MissionYOUTH & ADULT 2020 •QUARTER 3 • WEST- DIVISION

AdventistMission.org

3Q20 AY.indd 1 5/16/19 1:24 PM Contents

On the Cover: Angelique Abeme prayed for six years for her estranged husband, Peter, to know God in . Then something incredible happened. Story, page 10.

LIBERIA 18 Fasting for a Family | Aug. 22

4 A School for Liberia | July 4 20 Crawling Like a Baby | Aug. 29 6 Reading Made Easy | July 11 22 Odd Dreams and a Girl | Sept. 5 8 Long Road Back Home | July 18 24 Illiterate but Able to Read | Sept. 12 GABON 26 Murderous Mother | Sept. 19 10 Prayer Saves Marriage | July 25 12 Betting on Horses | Aug. 1 28 Thirteenth Sabbath: Free at Last | Sept. 26 14 Sweet, Gentle Voice | Aug. 8 30 Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects

GUINEA 31 Leader’s Resources 16 Prayer and Persecution | Aug. 15 32 Map

= stories of special interest to teens Your Offerings at Work

Three years ago, the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering helped build a Seventh-day Adventist high school in Gabon’s capital, Libreville. The school, pictured under construction in March 2019, was scheduled to open for 280 students in October 2020. You can read stories from Gabon on © 2020 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® • All rights reserved pages 10-15 and download the above photos and other 12501 Old Columbia Pike,

West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 Thirteenth Sabbath project photos at: bit.ly/WAD-2020. 1-800-648-5824 • AdventistMission.org 2

3Q20 AY.indd 2 5/16/19 1:24 PM Dear Sabbath School Leader, Andrew McChesney Editor

This quarter we feature the West-Central we traveled together to the three countries. Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventists, He noted that 75 percent of the Adventist which is comprised of 22 countries: Benin, schools in the division are located Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, in Ghana, where roughly half of the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, division’s 834,183 church members live. Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, “The church is not strong in French- Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, speaking countries,” Alexis said. “We Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, need to help them with schools and even Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its small clinics.” headquarters is in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Guinea and Gabon are French- The region is home to 436 million people, speaking countries, while Liberia and including 834,183 Adventists. That’s a Nigeria speak English. ratio of one Adventist for 523 people. The three Thirteenth Sabbath projects The significant role that Seventh-day for this quarter are listed on this page. Adventist education plays in spreading If you want to make your Sabbath the gospel became abundantly clear as I School class come alive, we offer a collected mission stories in three countries variety of photos, videos, and other — Guinea and Liberia, which will receive materials to accompany each mission part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering story. More information is provided in to open schools this quarter, and Gabon, the sidebar with each story. Download a which received a Thirteenth Sabbath PDF of facts and activities at bit.ly/WAD- offering to construct a school in 2017. facts. Also, follow us at facebook.com/ “Education is key to developing the missionquarterlies. church in West Africa,” Alexis Kouadio, For photos of tourist sites and other assistant Global Mission officer for the scenes from the featured countries, I West-Central Africa Division, told me as recommend searching on a free photo bank such as pixabay.com and unsplash.com. Opportunities You also can download the PDF version of the Children’s Mission magazine at The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering bit.ly/childrensmission and the youth this quarter will help to: and adult Mission magazine at bit.ly/  Construct Kobaya Academy, a K-12 adultmission. Mission Spotlight videos are school, in Conakry, Guinea available at bit.ly/missionspotlight.  Open an elementary school/center of If I can be of assistance, contact me at influence in Buchanan, Liberia [email protected].  Establish a medical center in Abuja, Nigeria Thank you for encouraging others to be mission-minded!  AdventistMission.org 3

3Q20 AY.indd 3 5/16/19 1:24 PM 3Q20 AY.indd 4 4 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division A School forA School Liberia B ancestors, we have come to you today ancestors, wehavecome to youtoday time toplantcrops,Father prayed,“O sacrifices totheancestors. Whenitwas to themountainspray and make Father walkedfourhoursfromthevillage the mountainsofLiberia.Everysooften, members worshippeddeadancestorsin joining thesecretsociety. Heknewthat I die.” should joinsoyoucanreplacemewhen ancestors weremembers,”hesaid.“You become amember. Darlington was7,heinvitedtheboyto He belongedtoasecretsocietyand,when church, butFatherwasnotsocommitted. ill members. was adeaconandhismotherprayedfor But Darlingtonwasn’t interestedin “Son, yourgreat-grandfatherandother Mother wasverydedicatedtothe Christian churchwherehisfather . DarlingtonTeah grewupina Sunday worship. not showanyBibleverses thatsupported correct day. TheSunday pastorcould whether SaturdayorSunday wasthe and heaskedtheSundaypastortoexplain Sabbath intheBibleforfirsttime, day Sabbath.Darlingtonreadaboutthe village andspokeabouttheseventh- day Adventistevangelistcametothe week, buthedidn’t understandtheBible. told Father. she tooktheboytoanothervillage. Father preparedtogothemountains, say, andshebluntlyrefused.Whenever couldn’t sayyesorno.ButMotherhada about joiningthesecretsociety. He ancestors hadagreedtohonorhisprayers. wasgone,believedthat the that thefood he wentbackfortheplatesand,seeing on thegroundandreturnedhome.Later, ancestors. Helefttheplatesandchicken and offeredplatesofwhitericetothe sickness inourvillage.” we havecometoyoubecauseofthe swept thevillage,heprayed,“Oancestors, who isbearingachild.”Whenanillness we havecometoyougiveourdaughter was pregnant,Fatherprayed,“Oancestors, want thefarmtoprosper.” WhenMother because wewanttoplantourfarm,and LIBERIA B. DarlingtonTeah, 59 When hewasayoungman,Seventh- Darlington attendedSundaySchoolevery “I wanthimtobecomeaChristian,”she Darlington didn’t haveanychoice Every time,hesacrificedachicken | July4

5/16/19 1:25 PM “My son, the seventh day is the Sabbath,” the pastor said. “We worship on Story Tips A School for Liberia Sunday to remember Christ’s resurrection.” Darlington wanted to follow the Bible,  Watch Darlington on YouTube: bit.ly/Darlington-Teah. and he was baptized into the Adventist LIBERIA B. Darlington Teah, 59 Church. Father wasn’t pleased with  Download photos on Facebook the decision because he knew that it (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank (bit.ly/school-for-liberia). meant his son would never worship their ancestors. Mother was happy that her son  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. loved God. Darlington longed to become a pastor, Mission Post and he prayed about it constantly. The Adventist Church didn’t have a seminary  The GC Daily Bulletin of Oct. 24, 1889, in Liberia, so he would have to travel referred to “Bro. Gaston from Liberia, to Ghana or Nigeria to study theology. who recently embraced the truth, and has gone back to his country to sow the seeds Knowing that his parents didn’t have of precious truth among his kindred.” In money to help him, he worked hard reporting his 1892 visit to West Africa to save money for tuition. Civil war at the January 1893 General Conference Session, Lawrence C. Chadwick appealed interrupted his efforts and, in the 1990s, for a missionary to be sent to open a he entered politics and was elected to the mission “at or near the home of Brother national parliament. Gaston” (GC Daily Bulletin 5:2, Jan. He thought, “If I can’t save money 29, 1893). However, Liberia had to wait another 33 years for the first official to study theology abroad, I can at least Seventh-day Adventist missionaries. establish an Adventist seminary in Liberia so young people can study here.”  On April 30, 1930, the first four Adventist converts were baptized at A year after his election, he sponsored Seahn. Among them was Willie Helbig, a bill creating the Adventist University of who later became the first Liberian West Africa in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. ordained minister. After six years in parliament, he left  About 85.5 percent of Liberia’s amid strong pressure to accept bribes population practices Christianity, and and to join secret societies. He enrolled Muslims comprise 12.2 percent of the population, mostly Malikite Sunni, with in theology classes at the Adventist sizeable Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities. University of West Africa. Today, Darlington is a pastor and the president of the South-East Liberia Mission, which will receive part of this quarter’s Thank you for planning a generous Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to construct a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to construct K-6 school in the city of Buchanan. an elementary school in Buchanan, “I am very thankful that the Lord Liberia, to replace a school destroyed in has called me to work in His service in Liberia’s civil war. preparing people for His soon coming,” Darlington said.  By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 5

3Q20 AY.indd 5 5/16/19 1:25 PM 3Q20 AY.indd 6 6 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division and couldn’t read. to sharethegospel.Buthe was45yearsold what tothink.HelovedJesus andwanted spread thegospelmessage. Joedidn’t know church membersthatitwastheirturnto in theAdventistChurch,toldnew were baptized. Seeyah andaneighboringvillage,Dehyu, agreed and,amonthlater, all 50adultsin the evangelisttostudywiththem.Willie the Bible,andheothervillagersasked village. Joewasinterestedtolearnfrom evangelist, Willie Helbig,arrivedinthe reason toread. and stillworkedonthefarm.Hehadno older, hemarriedandhadninechildren on thefamilyricefarm.Whenhegrew Seeyah, inLiberia.Asaboy, heworked Reading MadeEasy J oe KonyonSeeyahcouldn’t read. Willie, thefirstordainedLiberianpastor One day, aSeventh-dayAdventist There werenoschoolsinhisvillage, with Willie tolearnfromtheBible.Every ever beabletodothat. coming, buthedidn’t knowhowhe would wanted tospeakothersaboutJesus’soon how hewouldrememberalltheverses.He explained themeaningofeveryword. verses. Hereadeachverseoutloudand and showedthemenhowtofindimportant each man.ThenheopenedhisownBible company.in good school. Noneofthemcouldread.Hewas classroom. Noneofthemhadgoneto looked attheotherfivemeninWillie’s in Dehyu.Onthefirstdayofclasses,Joe members toattendaBibletrainingschool and fiveothernewlybaptizedchurch it,” hesaid. LIBERIA S.E. JoeSeeyah,66 Every day, Joeandthe othermenmet Joe prayedearnestly. Hedidn’t know Willie prayedandgaveanewBibleto Willie wasn’t worried.HeinvitedJoe “I can’t opentheBibleandteachfrom | July11

5/16/19 1:25 PM day, Joe prayed for the Holy Spirit to bless their classes. Story Tips Reading Made Easy One day, as Willie guided the men through important verses in the Bible, Joe  Know that Seeyah village is named after Joe’s family. noticed that he had no trouble finding the  Watch Joe on YouTube: bit.ly/Joe-Seeyah. LIBERIA S.E. Joe Seeyah, 66 verses on his own. As Willie read, he was able to follow along in his own Bible. He  Download photos on Facebook looked over at his classmates. They also (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank were able to find the verses and to follow (bit.ly/reading-made-easy). along. Joe and the other men stood up and  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath began reading the Bible out loud to the projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. astonished evangelist. Back at home, Joe tried to read a Fast Facts book other than the Bible, but he  The Society for the Colonization of Free couldn’t understand a word. He found People of Color of America, commonly another book, but he couldn’t read it known as the American Colonization either. However, he was able to read Society, was a group established in the the Bible easily. United States in 1816 that supported the migration of free African Americans Joe went on to become head elder of to the continent of Africa. The society’s the first Seventh-day Adventist church supporters included both religious and established to serve Seeyah village political groups who opposed slavery, and and several other villages in 1937. slave-owners who considered free blacks to be a threat to the stability of the slave- Although he never attended school, he holding system. energetically taught and preached from the Bible at the new church, located in  Liberia is known for its detailed decorative masks, wood carvings of the village of Newcess. He died in 2003 realistic human faces, and carved around the age of 90. accessories, particularly combs, spoons “It was the work of the Holy Spirit,” and forks. Liberian wood sculptures are said his son, S.E. Joe Seeyah, 66, who also heavily influenced by ancient history, folklore, proverbs, spirituality, and rural is a church elder. “It is the Holy Spirit life and show the artist’s attention to who gives knowledge, and He wanted the detail and their connection to the people Seventh-day Adventist message to come and objects sculpted. to our region. He allowed my father to  The of Liberia has been influenced read the Bible.”  by contact, trade, and colonization from the United States, especially from Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth the American South, interwoven with traditional West African foods. The Sabbath Offering will help to construct diet consists largely of and other a K-6 school in Buchanan, Liberia, to starches, tropical fruits, , and replace a school destroyed in Liberia’s civil local fish and . Liberia also has a war several years ago. Buchanan is located baking tradition the settlers brought from the United States that is unique in near Seeyah village. West Africa. AdventistMission.org By Andrew McChesney 7

3Q20 AY.indd 7 5/16/19 1:25 PM 3Q20 AY.indd 8 8 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division Guinean passportandmoved toSenegal. opportunities, soheillegally boughta laundered money. He trickedpeopleoutofmoney. He think oftoearnmoney. Hesoldheroin. resorted toanyschemethathecould but thenfoundhimselfhomeless.He agency, hefinishedhisstudiesinGuinea his childhood. the Seventh-dayAdventistChurchof left in1992,andhequicklyabandoned wife 14yearslater. would returnhomewithanIndonesian take himtoeightcountriesandthathe a trainandtravelingtoGuinea. Long RoadBackHome A After ayear, helonged fornew With thehelpofahumanitarian Times weretoughwhen Alphanso Little didheknowthatthetripwould fled civilwarinLiberiabyboarding t theageof19,AlphansoPeterJuah LIBERIA listened toAlphanso’s storyandoffered missionary wholedtheSunday church his churchthenextSunday. TheU.S. stranger. Thestranger invitedhimtovisit whileplayingpoolwithaSpanish God commandments. Oneday, hespokeabout knew thathewasn’t obeyingGod’s on Sabbaths.Hefeltbadbecausehe life. Herememberedattendingchurch Alphanso begantothinkhardabout including visastopursuehistravels. He foundmoneycouldbuyanything, live onandtomovethenextplace. and launderedmoney, earningenoughto country, hesolddrugs,trickedpeople, India, Thailand,andIndonesia.Ineach traveled toTunisia andthentoJordan, money. Seekingmoreopportunities,he people outofmoney, andlaundered For fouryears,hesoldheroin,tricked Alphanso PeterJuah,48 In Indonesia’s capital,Jakarta, | July18

5/16/19 1:25 PM to help pay his house rent. In exchange, Alphanso worked on the church grounds Story Tips Long Road Back Home and managed its sound system. Alphanso kept thinking about the  Pronounce Alphanso as: alf-ON-zo. Sabbath. He found the address of an  Pronounce Wastinah as: was-TIN-ah. Adventist church and began to attend LIBERIA Alphanso Peter Juah, 48  Watch Alphanso on YouTube: worship services every Sabbath while still bit.ly/Alphanso-Juah. working at the other church on Sundays. With only a high-school education, he  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank longed to study at a university, but no one (bit.ly/long-road-home). seemed able to assist him. The Sunday church didn’t help. The Adventists also  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. didn’t help, but they did reconnect him with his parents in Liberia. He hadn’t Fast Facts spoken with them since fleeing Liberia. Three years passed, and the Sunday  Monrovia is the capital and largest church stopped supporting him. city of Liberia. The city is named in honor of U.S. President James Alphanso returned to selling drugs, Monroe, a prominent supporter of tricking people, and laundering money. the colonization of Liberia and the But something big happened in his life American Colonization Society. Along around that time. He got married. While with Washington, it is one of two national capitals to be named after a working at the Sunday church, he had U.S. president. fallen in love with Wastinah, a relative of the missionary’s housekeeper. After a while, Alphanso felt the Buchanan, and Wastinah sells rice, oil, familiar desire for new opportunities and and other groceries from a roadside stall moved to China. After four months, in front of their house. They have three he sent for his wife. While in China, children ages 12, 8, and 5. Alphanso readily shares his story about God’s grace his thoughts returned to God, and he in his life. found an English-language Bible at “The fear of the Lord is the beginning a bookstore. One day, his eye fell on of wisdom,” he said. “When I felt guilty, Ecclesiastes 1:2, which reads, “Vanity of the fear of the Lord emerged in my heart, vanities, all is vanity.” and He made me wise.”  “My life is filled with vanity,” he thought. “I need to go home to Africa.” Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth He and Wastinah flew to Liberia Sabbath Offering will help to construct in 2006. Back home, he had a tearful a K-6 school in Buchanan, Liberia, to reunion with his parents. He gave his replace a school destroyed in Liberia’s civil heart to Jesus and went to church every war. Alphanso hopes to send his children Sabbath. Wastinah joined him and, after to the school. some time, gave her heart to Jesus. Today, Alphanso works as a logger in By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 9

3Q20 AY.indd 9 5/16/19 1:25 PM 10 3Q20 AY.indd 10 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division Prayer Saves Marriage A according totheBible.” Church saystheSabbath is onSaturday, Sabbath?” sheasked.“The Adventist her pastorontheroad. determined todojustthat. ask herownpastorabouttheSabbath.She meetings, theevangelistsuggestedthatshe On thefinalFridayoftwo-week satisfied withtheevangelist’s explanations. seventh dayistheSabbath,andshewasn’t questions abouttheteachingthat evangelistic meetings.Shehadmany day Adventistneighborsinvitedherto smoked. Angeliquelovedhim. Gabon. Lifewashard.Peterdrankand had twogirlsinOyem,acitynorthern “Pastor, isSundayorSaturdaythetrue Walking homethatevening,shemet When Angeliquewas25,Seventh- The couplemovedintogetherand Peter whenshewas15.He20. ngelique Abemefellinlovewith GABON truth,” sheprayed. grant Peteranopportunity toknowthe the truth,andIwishthat youwouldalso pray forhimeverymorningandevening. about theBiblestudies.Shecontinuedto Peter wasinprison,butshehadnoidea release, hewasbaptized. he readilyaccepted.Shortlybeforehis Adventist chaplainofferedBiblestudies, think. Hehadnothingtodo.So,whenan months. Inprison,hehadalotoftimeto innocence, hewasimprisonedforthree and, eventhoughPeterprofessedhis An employeraccusedhimoftheft truth,” sheprayed. grant Peteranopportunitytoknowthe the truth,andIwishthatYou wouldalso night thatPeterwouldknowJesus. Angelique prayedeverymorningand 250 miles(400kilometers)tothesouth. across thecountrytoPort-Gentil,acity asked himtoleavethehouse,hemoved to marryherbutherefused.Whenshe Angelique wasbaptized.SheaskedPeter the truth.Try theAdventistChurch.” is thetruth,”hesaid.“You havelearned Angelique Abeme,45 After Peterwasreleased, he called “Lord, You haveallowedmetoknow Angelique learnedfromafriendthat In Port-Gentil,Peterranintotrouble. She sentBiblestudiestoPeterbymail. “Lord, You haveallowedmetoknow Life grewmorecomplicatedafter “What youhavebeentoldaboutSaturday The pastordidn’t arguewithher. | July25 5/16/19 1:25 PM At the camporee, Peter greeted Story Tips Angelique with a big smile and a warm hug. They had a warm two-hour  Pronounce Angelique as: anzhel-EEK. conversation, and Peter left. Angelique  Watch Angelique on YouTube: saw that his life really had changed. He bit.ly/Angelique-Abeme. wasn’t smoking and drinking. He had a  Download photos on Facebook sweet disposition. (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank Peter returned for more conversations (bit.ly/prayer-saves-marriage). during the camporee. After the camporee ended, Angelique stayed in Port-Gentil

 Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath GABON projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. for another week to talk with Peter. That’s when Peter proposed. Mission Post “I love you,” he said. “I miss you, and I want to get married.”  The Gabon Mission was established “Yes, let’s get married!” Angelique in 1975 and organized in 1978. Its said happily. headquarters is in the capital, Libreville. That was eight years ago. Today, Peter  The Adventist Church was officially serves as a church elder in Gabon’s recognized by the government of Gabon in 1981. capital, Libreville, and loves Jesus with all his heart. Angelique couldn’t be happier.  About 73 percent of the population During those dark days, she found hope practice at least some elements of Christianity; 12 percent practice Islam; in Matthew 6:33, where Jesus said, “But 10 percent practice traditional indigenous seek first the kingdom of God and His religious beliefs exclusively; and 5 percent righteousness, and all these things shall be practice no religion or are atheists. added to you.” “Our first goal should be to seek the Angelique to tell her about his new faith. kingdom of God,” Angelique said. “If “Now I understand why you wanted me you are a believer but your spouse isn’t, to move out,” he said. “I am so happy to keep praying because God can work a be an Adventist.” miracle in the heart. After six years, God Angelique was overjoyed. She still answered my prayers.”  loved Peter. She changed her daily prayers to ask that Peter’s life show the fruits of Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth his faith. She wanted him to never drink Sabbath Offering helped construct a high or smoke again. school for 280 students in Angelique’s Peter called regularly to ask about hometown, Libreville, in Gabon. Thank Angelique and their daughters. During one you for planning a big Thirteenth Sabbath call, Angelique told Peter that she planned Offering this quarter to help build schools to take their younger daughter to a week-long in two other African countries, Guinea Pathfinder camporee in Port-Gentil. Peter and and Liberia. Angelique agreed to meet at the camporee. It had been six years since they separated. By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 11

3Q20 AY.indd 11 5/16/19 1:25 PM 12 3Q20 AY.indd 12 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division H Christophe’s fascination withgambling Gabon’s capital,Libreville,noticed the horses. andsleepinordertotryhisluckon every dayonthehorses.Heneglected 5,000 CentralAfricanfrancs,orU.S.$10, together. SoonChristophewasbetting gave himmoneysotheycouldplay to bet. televised fromFrance. where theycouldbetonliveraces Instead, theywenttoroadsidekiosks pastime inGabon. horseracing alsohadbecomeapopular while studyingatauniversityinFrance. become infatuatedwithbettingonhorses Seventh-day Adventistfriends in Christophe didn’t haveajob,soFather Father tookChristophetothekiosks But noonewenttothetracksbet. When hereturnedhome,foundthat Christophe’s father, amathteacher, had when hewas27. orseracing caughtChristophe’s fancy An Accident blood — fearedthathewouldbenext. blood paralyzed andhisblueT-shirt soaked in died. Christophe— lyinginbed,hislegs soon died.Minuteslater, theotherwoman two womentothehospital.Onewoman The driverdidn’t stopandspedaway. and struckhimtwonearbywomen. the bettingform,acarveeredoffstreet back tothekiosk. that hestillhad2,000francs,went failed tobetonacertainhorse.Seeing betting formsandrealizedthathehad Returning home,hedouble-checkedhis 3,000 francsonahorseraceatkiosk. order toplay.” mind,” hesaid.“You havetoknowmathin and cautionedhimagainstit. on Horses Betting GABON Christophe MinstaMi-Owono,44 Kind strangers rushed Christophe and the Kind strangersrushedChristopheandthe outsidethekiosk,fillingout As hestood One Sundaymorning,Christophelost “It’s agamewhereyoucanexerciseyour Christophe didn’t wanttolistenthem. | August1

5/16/19 1:25 PM He began to pray. “Lord, I understand,” he said. “You have Story Tips told me many times to stop gambling, but I didn’t listen. Now I will listen.”  Watch Christophe on YouTube: bit.ly/Christophe-Minsta. He had no way to contact his family, and he couldn’t move. Without any  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank money, he received no medical care in the (bit.ly/betting-on-horses). hospital for two days. Finally, he managed to pull himself out of bed and to crawl to  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. the street to hail a taxi. He spent his last GABON 2,000 francs on the ride home. Fast Facts

Complete Recovery  The official name of the country is the At home, a sister, who was a nurse, Gabonese Republic. tended to him. He prayed for healing. The official language is French. “Lord, You spared me from death,” he said. “If You protect me and help me walk Low population density, abundant again, I will surrender my life to You and petroleum, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon stop gambling.” one of the most prosperous countries Three weeks later, he was able to walk. in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the third He immediately gathered piles of old highest GDP per capita (after Equatorial betting forms and burned them in front of Guinea and Botswana) in the region. his family. Local Gabonese is based on “I don’t care if I am rich or poor,” staples of , rice or manioc paste, fish that is found in plenty along the he said. “I will serve God and never rivers and coastal belt, game meat from gamble again.” antelopes, porcupine, wild boar, and He never did gamble again. Today, snake, as well as tropical fruits like , , and sugarcane. Christophe Minsta Mi-Owono is 44 and works as a housepainter. Gabon is home to hundreds of dolomite “It’s better to work for money than to and limestone caves With a large part of Gabon hidden under natural forest play in hope of easy money,” he said.  cover, many of these caves remain unexplored. These caves, especially the Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth Abanda caves, are home to the rare Sabbath Offering helped construct a high Orange cave-inhabiting Crocodiles, a cave crocodile only found in Gabon. The school for 280 students in Christophe’s caves also hold hundreds of thousands hometown, Libreville, in Gabon. Thank of bats. Gabon caves have a very rich you for planning a big Thirteenth Sabbath underground biodiversity not found anywhere else in the world. Offering this quarter to help build schools in two other African countries, Guinea Gabon is home to 80 percent of Africa’s and Liberia. baboon population. AdventistMission.org By Andrew McChesney 13

3Q20 AY.indd 13 5/16/19 1:25 PM 14 3Q20 AY.indd 14 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division and traditionalAfricanbeliefs. The churchtaughtamix ofChristianity every nightandnotdoing somethingelse. he wasrelievedthatshe atchurch had saidshewasathersister’s house,but surprised toseeachurchwhenhiswife a signreading,“EternalLife.”Jeanwas take himtohersister’s house. house, soonemorningheaskedherto spending somuchtimeathersister’s Jean couldn’t believethathiswifewas same question. her directly. and hefearedtheworst.Finallyasked she hadbeen.Hisimaginationranwild, didn’t knowwhatshewasdoingorwhere West AfricancountryofGabon.Jean home lateinLibreville,capitalofthe J officer JeanObame-Efayong. ealousy changedthelifeofpolice Rosette tookhimtoachurchwith She gavethesameanswereverynight. “Icamefrommysister’s house,”shesaid. The nextnight,heaskedthe “I camefrommysister’s house,”shesaid. Every night,hiswife,Rosette,came Gentle Voice Sweet, GABON Jean Obame-Efayong,58 speak tohim. house. Heheardasweet, gentle voice tent pitchedinasoccerfield nearhis home oneeveningwhen he sawahuge he didn’t haveanytrouble. help metoleaveeasily,” heprayed. church andprayed. reassessed hisowncommitmenttothe during childbirth.Grief-stricken,Jean could learnwhy, sheunexpectedlydied attending churchservices.BeforeJean weekends, heledthechurch. worked asapoliceofficerand,onthe church leader. Duringtheweek,Jean — thechurchmembersmadehima occurrence intraditionalAfricanreligion experience—anot-unheard-of body were friendly. Whenhehadanout-of- interesting, andthechurchmembers don’t returnagain.” or entering?” shesaid.“Comeintoday know whathewasdoing. owned thechurchbuildingdemandedto On thefourthnight,ayoungwomanwho outsideandwatched. attending. Hestood in arowtoseewhetherRosettereallywas Three yearslater, Jeanwas walking He neverreturnedtothechurch,and “If thischurchisn’t thetruechurch, One day, Rosetteabruptlystopped Jean wentin.Thechurchwas “Why areyoucomingandnot Jean wenttothechurchforthreenights | August8

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“Sir, we came here for you,” the voice said. Story Tips Jean stopped and looked around to see who was talking, but he didn’t see  Watch Jean on YouTube: bit.ly/Jean-Obame-Efayong. anybody. As he took a step forward, the voice spoke again.  Download photos on Facebook “Sir, go inside and sit down to hear the (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank (bit.ly/sweet-gentle-voice). gospel,” the voice said. Jean entered the tent and sat in a chair  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. in the back. It was the first night of a 10-day GABON evangelistic series. The Seventh- Fast Facts day Adventist evangelist called for  Libreville is the capital and largest city of repentance, and Jean wept as he listened. Gabon. The city is a port on the Komo Jean came back the next night with a River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. paper and pen to take notes. At the meetings, he felt an irresistible  The region was initially inhabited by the urge to get baptized. At home, he felt an Pygmy peoples; later the people of the Bantu tribes immigrated to the area. irresistible urge to get baptized. He spoke with the evangelist.  About 85 percent of Gabon is covered by “I don’t know anything about your rainforests, 11 percent of which has been dedicated for national parks, making church, but I want to be baptized all the these some of the largest nature parks in time,” he said. the world. The evangelist smiled.  Gabon comprises a largely young “The Lord has revealed Himself to you,” population with 40 percent of the total he said. “Come and be baptized.” population being below 15 years of age. Jean was baptized. About 56 percent of the total population Today, he is an active church member. is within the 15-64 age bracket. Less than 4 percent of the population is above Every day, he remembers the sweet, gentle 65 years. voice that he heard as he passed the tent. “The voice helped me to find the right  Mask making and ritual face paint are important parts of Gabonese culture, and path,” he said. “Jesus lives in my life.”  styles vary dramatically between groups. The Gabonese people use masks to praise Three years ago, part of the Thirteenth the ancestors and to mark important life Sabbath Offering helped construct a events by signifying transformation. They high school for 280 students in Jean’s are part of funeral and agrarian rites, and Gabonese people use them to promote hometown, Libreville, in Gabon. Thank fertility, provide spiritual protection and you for planning a big Thirteenth Sabbath express cultural identity. Masks vary Offering this quarter to help build schools in style and include geometric shapes, in two other African countries, Guinea stylized and exaggerated features and realistically detailed faces. and Liberia.

By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 15

3Q20 AY.indd 15 5/16/19 1:25 PM 16 3Q20 AY.indd 16 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division my mindcouldn’t focus.Icouldhear my eveningprayers. Christianity. Moreover, itwastimefor indoors. Ididn’t wanttohearabout touch somethinglikethis.” my hands. Alpha doesn’t read,andhethrustitinto husband, Alpha. the pamphlet,Itoldhimtogiveitmy in thecorner. Without eventouching and Isawtheword“Jesus”insmallletters porch ofourhouseinConakry, Guinea. with himforafewminutesonthefront Prayer andPersecution W But Icouldn’t pray. Iwassoupset that I openedthedoorandwent “I’m notaChristian!”Isaid.“Ican’t I threwittotheground. “Read thistome,”hesaid. The pamphletwasinFrench,which But thenhehandedmeapamphlet, showed up,myhusbandandIspoke hen theSeventh-dayAdventist nothing helped. I remembered how my nothing helped.Iremembered howmy bought himmedicineatthe hospital,but mistake. Ineverhadbeen pregnant. I learnedthatthephysicianhadmadea subsided. WhenIwenttothehospital, time inmonths.Thepainandbleeding didn’t wantanypartofhisChristianity. and threwitaway. Ilikedhisprayer, but I onto thisandevenreadittoyouoneday.” he said,kindly, “Maybeyourwifewillhold phone numberonit.HandingittoAlpha, name, Tranqulle Fassinadouno,andcell pamphlet fromtheporchandwrotehis Your willbedone.” please Lord,giveherthebaby. Butifnot, The babywasinmebutdead. told methatmybabywasnolongeralive. last visittothehospital,physicianhad even myhusbanddidn’t know. Duringmy and toldtheAdventistsomethingthat difficult pregnancy. Pleaseprayforher.” it goestoofast.Andmywifeishavinga by training.“Also,whenIearnmoney, he hadanyprayerrequests. husband ontheporch.HeaskedAlphaif the Adventistvisitortalkingwithmy GUINEA Maimouna Bangoura,29 Then my young son Anthony fell ill. I Then myyoungsonAnthony fellill.I That night,Isleptwellforthefirst As soonasheleft,Itoreupthepamphlet When hefinished,pickedupthe He prayed,“Ifthebabyistocome, “Please prayforme,”IaskedtheAdventist. My husbandwasshockedatthenews. Hearing thosewords,Imarchedoutside “I needwork,”saidAlpha,anelectrician | August15

5/16/19 1:25 PM illness had gone away after Tranqulle prayed. “Why did I throw away the pamphlet Story Tips with his phone number?” I berated myself. The next day, I was thinking about the  Ask a woman to share this first-person account. phone number when I heard a knock on the door. It was Tranqulle.  Pronounce Maimouna as: MY-moon-a. “I’m so glad that you’re here!” I cried.  Pronounce Tranqulle as: tran-KEEL. “I was just wishing that I had your phone number. Please pray for my sick son.”  Read Tranqulle’s side of the story Tranqulle prayed, and my son recovered next week. that same afternoon.  Watch Maimouna on YouTube: Alpha and I were amazed, but I still bit.ly/Maimouna-Bangoura. didn’t want to go to church. However, I  Download photos on Facebook kept remembering Tranqulle’s prayers, so (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank I decided to go to church after a month. (bit.ly/prayer-and-persecution).

I was deeply touched by the sermon and  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath GUINEA resolved to attend every Sabbath. projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Alpha, however, only went for two Sabbaths. He stopped going when friends Mission Post warned him that he would lose his mind. Alpha also didn’t want me to attend, but  The work in Guinea began in 1987, when a lay couple from Europe quietly I went without telling him. After a while, witnessed to their faith. In April 1992, he noticed that I was leaving the house the first war refugees from Liberia every Sabbath, and friends told him that arrived in Guinea, including a number of they had seen me enter the church. Seventh-day Adventists and a licensed Alpha started beating me. Once he beat pastor, W. Oloysius, who soon began witnessing for their faith. me so badly that I had to go to the hospital. But I kept going to church, I learned in Sabbath School how to live better. Despite the persecution, I have peace Tranqulle, who I learned is a Global of mind because I have Christ. Could you Mission pioneer, gave me Bible studies. I please pray for me? With the Lord, victory resolved to become a Christian when we is on our side. My husband will one day read about the seventh-day Sabbath in become a Christian.  the Ten Commandments. Alpha still beats me. Every time I open Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth my mouth to talk, he slaps me and refuses Sabbath Offering will help construct to speak with me. We no longer share the Kobaya Academy, a K-12 school where same bed, and he refuses to support our Maimouna’s sons and other children can sons. I pray for him every day. study in Conakry, Guinea. Thank you One of my favorite Bible verses is John for remembering Maimouna and the 14:1, where Jesus says, “Let not your heart Adventist work in Guinea in your prayers. be troubled; you believe in God, believe AdventistMission.org also in Me.” By Maimouna Bangoura as told to Andrew McChesney 17

3Q20 AY.indd 17 5/16/19 1:25 PM 18 3Q20 AY.indd 18 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division Love forMan.” the woman. their names. I appreciatedtheirchildren.askedfor the parents. ABCs. “Your childrenaresmart!”Itold school? Whatdidyoulearntoday?” boy wasofschoolage,Iasked,“Howis Fassinadouno. I’mveryhappytomeetyou.” I said,smiling.“MynameisTranqulle and twoboyswereplayingnearby. woman werechattingonthefrontporch, Fasting for aFamily T I pulledoutapamphletcalled “God’s “I’m Alpha,”saidherhusband. “My nameisMaimounaBangoura,”said The parentsrelaxedwhentheysawthat The boysmiledandbeganrecitinghis I wentovertothechildren.Seeingone morning,brother andsister,”“Good right into the yard. A man and right intotheyard.Amanand he housegatewasopen,soIwalked GUINEA midnight, 1a.m.,and4a.m. wokemeupat For threenights,God towakemeupatnight. So, IaskedGod contacts asaGlobalMission pioneer. busy givingBiblestudiesandmakingnew the coupleduringdaybecauseIwas oranges, andriceporridge. the evening,Iatealightmealofbananas, ordrinkduringdaylighthours.In food it inmyBible.Forthreedays,Ididn’t eat their namesonapieceofpaperandplaced soon asIexitedthegate,wrotedown but resolvedtoprayandfastforthem.As they werenotinterested,Ileftthehouse read somethingbearingJesus’name.Seeing their non-Christianfaith,itisasintoeven in smalltextonthecover. Forpeopleof pamphlet becauseJesus’namewaswritten a requestformetoprayherhealth. and, aswespoke,Maimounareturnedwith Alpha whetherhehadanyprayerrequests indoors forhereveningprayers.Iasked this forme.” it tomywife.” “No, giveittomyhusband.” “This isthewordofGod.” handing thepamphlettoMaimouna. Tranqulle Fassinadouno,34 I didn’t havemuchtimetoprayfor I realizedthatnoonewantedtoreadthe She threwittothegroundandwent Turning toMaimouna,hesaid,“Read “No, Ican’t readit,”Alphasaid.“Give She glancedatthepamphletandsaid, news,”Isaid, “Here issomegood | August22

5/16/19 1:25 PM “Thank you, God, for allowing me to meet this family,” I prayed. “I want for Your Story Tips will to be fulfilled with them. I want You to  Ask a man to share this visit them before these three days are up.” first-person account. The three days ended on a Sabbath. I decided to visit Alpha and Maimouna  Pronounce Tranqulle as: tran-KEEL. after church services, and I prayed before  Pronounce Maimouna as: MY-moon-a leaving the house, “I’m not trying to  Read Maimouna’s side of the story convert this family. It is the Holy Spirit last week. who will convert them. Be with me as I just visit them.”  Read more about Tranqulle next week. During Sabbath School, I felt an urge to  Watch Tranqulle on YouTube: visit the family immediately in case they bit.ly/Tranqulle-Fassinadouno. weren’t home later in the day.  Download photos on Facebook Maimouna greeted me enthusiastically (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank

and said she had been healed after my (bit.ly/fasting-for-family). GUINEA prayer. She asked me to pray for her son,  Download photos of Thirteenth who had fallen ill. I prayed. That evening, Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. I returned to ask about him. “He’s over there, playing with his own and announced, “It’s Jesus and me friends,” Maimouna said, pointing. “I’m so forever.” She gave her heart to Him. happy for what you have done.” Alpha still beats her, but Maimouna has I asked Maimouna to call the boy so we found strength in Matthew 10:37, where could pray together. Seeing Jesus’ hand in Jesus says, “He who loves father or mother the matter, I took the courage to mention more than Me is not worthy of Me. And Him by name. he who loves son or daughter more than “It is Jesus who healed your son,” I said. Me is not worthy of Me. … He who finds “So, we are going to pray in Jesus’ name.” his life will lose it, and he who loses his Bowing my head, I prayed, “Thank life for My sake will find it.” you, God, for You are worthy of honor She and I fast and pray for Alpha. and glory because it is through You that I am so happy that she loves Jesus. Real this miracle has happened. Thank you for joy is being able to show the truth to healing Anthony. In the name of Jesus of people and to see them embrace it.  Nazareth, Amen.” A month later, Alpha and Maimouna Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth came to church. Alpha soon stopped Sabbath Offering will help construct attending, and he beat his wife every Kobaya Academy, a much-needed K-12 evening for still going. That didn’t stop school in Conakry, Guinea. Thank you her, and she said to me, “Please teach me for remembering Tranqulle and all Global the Bible. I want to know the Bible.” Mission pioneers in your prayers. We began to study the Bible. After a while, she began to read the Bible on her By Tranqulle Fassinadouno as told to Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 19

3Q20 AY.indd 19 5/16/19 1:25 PM 20 3Q20 AY.indd 20 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division Crawling Like aBaby O someone toprayforher. With great effort, Oumou wasn’t aChristian, butshewanted The visitorreadfromthe Bibleandprayed. talking withavisitorinanother room. couldn’t walk. Oumou suffered.Forfouryears,she younger sister, andadozenotherrelatives. home, whereshelivedwithheruncle,a could help.Shestayedinbedatthefamily help. Hetookhertowitchdoctors,butnone various hospitals,butnophysiciancould in Conakry, Guinea. she crawledlikeababyinthefamilyhome She couldnotwalk.Althoughshewasold, serious pain.Shecouldnotsleepatnight. One day, Oumouoverheardhersister Four longyearspassed.Forfouryears, An elderlyuncle,Amara,tookherto Her kneesswelledup,andshesuffered husband died. umou Toure fellterriblyillafterher for help.OnSabbathmorning, Tranqulle house, butshecouldn’t walk.She asked Adventist church.Itwasn’t farfromher “Where isyourchurch?” fasted forOumoutwoweeks. prayed withheragain.Heand first timeinyears.Herpainsubsided. of Jesus.” you tohealmysisterOumouinthename for thepastthreedaysher. NowIask here. You gavemecouragetofastandpray daughter,” hesaid.“You allowedmetobe who isintheworld.” because Hewhoisinyougreaterthanhe little children,andhaveovercomethem, 1 John4:4,whichsays,“You areofGod, was standingoverherbed. on thedoorand,amomentlater, Tranqulle on allfours.Hedidn’t pray. astonished toseetheoldwomancrawling hands andkneestothenextroom. she climbedoutofbedandcrawledonher GUINEA Oumou Toure, 55 He toldhertheaddressof aSeventh-day One dayOumouabruptlyaskedhim, The nextday, Tranqulle returnedand That night,Oumousleptwellforthe “Lord, thankyouforthelifeofyour Then heclosedhiseyestopray. Tranqulle openedhisBibleandread Oumou wasoverjoyed. “Mama, Ihavecometopray,” hesaid. Three dayslater, Oumouheardaknock The visitor, Tranqulle Fassinadouno,was “Please, prayforme,too,”shepleaded. | August29

5/16/19 1:25 PM our holy book, you will no longer be part Story Tips of our family.” Oumou thought about her four-year  Pronounce Oumou as: OO-moo. illness and how she had been healed. She  Pronounce Tranqulle as: tran-KEEL. lifted her eyes to heaven.  Read more about Tranqulle last week. “I choose the Bible, that black book,” she said.  Watch Oumou on YouTube: bit.ly/Oumou-Toure. Uncle Amara sneered at Oumou. “Now that you have chosen the Bible,  Download photos on Facebook take it and preach to us,” he said. (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank (bit.ly/crawling-like-baby). Tears formed in Oumou’s eyes. She didn’t know how to read.  Download photos of Thirteenth “You know that I cannot read,” she Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. said, weeping. “I never went to school. But the man who prayed for me read from

Fast Facts GUINEA the Bible and I was healed. I believe the  Guinea’s mineral wealth makes it power in the Bible can do more for me potentially one of Africa’s richest countries, but its people are among the and for you, too.” poorest in West Africa. Uncle Amara angrily ordered family members to pack Oumou’s belongings.  Only 27 percent of adults in Guinea can read. “You have become a Christian,” he said. “Go to the Christians. We don’t want anything more to do with you.” carried Oumou to his motorcycle and Oumou had no place to live, and she drove her to church. He took her again slept in various friends’ houses. It was the next Sabbath, and the next. Every difficult, but she refused to denounce day, Oumou grew stronger. On the fourth Jesus. When church members learned Sabbath, she walked to church alone. about her situation, they offered her a Tranqulle was amazed to see Oumou place to live on the church compound. walking around at the church. That’s where she lives today. “This is a miracle of Jesus!” he exclaimed. “I thank God for my new family,” Oumou’s uncle and other family Oumou said. “I will be with the Lord members were happy that she felt better, Jesus forever.”  but they did not like seeing her go to church. They weren’t Christians, and they Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth felt that Oumou was being disrespectful of Sabbath Offering will help construct their family’s religion. Uncle Amara called Kobaya Academy, a K-12 school in a big family meeting. As a dozen family Conakry, Guinea, where the love of Jesus members watched, he held up a black Bible can be taught to many children from non- and the family’s traditional holy book. Christian homes. “Which book do you choose?” he asked Oumou. “Remember, if you don’t choose By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 21

3Q20 AY.indd 21 5/16/19 1:25 PM 22 3Q20 AY.indd 22 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division Odd Dreams andaGirl deeply disturbedher, anditweighedheavily being. Thethoughtofahuman sacrifice witchdoctor tosacrificebut neverahuman must beanalbino.” a humansacrifice,”hesaid.“Thesacrifice visited himforablessingin2013. 24-year-old Mariabysurprisewhenshe handbags inGuinea’s capital,Conakry. a bigstoresellingstylishclothingand house inagatedcompound,twocars,and made herdaughterrich.Mariaowneda across theWest Africancountry. Shealso a wealthybusinesswomanwithmanyshops blessings seemedtowork.Motherbecame family businessinGuinea. witchdoctor toobtainablessingforthe S Maria had brought cows to the Maria hadbroughtcowsto the “If youwanttoberich,haveoffer The witchdoctor, however, caught The visitswerepartoflife,andthe accompanied hermothertothe ince theageof2,Mariahad into thecompoundandapproached thecar opened. Asshewaited,a small girldarted compound gateandstopped forittobe morning, shedrovehercar tothe decided togoshopping.OnSaturday exhausted fromthenightlydreamsand the dreamswouldstop. to slaughterthecow, heassuredherthat Maria obeyed.Asthewitchdoctorprepared told Mariatobuyacowforsacrifice. sacrifice?” shesaid. nights ofdreams. she wondered. belonged toanothermajorworldreligion. because shewasn’t aChristian.She is ourFatherandSaviorJesusChrist.” on thestreet.Thevoicesaid,“Thesolution This timesheheardavoiceaswalked witchdoctor,” onechildsaid. she couldunderstandthem. children againinadream.Butthistime couldn’t understandwhattheyweresaying. small childrenweretalkingtoher, butshe night. Assheslept,dreamedthattwo on hermindwhenshefellasleepthat GUINEA Maria, 29 By theendofweek,Mariawas That night,Mariahadanotherdream. Mother didn’t likethedreamsatalland “Why dowehavetomakeahuman She toldhermotheraboutthethree “How couldJesusbethesolution?” When sheawoke,waspuzzled The nextnight,Mariadreamedagain. “Thesolutionisnotvisitingthe The nextnight,shesawthesame | September 5

5/16/19 1:25 PM could be of assistance. Story Tips “This little girl asked me to come here,” Maria said, motioning.  Adventist Mission is not identifying Maria by her real name to protect her But the girl was nowhere in sight. safety. She is pictured in the photo. Maria looked out the gate and back into the compound. No girl. She returned  Read more about Maria next week. the puzzled gaze of the kind woman and  Download photos on Facebook suddenly felt a strong desire to tell her (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank (bit.ly/maria-in-guinea). about her dreams. “Can I ask you a question?” she said.  Download photos of Thirteenth “Of ,” the woman said. Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. “I have had many dreams,” she said. Mission Post “I have sacrificed a cow, but nothing has stopped the dreams. I don’t know what  The life expectancy in Guinea is to do.”

56 years. GUINEA “Wait for me,” the woman said. “My  The majority of Guineans work in the husband is a pastor. I will ask him for help.” agriculture sector, which employs about And that is how Maria, a non-Christian 75 percent of the country. in a country where many people are hostile to Christianity, learned about Jesus. Today she is a Christian who loves window. “Do you want to go to church?” Jesus with all her heart. the girl asked. “My conversion to Christianity is a Maria was surprised. miracle,” she said. “No one came to me “I’m not a Christian,” she said. “Why with the Bible, and I didn’t read any are you asking me to go to church? Who Christian books. It was a call from God.” are you looking for?” Maria never saw the girl again. She is “I want to go to church,” the girl said. convinced that the girl was an angel.  Maria looked at the girl closely. She wondered whether the girl was lost and The Seventh-day Adventist Church seeking her parents. She didn’t know faces enormous challenges in spreading about any churches in the neighborhood. the gospel in Guinea, where only 7 Seeming to read her thoughts, the girl percent of the population is Christian, and said, “I know the way.” many people are hostile to Christianity. Maria decided to help the girl find the Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath church, and she got out of the car. After Offering will help construct Kobaya a short walk, Maria and small girl reached Academy, a K-12 school in Conakry, the gated headquarters of the Seventh-day Guinea, where the love of Jesus can Adventist Church in Guinea. A group be taught to many children from non- of people were standing near a church Christian homes. building inside the compound. One of AdventistMission.org them, a woman, asked Maria whether she By Andrew McChesney 23

3Q20 AY.indd 23 5/16/19 1:25 PM 24 3Q20 AY.indd 24 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division Illiterate butAble to Read M family’s religion.” Maria said.“Ihavealways belongedtomy iscallingyou.” Bible fromhisdesk.“God sacrifices,” PastorJacobsaid,liftingup understand whyhewassohappy. Jacob begantosmile. house inConakry, capitalofGuinea. worked justupthestreetfromherluxurious day AdventistChurchinGuinea.He of JacobGbale,presidenttheSeventh- disturbed everynightforaweek. dreams wouldend,butshewasstill sacrificed acowinhopethatthe Jacob heldouttheBible. hasmadeamistake,” “I thinkyourGod “You don’t needtomakeanymore Maria wasshocked.Shecouldn’t heexclaimed. “Glory betoGod!” As Mariadescribedherdreams,Pastor Then astrangerdirectedhertotheoffice kept dreamingaboutJesus.She aria wasn’t aChristian,butshe remembered theBible.The onlywayto stop thinkingaboutJesus. Thenshe worked normally. Mariawasspeechless. flipped throughthechannels.Everything “Come hereandfixmyTV.” is Jesus,Jesus.” channels?” shedemanded.“Everychannel provider. “Whatiswrongwith your Jesus. Click!Anotherprogramabout next channelalsohadaprogramabout Click! Shechangedthechannel.The channel, shesawaprogramaboutJesus. Turning onthetelevisiontoherfavorite drawer andclosedit.Shewantedtorelax. the BibleasifIdon’t knowGod.” walked home.“Theytellmetoread think theyare?”shethoughtas “Who dothesepeople goodbye. saying Jacob, andsheleftwithouteven that shehadacousinwhocouldread. her familywasliterate,andsheconceded said. “Idon’t evenknowhowtoread.” GUINEA Maria, 29 Maria wenttobed,butshe couldn’t A shorttimelater, amanarrivedand “No, it’s notthat!”Mariashouted. “Everything isinorder,” hesaid. The malevoicesoundedpuzzled. Maria calledhersatellitetelevision At home,MaryplacedtheBibleina Maria wasannoyedwithPastor “Take yourBibleandgo,”hesaid. Jacob wroteMaria’s nameinsidetheBible. Pastor Jacobaskedwhetheranyonein “What wouldIdowiththatBible?”Maria “This isyourBible,”hesaid. | September12 5/16/19 1:25 PM “You never went to school!” he Story Tips sputtered. “How can you read?” Yet he underlined the passage. Then he  Adventist Mission is not identifying made Maria repeat it a dozen times so she Maria by her real name to protect her safety. The photo shows her hands. would remember it. Hamadou is a pseudonym. That evening, Maria picked up the Bible and found the Lord’s Prayer. Even though  Pronounce Hamadou as: hama-DOO. she had never learned to read, she found  Pronounce Gbale as: g-ball-EE. that she was able to read it. She turned the  Read more about Maria next week and page and, to her surprise, realized that she last week. could read other verses as well. The next day, Maria couldn’t wait to  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank talk to Hamadou. (bit.ly/maria-in-guinea). “You laughed at me yesterday, so let me  Download photos of Thirteenth show you that I can read,” she said. Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. “No way,” he said. “Not even in your GUINEA dreams can you read.” Maria opened the Bible to a random stop thinking about Jesus would be to read page and read. Hamadou looked startled it, she decided. and then afraid. In the morning, she asked her cousin “How did you do that?” he asked. to come over. “What is this?” she said, “My cousin, that is human holding out the Bible. “Tell me.” intelligence,” Maria said with a smile. “If Her cousin, Hamadou, had studied at a you really believe that you are able to do Christian school in Sierra Leone, and he something, you can do it.” recognized the Bible. “Who gave you that From that moment, Maria read the Bible Bible?” he said. every day. She later realized that it was Jesus “I received it from a pastor,” Maria said. who had given her the ability to read the “What do you want to do with it?” Bible, and she gave her heart to Him.  he said. “You don’t know how to read.” “Look, you went to school,” she said. The Seventh-day Adventist Church “I want you to help me read this Bible. faces enormous challenges in spreading Teach me how to read.” the gospel in Guinea, where only 7 Hamadou opened the Bible. percent of the population is Christian and “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be many people are hostile to Christianity. Your name,” he read. “Your kingdom Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath come, Your will be done on earth as it is Offering will help construct Kobaya in heaven.” Academy, a K–12 school in Conakry, He read until he reached the end of the Guinea, where the love of Jesus can Lord’s Prayer. “Are you happy?” he asked. be taught to many children from non- Maria asked him to underline the verses. Christian homes. Hamadou laughed. He laughed so hard AdventistMission.org that he cried. By Andrew McChesney 25

3Q20 AY.indd 25 5/16/19 1:25 PM 26 3Q20 AY.indd 26 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division praiseworthy tokillafamily member Christianity andeventaught thatitwas know thatherfamily’s religionopposed didn’t understandwhyshehadn’t worked. at thebigstorethatsheowned.Mother second visit.Asaresult,sheskippedwork Seventh-day Adventistchurchfora Bible layinplainsightonatable. didn’t seetheBibleanywhere,”shesaid. searched everywherebutcouldn’t findit.“I marched overtoMaria’s houseinConakry. want hertobecomeaChristian.Mother African countryofGuinea,andshedidn’t Christian worldreligionintheWest daughter MariahadaBible. M Mother lookedupset.Maria didn’t “I wasinchurch,”Mariareplied. “Where wereyou?”sheasked. The nextSabbath,Mariawenttothe Maria lookedintothebedroom.The Mother stormedintothebedroom.She “It’s inmybedroom,”Mariasaid. “Where isyourBible?”shedemanded. Mother hadraisedMariainanon- from cousinHamadouthather other wasfuriouswhenshelearned Mother Murderous GUINEA Maria, 29 phone whenMariacalled. Jesus?”shesaid. between youandmyGod, becauseofme?” “Can youforsakeyourGod Jesus,”hesaid. God, ultimatum. “Choosebetweenmeandyour After thephonecall,hegaveMariaan lived withhisotherwifeinGermany. called Maria’s husband,apolygamistwho Jesus,” shesaid. problems youshouldprayandgivethemto managed tostealyourmoney,” shesaid. blamed theproblemonAdventists. when shelostaccesstoherfunds.Mother a luxuriouslifestyle,expressedconfusion account. Maria,whowasusedtoliving Maria’s mind,Motherblockedherbank you dishonorus,”shesaid. anymore,” shesaid. the week,butIcan’t workonSaturdays who becameaChristian. When MothersawMaria stillclungto After that,herefusedtoanswer the “Then whydoyouaskmetochoose “No way,” hesaid. “Let measkyouaquestion,”Mariasaid. The beatingscontinued.ThenMother “I havelearnedthatwhenyou Maria wasn’t dissuadedfromherconvictions. “Those Christianshavesomehow When thebeatingsdidn’t change “I wouldratherseeyoudeadthanto From thatday, Motherbegantobeather. “Mother, Iamhappytoworkduring | September19 5/16/19 1:25 PM her faith, she announced drastic steps. “My daughter, since you don’t listen Story Tips to me, I have to kill you,” she said. A few days later, she came over to  Adventist Mission is not identifying Maria by her real name to protect her Maria’s house and prepared a favorite . safety. The photo shows her with Jacob Unknown to Maria, the stew contained a Gbale, president of the Seventh-day deadly poison. When the stew was ready, Adventist Church in Guinea. Hamadou Mother asked Maria to carry the pot is a pseudonym. to the table. Maria was hungry but she  Pronounce Hamadou as: hama-DOO. wanted to take a bath first. She promised  Pronounce Gbale as: g-ball-EE. to eat afterward, and Mother left. As Maria bathed, a cat came out of  Read more about Maria next week and last week. nowhere and jumped onto the table, knocking the pot to the floor. Maria didn’t  Download photos on Facebook own a cat. That night, Mother called to (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank (bit.ly/maria-in-guinea). inquire how Maria felt. GUINEA “I’m doing well, very well,” Maria said.  Download photos of Thirteenth Mother’s astonishment was evident Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. over the phone. A few days later, cousin Hamadou the house before remembering that she poured the poison into Maria’s bottle of had forgotten her cell phone. She found drinking water. After drinking, Maria bent Maria unconscious on the floor with the over with a severe stomachache. syringe lying nearby. Knowing that Maria Hamadou saw her agony and told her and Pastor Jacob were friends, and she what he had done. called him for help. The pastor and two “I’m so sorry,” he said. “The witchdoctor church elders brought Maria to church asked me to put medicine into your headquarters and prayed for her. Maria drinking water to purify your body.” vomited and recovered. Immediately Maria called Jacob Gbale, Maria has no doubt that Jesus protects president of the Seventh-day Adventist His children. Church in Guinea, to pray for her. He came “He can solve a crisis because He knows to her house and gave her five charcoal pills. crises before they happen,” she said. Thirty minutes later, she vomited. “Psalm 68:20 says, ‘Our God is a God who The witchdoctor called that evening to saves, from the Sovereign Lord comes find out whether Maria was dead. He was escape from death.’”  shocked to hear her answer the phone. Mother enlisted another cousin to help. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth He arrived at Maria’s house with two Sabbath Offering will help construct friends and a poison-filled syringe. After Kobaya Academy, a K–12 school in sending the housemaid on an errand, he Conakry, Guinea. injected Maria in the left arm and fled. The housemaid didn’t go far beyond By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 27

3Q20 AY.indd 27 5/16/19 1:25 PM 28 3Q20 AY.indd 28 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division I don’t gotochurch. Jesusiseverywhere.” witchdoctor. “Iwill worshipJesus,evenif kill me,”Mariasaidwhen shesawthe Maria’s mindaboutJesus. hired aNigerianwitchdoctortochange Maria waslockedinabedroom. a watchmankeptcloseeyeonthegate. high fencesurroundedtheproperty, and guesthouse, andseveralotherbuildings.A contained amultistorymansion,luxurious and thefamilycompoundinvillage Maria’s 5-year-old son,Mark,camealong. drove hertotheirhomevillageinGuinea. her unconsciousdaughtertothecarand help ofMaria’s youngersister, shecarried Maria’s drinkatarestaurant.With the daughter MariatorenounceChrist. Free at Last M “I willneverdenyJesus,even ifyou Mother hadanefariousplan.She Mother wasawealthybusinessowner, Mother slippedasleepingpillinto hands afterfailingtoconvinceher other tookmattersintoherown 13 too weak.Shesnappeda photo ofMaria but Hadjaexplainedthat hersisterwas Maria’s Adventistfriends. rotting. Hadjawasafraidandcalledoneof barely move.Herfleshsmelledlikeitwas prayed. “Helphertogetwell.” Mother wasnowherenearby. him. Hadjaagreedbutfirstmadesure Maria’s youngersister, Hadja,topraywith mother everynightbeforebed.Hebegged wept. Butherememberedprayingwithhis he sawhismother’s sore-coveredface,he what washappeningtohismother. When bleeding everywhere. on Maria’s skinand,thenextday, shewas powder toMaria’s face.Soresbrokeout his work.Oneday, sheappliedastrange rubbed astrangelotiononherbody. and forcedMariatodrink.Laterhe more powerfulthanyourJesus.” “But letmetellyouthatIhavesomething and failedtokillyoumanytimes,”hesaid. Maria, 29 The friendaskedtospeak withMaria, “Maria isdying,”shesaid. “Pleasepray.” Maria grewsoweakthatshecould Seven monthspassed. “Jesus, pleasesaveMommy,” Mark Maria’s son,Mark,didn’t understand Mother helpedthewitchdoctorwith “I willneverdenyJesus,”shesaid. Maria refused. “Deny Jesusordie,”hesaid. He mixedastrangepowderwithwater “Your mothertoldmethatshehastried The witchdoctorsmiledgrimly. th SABBATH: GUINEA | Sept.26 5/16/19 1:25 PM on her cell phone. The Adventist friend executive secretary and treasurer of the wept when he received it. Adventist Church in Guinea, carried her “I see that your mother wants to kill back to the guest room to rest. her,” he said. “I’ll ask all of the church As she slept, a green, yellow, and brown members to pray.” snake slithered to her window and entered Church members across Guinea prayed a hole in the wall, trying to find a way for Maria. After a few days, the Adventist into the room. It was the snake from the friend called Hadja. tree. A church member noticed “I know it would be difficult for Maria the three-foot (one-meter) snake and to travel, but can you help her escape?” he called for help. said. “I will send money.” A crowd gathered outside the window, Hadja promised to try. The Adventist trying to coax the snake out of the hole. friend contacted Jacob Gbale, president Someone made a makeshift torch by of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in placing a plastic bag doused in gasoline Guinea, who sent money for the car fare on the end of a wooden stick and lighting

to Conakry, the capital. it. When he thrust the fiery stick into the GUINEA Hadja saw her chance on a Friday hole, the snake leaped out and tumbled, morning while Mother was away on writhing, to the ground. Michel jumped business. The witchdoctor left the on the snake, crushing its head instantly. house on an errand, and Hadja sent the Hours later, Maria’s cell phone rang watchman out to buy something at the with a call from an unknown number. She store. Opening the gate of the compound, was afraid to answer, but the person kept she hailed a passing car and paid the calling back. driver to take Maria and Mark to the “If they keep calling you, it must be church headquarters in Conakry. important,” a church friend said. “Answer it.” As Maria and Mark traveled, a small The caller was Maria’s younger sister, commotion erupted at the church’s Hadja. “I just wanted to tell you that you headquarters. The church watchman have time to get well,” she said. “I know spotted a green, yellow, and brown snake in that you will get well now.” a mango tree by the front gate and called “Why do you say that?” Maria asked. for help. But when other men arrived, the “Listen,” Hadja said. “Can you hear the snake was nowhere to be found. sound of the ambulance?” Later that day, Maria and her son “Ambulance? What happened?” Maria arrived and were taken to a guest said. “Did something happen to Mother?” bedroom. The exhausted mother slept. “No, not to Mother,” Hadja said. “The The next morning, on Sabbath, witchdoctor from Nigeria. He fell from church elders anointed Maria and prayed the second floor of our house. He struck for her at the church located on the the ground headfirst and died instantly. compound. As they prayed, Maria fell to His skull was crushed.” the floor unconscious. When she regained The next day, Maria’s sores began consciousness, she was confused, and to disappear. her body ached. Michel Guilavogui, the Maria has given up everything for Jesus AdventistMission.org 29

3Q20 AY.indd 29 5/16/19 1:25 PM 30 3Q20 AY.indd 30 Adventist Mission West-Central Africa Division . Division toconstructthefollowingprojectsinIndia: The ThirteenthSabbathOfferinginfourthquarter2020 willhelptheSouthernAsia ...... news withmypeople.” this truthtomyself.Imustsharethegood talk tothemaboutJesus.Icannotkeep become Christian,”shesaid.“Iwantto missionary toherpeople. strong. Sheisprayingaboutbecominga are inhiding.ButherloveforJesusis still wantstokillher, sosheandMark two cars,andacomfortablelife.Mother — a luxurioushomeandsuccessfulshop, a medical center in Nigeria. Thank you a medicalcenterinNigeria.Thankyou will alsohelpbuildaschoolinLiberiaand like Marktostudyoneday. Your offering in Conakry, Guinea,whereMariawould Kobaya Academy, aK–12school construct today. Partofthemoneywillbeusedto giving totheThirteenthSabbathOffering can helppeoplelikeMariaandMarkby the West-Central AfricaDivision.You the gospelinGuineaandotherpartsof faces enormouschallengesinspreading

“I dreamaboutseeingmypeople The Seventh-dayAdventistChurch Rajanagaram, AndhraPradeshstate Boys’ dormitory, GarmarAcademy, Rustumbada, AndhraPradeshstate Five classrooms,FlaizAdventistCollege, Church building,Amritsar, Punjabstate Church building,Ranchi,Jharkhandstate School, Varanasi, UttarPradesh state Dormitory, Seventh-dayAdventist Uttarakhand state Roorkee AdventistCollege, Roorkee, Second phaseofschoolbuilding at New buildingsforCentral Kannada and Future Thirteenth SabbathProjects  . . . . By AndrewMcChesney Division inyourprayers. Adventist workintheWest-Central Africa for rememberingMaria,Mark,andthe

Story TipsStory        Savanagar Tamil churchesinKarnatakastate Karnataka state English HighSchool,AzamNagar, Two classrooms,Seventh-dayAdventist Tamil Nadustate Higher SecondarySchool,Thanjavur, Boys’ dormitory, E.D.Thomas Memorial Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state day AdventistSecondarySchool, Labs andlibrary, ThirumalaSeventh- University, Ahirewadi,Maharashtrastate School building,SpicerAdventist Sabbath projects:bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenth (bit.ly/maria-in-guinea). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook Read moreaboutMarialastweek. Pronounce Gbaleas:g-ball-EE. Pronounce Hadjaas:ha-JA Hadja isapseudonym. safety. Thephotoshowsherson,Mark. Maria byherrealnametoprotect Adventist Missionisnotidentifying not tohavereadit. familiar enoughwiththematerialsoas the story, butheorsheshouldbe The narratordoesn’t needtomemorize 5/16/19 1:25 PM YOUTH & ADULT Leader’s Resources Mission

Be sure to download your free Mission Spotlight video, featuring EDITORIAL

video reports from around the West-Central Africa Division and Andrew McChesney Editor beyond. Download or stream from the Adventist Mission website at Wendy Trim Editorial Assistant Emily Harding Layout Editor bit.ly/missionspotlight. OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION Online Information Gary Krause Director Following are sources of information that may be helpful in Rick Kajiura Communication Director Homer Trecartin Global Mission Study preparing for the mission segment of Sabbath School. For more Centers Director Jeff Scoggins Program Director information on the cultures and history of the countries featured in this quarterly, visit: COMMUNICATION TEAM Andrew McChesney Editor, Mission Websites Laurie Falvo Projects Manager Liberia: government website bit.ly/LibGovt Kayla Ewert Projects Manager Ricky Oliveras Video Producer World Travel Guide bit.ly/WTGLiberia Earley Simon Video Producer Donna Rodill Editorial Assistant Gabon: government website bit.ly/GabGovt Wanderlust bit.ly/WLGabon Thanks to the following organizers and interpreters: Alexis Ebe (Gabon), Blozo Jacob Guinea: government website bit.ly/RepGuiGovt Gbale (Guinea), James M. Golay (Liberia), Michel Guilavogui (Guinea), Alexis Kouadio (WAD), Lonely Planet bit.ly/LPGuinea Tony Ogouma (Gabon), Elie Weick-Dido (WAD).

Website: AdventistMission.org

Seventh-day Adventist Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and West-Central Africa Division bit.ly/SDAWAD copyrighted © 2019 by the Office of Adventist Mission, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. Printed in U.S.A. and increase weekly mission giving. Determine a goal for your class’s Second Quarter 2020 weekly mission offering. Multiply it by 14, allowing a double goal for Volume 109, Number 3 the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. ADVENTIST® and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST® are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. Remind your Sabbath School members that their regular weekly Permission is granted to reproduce material mission offerings will help the missionary work of the world church from this quarterly for use in local Sabbath Schools and children’s ministries programs. and that one quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go Permission to reproduce any portion of directly to the projects in the West-Central Africa Division. On this material for sale, publication in another periodical, or other commercial use must the twelfth Sabbath, report on mission giving during the quarter. be authorized in writing by the editor at the above address. Encourage members to double or triple their normal mission giving on Thirteenth Sabbath. Count the offering and record the amount given For subscription inquiries, e-mail Rebecca Hilde at [email protected] or at the end of Sabbath School. call 1-800-545-2449 or 1-208-465-2527 Annual 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 James Version ® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by American Division churches can receive a complimentary subscription by contacting the AdventistMission.org Permission. All rights reserved.] above telephone numbers or e-mail address. 31

3Q20 AY.indd 31 5/16/19 1:25 PM Lux. Czech Rep. Ukraine Slovakia Austria Mold. Kazakhstan Hungary Switz. Slovenia Romania Croatia Italy France Bos. & Herz. Serb. Mont. Kos. Bulgaria Spain AlbanMiaace. Georgia Portugal ArmenAiazerb. Uzbeksitan Greece Turkmenistan Turkey

Malta Cyprus Syria Iran 3Q20 AY.indd 32 Lebanon Tunisia Afghanistan Israel Morocco Iraq Jordan

Kuwait Algeria Pakistan Western Sahara Libya Egypt Qatar United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia

Mauritania Mali Nouakchott Oman Yemen Niger Cape Verde Chad Dakar Senegal Eritrea Niamey Banjul Gambia Bamako Burkina Faso Bissau Djibouit Guinea-Bissau Bobo-Dioulasso Nigeria Sudan Guinea Benin N'Djamena Conakry 1 Cote 3 Abuja Freetown d'Ivoire Togo South Sierra Leone Porto Novo YamoussoukroGhana Monrovia Sudan Accra Central African Republic Ethiopia Liberia 2 Lome Cameroon Somaali Bangui Yaounde Uganad Equatorial Guinea Kenya Libreville São Tomé Congo and Príncipe Gabon Rwanda Democratic Republic Brazzaville of the Cnogo Burundi

Tanzania

WEST-CENTRAL AFRICA DIVISION PROJECTSAngola Malawi Zambia UNION CHURCHES COMPANIES MEMBERSHIP POPULATION 1 Construct Kobaya Cameroon Union Mission 955 581 112,493 25,641,000 Academy, a K-12 school, Central African Union Mission 137 96 14,285 28,913,000 in Conakry, Guinea Namibia Mauritius Eastern Nigeria Union Conference 683 612 160,053 41,956,425 2 Open an elementary Eastern Sahel Union Mission 199 346 27,297 86,871,000 school and urbanBot swana Mozambique Northern Ghana Union Mission 902 1,092 198,887 15,073,782 center of influence in Northern Nigeria Union Conference 234 403 45,612 97,075,650 Buchanan, Liberia Southern Ghana Union Conference 927 1,244 166,768 14,390,218 Madagascar 5/16/19 1:25 PM 3 Establish a medical West African Union Mission 131 208 34,842 24,458,000 Swazialnd Western Nigeria Union Conference 297 473 57,691 56,842,925 center in Abuja, Nigeria Lesotho Western Sahel Union Mission 58 92 16,255 44,895,000 TOTAL 4,523 5,147 834,183 436,117,000 SouhtA frica