YOUTH & ADULT Mission 2019 • QUARTER 3 • SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION

AdventistMission.org Contents

On the Cover: Retired insurance agent Joeli Rabo, 67, has planted three churches in Fiji. Read about his faith by “Always Pressing Forward” on page 24. PAPUA NEW GUINEA NEW ZEALAND 4 Winning Drunken Parents | July 6 20 “Hi, ” | Aug. 31 6 Two Black Eyes | July 13 22 Gangster to God | Sept. 7 8 No Retirement Plans | July 20 FIJI SOLOMON ISLANDS 24 Always Pressing Forward | Sept. 14 10 Losing 90 Pounds | July 27 12 Inspired by an Employee | Aug. 3 26 Funeral Conversion | Sept. 21 14 Making a Bed | Aug. 10 28 13th Sabbath: No Leg, New Life | Sept. 28 30 Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects NEW CALEDONIA 16 Working on Sabbath | Aug. 17 31 Leader’s Resources 18 Angels in the Storm | Aug. 24 32 Map

= stories of special interest to teens Your Offerings at Work

South Pacific Division Part of a 2016 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering

funded children’s Sabbath School classrooms at ission

M two churches on Maré island in New Caledonia. © 2019 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® • All rights reserved Pictured is the classroom at Tedine Seventh-day 12501 Old Columbia Pike, dventist

A Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 Adventist Church. Read about Maré on page 14. 1-800-648-5824 • AdventistMission.org 2 Dear Sabbath School Leader, Andrew McChesney Editor

This quarter we feature the South This quarter’s three Pacific Division, whose territory includes Thirteenth Sabbath projects are diverse. American , Australia, , “Save 10,000 Toes” aims to provide Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, health training to prevent the amputation New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, of the toes of people with diabetes. Across Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn, Samoa, the South Pacific Division, doctors Solomon Islands, Tokelau, , Tuvalu, amputate 80 toes every day, the division’s Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands. associate health director Paul Rankin told God is doing amazing things in this me. He said 19 percent of the region’s region of 40.5 million people with population of 40.5 million suffer from 518,016 Adventists, or a ratio of one Type 2 diabetes, a disease caused by poor Adventist for 78 people. I always pray lifestyle choices. The figure jumps to 47 for God’s blessings during trips to collect percent in American Samoa, one of the mission stories, but this time I started praying extra early — four months before seven countries that will benefit from the the trip began. Every morning, I asked Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. God to provide the best stories. Another project focuses on bringing God answered in a mighty way. As I Hope Channel to Tonga. A 2016 traveled to six countries over three weeks, I Thirteenth Sabbath Offering made Hope noticed an incredible increase in the number Channel available to all homes in New of powerful mission stories. I am convinced Zealand, and many people have visited more than ever that Jesus is coming soon! Adventist churches as a result. Let’s pray for a similar blessing in Tonga. Additional information about the Opportunities Thirteenth Sabbath projects can be found The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in the box on this page. this quarter will help to: Special Features  “Save 10,000 Toes,” a campaign to If you want to make your Sabbath prevent toe amputations through health services in American Samoa, Fiji, School class come alive, visit our Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Facebook page at the link: facebook.com/ and Vanuatu. missionquarterlies.  Construct Hope TV and radio studios in You also can download the PDF version Tongatapu, Tonga. of the Children’s Mission magazine at bit.  Produce “Daniel Children’s Series,” a ly/childrenmission, and Mission Spotlight 13-part animated series for children aged videos at bit.ly/missionspotlight. 8-12 following the adventures of Daniel and his three friends, in Australia. Thank you for encouraging others to be mission minded! AdventistMission.org 3 4 Adventist Mission South Pacific Division Winning Drunken Parents problems. Mother prayedwiththewomen asked Mother foradviceaboutpersonal day, severalguestsvisited thehouseand watched Motherprayand read.Laterthat awoke Talitha at5a.m.Sheagain Mother openedablackbook andread. even mentionedTalitha’s name.Then Mother knees, andtalkoutloudtoGod. saw Motherslideoutofbedandontoher to Mother’s alarmclockat 5a.m.She and toldhertocall“Mother.” asked toadoptthegirl. they didn’t mindwhenakindneighbor their 8-year-old daughterathome.So, gambling thattheyoftenforgotabout They weresobusydrinkingand Guinea. a mountainoustowninPapuaNew T Early inthemorning,Talitha awoke The neighbortooklittleTalitha home The nextmorning,thealarm again as drunksandgamblersinGoroka, alitha Hoyato’s parentswereknown which Talitha learnedwasaBible. and offeredadvicefromtheblackbook, had read, but they refused to listen. So, she had read,but theyrefusedtolisten.So, she and gotuptoprayread theBible. never met.Shesetheralarm for5a.m. two brothersandasisterwhom shehad and shebefriendedthree younger siblings, every dutythatpresentsitself”(page67). Do love ofChrist,tellHisgoodness. yourself, andtrytohelpothers.Talk ofthe as apersonalSaviour, you are toforget Lessons,” “IfyouhaveacceptedChrist know aboutHim.” Savior, youhavetoletyour birthparents you haveacceptedJesusasyourpersonal weeping. “You reallywantmetogoback?” home toherbirthparents. Talitha thatsheneededtomoveback When shewas17,baptized. believed inHim. answeredherprayers.She saw thatGod Talitha prayed,read,andshared,she learned intheBiblewithothers.As Mother taughthertosharewhatshe knees andprayed.ShereadtheBible. the alarmwentoff,shealsogotintoher PAPUA NEWGUINEA Talitha Hoyato,19 She tried to tell her parents what she She triedtotell herparentswhatshe Talitha’s parentswelcomedherhome, Ellen Whitesaysin“Christ’s Object With tears,Motherreplied,“Because “Do youmeanit?”Talitha asked, Shortly afterthebaptism,Mothertold The yearspassed,andTalitha grewup. Talitha begantocopyMother. When

| July6 king would acknowledge Him. Story Tips “Dear Lord,” she prayed, “if you can change a king into an animal so he  Pronounce Talitha as: ta-LEE-ta. realizes that You are God, then look at  Ask listeners how they can “witness my Daddy, who is only an ordinary man. wherever they go.” One answer is, like Please do something that will cause him Talitha, they can read the Bible every pain so he will acknowledge You.” morning at 5 a.m. and share what they read with friends, family, and others. Shortly after Talitha began to pray this way, Father was arrested. Father, who  Watch a video of Talitha at the link: bit.ly/Talitha-Hoyato. worked as an electrical engineer, hadn’t completed a contract, and his employer  Find photos for this story at the link: bit.ly/fb-mq. sent him to prison. He began to believe in

Jesus in prison. When he was freed after GUINEA NEW PAPUA  Read another story about Talitha three months, he joined the baptismal next week. class at church. Talitha was overjoyed! But one month later, Father died from typhoid fever. He was 45. went to their bedside while they slept and Talitha didn’t understand what told them Bible stories. She prayed over happened, but she said God answered her them. She remembered that her adoptive prayers. “I expected my Dad to become mother had said, “To convert a soul is not an Adventist and for us to go to church our business, it is God’s business.” together as a family, but that didn’t After a year, Mother agreed to go to happen,” she said. “But I’m glad because church but expressed fear that the church Father died believing in Jesus. When Jesus members would make fun of her for comes, we will go to heaven as a family.” drinking and gambling. Talitha told her Talitha, who is 19 and studying to not to worry. become a schoolteacher, is glad that she “God sees the heart,” she said. “When has two mothers. “I always thank God for Jesus was here, He mingled with people my adoptive mother, who taught me to be just like you. So, don’t worry about what a disciple in my early childhood,” she said. others say. There is great joy in heaven “Now it has become part of me to witness when one sinner repents.” wherever I go.”  Father didn’t say anything when Mother returned from church. Talitha Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth invited him to join them, but he refused. Sabbath Offering helped construct “You are just a kid,” he said. “Don’t tell children’s Sabbath School classrooms in me what to do.” Talitha’s hometown, Goroka, in Papua Talitha kept praying for Father but New Guinea. Thank you for your Sabbath changed her prayer when she read Daniel School mission offering. 4:28-37. She read that God changed Nebuchadnezzar into an animal so the By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 5 6 Adventist Mission South Pacific Division wife,” Doreen said. momand how tochangeandbe a good Doreen’s home. located aboutathree-hour driveawayfrom at SimbuTeachers CollegeinKundiawa, Talitha. Bothwerestudyingtobeteachers She missedthechildterribly. law inMountHagen,PapuaNewGuinea. who wasbeingcaredforbyhermother-in- opportunity. Shehada1-year-old baby Talitha said. this tome,”Doreensaid,weeping. also wascoveredwithbruises. lifted herblousetorevealthatback two blackeyes. N Doreen foundasympatheticlistenerin But Doreenwenthomeatevery “Then youshouldn’t gobackhome,” “My husbandisadrunkard,andhedid Her 23-year-old roommate,Doreen, “What happened?”sheasked. Talitha wondered howtorespond. “My lifeismiserable,and Idon’t know shocked toseeherroommatewith ineteen-year-old Talitha Hoyatowas Black Eyes Two PAPUA NEWGUINEA Then sherememberedseeingwomenwith Talitha Hoyato,19 more. Talitha toldhow shehadstarted Talitha said. Children’s Missionmagazine. 2017 Missionmagazineand astoryfrom a missionstoryfromthefirst quarter well inJohn4:1-42.Shealsohadcopied experience oftheSamaritanwomanat Bible stories,includingthelife-changing of paperontowhichshehadcopiedthree surprise forher. Talitha handedhersheets dormitory fromhomeleave,Talitha hada who taughthertoworshipdaily. adoptive Seventh-dayAdventistmother and thatshehadbeenraisedbyan that Talitha’s birthparentsweredrunkards prayed andreadtheBible.Doreenlearned morning. Talitha wokeupat5a.m.and was thatTalitha worshippedevery noticed whenthetwobecameroommates the Bibleeverymorning. created usandknowshowtomendus.” change aperson,”Talitha said.“God wisdom fromtheBible. advice. Hermotherhaddirectedthemto marital problemscometohermotherfor Doreen liked thestoriesandaskedfor “You canreadthisifyou havetime,” The nexttimeDoreenreturnedtothe One ofthefirstthingsthatDoreenhad She suggestedthatDoreenprayandread can “My MomsaidnoonebutGod

| July13 She said that Doreen’s husband, who had Story Tips never worked in the garden, had dug and planted a big garden on his own.  Pronounce Talitha as: ta-LEE-ta. “Are you joking?” Doreen asked.  Watch a video of Talitha at the link: “Come and see for yourself,” her bit.ly/Talitha-Hoyato2. mother-in-law replied.  Find photos for this story at the link: The next time Doreen went home, she bit.ly/fb-mq. saw the garden. Her husband was trying to care for her and the rest of his family for Mission Post the first time. He also stopped drinking. No one in the village could believe the  Papua New Guinea has 1,045 churches, 3,182 companies, and change that had come over him. a membership of 315,759. In a Back in the college dormitory, Doreen population of 8,317,000, that’s one thanked Talitha with a hug. GUINEA NEW PAPUA church member for every 26 people. “Praise the Lord!” Talitha said. “God  Early Adventist work in Papua New is working.” Guinea was difficult because the Today, Doreen is having morning government had divided the Papuan worship regularly, and she and her territory between three mission bodies husband attend church together. She no — the Methodists, the Anglicans, and the London Missionary Society — and longer has any black eyes. it was hard for any other missionaries to “Now I am a happy mother with a purchase land or work in these territories. happy husband,” she said.  Papua New Guinea has 29 Adventist Doreen is one of many people who have clinics and health centers. learned about God from Talitha. Although only 19, Talitha likes to talk about nothing else than Jesus and His righteousness. praying for her birth father a year earlier “My adoptive mother taught me how to and he had rejected all entreaties to be a disciple from early childhood, and I accept God. But then, as she kept on always thank the Lord for giving me such praying, he had been arrested for reneging a Mom,” she said. “Everywhere I go, I on a work contract and turned to God in always like to share Jesus. When we talk prison. She said she was waiting for him to about the news, I say, ‘See, that tells us be released from prison so they could go to that Jesus is coming soon.’ We need to be church together. faithful and not lose our hope in Jesus.”  “If God can change my father, He can change your husband, too!” Talitha said. Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth Doreen was touched by the stories and Sabbath Offering helped construct began to pray for her husband every day. children’s Sabbath School classrooms in One morning, Talitha awoke at 5 a.m. and Talitha’s hometown, Goroka, in Papua saw that her roommate was already awake New Guinea. Thank you for your Sabbath and reading the Bible. She was thrilled. School mission offering. Two months passed, and Doreen’s AdventistMission.org mother-in-law called with surprising news. By Andrew McChesney 7 8 Adventist Mission South Pacific Division No Retirement Plans Christian denomination showedupat every morningandevening. compiled alongprayerlist toraiseGod family hut in a mountainous forest. He has cell phoneandknockon the doorofhis Adventists andotherscall himonhis answershisprayersinaspecialway.God known acrossPapuaNewGuineaas a full-timeprayerministry. tostart retirement ashefeltcalledbyGod South Pacificcountry. from Uravillageinthehighlandsof years athomeandwithfamily. Papua NewGuineaandspendtheirlast native villageswhentheyretirein M Pastor Okanama’s namehasbecome His lifebecameevenmorebusyin Not OkanamaKevi,aveteranpastor One day, a pastorfromanother Adventist pastorsreturntotheir any elderlySeventh-day PAPUA NEWGUINEA baptismal class, whichheoversaw. The Ricky andhis wifetojointhechurch’s newborn girl. all sixoftheirchildren,including the the Adventistchurchwith hiswifeand a healthybabygirl. with oliveoilandprayedforher. we areveryworried.” Ricky asked.“Sheispastherduedate,and heavily pregnantwife. church business. prayer ministrywhilevisitingUraon had heardaboutPastorOkanama’s Ricky, livedinanotherprovinceand Pastor Okanama’s house.Thevisitor, Okanama Kevi,66 Pastor Okanamaimmediately invited The nextSabbath,Ricky wentto Two dayslater, thewomangave birthto Pastor Okanamaanointedthewoman “Please, canyouprayformywife?” Ricky arrivedatthehousewithhis

| July20 couple’s five older children, ages 8 to 12, also began to study the Bible. After Story Tips several months of study, the couple and their five children were baptized in  Pronounce Okanama as: OH-ka-nama. August 2017.  Watch a video of Pastor Okanama at the “Now Ricky has left his church and his link: bit.ly/Okanama-Kevi-2. work as a pastor,” Pastor Okanama said in  Find photos for this story at the link: an interview at his home. “He is a faithful bit.ly/fb-mq. member in our church.” Following Ricky’s baptism, a senior Fast Facts pastor from his former church visited  Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern the Adventist church in the village. part of the world’s second-largest island and is prone to volcanic activity, He was given time to speak after the GUINEA NEW PAPUA Sabbath worship service. He stood up and, earthquakes, and tidal waves. weeping, gave an emotional speech.  There are very few roads, so air travel is “I invested a lot in Ricky,” he said. very common. “Now he has left me and gone to the  With more than 600 islands and 800 Seventh-day Adventist Church. You guys indigenous languages, Papua New take good care of him and look after him Guinea is made up of four regions with well, just as I looked after him.” 20 provinces. With that, he gave his blessing to  About 80 percent of Papua New Guinea’s Ricky’s decision. people live in rural areas with almost no modern conveniences. Ricky, in addition to working as a pastor, owned two small businesses selling  The world’s only known poisonous bird, the Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) is stationary and renting cars. After he was native to Papua New Guinea. baptized, he called Pastor Okanama to his workplace and asked him to dedicate  Common foods include starchy vegetables (wild sago, breadfruit, his businesses to the Lord. The pastor did yams, taro, sweet potatoes, and rice) with joy. complemented by wild greens, several “He is a fruit of my prayer ministry,” varieties of bananas, and coconuts, said Pastor Okanama, 66. “Through this mango, and other fruits. ministry I have prayed for many pastors.”  Papua New Guinea has three official He has no plans to retire. Do you?  languages: English, Hiri Motu, and Tok Pisin. Part of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering  The New Guinea Highlands runs the length of New Guinea, and the highest in 2016 helped construct children’s areas receive snowfall — almost unheard Sabbath School classrooms in Papua New of in the tropics. Guinea, including in the area near Pastor  Papua New Guinea’s indigenous people Okanama’s home. Thank you for your used to practice cannibalism. They hung Sabbath School mission offering. the heads of their enemies as decoration.

By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 9 10

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division he couldn’t walk. treatment, butnothinghelped. Finally, pain creptuphisleg.He soughtmedical ache dreadfully. Over theweeks, weight of145pounds(65kilograms). pounds (105kilograms),farabovehisideal Herik grewanduntilhereached230 and Coca-Cola.Elevenyearspassed, like fishandchips,chicken, processed food training andatealotofeasy-to-fix or wenttochurch.Hestoppedphysical four children.HerarelyreadtheBible architectural drafter. Hemarriedandhad Pacific GamesinFiji.Hewonmedals. he representedhiscountryattheSouth the SouthPacificGamesinTahiti. Then Solomon Islands. flying highasamartialartsexpertinthe H But then he got busy with work as an But thenhegotbusywithworkasan He representedSolomonIslandsat Herik grew frantic. He knew no blood Herik grewfrantic. Heknewnoblood One day, Herik’s leftfootbeganto Seventh-day Adventisthome,was erik DunSiope,whogrewupina 90 Pounds Losing SOLOMON ISLANDS Herik DunSiope,46 he walked, hadtroublebreathing. at nightand suffered backpain.When to loseweight.Hewassleeping poorly what Your planisforme.” want tobeablessingothers. Showme IwantYouprayed, “God, touseme.I old mansaid.“You needtoexerciseyourleg.” could stand,buthecouldn’t walk. Herik daily. Afterthreeweeks,Herik pain andlackofmedication. he couldn’t walk.Heriktoldaboutthe impression tovisitandaskedHerikwhy The relativesaidhehadfeltastrong Honiara, capitaloftheSolomonIslands. relative knockedonhishousedoorin that hewouldloseit.HerememberedGod. was circulatinginhisleg,andheworried After praying,Herikfeltconvicted forthehealingand Herik thankedGod “You’ve lostthemuscleinyourleg,” He preparedahomeremedyandtreated “OK, I’llhelpyou,”theoldmansaid. Shortly afterheprayed,anelderly “Help mefindmedication,”heprayed.

| July27 He knew that his leg pain had been connected to his weight. Story Tips But how to lose weight? Herik remembered Ellen White’s book  Pronounce Herik as: HERR-eek. “Counsels on Diet and Foods” and began  Watch a video of Herik at the link: to read it. He was amazed as he learned bit.ly/Herik-Siope. that appetite brought sin into the world.  Find photos for this story at the link: He read, “As our first parents lost Eden bit.ly/fb-mq. through the indulgence of appetite, our  Read more about Herik next week. only hope of regaining Eden is through the firm denial of appetite and passion” Mission Post (page 59). Herik made major changes to his  Pioneer Adventist missionaries to the diet. He stopped eating processed food islands were G.F. Jones and his wife, sent by the mission board of Australasia. and, after a fierce struggle, eliminated Landing on the island of Gizo on May caffeinated drinks. He also stopped using 29, 1914, Jones obtained a local crew for sugar and dairy products. Instead he his auxiliary ketch, the Advent Herald, and sailed for Viru on the west coast returned to God’s original plant-based diet of New Georgia, where he established of fruit, vegetables, grains, and nuts. He headquarters for the mission work and also tried not to eat after 4 p.m. and took opened a school. SOLOMON ISLANDS SOLOMON care not to overeat.  Christianity, introduced by missionaries In addition, he began to exercise, first in the 19th and early 20th centuries, is by walking daily and then also by learning the principal organized religion. The simple workouts that he could do at home. primary denominations are Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and In 12 months, he lost 90 pounds (40 Seventh-day Adventist. kilograms) — and was back at his ideal weight. He felt healthier and could do chin-ups and other exercises that he life,” Herik said. “I thank God for the hadn’t managed to do even when he blessing that He has given me, so I can be a engaged in martial arts. blessing to others in this small way.”  Today, two years later, Herik is 46 years old and leads free fitness classes for Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth overweight islanders in an Adventist- Sabbath Offering will support “Save owned auditorium. More than 200 people 10,000 Toes,” a project to fight diabetes of various faiths come to him to work out on the Solomon Islands. “Save 10,000 four days a week. He also provides seminars Toes” — which refers to the amputation at the country’s Health Ministry and works of the toes of diabetic people — started with private companies. His advice comes in December 2017 and finances Herik’s straight from Ellen White — and he says community exercise program. Thank you people are losing weight and feeling great. for your Sabbath School mission offerings. “I realize that this is how God wants to use me, and it has strengthened my spiritual By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 11 12

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division Inspired by anEmployee including Adventists. day, justlikemanySolomon Islanders, made theeveningmeal largestofthe complete oppositeofwhat heknew. He wasthe church schools.Buthisbody an Adventisthomeandhavingattended health message,havingbeenraisedin on apathtodestruction. hypertension. Herealizedthathewas pressureandsuffered highblood kilograms). For10years,hehad wondered, “CanIdothesame?” (40 kilograms)inayear. eyes whenanemployeelost90pounds the SolomonIslands,couldn’t believehis G Geoff wasfullyawareoftheAdventist Geoff weighed290pounds(130 He lookedathisownbellyand Before meals, he prayed, “God, thank Before meals, heprayed,“God, housing constructioncompanyon eoff Samuel,chiefexecutiveofa me strengthtocontrolmyappetite.” give never thoughtaboutpraying,“God, You He fortheblessingofthisfood.” SOLOMON ISLANDS stress theimportance ofdiet.Theiradvice personal testimonies, andHerikGeoff prayer. Onceaweek, timeissetasidefor in anAdventist-ownedauditorium. faiths gathertoexercisefour daysaweek Today, morethan200peopleofvarious and Geoffassumedtheroleofcoordinator. them. Herikcontinuedleadingthegroup, every daytoimproveonthatnumber.” happy ifIcouldreachfiveseconds.tried seconds,” hesaid.“Icounted,andIwas 20-second increments. for Geoffashetackledvariousexercisesin trees, andatotherplaces.Itwashardwork 45-minute exercisesonthebeach,under Housing Limitedandstarteddaily White’s book“CounselsonDietandFoods.” diet andexerciseprograminspiredbyEllen weight?” heasked. an architecturaldrafter. approached Herik,whoworkedforhimas Geoffrey Samuel,51 Each workoutbeginsand endswith As helostweight,otherpeoplejoined “When Istarted,couldn’t complete20 The twomenlefttheofficeofSolomon “If youwant,wecanstarttoday.” “When canIstart?” “I canteachyouwhatIdid,”hesaid. Herik explainedthathehadfolloweda “How didyoumanagetoloseallthat One dayinearly2017,Geoff

| August3 comes straight from Ellen White. “If you feel good now, how about Story Tips applying changes to your life spiritually?” Herik asks.  Watch a video of Geoff at the link: bit.ly/Geoffrey-Samuel. “Imagine how you would feel if you prayed every morning, too,” Geoff adds.  Find photos for this story at the link: bit.ly/fb-mq. As people see their bodies getting back into shape, the cry often rings out around  Read more about Herik last week. the auditorium, “Hem waka!” (It works!). Herik and Geoff aren’t medical experts, Fast Facts but they have noticed that God helps the body heal itself when people treat their  A Spanish explorer, Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, first sighted the islands in bodies as God intended. 1568. Finding signs of alluvial gold on Geoff still has a way to go to reach his Guadalcanal, Mendaña believed he had ideal weight. But he has lost nearly 80 found the source of King Solomon’s pounds (35 kilograms) in 18 months and wealth and consequently named the islands “The Islands of Solomon.” feels better than ever. “I can run, climb, and jump!” he said  It is thought that people have lived in the Solomon Islands since at least with a big smile. “If I can do it, anyone 2,000 B.C. can do it.”   The concept of money is relatively ISLANDS SOLOMON recent in Solomon Island culture; barter Obesity is a major problem in the and alternative forms of currency such as Solomon Islands and contributes to a shell money are still practiced. number of health ailments, including diabetes. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth finances Herik and Geoff’s community Sabbath Offering will support “Save workout classes. Thank you for your 10,000 Toes,” a diabetes-fighting program Sabbath School mission offerings. in the Solomon Islands. “Save 10,000 Toes,” which was established in late 2017, By Andrew McChesney

TYPICAL 45-MINUTE WORKOUT  All stand in circle for prayer. stretches from head to toe.  Trainer explains exercises for the day.  Eight-minute workout of the upper body, midsection, and lower body.  Four-minute warm-up — muscle Twenty seconds per exercise. activation — with jumping jacks, squats, pushups. These are full-body  Ten-20 minutes of full-body, deep- weight exercises. breathe stretches to relax all muscles.

 Six-minute full-body deep-breathe  All stand in circle again to pray. AdventistMission.org

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Adventist Mission South Pacific Division When theysaw agirlwhomightneed and schoolsupplies suchaspensandpaper. looked toseewhetherthe girlshadclothes sheets, blankets,andpillows.They good They lookedtoseewhether thegirlshad large roomwithbunkbeds for40girls. They walkedthroughtheirdormitory, a dormitories hadanyurgentneeds. job: tofindoutwhetherthegirlsin friend Wendy, thatthey hadaveryspecial told Kinnieandanotherdeaconess,her Betikama AdventistCollegeChurch.He meeting todiscusstheirresponsibilitiesat including Kinnie,andfouradults—fora eight deaconesses— fourstudents, also wouldbeadeaconess. deaconess, andsheneverthoughtthat boarding schoolintheSolomonIslands. the churchataSeventh-dayAdventist A Kinnie andWendy gotright towork. The pastorcalledtogetherthechurch’s Kinnie wasthrilled!Hermothera she wasappointedadeaconessat lthough KinnieAitoreaisonly18, seventh grade andhadarrivedrecently first yearatthe school.Shewasinthe the country’s capital, Honiara. school choirforaconcert atamuseumin girls thatshewasgoneall daywiththe Mitlyn, buttheylearnedfromtheother to class,andshelackedotherthings. long blackshirtthatfemalestudentswore didn’t havetheproperwhiteblouseand slept atnight.Therewasnosheetorpillow. boardwhereshe from thehardwooden There wasnomattresstocushionMitlyn folded onthebottomofbunkbed. Todonga’s bed.Onethin blanketlayneatly Others spokeaboutneedingpensandpaper. is school?” help, theystoppedtotalkwithher. a Bed Making SOLOMON ISLANDS Kinnie Aitorea,18 The othergirlssaiditwas Mitlyn’s Kinnie andWendy wanted totalkwith Kinnie andWendy sawthat Mitlynalso Then KinnieandWendy sawMitlyn Some girlssaidtheyneededclothes. “Do youneedhelp?”Kinniesaid. “How areyou?”Wendy asked.“How

| August10 from another island. Mitlyn’s parents, who weren’t Adventist, tried their best Story Tips to help their daughter. Mother baked sweet cream-filled buns and made sour  Know that Betikama Adventist College has 520 students living in five girls’ lemonade popsicles, and Father sold them. dormitories and six boys’ dormitories and But the money wasn’t enough. in the community. Then the girls said something that made Kinnie feel sad. They said Mitlyn cried at  Ask listeners whether they have given or received a surprise gift and how they felt. night because some girls made fun of her Mitlyn said, “I really like the mattress for coming from a poor family. They talked because my mother and my father didn’t mockingly to one another about her. buy it. Kinnie and Wendy bought it. I “She doesn’t even have a proper bed,” really treasure it — and I like the flowers on it.” said one. “Why did she come here?” said another.  Ask what nice surprise your Sabbath “Everyone else has a proper bed.” School class can organize. Kinnie and Wendy went to the pastor  Watch a video of Kinnie at the link: and told him about Mitlyn. “OK, let’s go bit.ly/Kinnie-Aitorea. and get a mattress and clothes,” he said.  Find photos for this story at the link: The three made a trip into town. They bit.ly/fb-mq. bought a two-inch (five-centimeter) thick mattress, so Mitlyn would have a Mission Post ISLANDS SOLOMON soft, comfortable bed. They also bought a brown sheet and a blanket covered  The conch shell is an instrument used with small flowers, a pillow and brown widely across the Pacific, including the Solomons. It is used as a traditional form pillowcase, a white blouse and black skirt, of trumpet, summoning people to gather writing paper, pens, soap, toothpaste, and and signaling the start of important a toothbrush. events. The blowing hole is created by Back at the dormitory, Kinnie and removing the end of the shell or making Wendy made up the bed and placed the a hole in the side. clothes and other things on top. That evening, Mitlyn returned from the choir trip and was shocked to see her bed. have done a very big thing! My Dad will “Whose mattress is this?” she asked the be very happy for what you did for me.” other girls. Kinnie felt so happy to see Mitlyn’s joy. “It’s yours,” said one. She saw that God has a plan for people to “Someone brought it for you,” said another. help others. “Who brought it for me?” she asked. “It’s OK,” Kinnie said, giving Mitlyn a “Kinnie and Wendy brought the mattress hug. “It’s God’s work to help others.”  for you and some clothes,” a girl replied. When Kinnie came to the dormitory later Thank you for helping others with your that evening, Mitlyn ran to her, crying. Sabbath School mission offerings. “I never thought anyone would buy a AdventistMission.org mattress or clothes for me,” she said. “You By Andrew McChesney 15 16

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division Working onSabbath change herwork schedule. whole family. to Sheprayed forGod were hardtofindandher salaryfedthe up thesupermarketat7p.m. the season.Sophiewassupposed tolock and 6:45p.m.onFridays,depending Sabbath. Thesunsetbetween5:30p.m. supermarket theotherthreedays. of Maré.Acoworker, Celine,ranthe in Mebuet,avillageonthetinyisland Tuesdays toFridays— atasupermarket South Pacific. Caledonia, aFrenchterritoryinthe at evangelisticmeetings. spoke abouttheFourthCommandment S Sophie feltterribleaboutworkingon Sophie workedfourdaysaweek— But shedidn’t quitherjobinNew One Fridayevening, Sophiewasat She didn’t wantto quitbecausejobs the biblicalSabbathwhenpastor ophie BuamaacceptedSaturdayas NEW CALEDONIA problem. Close thesupermarket.” the supermarket.” soIwon’tmy daytoworshipGod, open and workonSaturday,” theownerwrote. Caledonia’s capital. supermarket owner, whoalsowasinNew text messageonhercellphonefromthe day toworshipmyGod.” Sophie said.“You knowtomorrowismy tomorrow?” sheasked. ticket backtoMaré. another islandandunabletobookaplane in NewCaledonia’s capital,Noumea,on from Celine.Hercoworkersaidshewas Sabbath, whenshereceivedaphonecall work, frettingaboutworkingonanother Sophie Buama,44 After amoment, theownerreplied,“No Sophie textedback,“No, tomorrowis “You havetoopentheshoptomorrow A shorttimelater, Sophiereceiveda “No, tomorrowI’mgoingtochurch,” “Could youpleasefillinforme

| August17 Sophie was worried, and she spoke with beliefs and added, “If you want to fire me, a female church member. you are free to do that.” “Don’t fear man,” the member replied. Sophie kept her job. A few weeks later, “Fear God.” the owner allowed her to take off four On Sunday, the coworker was still away, days to travel with her teenage daughter, so Sophie opened the supermarket. The Catherine, to the capital. But when owner, who had managed to fly back, Sophie returned, the owner said she had came to work, and she was furious. to work four days to make up for her “This supermarket has never closed on absence. Two of the days fell on Sabbath. Saturday, and I don’t want it ever to close Sophie tried to swap days with her again on Saturday,” she said. coworker, but the owner insisted that Sophie reminded the owner about her she do the work. Sophie worked both Sabbaths, weeping as she rang up sales. At night, she struggled to sleep. Story Tips In desperation, she prayed, “God, help  Pray for Sophie’s village, Mebuet. Sophie me to be free on Sabbath.” She asked the and her husband are the only Adventists church to pray for her as well. in the village of 1,500 people. A few days later, the owner announced  Ask what advice could be given to a new work schedule. Sophie had been workers who face a Sabbath conflict. working extra hours every day at the Sophie’s said, “Pray to God and put God owner’s request, and it was costing a lot of first. Then you will see the miracle that God can perform for you.” money in overtime pay. “From now on, you will only work from  Read about how Sophie’s husband, Sunday to Wednesday,” the owner said. Georges, prayed 10 years for her conversion in the Children’s Mission Sophie couldn’t believe her ears! A big magazine or at: bit.ly/saved-by-finger. smile filled her face as she rushed home CALEDONIANEW and broke the news to her husband.  Watch a video of Sophie at the link: Today, Sophie makes less money, but bit.ly/Sophie-Buama. she doesn’t mind. She can worship God  Find photos for this story at the link: on Sabbath. bit.ly/fb-mq. “My salary is not important, but my Mission Post time with God is important,” she said. “My joy is to be free on Sabbath.”   The first Seventh-day Adventist missionaries to work in the island group Part of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering were Captain G.F. Jones and his wife, three years ago helped build two children’s who sailed from Sydney for Noumea, New Caledonia, on Oct. 23, 1925. The Sabbath School classrooms on Maré, islands were some of the most difficult including at Sophie’s church. Thank you areas in the South Pacific. for your Sabbath School mission offerings  The New Caledonia Mission comprises that help children — and adults — learn Isle of Pines, Loyalty Island, New about God. Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna Islands. By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 17 18

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division Angels intheStorm and 8-month-old son,LeonceJunior, and grabbed her3-year-old daughter, Morgane, home withadrunken,violent man.She night andurgedpeopleto stayindoors. Erika wouldbatterNewCaledonia that forecasters hadpredicted that Cyclone Noumea. Sherealizedthathewasdrunk. house outsideNewCaledonia’s capital, yelling ashewalkedupthehilltotheir young children. argument followed.Sometimeshehittheir intoxicated, andinevitablyamajor Soon theyhadtwochildren. moved inwithherboyfriend,Leonce. she leftthechurchatageof16and Pacific islandsofNewCaledonia.But A A lightrainwasfalling.Weather One evening,AnnieheardLeonce Leonce drank.Heoftencamehome Annie didn’t want tobetrappedat day AdventisthomeintheSouth nnie PaamawasraisedinaSeventh- wheel, shespedaway. thrust theminthecar. Slidingbehindthe car andextended hisgiantwings,reaching in frontofthe white light.One angelstood tall, hadwings,andbrightly shonewitha see theirfacesclearly, only thattheywere that Anniehadeverseen. Shecouldn’t were abrightwhite,whiter thananywhite giant ropeladder. from theskytocar. It resembled a the heavensclosed,andaladderextended neck, hopingtoseeGod’s throne.Then forth intheheavens.Shecranedher of angelswerewalkingbusilybackand fright asshestaredupward.Thousands in trembled the heavensopened.She astonishment, thecloudsrolledback,and blinked hardandlookedagain.To her up outthedriver’s sidewindow. Thenshe leaned backthedriver’s seatandlooked my childrenandmetonight,”shesaid. forthefirsttimein years. remembered God were soundasleepafterthelongdrive.She she hadn’t broughtwarmblankets. chill swepttheinterior. Annierealizedthat storm. Afiercewindwhippedthecar, anda certain thatthiswasthesafestplacein she wasunsureaboutherwhereaboutsbut tank showedempty. Parkingnearatree, NEW CALEDONIA Annie Paama,48 Annie drove until the needle on the fuel Annie droveuntiltheneedleonfuel Three angelsdescendedthe ladder. They A deepwearinessoverwhelmedher. She ifYou“God, exist,IwantYou to lookafter She lookedoveratherchildren.They

| August24 welcomed her for the first time with open Story Tips arms. She provided money for fuel. Later at home, Annie found that the  Pronounce Leonce as: LEON-s. house had emerged from the cyclone  Ask listeners how God led them to untouched. She tore down pictures of Him. Annie said that night was a turning point in her life. “I wouldn’t be Bob Marley and cannabis from the walls, in church today if God hadn’t given me collected her jewelry, and threw them that experience,” she said. into a fire. The flames were still burning Watch a video of Annie at the link: when Leonce returned from work. Seeing bit.ly/Annie-Paama. his puzzlement, Annie explained that she Find photos for this story at the link: had given her heart to Jesus. Then Leonce bit.ly/fb-mq. asked about the previous night. “Where were you and the children?” he said. “I came home and found it empty.” to the back of the car. The two other Annie described how she had heard angels stood on each side of the car, also him yelling drunkenly and fled to avoid a covering it with their wings. fight. Leonce shook his head slowly. Annie was terrified and shook with fear. “That wasn’t me,” he said. “I didn’t Then she felt the car gently being drink yesterday.” rocked like a mother rocks a baby cradle. Annie kept her promise to serve God. A pleasant warmth filled the interior. She married Leonce and was rebaptized. Abruptly, Annie’s fright vanished, and She also became a deaconess at the Bethany she felt a sense of peace. Her eyes grew Seventh-day Adventist Church, a position heavy, and she slipped into a deep sleep. that she has held for about a decade.

Annie awoke to the sound of birds Leonce, after hearing the angel story, CALEDONIANEW chirping. Looking out the window, she put aside his violent ways, and Annie is saw the ladder descend again from the praying for his baptism. sky. The angels folded their wings and Their children, now teenagers, can’t ascended the ladder. believe that they were part of such a As the angels left, Annie began to remarkable night. They wish that they shake — not from fear but from cold. The could experience something similar today. warmth had left the car. Annie tells them that they can. As the enormity of what had happened “You have to keep a relationship with sank in, Annie realized that her prayer God and talk to Him,” she says. “Then had been answered in a remarkable way. He also will reveal Himself to you.”  She immediately gave her heart to Jesus. “I will never go back to the worldly life Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath again,” she prayed. “I promise to live for You.” Offering three years ago that helped build Somehow, Annie had enough fuel in two children’s Sabbath School classrooms the car to drive to her mother’s house. on Maré, an island in New Caledonia. Her mother, who opposed her boyfriend and had refused to help her for years, By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 19 20

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division ‘Hi, HopeChannel’ in achapel aretirementcommunity. congregation metat10a.m.everySabbath of 7,500residents.Hesaid theAdventist biggest city, Auckland, wasasmalltown (250 kilometers)northof NewZealand’s that Kerikeri,locatedabout 155miles enjoying HopeChannel. He explained delighted Colinandhiswifewere come tohischurch.Hewasamazed. being touched.Nowthiscouplewantedto watching hisprogramandthatheartswere letter. toknowthatsomeonewas Itfeltgood Colin Horsfall.” love yourprograms.Yours inJesus’name, be contactablewhenwegetthere.We also gym inKerikeri.Iamwonderingifhewill ago, wesawaprogramhostedbymanat be lookingforachurchtoattend.Awhile and IaremovingtoKerikerisoon.We will Zealand, readthee-mailwithinterest. W William wrotebackthathewas Joy filledWilliam’s heartashereadthe “Hi, HopeChannel,”itsaid.“Mywife northern townofKerikeriinNew illiam Arama,apastorinthe need help.” wife tojoinus,”hesaid.“Callmeifyou town about60 miles(100kilometers) were preparing tomovefromKaitaia, a on Colinandhiswife,Robyn, who about yourspiritualhealth?” their physicalhealthandasked, “Well, what he describedhowpeopleare worriedabout exercise tipsinthegym.Inprogram, for HopeChannelfeaturedhimoffering a ThirteenthSabbathOfferingin2016. household inNewZealandwithfundsfrom began broadcastingfree-to-airtoevery international channel.HopeChannel local affiliateoftheAdventistChurch’s to HopeChannelNewZealand,the gym — andhealsobegantocontribute knew Iwouldmeetalotofpeople.” William recalled.“IstartedagymbecauseI said, ‘Whydon’t youstartupagym?’” he decidedtoopenagym. After prayingabouthowtomoveforward, time, andWilliam didn’t knowanyone. Adventist familylivedinthetownat Seventh-day Adventistchurch.Onlyone years earliertoplantthetown’s first later. “We willcatchupsoon.” NEW ZEALAND William Arama,49 “We wouldbehappyforyouandyour This particularprogramhad animpact One oftheprogramsthatWilliams made He didmeetmanypeoplethroughthe gavemethisbrilliantideaand “God William hadarrivedinKerikeriafew “Thanks,” Colinrepliedashorttime

| August31 northwest of Kerikeri. The couple attended a church belonging to another Story Tips Christian denomination in that town. The Sabbath arrived when Colin and  Pronounce Kerikeri as: kerry-kerry, rolling the r’s. Robyn showed up in William’s church for the first time. The church’s 12 members  Find photos for this story at the link: welcomed them warmly, and they enjoyed bit.ly/fb-mq the sermon and lunch afterward. Fast Facts “Everyone was friendly and made them feel welcome,” William said. “And they  According to Guinness World Records, just kept coming back.” the longest place name in the world is Taumatawhakatangihangakoau-auotam He learned that Colin, 75, was a ateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, a hill in medal-winning cyclist in the country’s Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. main cycling competition, World Masters  New Zealand is home to the giant weta, Games. He saw that Robyn loved to the heaviest insect in the world. It is watch Hope Channel and, after seeing heavier than a sparrow and looks like a him on television, would greet him on giant cockroach. Sabbath, saying, “I’ve seen my favorite  In 1893, New Zealand became the first pastor during the week.” country to give women the right to vote. Colin and Robyn soon asked for Bible  Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to studies, and they are preparing for baptism. climb Mount Everest in 1953, was a William — pictured left, with Colin New Zealander. and Robyn — firmly believes that Hope Channel is opening many doors  Fifteen percent of New Zealand’s population are Ma¯ ori. in New Zealand, which has a highly secularized society.  Although it is about the size of Japan, New Zealand’s population is just over “This is how God is able to speak to 4 million, making it one of the world’s those who probably are dealing with issues least-populated countries. that they don’t want others to know. They don’t want to be seen in church,” William  The Ma¯ ori name for New Zealand is ZEALAND NEW “Aotearoa.” It means “the land of the said. “But through Hope Channel, they long white cloud.” can sit comfortably in their homes and hear God’s message.”   The kea, a bird native to New Zealand, is known for pulling windscreen wipers off cars and eating the strips of rubber Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath from windows. Offering in second quarter 2016 that helped Hope Channel go free-to-air to Mission Post every home in New Zealand. Thank you  New Zealand Pacific Union Conference also for your regular Sabbath School has 83 churches, 26 companies, and mission offerings that spread the news of 13,167 members. In a population of Jesus’ soon coming around the world. 4,792,000, there is one church member for every 364 people. AdventistMission.org By Andrew McChesney 21 22

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division Gangster toGangster God that hehadstolen. he placedthoselicenseplates onninecars its licenseplates.Overthe nextfewyears, bucket,” hesaid,butonly wanteditfor construction site.Thevehicle wasa“rust wages — earnedbyhelpinghisfather ata he hadboughthisfirstcarwith homes andstealingcars.Attheageof10, Although onlyaboy, hewasbreakinginto and hehadbeenkickedoutofschool. tointerveneinhislife. he prayedforGod and uncleinnorthernNewZealandwhen nine children,wasstayingwithanaunt dark, cryingintomypillow.” recalled. “Iwaslonelyatnight,inthe J didn’t knowattheageof12. who heayson RogerscriedouttoaGod His parentsdeemedhimuncontrollable, Twelve-year-old Jayson,theyoungestof “I don’t knowhoworwhy,” Jayson Jayson didn’t sense animmediate answer later hisparentstookhimbackhometo to hisnighttimeprayer, andaboutayear and share.” announced, “Let’s gatheraround thetable he broughtoutapileofBibles and hour ofsweat-inducingexercise. Then evening. Andrewledthe group inan types atasportshallonWednesday street-fighting tactics. hoping toimprovehisintimidationand classes. Jaysonjumpedattheopportunity, pool andinvitedhimtofreekickboxing approached himatthepublicswimming dollars (U.S.$7,000)frommethsales. three days,heearned10,000NewZealand syndicate.” four distributorsworkingformeina and extortion.Ihadthreecooks known forhomeinvasions,kidnapping, and theunderworld,”hesaid.“Iwas habit for11years. meth andsoldthedrugtosupporthisown several years.Thenhebecameaddictedto gang andgrewsoldmarijuanafor at herparents’house.Hejoinedastreet and movedinwithhisgirlfriend,Krystal, was 15,hestolehisfirstmarijuanaplant New Zealand’s biggestcity, Auckland. NEW ZEALAND Jayson Rogers,36 Jayson joinedagroupofother gangster- Then onedayamannamedAndrew He alsocarriedwadsofcash.Everytwoto “I washeavilyinvolvedwithgangs Jayson sankdeeperintocrime.Whenhe

| September7 He pondered the matter all week and Story Tips returned to the class the next Wednesday. After several weeks, Andrew asked him if  Watch a video of Jayson at the link: he would like to help lead the class. Jayson bit.ly/Jayson-Rogers. was surprised and pleased. To qualify as  Find photos for this story at the link: an instructor, he took a first-aid course at bit.ly/fb-mq. Andrew’s church, Papatoetoe Seventh-day Adventist Community Church. Mission Post Soon Jayson was attending Sabbath  As early as 1874, an interest in Seventh- worship services with Krystal and their day Adventist teachings was kindled in seven children. He accepted Jesus and, New Zealand by publications sent from after 21 years living with Krystal, he asked friends or relatives in the U.S. for her hand in marriage. The church  In October 1885, U.S. Adventist celebrated its largest family baptism when minister S.N. Haskell came to Auckland he, his wife, and five of their children from Australia and lodged in the were baptized on the same Sabbath. The boardinghouse of Edward Hare who, with his wife, became the first converts two youngest children were dedicated to in New Zealand. Within four weeks Jesus that day. a small group began to observe the Jayson, 36, said his life has changed seventh-day Sabbath in Auckland. completely over the past three years. “We no longer live with six-foot fences, baseball bats, sawed-off shotguns, and Jayson was shocked and wanted to Rambo-style knives,” he said. “We now leave. But for some reason he stayed. live with white picket fences, and I own As Andrew spoke for 30 minutes, my own handyman business.” Jayson raged against God in his mind. He He still co-leads the kickboxing class, thought, “Who is God? I am God in my which has yielded at least six baptisms. world. I have workers, my own minions. A tear slid down his cheek as he thought about his parents. “I used to receive phone

I am well respected and highly looked up ZEALAND NEW to. I am God.” calls from my worried Mom every day,” he said in an interview in an Auckland diner. He returned to reality when Andrew “She witnessed firsthand the ugly nature ended the meeting by reading Jesus’ words of what I had become. Now I don’t hear in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not lay up for from her, and I take that as a good thing.” yourselves treasures on earth, where moth He hopes to point his parents and and rust destroy and where thieves break others to Christ. in and steal; but lay up for yourselves “Now I am peaceful, happy,” he said. treasures in heaven, where neither moth “I wouldn’t change it for anything. I am nor rust destroys and where thieves do not God’s disciple now, and I want to share break in and steal.” the Word as much as I can in any way He Jayson was confused. How could he lay wants me to.”  up his jewelry in heaven out of the reach AdventistMission.org of rust and fellow thieves? By Andrew McChesney 23 24

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division Always Pressing Forward and 10people werebaptized.Thenhe Joeli organized evangelisticmeetings, to anotherChristiandenomination. Still, many ofwhomwererelatives andbelonged a hostilereceptionfromthe villagers, home village,Nabouciwa. Buthereceived a burningdesiretosharehisfaithwith Two ofhisnephewshaddied. Both hadbeenbrokeninacaraccident. suffering theconsequences.” day. It’s thewrongday. Nowyouare our village.You worshiponadifferent will comeifyoubringthatnewbeliefinto “It’s acursetoyou.Muchmorebadluck Don’t bringittothevillage,”shesaid. into thefaceofhisdistraughtaunt. J looked upfromhishospitalbedand oeli Rabo,aninsuranceagentinFiji, When Joeliwasbaptizedearlier, hehad Joeli lookeddownathisbandagedarms. “Son, youhavetoleavethatchurch. for thebuilding. members tojoinhiminclearingtheland He scheduledadayforthenewchurch secured aplotoflandtobuildchurch. whether Iam doingYour will.” Idon’tin thehospital,“DearGod, know the church.Heprayedduring hismonth confidence, hewasn’t sureaboutbuilding her eyes. life foryourson’s life.” fortheopportunitytogivemy thank God son tobecomeanAdventistoneday, I’d son. IfIdiedonthishospitalbedforyour Adventist church. talk himoutofhisplanstobuildthe escaped uninjured. Joeli’s armswerebroken.Somehow, hisson 13, werehospitalizedwithseriousinjuries. mother andtheothernephew, whowas old brotherwerekilledinstantly. Their The 27-year-old nephewandhis16-year- wheel, andthecarveeredoffroad. old son. younger brothers,andJoeli’s own13-year- sedan werethenephew’s motherandtwo to theNadiairport.AlsoinSubaru got upearlytodrivehis27-year-old nephew FIJI Joeli Rabo,67 But whenhe leftthehospital,hehad Although Joelihadspoken with The auntturnedaway. Shehadtearsin “Auntie,” hesaid,“You haveonlyone Joeli lookedupatherfromhisbed. Joeli’s auntcametothehospital Around 4a.m.,Joelifellasleepatthe The daybeforethelandclearing,Joeli

| September14 no doubt that the church must be built. He could say with Ellen White: “Suffering Story Tips has been the portion of the people of God from the days of the martyr Abel. The  Pronounce Joeli as: jo-LI. patriarchs suffered for being true to God  Watch a video of Joeli at the link: and obedient to His commandments. The bit.ly/Joeli-Rabo. great Head of the church suffered for our  Find photos for this story at the link: sake; His first apostles and the primitive bit.ly/fb-mq. church suffered; the millions of martyrs suffered, and the Reformers suffered. And Mission Post why should we, who have the blessed  Fiji has 166 churches, 101 companies, hope of immortality, to be consummated and 26,487 members. In a population of at the soon appearing of Christ, shrink 878,000, there is one Adventist for each from a life of suffering?” (“Testimonies for 33 people. the Church,” Vol. 1, page 78).  There are two Adventist schools in Fiji: Joeli realized that suffering can happen Navesau Adventist High School and while spreading the gospel because the Suva Adventist College. devil is angry. The church opened within a month. But tragedy struck before Joeli could Joeli was happy that his village had a construct a church building. The chief church, but he longed to plant another died of diabetes. Villagers wondered church, this time in a village called Kiuva. whether the chief was being punished for But he didn’t want tragedy to befall becoming an Adventist. anyone. So, he and other church members Joeli said the devil used the chief’s decided to pray and fast twice a week as death to attack the Adventist work, and they went door to door in the village. he believes that the church building will “Lord, I had a bad experience in my own go up. He also is looking forward to this village,” Joeli prayed every day. “Now I am quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, taking the gospel to another village. Please which will help prevent diabetes deaths don’t allow a bad experience like last time. by funding a health project called “Save Please guide me in all that I do so I don’t 10,000 Toes.” experience the same thing again.” Joeli said God will prevail in the village. FIJI To his astonishment, one of the Speaking in an interview, he remembered villagers took a liking to the Adventists what happened after he told his aunt that and invited Joeli to hold Sabbath worship he was willing to die for her only son. services in his home. He later donated a Later, her son and his four children were plot of land to build an Adventist church. baptized and became Adventists. Joeli said prayer and fasting helped the “When I visited my auntie before she church to be planted easily. died, she thanked me for sharing the Then he went to a third village, Buretu. message with her only son,” Joeli said. Again, he and the church members prayed “God controls everything.”  and fasted. To their joy, the village chief AdventistMission.org and his family were baptized. By Andrew McChesney 25 26

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division they died.But thepastordescribeddeath thought thatpeoplewent toheavenwhen the stateofdead. An Adventistpastorgave asermonabout relatives crowdedinsideforthefuneral. church forthefuneral. condition thatTito builtanAdventist chief grantedachurchfuneral— onthe chief, whohappenedtobehiscousin.The funeral, andheappealedtothevillage Christian denomination. including Tito, belongedtoanother day Adventist.Theothervillagers, father becausehehadbecomeaSeventh- of NakavikaturnedtheirbacksonTito’s him,” saidone. N as asleepand pointedoutthatJesusalso Tito listenedinshock.Healwayshad Tito builtasmallshed,andheother Tito wantedhisfathertohaveaproper The peopleintheremoteFijianvillage “Just goburyhim,”saidanother. “You can’t haveachurchfuneralfor his fatherdied. wantedtohelpTitoobody when Conversion Funeral FIJI called deathasleepinthestoryofLazarus Kositela Tito, 33 room whenthe churchmembervisited. and theirtwo youngchildreninanother part oftheBiblestudies.She shutherself more Biblestudies. more, andheinvitedthe man toreturnfor the stateofdead.Tito wantedtoknow home andgavehimaBiblestudyabout about whathappenswhenpeopledie.” house,” hesaid.“Iwanttoknowmore an Adventistguest. after thefuneral,Tito grabbedthearmof services inhisownchurch. had neverreadtheBibleduringworship saw thatitmatchedthepastor’s words.He Christ willrisefirst.” Andthedead in with thetrumpetofGod. shout, withthevoiceofanarchangel,and Himself willdescendfromheavenwitha second coming.Heread,“FortheLord would wakeupintheirgravesatJesus’ Thessalonians 4:16andreadthatthedead John 11matchedthepastor’s words. the pastorspoke.Tito sawthatthewordsin in John11. But Tito’s wife,Vika, didn’t wantany The churchmemberaccompaniedhim “Please comewithmetomyfamily’s When themournersgatheredforameal Again, Tito lookedintheBibleand The pastorthenturnedto1 Tito’s sisterhandedhimaBibletoreadas

| September21 After two months, Tito reached the Bible study about baptism, and he Story Tips announced that he wanted to be baptized. Vika wept when she learned about  Even though Tito’s first name is Kositela, everyone calls him Tito. his decision. “I chose you because we have the same  Watch a video of Tito at the link: beliefs,” she said. “If this is your church, bit.ly/Kositela-Tito. then it is better for us to separate. We  Find photos for this story at the link: have two kids. You take one, and I’ll take bit.ly/fb-mq the other.” Tito was sad, but he would not be swayed. Fast Facts “Vika, from now on God will be No. 1  The first word in the native Fijian in my life and you will be No. 2,” he said. language you’ll need to learn is “Bula,” “But I promise you one thing. If my love which means “hello,” because you will for you was 50 percent before, now it will hear it everywhere, although most people in Fiji speak English as well. be 100 percent.” After the baptism, Tito told Vika that he  Many islanders raise their eyebrows as a wouldn’t stop her from attending her church nonverbal way of saying “yes.” on Sundays. But he asked her not to cook or  The Meke is a celebration of culture do laundry anymore on Saturdays. He said through traditional storytelling and dancing using songs that is performed at he would do both on Sundays. Fijian festivals. A month passed, and Vika noticed that her husband truly wasn’t the man whom she had married. When he finished his studies. Soon she was baptized. work as a schoolteacher for the day, he no Today, Tito, 33, teaches Sabbath School longer went out to drink with friends. He in addition to his classroom at school. didn’t invite friends over for conversations Vika teaches the children’s Primary class. filled with smoking and cursing. Instead he Tito is giving Bible studies to the villagers, came straight home from work and spent and two have been baptized. time with her and the children. He didn’t He has faced trouble at school because of his faith. One day, he arrived to find drink, smoke, or curse. someone had urinated on his desk. One day she called him over. FIJI Another day, someone scrawled an “Tito, I have really seen something obscenity about him on the school wall. different in you,” she said. “You are not The school principal had to call the police the Tito that I knew before. We used to when a drunken villager threatened him fight, but not anymore. We had many with a knife. But Tito is determined to differences, but not now. We have a lot of share the gospel. He prays, “God, I am family time together. Please, I also want to willing to share Your words to the rest of know this truth.” this community. Please use me in these Tito had been praying for Vika, and last days.”  her words thrilled his heart. They prayed together, and he arranged for Bible By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 27 28

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division No Leg, New Life day, “I’ve gottodosomethingforGod, relearned towalk. Hethoughtdayafter Lepani receivedanartificial legand Christ. Nowhehadonlyone leg. legstoleadanyone used histwogood the church17yearsearlierbuthadnever He feltespeciallysadbecausehehadjoined for months,wonderingwhatwasleftinlife. to beamputated. worse. Finally, thedoctorsaidleghad because Lepanihaddiabetes,onlygot Naqarani. Thewounddidn’t healand, repairing achurchinFijianvillage, cut hisrightlegwithaknifewhile L After the operation, Lepani lay in bed After theoperation,Lepanilayinbed The retiredschoolteacheraccidentally Ten monthsaftertheamputation, was over. epani Kuruduaduafeltlikehislife 13 house, thedoor suddenlyburstopen,and “I wanttovisitNico’s house.” neighbor whodidn’t belongtoanychurch. sometimes worshippedwith Nico,a you worshipnow?”heaskedAnna. moved acrosstheislandtoNadi.“Howdo hoped wouldhelpwiththemeetings,had He learnedthatherparents,whomhehad greeted atthedoorbyAnna,daughter. to helporganizeevangelisticmeetings. in thevillage.Hedecidedtoaskfamily remembered thatanAdventistfamilylived his churchhadwantedtoevangelize.He he prayed,rememberedavillagethat even thoughIonlyhaveoneleg.”As Lepani Kuruduadua,60 to readit. enough withthematerialsoasnottohave the story, butheorsheshouldbefamiliar As Lepaniand AnnaapproachedNico’s “Let’s haveashortprayer,” Lepanisaid. The youngwomanrepliedthatshe He tookataxitothevillageandwas th SABBATH The narratordoesn’t needtomemorize

| September28 Thirteenth Sabbath Program

 Congregational “O Worship the King” Song The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, No. 83  Welcome Superintendent or Sabbath School teacher  Prayer  Program “No Leg, New Life”

 Offering  Closing Song “How Great Thou Art” The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, No. 83  Closing Prayer

a man ran out. “You’re the visitor that I’ve been waiting for!” he exclaimed. Story Tips Nico invited the visitors inside and  Pronounce Lepani as: le-PAN-ee. related an incredible story. He said he had prayed and prayed for someone to speak  Watch a video of Lepani at the link: to him about Jesus. He had promised God bit.ly/Lepani-K. that he would join the church of the first  Find photos for this story at the link: person who came to his house. That very bit.ly/fb-mq. morning, as he was gathering firewood in the bush, he felt a strong impression that the long-awaited visitor would show up. Other villagers joined them. After Lepani He rushed home, but no one was there. organized evangelistic meetings, 16 people He took a shower and had just emerged were baptized, including Niko, his wife, when he heard Lepani’s voice outside. and two of their three daughters. “I want to join your church,” Nico said. As the congregation grew, the “Next Sabbath, I’ll come to your church church moved out of the house and with my wife and three daughters.” into its own building. Lepani prayed with him and expressed Lepani, now 60, is delighted, and he joy over his desire to join the church. But hopes to plant a church in another village he said, “Next Sabbath, I’ll come to you, this year. Then he plans to plant a church and we will open a church in your house.” in a third village next year. For the next seven months, Lepani He said the loss of his leg changed his life. worshipped every Sabbath in Nico’s home. “What I couldn’t do with two legs, I am AdventistMission.org 29 30

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division ...... Division to: a programtopreventdiabetesandhelp Offering willsupport“Save10,000Toes,” realized whatIamsupposedtodo.” able todowithoneleg,”hesaid.“Ihave bit.ly/one-leg-fiji. the Children’s magazine oratthelink: Mission whoalsoonlyhasone leg, inRead aboutSenitiki, Adventist ChurchSeventh-day inNaqarani, Fiji. Roqara,friend, Senitiki 55,inside Naqarani Lepani Kuruduadua, witha speaking 60,left,

The ThirteenthSabbathOfferingnextquarterwill helptheEast-CentralAfrica Part oftoday’s ThirteenSabbath Build fourchildren’s Sabbath Schoolclassrooms,Ethiopia Construct KisumuAdventist Hospital, Establish JubaAdventist Secondary School,SouthSudan Open fieldheadquarters, Wau, SouthSudan Expand healthservicesat KinshasaAdventistClinic,DemocraticRepublic ofCongo of Congo Build threeauditoriumsatPhilipLemonAdventist University, DemocraticRepublic Construct classroomsatGomaAdventistUniversity, Democratic RepublicofCongo Future Thirteenth SabbathProjects

second church soon. church inanearby village andplansto opena its amputation.With oneleg, he hasplanted a his legwhilerepairing thechurch, leadingto Adventist Church inNaqarani, Fiji. Heinjured Lepani standingoutsideNaqarani Seventh-day By AndrewMcChesney offering. countries .Thankyouforyourgenerous people withdiabetesinFijiandsixother  Leader’s Resources YOUTH & ADULT Mission Be sure to download your free Mission Spotlight video, featuring video reports from around the South Pacific Division and beyond. Download or stream from the Adventist Mission website at bit.ly/ EDITORIAL missionspotlight. A printable mission bank image, which children Andrew McChesney Editor and adults can color, can be downloaded at bit.ly/bank-coloring-page. Wendy Trim Editorial Assistant Online Information Emily Harding Layout Editor Following are sources of information that may be helpful in preparing for the mission segment of Sabbath School. For more OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION information on the cultures and history of the countries featured in Gary Krause Director Rick Kajiura Communication Director this quarterly, visit your local library or a travel agency, or visit the Homer Trecartin websites listed below. Centers Director Websites Jeff Scoggins Program Director

Australia: government website australia.gov.au COMMUNICATION TEAM Information Planet bit.ly/InfoPlanAust Andrew McChesney Editor, Mission Fiji: government website fiji.gov.fj Laurie Falvo Projects Manager Nations Online bit.ly/NatOnFiji Kayla Ewert Projects Manager Ricky Oliveras Video Producer Earley Simon Video Producer New Caledonia: government website gouv.nc Donna Rodill Editorial Assistant CIA World Factbook bit.ly/CIANewCal Special thanks to the following organizers and New Zealand: government website govt.nz interpreters: Tolemo Cakobau (Fiji), Mary Roze New Zealand Tourism bit.ly/AboutNZ Falau (New Caledonia), Joanis Fezamo (Papua Papua New Guinea: government website bit.ly/GovPNG New Guinea), Brad Kemp (New Zealand), Victor Kulakov (New Zealand), George Manimu Lonely Planet bit.ly/LonelyPNG (Solomon Islands), Litiana Turner (Australia), Solomon Islands: government website bit.ly/SIGov Felix Wadrobert (New Caledonia)

World Travel Guide bit.ly/WTGSolIsl Website: AdventistMission.org

Seventh-day Adventist Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and South Pacific Division spd.adventist.org copyrighted © 2019 by the Office of Adventist Mission, General Conference of Seventh-day Australian Union Conference adventist.org.au Adventists®, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver New Zealand Pacific Union Conference bit.ly/NZPUnionC Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. Papua New Guinea Union Mission adventist.org.pg Printed in U.S.A. Trans Pacific Union Mission bit.ly/TPUMSDA Third Quarter 2019 An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions Volume 108, Number 3 and increase weekly mission giving. Determine a goal for your class’s ADVENTIST® and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST® weekly mission offering. Multiply it by 14, allowing a double goal for are the registered trademarks of the General the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. Permission is granted to reproduce material Remind your Sabbath School members that their regular weekly from this quarterly for local Sabbath Schools and children’s ministries programs. Permission mission offerings will help the missionary work of the world church to reproduce any portion of this material for and that one quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go sale, publication in another periodical, or other directly to the projects in the South Pacific Division. On the twelfth commercial use must be authorized in writing by the editor at the above address. Sabbath, report on mission giving during the quarter. Encourage members to double or triple their normal mission giving on For subscription inquiries, e-mail Rebecca Hilde at [email protected] or Thirteenth Sabbath. Count the offering and record the amount given call 1-800-545-2449 or 1-208-465-2527 Annual at the end of Sabbath School. subscription rates per edition: domestic, NKJV. Bible texts credited to NKJV are from the New King U.S.$7.50; international, U.S.$14.50. North 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 Taiwan

SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION PROJECTS Philippines 1 CONFERENCE CHURCHES COMPANIES MEMBERSHIP POPULATION Produce “Daniel Children’s Series,” a 13-part animated series for children aged 8-12 Cambodia Vietnam Australian Union Conference 429 107 61,338 24,487,000 following the adventures of Daniel and his three friends, in Australia New Zealand Pacific Union Conference 146 50 20,474 5,378,000 2 “Save 10,000 Toes,” a campaign to prevent toe amputations through health services Papua New Guinea Union Mission 1,045 3,182 315,759 8,317,000 in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Kiribati, and Tonga Trans Pacific Union Mission 530 701 120,445 2,333,000 Division Totals Palau 2,150 4,040 518,016 40,515,000 3 Construct Hope TV and radio studios in Tongatapu, Tonga Brunei

Malaysia

Kiribati 2

Indonesia Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands

Timor Leste (East Timor) 2 Port Moresby Samoa Vanuatu American Samoa 2 2 2 Fiji 2 2 3 Tonga 1

Australia

Canberra

New Zealand

Wellington