighthe anymore, gotochurch. old andthen,whenhecouldn’t dance TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO Daniel Amattaeran,29 “God, notnow,“God, notnow,” Daniel said. He askedadance friendiftheDVD’s Daniel watcheditandwasastonishedto Several yearspassedand,attheage But hedidn’t. Daniel wokeupwithhisheartpounding. Daniel begantohavenightmaresabout He resolvedtodanceuntilhewas

| April 3 said. “Anyway, who cares?” Daniel kept dancing — but he also Story Tips started going to church with an Adventist cousin. Halfway through monthlong  Watch Daniel on YouTube: bit.ly/Daniel-Amattaeran. evangelistic meetings, he stood when the preacher asked those who wished to  Download photos on Facebook be baptized to come to the front. But his (bit.ly/fb-mq). whole body was trembling. He sensed two  Download mission posts and fast facts voices arguing in his mind. from the Inter-American Division at: “Are you going to leave dancing for bit.ly/IAD-Facts. this?” one voice said. “Are you going to Mission Post leave money, girls, and fame?” “Choose Jesus,” the other voice said.  Adventist teachings were probably “He is the only way.” introduced to Trinidad and Tobago about 1879 through literature sent from As he wavered over whether to go to England. As early as 1880 or 1881, a the front, the preacher urged those who group of Sabbath keepers, led by James TRINIDAD TOBAGO AND were undecided to come forward. R. Braithwaite, met in Tobago. By the Daniel thought about money, fame, and early 1880s, Adventist literature was being sent to Trinidad and Tobago by girls — and sat down. the International Tract and Missionary At home that night, he fell on his Society (ITMS) in the United States. knees and prayed, “God, if you want me The first specific positive response to repent, show me a sign tomorrow. Give to Adventist teachings in Trinidad came through a copy of Ellen White’s me the strength to walk forward if the “Patriarchs and Prophets,” which was preacher makes an appeal again.” passed to an individual who became one The next night, the preacher made of the first Sabbath keepers on the island. another appeal. Daniel stood, and his whole body trembled violently. Again, he sensed two arguing voices. “So I take mission seriously.”  “God,” he prayed,” give me the strength to take a first step to the front.” Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath At that moment, he felt a gentle push Offering three years ago to construct on his back. He took a step forward. After the first-ever church building at the that, it was easy to take the second step, University of the Southern Caribbean, and soon he was standing at the front. where Daniel studies, in Trinidad and Today, Daniel is 29 and studying to be Tobago. Thank you for remembering the a pastor at the University of the Southern university with this quarter’s Thirteenth Caribbean. He also calls himself a Sabbath Offering, which will help open Facebook evangelist, posting inspirational a Better Living “center of influence” videos and giving Bible studies on on the campus to train students to be Facebook for six years. Twenty-four people missionaries. have been baptized as a result. “God has been gracious to me,” he said. By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 5 6 Adventist Mission Inter-American Division parked cars. But apoliceofficerforbade outside, asking driverstomovetheir the school.Policeofficers werealready who washelpingdirectthe training,left the frightenedschoolchildren. Chenelle, seven monthsthatshehad heardgunfire. She wept.Thiswasthesecondtimein heard thescaredshrieksofschoolchildren. rattle ofgunfirestopped,andChenelle minutes theywaited.Finallytheloud car passedbytheschool.Fortwolong everyone duckeddownforsafetyasthe A fewteachersscreamedinfright,and car. Thegunfirewascoming fromthecar. a manwasfleeingonfootfromwhite to thethird-floorwindow. Onthestreet, Tobago’s capital,PortofSpain. training sessioninTrinidad and automatic gunfireduringateacher- T Teachers jumpedtotheirfeetandran Teachers wentdownstairstocomfort heard theloud hirty-one-year-old Chenelle rat-tat-tat ofsemi- Shooting Drive-by TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO Chenelle Spooner, 31 continued protection overmylife.” the gunfire,” sheprayed.“ThanksforYour the peoplewho wereincloseproximity to forHis protection. God behind hercar. on footfromhisowncarandhadhidden been targetedbythegunmanhadfled heavy damagebecausethemanwhohad their trainingsession.Hercarhadsuffered that afternoonsotheteacherscouldhave children hadbeenexcusedfromschool killed. Inastrokeofprovidence,many bullets intheattack.Noonehadbeen including asmallboy, hadbeengrazedby than twoyearsearlier. was shocked.Shehadboughtthecarless Bullet holesriddleditswindows.Chenelle her fromevenapproachingcar. “Thank you, God, forsavingmeandall “Thank you,God, That nightathome,Chenelle thanked Chenelle laterlearnedthattwopeople, An officerledhertoblackvehicle. “Can Iatleastseemycar?”sheasked.

| April10 As she thought about the attack, she remembered a conversation that she had Story Tips had a day earlier. While waiting for an oil change for her car, she and an attendant  Watch Chenelle on YouTube: bit.ly/Chenelle-Spooner. had discussed how people take their cars too seriously, even putting them before  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq). God. During the conversation, Chenelle told him about hearing semi-automatic  Download mission posts and fast facts gunfire on a highway seven months from the Inter-American Division at: bit.ly/IAD-Facts. earlier. The car involved in the shooting had crashed into the left side of her car, badly damaging it. After that accident, Fast Facts Chenelle decided that Christ was more important than her car. “I could lose  Inhabited mainly by people of African and indigenous descent, Trinidad and my car tomorrow, but as long as Christ Tobago has a per-capita income well spares my life, I will keep serving Him,” above the average for Latin America TRINIDAD TOBAGO AND Chenelle told the attendant. and the Caribbean because of its The next day, on June 12, 2019, the large reserves of oil and gas. However, dependence on these reserves has left gunfire erupted outside the school. the country vulnerable to world crude After the school shooting, several prices. The price crash during the 1980s coworkers advised Chenelle to sell her car. and 1990s resulted in a large foreign “Sell your car,” said one. “It has debt and widespread unemployment. demonic energy in it.”  Trinidad and Tobago is a major trans- “Yes, get rid of it,” said another. shipment point for cocaine and, like “Something is wrong with that car.” many other countries in the area, has been troubled by drug- and gang- But Chenelle saw no reason to sell. related violence. “It is not about the car,” she said. “We  Although English is the official language, should not put our focus on material most people speak Trinidad English, a things. We should put our focus on God.” creole language. She believes that her car is a witness to God’s goodness.  In 1498, Christopher Columbus visited the islands. Legend has it he named “It’s really about God protecting us as Trinidad after the three peaks at its we keep our faith and proclaim His name south-east corner and Tobago after a through difficult times,” she said.  local type of tobacco pipe.

Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering three years ago to quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, construct the first-ever church building which will help open a Better Living at the University of the Southern “center of influence” on the campus to Caribbean in Chenelle’s homeland, train students to be missionaries. Trinidad and Tobago. Thank you for AdventistMission.org remembering the university with this By Andrew McChesney 7 8 Adventist Mission Inter-American Division God MakesGod NoMistakes own father was making fun of her at home. own fatherwasmakingfun ofherathome. called hernamesatschool, butnowher stairs, hepattedheronthe leg. and Tobago. AsFatherpassedheronthe house inCumutovillageTrinidad while shewassittingonthestairsintheir because isasskinnyamopstick. Rochelle. ButeveryonecallsherMopsi because sheislikeaparrotandtalkslot. Catherine. ButeveryonecallsherPolly M He gaveherthenicknameoneday Crystal’s fathercalledherUgly. Crystal hasanothersisternamed Crystal Whitehasasisternamed Father didn’t reconsider his words. Father didn’t reconsider hiswords. “I’m notugly,” Crystalprotested. Crystal felthorrible.Children sometimes “Hi, Ugly,” hesaid. islands have nicknames. islands havenicknames. any childrenwholiveonCaribbean TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO made amistake.” thatHe everything, then IamtellingGod andIampickingapart made byGod thought, “IfIamfearfully andwonderfully of JesusChristtheLord.” Youwonderfully madebyGod. areachild remember thatyouarefearfullyand beautiful,” themusiciansang.“Always she heardasongcomeonovertheradio. mirror, pickingherselfapart andcrying, be sobig?Whydidyouhavetofat?” her cheeks.“Whydidyourteethhaveto big?” shethought,tearsstreamingdown herself apart. the mirrorinherbedroomandpicked pretty ifshewerethin. because shethoughtthatwouldbe considered suicide.Shestarvedherself began tostrugglewithdepressionand children. Nowsheactuallyfeltugly. made,” hesaid. Crystal White,32 The wordssurprisedCrystal. She “Always rememberthatyouareso infrontofthe One dayasshestood “Why didyouforeheadhavetobeso Every dayafterschool,shestaredinto Father’s wordschangedherlife.She Crystal feltevenworse.Fatherhadten “You aretheugliestchildthatIever

| April17 She cried harder and asked God for forgiveness. Her tears of sadness and pity Story Tips were transformed into tears of joy. She decided to see herself through Christ’s Watch Crystal on YouTube: eyes rather than the eyes of people. bit.ly/Crystal-White. For the first time, at the age of 17, she  Download photos on Facebook began to see herself through Jesus’ eyes. (bit.ly/fb-mq). The words of Psalms 139:14 took on a  Download mission posts and fast facts new meaning, and she read with joy, “I from the Inter-American Division at: bit.ly/IAD-Facts. will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your Fast Facts works, and that my soul knows very well.” She began to eat again. Corn soup with  From 1802 to 1814, Britain obtained first potatoes, cassava, carrots, pumpkin and Trinidad and then Tobago from Spain and France, respectively and, in 1889, dasheen root tasted good! Trinidad and Tobago was combined as a

She no longer felt worthless. She had a single British colony. The country became TRINIDAD TOBAGO AND reason to live. an independent republic in 1976. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she  Slavery was abolished in Trinidad and learned to put everything in God’s hands. Tobago in 1834 and indentured laborers She began to trust God, not just for daily were then brought in from India to needs but for her joy as well. She realized work on the sugar plantations. Today, Hindus make up around a quarter of the that no one could take away the joy that population of Trinidad and Tobago. comes from God. Whenever someone called her names,  Trinidad and Tobago contains the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the she just ignored it. When Father called world. The Pitch Lake of La Brea, in the her “Ugly,” she remembered that God had south of Trinidad, covers 100 acres (40 made her. hectares), is around 250 feet (76 meters) “This is the way God made me,” she deep, and is estimated to contain 10 million tons. Legend has it that it was told herself. “God makes no mistakes.” “discovered” by Sir Walter Raleigh after Today, Crystal is 33 and a church leader indigenous people showed him the site. who loves telling young people about her There also are natural Sulphur pools that God who makes no mistakes. are reputed to have healing properties. “I feel like I didn’t have anyone in my corner when I was young,” she said. “I want to be the person who tells others that God has a purpose for them, just like Thank you also for remembering the He has for me.”  university with this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, which will help open Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath a Better Living “center of influence” Offering three years ago to construct the on the campus to train students to be first-ever church building at Crystal’s missionaries for Jesus. alma mater, University of the Southern AdventistMission.org Caribbean, in Trinidad and Tobago. By Andrew McChesney 9 10

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Gas CanisterGas Explosion Then … message. the bed,signalingarrival ofatext finish frying. potatoes, cassava,eddoes,andplantainsto apartment. Shewaswaitingforthesweet burner gasstoveinherrentedone-room dish, BoiledandFriedProvision,onasix- evening Biblestudy. baptism hadinvitedheroverforaFriday from themeetingswhowasthinkingabout resulted in25baptisms.Nowawoman worker foranevangelisticseriesthathad Chase Village inTrinidad andTobago. N Noelia wascookingafavoriteGuyanese She hadworkedasthemainBible BOOM! She turnedher headaroundtolook. Her cellphonebeepedbehind heron Sabbath meal before sundown in Sabbath mealbeforesundownin oelia waseagertofinishcookingthe canister explosion.” be dead.No one livesafteragas doctor asked indisbelief.“Sheshould cooking inherhome,”aparamedic said. what hadhappened. to bestabilized. apartment thanthehospital.Sheneeded emergency clinicthatwasclosertoher was sufferingsecond-degreeburns. had anunbearableburningsensation.She head feltlikeitwouldpopoff,andherskin Noelia wasgratefulforthecoolwater. Her tried toextinguishthefireinapartment. bucket onNoelia,andtwootherpeople ambulance arrived. keep dowsingNoeliawithwateruntilthe ambulance, andthedispatcheradvisedto her apartmentdoor. Someonecalledforan neighbors sawtheflamescomingoutof Her wordswereincomprehensible,but room andoutofthefrontdoor. firmly pushherbackacrossthefire-filled seemed tosetherdownonfeetand against thewall. the room,andshelandedwithherback TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO Noelia Southwell,35 The force of the blast threw Noelia across The forceoftheblastthrewNoeliaacross A loudexplosionrockedtheapartment. “How issheinonepiece?” the asshewas “The gascanisterexploded The clinicdoctoraskedtheparamedics The ambulancewhiskedhertoan Someone beganthrowingwaterfroma Outside, Noeliascreamedforhelp. As shefellfromthewall,anunseenhand

| April24 Overhearing the conversation, Noelia silently thanked God for life. Story Tips “You must have a purpose for my life,” she prayed. “That’s why You saved me.”  Pronounce Noelia as: No-el-ee-a. After she was stabilized, she was sent to  Watch Noelia on YouTube: the hospital. Late that night, a friend from bit.ly/Noelia-Southwell. church invited Noelia to her home.  Download photos on Facebook Noelia was happy to leave the hospital, (bit.ly/fb-mq). but the pain was dreadful. Church members  Download mission posts and fast facts were shocked when they heard about the from the Inter-American Division at: explosion and saw her on Sabbath. They bit.ly/IAD-Facts. prayed with her and sang songs. By Sabbath sunset, Noelia could no Fast Facts longer walk. Her legs had swelled up like big balloons and felt extremely heavy.  Some of the best quality cocoa in the world is said to come from Trinidad and

For the next month, female church Tobago; the famous trinitario variety TRINIDAD TOBAGO AND members took turns staying with Noelia is the main ingredient in high-quality during the day. Pastors visited and prayed chocolates around the world. with her. Recovery was unexpectedly  The Moruga Scorpion from southern rapid. After a month and a half, she was Trinidad is officially the second-hottest able to walk again, and soon she was pepper in the world, reaching 2 million back to her old self. The doctor expressed units on the Scoville heat scale. In comparison, a bell pepper registers zero- surprise at how quickly her skin healed. 100, and a jalapeno can reach 10,000. “You are lucky,” she said. “I don’t believe in luck,” Noelia said. “I  According to the United Nations, Trinidad and Tobago is the happiest believe it’s a blessing from God. This is the country in the Caribbean. answer to the prayers of church members.” After the explosion, Noelia’s relationship changed with God. She had always loved Him, but now she trusted Him more. She stopped worrying about “Nothing can keep me from doing everyday problems, remembering that God’s work,” Noelia said.  God had saved her for a purpose and she could trust in Him. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Nine months after the incident, the Sabbath Offering will help open a woman whom she had planned to meet Better Living “center of influence” on the day of the explosion gave her on the campus to train students to be heart to Christ. missionaries at University of the Southern Today Noelia is serving God with all Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. Thank her heart. She helps manage an urban you for supporting mission with your center of influence that reaches out to Sabbath School mission offering. people from non-Christian religions in AdventistMission.org Trinidad and Tobago. By Andrei Abramyan, as told to Andrew McChesney 11 12

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division operation,” Shakira said. belly.” Shewasinsuch pain. moaning, “Myback,mybelly, myback, with herinthehospital.I rememberher I returned. spentcancer the many nights she wasdeclaredcancer-free. doctors fellinlovewithher. Afterayear cheerful personinthehospitalroom.The a joyfulchildandtriedtobethemost the doctorsaid,“Ithinkshehascancer.” her bellyswelledup.Backatthehospital, painkillers. Shakirastoppedeating,and the hospital.Thedoctorgavehermore go awayafteraweek,sowetookherto and gaveherpainkillers.Thepaindidn’t Morveant, Trinidad andTobago. slipping onwetstairsoutsideourhomein M A fewmonthsaftershereturnedhome, Despite theoperations,Shakirawas We thoughtshehadpulledamuscle “Mommy, Idon’t wanttodo this The doctorarranged foranoperation. complaining ofbackpainsafter y 10-year-old sister, Shakira,started It IsGodIt TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO Shinell Davis,29 swimming accident. WhenIgotthe tattoo onmy chest.Thepainpersisted. again. ThenIpiercedmy earsandgota was notenough,soIgotmy nosepierced that atattoomighteasemy pain. that tattooswerepainful,andIdecided his arms,chest,back,andmouth.Iknew bear. Myboyfriendhadmany tattooson Mother died,hediedinacaraccident. after mind offthetwotragicdeaths.Sixmonths often, tryingtocheermeupandtakemy A cousin,Mark,visitedme worse. got sister’s deathdevastatedme. Butthings go. Sixmonthslater, shedied. ordered counseling,butMotherrefusedto with depressionfromShakira’s death.He hospital, andthedoctordiagnosedher to swellup.Shestayedtwoweeksinthe at thefuneral.“Whyaren’t youcrying?” called withthenews.Iwept. was travelingtothehospital when Mother Mother replied. Then my boyfriend drowned in a boyfriend Then my I gotmynosepierced.But thepain The paininsidemeseemedtoomuchto The lossofmymothersosoonafter Four monthslater, Mother’s footstarted She neveranswered. “Mommy, issomethingwrong?”Iasked Mother, however, didnotcry. Shakira diedamonthafterthesurgery. I “But wehavetodoitsoyoucanlive,”

| May1 phone call, I couldn’t believe it. I remembered my sister, my mother, and Story Tips my cousin. Now my boyfriend was dead. I began to scream.  Ask a young woman to share this first- person account. I called my workplace to say that I wouldn’t be able to make it to a corporate  Pronounce Shinell as: shin-EL event that evening because I had to  Watch Shinell on YouTube: identify my boyfriend’s body at the bit.ly/Shinell-Davis. hospital. My employer told me to wait for  Download photos on Facebook her nephew, Marc. (bit.ly/fb-mq). “He will pick you up,” she said.  Download mission posts and fast facts Seeing my boyfriend’s body was like the from the Inter-American Division at: end for me. I didn’t see any reason to live. bit.ly/IAD-Facts. Four months later, I had miscarriage. Life seemed dark, but Marc brought some light to my life. He visited me every searching for answers about life. TRINIDAD TOBAGO AND day and shared verses from the Bible. One Sabbath, the preacher appealed for “Have you heard John 3:16?” he asked. those who wished to give their hearts to “It says, ‘For God so loved the world that Jesus in baptism to stand. He gave His only begotten Son, that I stood immediately. I knew that I whoever believes in Him shall not perish wanted to live for Jesus. Marc also stood. but have everlasting life.’” Later I learned that Marc had stopped One day Marc took me to meet his attending church five years earlier and parents. His father listened to my grief and had only returned when I had asked to go. gave me his phone number. Marc’s parents were thrilled. They had “If you ever need someone to talk to, been praying for Marc to return to Jesus. call me,” he said. “Give yourself time. God Marc and I were baptized on the same has a purpose for you.” day and got married eleven months later. After that, Marc often took me to his Sometime people say to me, “You parents. I liked them, and I was interested don’t know what I am going through.” to hear them talk about God. One day as Then they hear my story and say, “You we were talking, I asked whether I could went through all that? How are you go to church with them. still alive?” I reply, “It is God.” He has “Yes!” the parents exclaimed. given me a new life.  Marc didn’t say anything. The next Sabbath, I went to church This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath with Marc and his parents. Offering will help open a Better Living As we worshiped week after week, I “center of influence” to train students to be began to feel happy again. The sermons missionaries at University of the Southern seemed to be just for me. My pain eased. Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. I read the Bible and the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide every day, By Shinell Davis, as told to Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 13 14

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Deadly Scorpion Sting drinking water, andadropper. and grabbed fresh garlic,ajarfilledwith flashlight, Luz, anurse,rantothekitchen dressed. AsPastorCarlos grabbeda Cándida said,frightshowing inhereyes. Cándida, amemberofhiscongregation. out! Comeout!” door ofthehouse. shattered byloud,franticpoundingonthe mountains, everyonewenttobedearly. the Emberaindigenouspeople.In of Colombia,workingasmissionariesto his wifelivedintheremotemountains was earlyforbed.ButPastorCarlosand for bed.Somemightthinkthat7p.m. I and hiswife,Luz,weregettingready t wasabout7p.m.,andPastorCarlos “A babyhasbeenstungby ascorpion!” Luz openedthedoor. Outsidestood “Pastor! Pastor!”awomancried.“Come Suddenly thestillofnightwas Pastor CarlosandLuzquickly got

COLOMBIA The babywas dying. forehead wrinkled withapprehension. and lookedfor thestingwound.Her killed itwithaboot. crushed scorpiononthefloor. Shehad picked himup,Isawthescorpion.” tearfully. “Thenhescreamedand,whenI notice thescorpion,”Motherexplained shaking violently. arms. Thebabywasturningpurpleand witchdoctor. at home.Fatherhadlefttolookforthe only themotherandheryear-old baby could belurkinginthegrass. in thedarknight.Snakesandscorpions the baby’s house.Thetriowalkedcarefully Luz Murillo,34 Carlos Reyes,39,and Luz tookthebabyfromMother’s arms She showedthestillform ofalarge, “I laidhiminahammockanddidn’t Mother washoldingthebabyinher Arriving atthebaby’s house,theyfound Cándida ledthepastorandhiswifeto | May8

“Let’s pray,” she said. Mother, holding the violet, quivering Story Tips baby in her arms, knelt to the floor. Pastor  Download photos on Facebook Carlos, Luz, and Cándida joined her, and (bit.ly/fb-mq). the four held hands. “Lord, You have the power, and You  Download mission posts and fast facts from the Inter-American Division at: are the only one who can heal this baby,” bit.ly/IAD-Facts. Pastor Carlos prayed. Luz washed the baby’s wound. She mashed the garlic and placed some on the Mission Post wound. Then she mixed garlic with the  In 1894, Frank C. Kelley went from drinking water from the jar and used the the United States to Bogota as a self- dropper to put drops in the baby’s mouth. supporting missionary, paying his expenses by teaching English and selling After that, Pastor Carlos prayed again. He photographic goods. He went back to and Luz repeated the process of washing the U.S. for a time, married, and then the wound, treating with garlic, and returned to Colombia, but his wife’s praying again and again for an hour. health required their return to the U.S. in 1899. The Kelleys returned to Gradually, the baby’s shaking eased. His Colombia in December 1920, where they purple skin turned to a healthy pink. worked for two and a half years before “You can nurse the baby now,” Luz said, permanently returning in 1923. handing the baby back to Mother.  In the early nineteenth century, Mother held the baby close, and the Adventists went to the islands of San boy began to nurse. The family no longer Andres and Providencia, which belong needed a witchdoctor. The God of heaven to Colombia but are located north of COLOMBIA was more powerful. Panama. In 1901, S. Parker Smith (son Pastor Carlos prayed one last time, a of Uriah Smith) and his wife opened a school on San Andres. In 1908, Smith joyful prayer of thanksgiving. wrote in the Review and Herald that “Thank You, Lord, for answering our there was a church of 19 members on San prayers for this baby,” he said. “We ask Andres and a larger one on Providencia, that You use this miracle to touch the and that Adventist work was carried largely through the school on the hearts of this family so they understand islands. During 1916 and 1917, several that You truly are God.”  colporteurs entered mainland Colombia.  Around 90% of Colombians are Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Christian, mostly Roman Catholic Sabbath Offering will help open a Better (71%–79%), with a significant minority Living “center of influence” at Colombia of Protestants (17%). The rest of the Adventist University to train students to population is atheist or agnostic or claim to believe in God but do not be missionaries like Carlos. Carlos himself follow a specific religion, and a fraction graduated from the university. Thank of a percent adhere to non-Christian you for planning a generous Thirteenth religions. More than 35% of those who Sabbath Offering. claim a religion report that they do not actively practice their faith. By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 15 16

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Lending Rice andSugar will givetrue successinreachingthe 143, whichsays, “Christ’s alone method in “TheMinistryofHealing,” p. method read EllenWhite’s descriptionofChrist’s Christ’s ofoutreach. Shehad method she prayedthatwasfaithfully following helping Beatrice.With eachinteraction, more riceandsugar. Maria didn’t mind something else. Colombia, gaveherrice. out roomsinherlargehouseMonetia, rice?” Beatriceaskedherlandlord,Maria. example. mother oftwo,wasagood S Then Beatriceneededbananasand Maria gavehersugar. “May Iborrowsomesugar?”sheasked. A fewdayslater, Beatriceneeded Maria, afellowstudentwhorented “Would youmindifIborrowedsome more helpthanothers.Beatrice, a ome universitystudentsseemtoneed study group,” hereplied. young man. Maria’s presence. university, thedirector didn’t understand director. Whenthe twoarrivedatthe support ashespokewithauniversity with himtotheuniversityoffermoral to Mariaforhelp.Hebeggedgo and thegroupgrewto30people. tenants alsojoinedtheweeklyBiblestudy, old daughterwerebaptized.Otherstudent and Beatrice’s 12-year-old sonand8-year- The prayerandBiblestudiescontinued, After sometime,Beatricewasbaptized. women begantostudytheBibletogether. Beatrice enjoyedthemeetings,andtwo meetings, sheinvitedBeatricetoattend. Maria’s churchorganizedevangelistic women formedawarmfriendship.When ministered toBeatrice’s needs,thetwo bade them,‘FollowMe.’” needs, andwontheirconfidence.ThenHe His sympathyforthem,ministeredtotheir Heshowed one whodesiredtheirgood. people. TheSaviourmingledwithmenas COLOMBIA Maria Tordecilla, 35 “She isthewoman wholeadsmyBible “Who isthiswoman?”she askedthe Then anotheruniversitystudentcame As Mariashowedsympathyand | May15 Surprised, the director asked for more information. Maria explained that a group Story Tips of university students met once a week to study the Bible at her house and had  Know that Maria’s Bible study group meets at Universidad del Sinu in formed a close support group. Monetia, Colombia. “That’s amazing!” the director said. “There aren’t many people who give  Download photos on Facebook unselfish help these days.” (bit.ly/fb-mq). She asked Maria to move the Bible  Download mission posts and fast facts study to the university campus. from the Inter-American Division at: bit.ly/IAD-Facts. “After all, your participants are university students,” she said. The university placed the group in a Fast Facts student study center, an open structure  Castilian Spanish is the official language with only chairs and a roof. With no in Colombia, and a lot of effort has been walls or doors on the building, other made to preserve its linguistic purity. There are also more than 180 indigenous students quickly noticed the meetings, languages and dialects in Colombia. and some asked to join. The group swelled to 40 people, including three  Literacy rates in Colombia are higher than the world average; more than 94% university teachers. of the people can read and write. Among them was Rosa, a classmate of Maria who initially was reluctant to  Colombia is famous for two exports: It produces world-renowned coffee and is join the meetings. Maria wasn’t worried the world’s leading source of emeralds. whether Rosa joined; she just wanted to COLOMBIA be her friend. She called and texted Rosa.  Colombia was inhabited by semi- nomadic tribes until the arrival of the She invited her over to her house to eat. Spanish in the fifteenth century. It Rosa said she was afraid to read the Bible gained independence from Spain on July because she didn’t want to fail Jesus. But 20, 1810, and in 1886 the Republic of finally she joined the small group. As she Colombia was established. studied the Bible and prayed, her fears disappeared and she began to believe in Jesus. After a few months, she gave her Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth heart to Jesus and was baptized. Sabbath Offering will help open a Maria rejoiced that Rosa had given her heart to Jesus. In the three years since the Better Living “center of influence” at Bible study group began, Rosa was the the Seventh-day Adventist university tenth young person to have been baptized. in Colombia, Colombia Adventist Maria said the reason for the Bible study University, located about two hours by group’s success is Christ’s method alone. plane away from Maria’s hometown. “I used Christ’s method to look for Rosa Thank you for planning a generous and to call her,” she said. “I use Christ’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. method with every single young person AdventistMission.org who is in my group.”  By Andrew McChesney 17 18

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Are You Readyto Die? to heaven?” “Do youfeel forgiven?Arereadytogo decision togivehisheart toJesus. the Adventistfaithbuthad nevermadea attended evangelisticmeetings. Heknew hospital. HehadtakenBiblestudiesand His granddaughterworkedasanurseatthe was nowstandingbesidethehospitalbed. twenty yearswithhisAdventistson,who José. Theelderlymanhadlivedforthepast and hypertension.Hewasveryweak. José hadbeenhospitalizedwithdiabetes patient, an80-year-old mannamedJosé. stopped bythebedsideofanewlyadmitted Villahermosa, Mexico. 40-bed Seventh-dayAdventistfacilityin C Chaplain Rogerknewsomethingabout On oneparticularday, ChaplainRoger “Are youready todie?”heasked. Chaplain Rogerspokegently butdirectly. daily atSoutheastHospital,a haplain Rogervisitseverypatient not ready,” Josésaid.“Idon’t thinkthatmy decision,” Chaplain Rogersaid.“You may do ismakea decision.” evangelistic meetings.All heneedsto Bible studiesandattended many José’s son,JoséJr. “Hehastakenmany said, “Maybethat’s whatI really need.” life toJesus.” you’re missingisyouhaven’t givenyour evangelistic meetings,”hesaid.“What need todosomethingmorethanattend that yoursinshavenotbeenforgiven,you needed todoanythingmore,”hesaid. my granddaughter, andIdidn’t thinkthatI to Adventistevangelisticmeetingswith Christian denominationallhislife.“Iwent decision togiveyourheartJesus?” taking careofyou,whyhaven’t youmadea is to yourfamilyandaresurethatGod Chaplain Rogersaid.“Ifyouarethankful careofyou,” your familyfortakinggood physical andspiritualhealth. for his Adventist hospital.HethankedGod granddaughter forbringinghimtothe sins havebeenforgiven.” MEXICO Roger Pech,52 “I knowthatIamgoingtodie,butI’m “This istheright timetomakea said“Father knowsaboutGod,” José begantothink.Aftersometime,he “If youaren’t readytodieandyoufeel Chaplain RogerlookedJoséintheeye. José saidhehadbelongedtoanother thatyouare gratefulto “It isgood Then heexpressedgratitudetosonand | May22 not have another chance. If you make a decision, I will personally baptize you.” Story Tips That evening, José made the decision to give his life to Jesus through baptism.  Watch Chaplain Roger on YouTube: bit.ly/Roger-Pech. Chaplain Roger prayed for God to give him the physical strength to be baptized.  Download photos on Facebook The next day Chaplain Roger visited (bit.ly/fb-mq). José in his room. He felt much better  Download mission posts and fast facts but still wanted to be baptized. Chaplain from the Inter-American Division at: Roger filled out a baptismal form and asked bit.ly/IAD-Facts. whether José would give his word of honor to make good on his promise. Mission Post “Definitely, yes,” José said.  The earliest Seventh-day Adventist He was baptized about a week after his missionary work in Mexico dates to release from the hospital. 1891, when an American tailor, S. Marchisio, went to Mexico City to José was very happy on the day of his sell the English edition of “The Great baptism. Shaking the chaplain’s hand, he Controversy.” Two years later, in 1893, said, “I have kept my word.” a group of missionaries, including Dan After that, José faithfully attended T. Jones, Dr. Lillis Wood, Ida Crawford, church every Sabbath. He died three years Ora Osborne, and Alfred Cooper and his wife, arrived at Guadalajara and later, in 2019, at the age of 83. helped open a medical mission and José is one of many hospital patients a school. Later, the clinic developed whom Chaplain Roger has seen into the Guadalajara Sanitarium. The transformed by the power of Jesus’ love. Review and Herald (July 10, 1894) reported this venture as the first He is not usually as direct with patients as Adventist attempt at medical missionary he was with José. But he knew that José work outside of the United States. had a good knowledge of God and felt impressed to be more direct with him. He follows Christ’s method of reaching out “Once a patient has emptied the to people, which Ellen White describes weight that he or she is carrying inside, MEXICO in “The Ministry of Healing,” p. 143. the patient finds it easier to listen to and She says, “Christ’s method alone will accept advice,” he said. “Then you can give true success in reaching the people. talk about Jesus.”  The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His Part of a 2018 Thirteenth Sabbath sympathy for them, ministered to their Offering helped build a new wing at needs, and won their confidence. Then Southeast Hospital in Villahermosa, He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” Mexico. Thank you for your offering that Chaplain Roger said hospital chaplains allows more patients to hear about Jesus’ aren’t the only people surrounded by the love from Chaplain Roger and his seven- sick. The world is filled with people sick member team of volunteers. with sin. The best thing to do, at first, is AdventistMission.org to show sympathy by listening, he said. By Andrew McChesney 19 20

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division end ofthe15-day exercise. returned toits baseinMexicoCityat the when theirmilitary unitof60soldiers shells couldbeleftonthe firingrange every shelldetonated.No unexploded relieved. Theirjobwasto makesurethat soldiers watchingbesidehim alsowere within ahalf-mile(1-km)radius. struck theground,destroyingeverything inaballoffireandsmokeasit exploded it explode.” that showedtheshell’s flight path. followed thebillowingtrailofwhitesmoke rang loudlyacrossthedesert.Ángel were Even thoughthesoldiersandtheirartillery Chihuahua State. sand, cacti,andshrubsinMexico’s W Ángel breathedasighofrelief.Thetwo Moments later, BOOM!Theshell heprayedsilently,“God,” “pleasemake Ángel sawsoldiersfireheavyartillery. BOOM! four miles(7km)away, theexplosion scanned abarrenlandscapeof ith binoculars,21-year-old Ángel out. “It’s buried insoftsand.” of othershells. rabbits andcoyoteskilled bytheexplosions (15-kg) metalshell. 33-pound out tosearchfortheunexploded ended. Ángelandhistwocompanionsset shell anddestroyit. would havetotrackdowntheunexploded two companionscursedangrily. Thetrio Ángel prayedagain. he prayedaswatchedshellsbeingfired. Adventist Churchfiveyearsearlier. Now him sinceshehadjoinedtheSeventh-day knew thathismotherhadbeenprayingfor every nightaftermilitaryexercises.He had givenhim.HereadstoriesaboutJesus He rememberedtheBiblethathismother would getpermissiontovisithismother. the thoughtofreturningtobase.He trip backtothebase.Ángelwashappyat board amilitarytrainfortheseven-day The nextmorning,thesoldierswould Boom! MEXICO Ángel Haro,43 “Here itis,”a soldiersuddenlycalled Walking intheblast zone,Ángelsaw Two hourslater, theday’s exercises Ángel Silence. pleasemakeitexplode,” “God, More whitesmokearchedacrossthesky. BOOM! This wasthelastdayofexercise. ’s browwrinkledwithworry. His | May29

The soldiers built a mound of dry brush and sticks over the shell. One solder Story Tips poured diesel on the wood and struck a  Watch Ángel on YouTube: match as Ángel and the other soldier fled bit.ly/Angel-Haro. to the shelter of a heap of rocks about half a mile (one kilometer) away. A short time  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq). later, the third soldier joined them. Then they waited. Five minutes … ten  Download mission posts and fast facts from the Inter-American Division at: minutes … fifteen minutes passed. bit.ly/IAD-Facts. “God, please make it explode,” Ángel prayed. Mission Post Twenty minutes … BOOM! The soldiers peered around the rock pile.  Catholicism has been the dominant Mexican religion since it was introduced Thick white smoke filled the air. When during the Spanish colonization of the the smoke dissipated ten minutes later, the sixteenth century, and Mexico is the soldiers walked to the blast site to put out second-largest Catholic country in the a small fire caused by the shell. They were world after Brazil. smiling and laughing, knowing that their  According to the latest national census, delicate mission had been successful and 83% of the population of Mexico is Roman Catholic, with 10% other soon they would be on their way home. Christians, 0.2% other religions, 5% no BOOM! religion, and 3% non-specified. Immediately Ángel threw himself to the ground. He had never felt so scared in his life. “God, please protect us. Protect us,” he prayed. “Keep us safe. Keep us safe.” mailed to the military base. Two years It was unexplainable. The unimaginable after the explosion, he gave his heart to had happened. The shell had exploded a Jesus and was baptized. second time. “Only a miracle saved us that day,”

After a few minutes, the soldiers stood MEXICO Ángel said. “Usually shells do not up and checked themselves. No one even explode twice. It was definitely God’s had a scratch. They had stood only seven hand that protected us. I am convinced yards (meters) from the shell when it that God had a plan for me.”  exploded. The soldiers threw their arms around each other in a joyful embrace. Today Ángel is 43 and works as Then they knelt reverently in the sand. chief safety and quality control officer “Thank You, God, for Your protection at Southeast Hospital, a Seventh-day and for keeping us safe,” Ángel repeated Adventist facility in Villahermosa, Mexico. over and over. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath That day changed Ángel’s life. He Offering in first quarter 2018 that helped began to listen when his mother spoke the hospital expand with a new wing. about Jesus. He carefully read Bible studies and Ellen White books that his mother By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 21 22

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Praying for aHusband at theSeventh-day Adventistchurch. invited herto aspecialSabbathprogram was herboss.Thetwobegan dating,andLuis met Luiswhileworkingat adrugstore.He happy family, andababy,” sheprayed. spoke toHimasshewouldafriend. couldhelpher.but shebelievedGod She at them.Healwaysmissed. kitchen knife,andhesometimesthrewit threatened EstherandMotherwitha with hermotherconstantly. Heoften she prayed. her bedroominVillahermosa, Mexico. W “Please give me a good husband,a “Please givemeagood Esther actuallydidn’t knowhowtopray, fatherdrankheavilyandfought Esther’s husband,” “Please findmeagood She immediately likedthechurch. After graduatingfromthe university, she pray inaspecialwayeverynight hen Estherwas12,shebeganto

heart toknow evenmore.Shebeganto Commandments, adesiregrewinher learned about CreationandtheTen to studytheBiblewithher. AsEsther husband gladlycametoEsther’s house Luis thatshewantedtotake Biblestudies. speaking. Butshefeltpeace. belong here.” the voicecontinuedspeakinginhermind. my mind. sitting herequietly.” belong here.” speaking toher. spoke aboutDaniel. before. Shelistenedasthepreacher a peacethatshehadneverexperienced The peoplewerefriendly, andshefelt MEXICO Esther Garcia,35 The nextday, Luis’sisterandher The nextSabbath,Estherannouncedto Esther didn’t understandwhowas “This isyourplace,”thevoicesaid.“You As sheleftthechurchaftersermon, Esther wonderedwhethershewaslosing “I’m nottalkingtoyou,”hesaid. “Are youtalkingtome?”sheasked. Esther lookedatLuis. “This isyourplace,”thevoicesaid.“You Suddenly sheheardamalevoice | June5 study the Bible on her own. One Sunday afternoon, Father arrived Story Tips home heavily drunk as Esther was in the middle of a Bible study. He saw the  Watch Esther on YouTube: married Adventist couple in the living bit.ly/Esther-Garcia. room and headed straight for the kitchen.  Download photos on Facebook Esther heard crashing and banging in the (bit.ly/fb-mq). kitchen, and then Father called her to  Download mission posts and fast facts come to him. In the kitchen, Father raised from the Inter-American Division at: the kitchen knife menacingly. “Leave my bit.ly/IAD-Facts. house with your friends,” he snarled. “If you don’t leave, I will kill you.” Fast Facts Esther’s eyes widened. The voice  Mexicans take their sports seriously. In was not her father’s. His face wore an pre-conquest times, losers of a ritual ball game were often put to death. There are expression that she had never seen before. still dangerous sports, like bullfighting He looked like a different person. She and rodeo (invented in Mexico), where tried to reason with him. competitors risk their lives. “Please calm down,” she said. “I don’t  Mexico has produced great artists use drugs, and I don’t drink alcohol. I am throughout its history, including the trying to study the Bible, which is good for Maya and other indigenous groups, my life.” who made murals, sculptures, and jewelry. Modern Mexican artists, too, Father refused to listen. produce great paintings, sculptures, “I’m going to kill those people, and I’m murals, and photographs. going to kill you,” he growled.  Mexico is one of the world’s more Esther asked her church friends to biologically diverse countries; made up leave. After praying with her, the couple of mountains and tropical rainforests, left. Esther went to her room and wept. deserts and swamps, it supports myriad “Please, God, You have to help me,” she types of animals. said. “I don’t want to live like this.” MEXICO She felt peace. Leaving her room, she in Villahermosa, Mexico. She also is found Father in the living room. When he married to Luis, and they are expecting saw her, he started laughing loudly. Esther their first baby. “I prayed for a good sensed that it wasn’t Father laughing. She husband, a happy family, and a baby,” she ran back to room and prayed again. said. “God has answered my prayers.”  “God, what do you want from me?” she said. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath She sensed the answer immediately. Offering in first quarter 2018 that helped At that moment, she decided to give her construct a new wing at Southeast Hospital, heart to Jesus and be baptized. a Seventh-day Adventist facility in Esther’s Today, eight years later, Esther serves hometown, Villahermosa, Mexico. as church secretary and youth director at AdventistMission.org Amatitan Seventh-day Adventist Church By Andrew McChesney 23 24

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division tell Fatherabout you,”sheprayedevery more earnestly forhissalvation. Father woulddie,shestarted prayingeven inoperable. WhenFabiola heardthat the cancerhadspreadtoo farandwas with livercancer. Thephysiciansaid the answerwasn’t whatsheexpected. to pray. of praying.Shealsoaskedchurchmembers usually walkedaway. Shedidn’t growweary twisted inanger. his wife,andfacewasperpetually drinker, hefrequentlyscornedandinsulted prayed toMaryandthesaints.Aheavy Villahermosa, Mexico. father alsotogivehisheartJesusin A At theageof75,Fatherwasdiagnosed finallyansweredherprayers.But God Fabiola spokeaboutJesus,butFather He didn’t believeintheBibleand His caseseemedhopeless. “Lord, giveme therightwordssoIcan prayed foreighteenyearsher fter beingbaptized,Fabiola Not My WayNot MEXICO Fabiola Padilla,36 Father agreed to take the Bible studies. Father agreed totaketheBiblestudies. Bible studies to Father. To Fabiola’s surprise, An Adventist friend,Rita,offeredtogive grew weak.Fabioladidn’t knowwhattodo. fasting forFather. members setasideadayof prayerand Bible andsinging.Sheotherchurch were useless,butshekeptreadingthe hymns. Fatherlistenedquietly. praying, shereadfromtheBibleandsang together everymorningandevening.After pray withhim. you. Letmepraywithyou.” whohas thepowertoheal He istheGod inwhomyoubelieve. morning istheGod aboutwhomI’mgoingtotalkthis God had prayed. her toleave.Butsherememberedthat feared thathewouldsnapatherandtell grasped hishand.Shewasnervous. morning andeveningforaweek. The cancerspreadrapidly, andFather Fabiola wonderedwhetherheractions From thatday, sheandFatherprayed To hersurprise,Fatherallowedto “I loveyousomuch,”shesaid.“The Then shewenttoFather’s bedsideand “Give mecourage,”sheprayed. | June12 Seeing Father’s deteriorating condition, Rita accelerated the Bible studies, doing Story Tips seven lessons in a week. After the seventh lesson, Rita asked Father whether he  Watch Fabiola and her father on YouTube: bit.ly/Fabiola-Padilla. wanted to give his heart to Jesus. “Why don’t you get baptized?” she said.  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq). Father announced that he wanted to be baptized.  Download mission posts and fast facts from the Inter-American Division at: Roger Pech, the chaplain from the bit.ly/IAD-Facts. Adventist Church’s Southeast Hospital, baptized Father in a plastic children’s pool Fast Facts in the yard outside the family house at 1:30 p.m. on a Wednesday.  Mexico has a rich indigenous heritage and was deeply affected by several That evening, Father didn’t want to go centuries of rule by the Spanish, Today, to the bedroom. He wanted to stay with his most Mexicans are mestizos, a mix of family in the living room. indigenous and Spanish blood. Shortly after midnight, he started to  Mexico’s first sophisticated society breath faster. Then he took a last breath was created by the Olmec people, who and closed his eyes. appeared in the southeastern part of the Father’s face, twisted in anger in life, country around 1200 B.C. They were followed by the Maya, the Toltec, and looked uncharacteristically peaceful in the the Aztec peoples. coffin. Astonished mourners asked whether he had gone to church without their  From birth to death, an individual’s status and opportunities in Mexico knowledge. Fabiola said he had given his are strongly influenced by family ties. heart to Jesus hours before he died. Due to the economic advantage, or Fabiola is convinced that God necessity, of sharing accommodation, performed a miracle. Father’s change of three or more generations often share a household, in both rural and urban heart took place over a period of only areas. Whole families, grandparents, two months, from the time that he was adults, teenagers, and small children diagnosed with cancer and he died. commonly attend events together. MEXICO “Father gave his heart to Jesus, not  Weddings are usually grand, family- the way that I wanted but in God’s way,” oriented events, as is the traditional Fabiola said. “What is impossible for man quinceañera, celebrating a young is possible for God.”  woman’s fifteenth birthday.  Mexican food is known for its range Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath of flavors and spices, particularly hot Offering in first quarter 2018 that helped chilies. Popular dishes include tacos, construct a new wing at Southeast burritos, and enchiladas, which can be found in restaurants around the world. Hospital, the Seventh-day Adventist facility where Chaplain Roger Pech  Gray whales swim thousands of miles each year from Alaska to northern Mexico, to works, in Villahermosa, Mexico. breed in the waters off Baja California. AdventistMission.org By Andrew McChesney 25 26

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division his bestfriend. polite, kind,andreadthe Bible.Hewas the boywasn’t likeotherboys.He was Saturday becausethatisHisday.” saysthatweshouldn’t“God workon came afterdarkonSaturdayevening. cousins everySaturdayafternoon.Heonly collect hissalarywiththetwoadult work onSaturdays.Antonioalsodidn’t old neighborboy, Antonio. help oftwoadultcousinsanda7-year- avocado, cacao,androseswiththe He plantedandtendedcropsofrice, F with himtochurch. work, Antonio invitedFlorenciotogo Power ofaSeed A fewdayslater, duringabreak from Florencio believedAntonio because “I’ve readtheBible,”Antonioreplied. Florencio askedwhy. Florencio noticedthatAntoniodidn’t on Grandmother’s farminMexico. our-year-old Florencioworkedhard was waitingfor him. children’s SabbathSchoolprogram. were friendly. Heespecially enjoyedthe to church—andheliked it.Thepeople avocados androses.Hewent withAntonio Grandmother leftthehouseearlytosell an opportunity. OneSaturdaymorning, regularly, andafteramonthFlorenciosaw Grandmother refusedtoallowhimgo. Florencio againafewdayslater. on Saturdays. they werelazybecausedidn’t work Seventh-day Adventists.Shethought denomination, andshedidn’t like belonged toanotherChristian together. You canmakenewfriends.” program forchildren.We canreadtheBible sweet purplecorndrink.“We haveaspecial asked whilethetwoboyssipped MEXICO Florencio Vazquez, 61 “Where were you?”shedemanded. When hereturned home,Grandmother Antonio continuedtoinviteFlorencio Florencio wantedtogo,but “Come tochurchwithme,”hesaid. But Antoniodidn’t giveup.Heinvited But hedidn’t go.Grandmother “Yes, Iwanttogo,”Florenciosaid. “Would youliketocomechurch?”he | June19 pozol , a , a “I went with Antonio to the Adventist church,” the small boy said. Story Tips Grandmother was furious. “I don’t like that church. Don’t go to  Watch Florencio on YouTube: bit.ly/Florencio-Vazquez. that church,” she said. “I’ll buy beer for you if you don’t go to that church.”  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq). But Florencio kept going to church with his friend on Saturdays. He slipped  Download mission posts and fast facts out of the house after Grandmother had from the Inter-American Division at: left to sell farm produce, and he made sure bit.ly/IAD-Facts. to return before her. Two years passed, and Antonio moved Mission Post with his family to a different town.  The most popular sport in Mexico is Without his friend, Florencio stopped soccer. Mexico hosted the Football going to church, and he picked up World Cup in 1970 and 1986, and Mexico City hosted the Summer unhealthy habits. By the age of 9, he Olympic Games in 1968. was drinking beer heavily with his  More than half of population of grandmother’s approval. Then he started Mexico lives in the center of the smoking marijuana and using cocaine. country, but vast arid areas in the north But the seed that Antonio had planted and the tropical south are only thinly while working on Grandmother’s farm did settled. Nearly 80% of Mexicans now live in urban areas as people from not die. impoverished rural areas have streamed After struggling with addictions for into Mexico’s cities, and Mexico many years, Florencio cried out to God for City, the capital, is one of the highest help. “Please heal me,” he prayed. density cities in the world. He prayed the same prayer for a year and, suddenly, the desire to drink, smoke, and use drugs left him. He was free at the

age of 45, and he rejoiced, knowing that MEXICO hearing his personal testimony and taking God had answered his prayers. He gave Bible studies with him. his heart to Jesus and joined the Seventh- “We have a powerful God,” Florencio day Adventist Church. said. “I cannot explain His power, but it Florencio said he became an Adventist has changed my life.”  because he remembered what Antonio had told him when he was 4 years old: Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath that the Adventist Church follows Offering in first quarter 2018 that helped the Bible and keeps all of God’s laws, construct a new wing at Southeast including the seventh-day Sabbath. Hospital, the Seventh-day Adventist Today Florencio is 61 and loves to talk facility in Florencio’s hometown of about how God saved him from a life of Villahermosa, Mexico. alcohol and drugs. About twenty people have given their hearts to Jesus after By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 27 28

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Door to Door believed. But Iactuallydidn’t knowwhat what shebelieved, andItoldherwhat I debates abouttheSabbath. Shetoldme out theother. and herinvitationswent in oneearand permission. Iwasn’t interestedingoing, given permission.” all throughhighschool. and otherchurchactivities.ButIrefused invited metogowithheroncampouts Seventh-day Adventist.Sherepeatedly friends, andIlearnedthatshewasa the borderfromU.S.stateofTexas. located aboutatwo-hourdrivesouthof I school inasmallMexicantown t allstartedwhenIenteredhigh But Ineveraskedmyparentsfor “I can’t go,”Isaid.“Myparentshaven’t A classmate,Ketzy, andIbecamegood Sometimes KetzyandIhad friendly 13 in churchactivities. Ilearnedalotas I People welcomed meandinvolved but theydidn’t show anyinterest. had apurpose. All mysadnessvanished.Ifeltlikelife of this.Imustdothisallthetime!” felt. Ithought,“Ireallywanttodomore I before, andIwassurprisedbyhowgood hearts weretransformedbyourprayers. or readaBibleverse.Icouldseethattheir People’s facesshoneafterwesangasong door toimpressedmethemost. renovated anAdventistchurch.Going mission work.We cleanedariverand campers wereniceandwelcoming. invited metoacampout,Iagreedgo. me. Ifeltsadforayearand,whenKetzy hadforgotten I begantothinkthatGod my universityapplicationwasrejected. Ketzy decidedtostudymedicine,but worship didn’t matter. Anyway, myfathertoldmethatthedayof I believed.wasjusttryingtobecontrary. Ashley Alvarez,20 The nextSabbath, Iwenttochurch. I toldmyparentsaboutthe campout, But Ididn’t knowwhat thepurposewas. The weekendcampoutchangedmylife. I hadneverengagedinmissionwork The three-daycampoutfocusedon I immediatelylikedthecampout.The After wegraduatedfromhighschool, th SABBATH

| June26 read the Bible and went to church every Sabbath after that. Story Tips Exactly one month after the campout, a Montemorelos University theology  Ask a young woman to share this first- person account. student visited the church for a week of evangelistic meetings. I invited him  Watch Ashley on YouTube: home for dinner, and he spoke with my bit.ly/Ashley-Alvarez. family about the Bible. As he prepared to  Download photos on Facebook leave, he asked me, “Have you thought (bit.ly/fb-mq). about baptism?”  Download mission posts and fast facts When I heard the question, I thought, from the Inter-American Division at: “Oh, wow, I wanted to hear that!” bit.ly/IAD-Facts. Immediately I decided to be baptized. My parents and Ketzy watched as I was Fast Facts baptized three days later.  Spanish is the official national language A month passed, and I attended a of Mexico and is spoken by the majority Pathfinder camporee at Montemorelos of the population, but there are about 60 indigenous languages still spoken, University. During testimony time, including Huastec in Veracruz; Maya organizers called me to the stage to tell in the Yucatán; Mazahua, Nahuatl, my story. People were visibly moved as Otomí, Tarastec, and Totonac in the I spoke. When I finished, an organizer Mesa Central region; Tzeltal and Tzotzil in Chiapas; and Zapotec, Mixtec, and announced, “And she wants to be a student Mazatec in Oaxaca. at Montemorelos.” Actually, I didn’t want to study at the  Mexico is a central component in the migratory patterns of many species. university. I didn’t have the money and, Innumerable ducks and geese fly every besides, I wanted to stay with my parents. autumn into the mountains of Mexico. But I couldn’t refuse the suggestion of a Millions of endangered monarch university teacher to spend the summer butterflies migrate each year from the United States to spend the winter on working as a literature evangelist to earn the forested peaks in eastern Michoacán tuition money. As I went door to door state. Michoacán’s Monarch Butterfly near the university, I learned much more Biosphere Reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, about my faith. I realized that my wish although pollution from Mexico City from the youth campout to go door to and logging activities threaten the door had come true. I fell in love with butterflies and their roosting trees. literature evangelism.  The three colors of Mexico’s flag hold When the summer ended, my parents deep significance for the country: Green ordered me to return home. At home, stands for hope and victory; white I longed to go back to the university to means purity; and red represents the continue earning tuition money as a blood shed by the nation’s heroes. literature evangelist. I realize now that God was impressing me to work as a literature evangelist. AdventistMission.org 29 30

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division . . . . The ThirteenthSabbathOfferingnextquarterwill help theNorthAmericanDivisionto: hard forme,andIprayed,“Lord,itisjust whentheydroppedmeoff.Itwas goodbye drove meback.Theydidn’t sayeven would goonmyown.Myparentsangrily didn’t takemebacktotheuniversity, I and Motherwerebaptizedtogetherwith I thoughtthattheywereangrywithme. and decidedtobebaptized.Allthattime, learn more.ThentheytookBiblestudies decided togotheAdventistchurch dropping meoffattheuniversity, theyhad asaliterature evangelist.After serve God been astoundedbymydeterminationto couldn’t talkbecauseIwascryingsohard. joining theAdventistChurch.” back. Staythere.Your MotherandIare to returnhome,hesaid,“You can’t come Just asIwasabouttotellhimthatwanted I hadmadeamistake.calledmyfather. with myparents,andIwonderedwhether You andme.”

Six weeksafterthephonecall,Father Later Ilearnedthatmyparentshad I couldn’t believeit.Istartedcrying. A monthpassedwithnocommunication Finally, Itoldmeparentsthatifthey Plant churches forrefugees,Canadaand USA Build churchandcommunity center, Igloolik,Canada Construct staffhousing,Palau SDASchool,Palau Complete secondphaseof multifunctionalgym,HolbrookSDAIndianSchool, USA Future Thirteenth SabbathProjects in thechurch.Idon’t knowwhatwill many familiesareshowinganinterest As myparentsandIshareourstory, family hasjoinedtheAdventistChurch. small, andeveryoneknowsthatmy family wasbaptized. call toworkasaliteratureevangelist,my sister. BecauseIwasfaithfultoGod’s my 17-year-old brotherand13-year-old By AshleyAlvarez,astoldtoAndrewMcChesney spread thegospelaroundworld. Thirteenth SabbathOfferingthathelps Division. Thankyouforyourgenerous higher educationintheInter-American Seventh-day Adventistinstitutionsof Montemorelos Universityandattwelve Living” missionarytrainingcentersat Offering willhelpopen“Better of ourstory. happen next.Thisisjustthebeginning My hometown,SanFernando,is Offering This quarter’s ThirteenthSabbath  Leader’s Resources YOUTH & ADULT Mission Be sure to download your free Mission Spotlight video, featuring video reports from around the Inter-American Division and beyond. Download or stream from the Adventist Mission website at EDITORIAL bit.ly/missionspotlight. Online Information Andrew McChesney Editor Following are sources of information that may be helpful in Wendy Trim Editorial Assistant preparing for the mission segment of Sabbath School. For more Emily Harding Layout Editor information on the cultures and history of the countries featured in this quarterly, visit: OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION Websites Gary Krause Director Rick Kajiura Communication Director Colombia: government website bit.ly/ColGovt Homer Trecartin Global Mission CIA World Factbook bit.ly/CIAWFBCol Centers Director Colombia Travel bit.ly/ColTrav Jeff Scoggins Program Director Mexico: government website bit.ly/MexGovt Lonely Planet bit.ly/LonPlanMex COMMUNICATION TEAM Visit Mexico bit.ly/Visit_Mex Andrew McChesney Editor, Mission Laurie Falvo Projects Manager Trinidad and Tobago: government website bit.ly/TandTGovt Kayla Ewert Projects Manager US News & World Report bit.ly/USNWRTT Ricky Oliveras Video Producer Trip Savvy bit.ly/TripSavTT Earley Simon Video Producer Donna Rodill Editorial Assistant Seventh-day Adventist Website: AdventistMission.org Inter-American Division bit.ly/SDA_IAD North Colombian Union Conference bit.ly/SDA_NCUC Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and South Colombian Union Conference bit.ly/SDA_SCUC copyrighted © 2019 by the Office of Adventist Central Mexican Union Mission bit.ly/SDA_CMUM Mission, General Conference of Seventh-day Chiapas Mexican Union Conference bit.ly/SDA_CMUC Adventists®, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union Conference bit.ly/SDA_IOMUC Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. North Mexican Union Conference bit.ly/SDA_NMUC Printed in U.S.A. Southeast Mexican Union Mission bit.ly/SDA_SMUM First Quarter 2021 Caribbean Union Conference bit.ly/SDA_CUC Volume 110, Number 2 South Caribbean Conference bit.ly/SDA_SCC Tobago Mission bit.ly/36GkO6j ADVENTIST® and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST® are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions and increase weekly mission giving. Determine a goal for your class’s Permission is granted to reproduce material weekly mission offering. Multiply it by 14, allowing a double goal for from this quarterly for local Sabbath Schools the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. and children’s ministries programs. Permission Remind your Sabbath School members that their regular weekly to reproduce any portion of this material for sale, publication in another periodical, or other mission offerings will help the missionary work of the world church commercial use must be authorized in writing and that one-quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go by the editor at the above address. directly to the projects in the Inter-American Division. On the twelfth Sabbath, report on mission giving during the quarter. For subscription inquiries, e-mail Rebecca Encourage members to double or triple their normal mission giving on Hilde at [email protected] or call 1-800-545-2449 or 1-208-465-2527 Annual Thirteenth Sabbath. Count the offering and record the amount given subscription rates per edition: domestic, at the end of Sabbath School. U.S.$7.50; international, U.S.$14.50. North NKJV. Bible texts credited to NKJV are from the New King American Division churches can receive a James Version ® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by complimentary subscription by contacting the AdventistMission.org Permission. All rights reserved. above telephone numbers or e-mail address. 31 1 2

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5 11 13 INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION 8 UNION CHURCHES COMPANIES MEMBERSHIP POPULATION Division Church – no population 1 0 145 [none] Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission 86 4 31,577 494,000 Belize Union of Churches Mission 95 38 47,043 408,000 Caribbean Union Conference 635 114 248,979 3,864,000 Central Mexican Union Mission 250 151 87,829 45,609,047 PROJECTS Chiapas Mexican Union Conference 1,340 1,838 252,071 6,609,679 Open 13 Better Living centers of influence, one at each of the following: Cuban Union Conference 343 146 36,973 11,212,000 Dominican Union Conference 929 444 353,763 10,400,000 1 Navojoa University (North Mexican Union), Mexico Dutch Caribbean Union Mission 37 6 9,798 285,000 2 Montemorelos University (North Mexican Union), Mexico East Venezuela Union Mission 593 270 183,451 13,881,589 El Salvador Union Mission 796 204 195,792 6,454,000 3 Linda Vista University (Southeast Mexican Union), Mexico French Antilles-Guiana Union Conference 143 24 29,438 1,093,000 4 Belize Adventist Junior College (Belize Union), Belize Guatemala Union Mission 1,017 273 236,216 17,581,000 Haitian Union Mission 612 512 480,496 11,263,000 5 Central America Adventist University (South Central American Union), Costa Rica Honduras Union Mission 471 227 102,008 9,746,000 6 Cuba Adventist Theological Seminary (Cuban Union), Cuba Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union Conference 1,760 1,392 204,506 26,188,376 Jamaica Union Conference 696 35 319,066 2,811,000 7 Northern Caribbean University (Jamaica Union), Jamaica North Colombian Union Conference 1,002 573 127,840 21,751,493 8 Colombia Adventist University (North Colombian Union), Colombia North Mexican Union Conference 688 411 156,197 40,995,962 Panama Union Mission 371 232 91,374 4,219,000 9 Haitian Adventist University Academy (Haitian Union), Haiti Puerto Rican Union Conference 312 8 33,303 3,059,000 10 Dominican Adventist University (Dominican Union), Dominican Republic South Central American Union Mission 528 325 116,481 11,606,000 South Colombian Union Conference 756 316 158,291 28,622,507 11 Adventist University Institute of Venezuela (West Venezuela Union), Venezuela Southeast Mexican Union Mission 588 588 77,717 7,173,935 12 Antillean Adventist University (Puerto Rican Union), Puerto Rico West Venezuela Union Mission 659 262 173,834 14,634,411 DIVISION TOTALS 14,708 8,393 3,754,188 299,962,000 13 University of the Southern Caribbean (Caribbean Union), Trinidad