Adventist Mission DVD

YOUTH AND ADULT MAGAZINE MISSION 2013 • QUARTER 1 • South Pacific Division

www.AdventistMission.org Contents

On the Cover: Village in Papua New Guinea.

= stories of special interest to teens

Your Offerings at Work

The children of Papua New Guinea and the other islands of the South Pacific say thank you for giving them flipchart pictures to look at as they listen to the Bible stories in Sabbath School. Adults like to listen to the children’s Bible stories and see the flipcharts as well. South Pacific Division ission

A Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 800.648.5824 • www.AdventistMission.org 2 Dear Sabbath School Leader,

This quarter we feature the South in 13). The countries with the highest Pacific Division, which includes standard of living tend to have the Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of smallest proportion of Adventists. This the Pacific south of the equator, including creates challenges, not just for reaching Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, those who have not yet been reached, Pitcairn, Samoa, Solomon Islands, but for financing the work in the rest of Vanuatu, and others. the region. While the ratio of Adventist to non- The Challenges Adventist is high in many of the island Almost 37 million people live in this nations, leaders have few resources to region, including more than 423,000 nourish their members. Children’s leaders Adventists. That’s a ratio of one have no lesson quarterlies, no felts, and no Adventist for nearly every 87 people. pictures to hold the children’s attention However, New Zealand and Australia during Sabbath School and impress in have ratios of one Adventist for about their minds God’s eternal lessons. every 400 people. The majority of The South Pacific Division is focusing Adventists live in other island groups, this Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on such as Fiji (one Adventist in 32 reaching the people in the island nations people), Papua New Guinea (one in 28), of the division through three proven the Cook Islands (one in 19), Vanuatu methods: providing medical clinics in (one in 14) and Solomon Islands (one isolated regions, audio Bibles and Bible lessons for adults and children on MP3 players (commonly called “God pods”), and 15,000 Bibles in either English or pidgin (the trade language of the island Opportunities nations) for children, who often are the only members of their families who can This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath read well and who will share God’s Word Offering will help: with their parents and extended families.  build clinics in at least four isolated areas This quarter we can help reach even in Papua New Guinea more people for Christ by giving a generous Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.  purchase solar-powered MP3 players (“God pods”) for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu Yours for the kingdom,

 provide 15,000 Bibles for children in the islands of the south Pacific to use and share with their families. www.AdventistMission.org

3 An Urgent Need Papua New Guinea | Jan. 5

not return for several days. And even if he returned quickly, if he didn’t have an inhaler Sasa could still die. Their only hope was to journey on toward the hospital in the capital. They hiked to the only road in the region, hoping to find a public minibus to take them to the hospital, but they were too late. There would be no minibus until morning. The weary couple came to a small village. They didn’t know anyone there, but they stopped a woman and asked if athleen and her husband, Sasa, any Seventh-day Adventists lived in the Kenjoyed living in the remote village in village. She led them to a house where a south-central Papua New Guinea, where kind husband and wife welcomed them, Kathleen taught school. But when Sasa fed them, and offered them a place to began having trouble with asthma, the sleep. Kathleen and Sasa quickly fell into couple had to walk for hours on the muddy an exhausted sleep. Later Kathleen awoke path to the nearest government clinic to to a voice. The wife was praying for them. get an inhaler to ease Sasa’s symptoms. Kathleen praised God for watching out for them, and she dozed off again. Desperate Hike for Help In the morning the couple gave One night Sasa awoke wheezing and Kathleen and Sasa some food, and her gasping for breath. Sasa’s inhaler was husband led them to where they could empty, and Kathleen feared Sasa would catch a public minibus. An hour later die before they could get medical help. one approached and stopped for the At first light the couple set out along couple. When the driver learned how sick the rugged path toward the clinic. They Sasa was, he drove them straight to the

South Pacific Division finally reached the clinic late that night, hospital in the capital city.

ission but it was closed. Neighbors told them Doctors diagnosed Sasa with severe M that the nurse had gone to the provincial asthma, pneumonia, and malaria. When capital to collect his pay. Sasa was discharged, the couple made dventist A Kathleen feared that the nurse might their way back to the village. 4 Critical Caring themselves. Malaria, tuberculosis, and Life in remote regions of Papua New pneumonia broke out, killing many. Guinea is uncertain. Illnesses that we Jack took a short medical training might consider inconvenient can be life- course and did his best to help his people, threatening without medical help. Many but they needed a trained nurse and a people in the isolated mountain villages better building for a clinic. Recently must journey days to reach medical the clinic has been rebuilt as part of a G uinea w treatment. Some don’t make it. division-wide effort of the Adventist

On the westernmost frontier, the village Church to upgrade medical care in such ne of Tumolbil sits on the border between isolated regions. Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea. Today an Adventist nurse ministers Jack grew up in the village, but left to to the villagers. And Jack has turned his study when he was a young man. While attention to sharing his faith. Because ua PAP studying he became an Adventist. He the people have seen that Adventists returned to his village to share his faith. are people who care, they are willing to He was the only Adventist living there. Some people listened to him, but they listen to God’s message of love. Today had never heard of Adventists and were more than 200 villagers in Tumolbil reluctant to commit to a church they and the surrounding area have accepted hadn’t heard of before. Jesus as their Savior and joined the Then fighting broke out along the Adventist Church. border, and the government teachers and Come and Help Us nurse fled, leaving the locals to fend for But many more isolated regions are crying, “Come, and help us!” They still must hike for hours or days over some of Fast Facts the most rugged terrain in the world to  Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a carry their sick and wounded to receive mountainous island nation that lies medical help. north of Australia. About 6.3 million people live in PNG. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help provide at  While the country has several relatively least four medical outposts in the most modern cities, most of the people still isolated areas of Papua New Guinea. live in small villages in the mountains, isolated from medical facilities. If The clinics will be stocked with the someone becomes ill or is injured, they equipment the trained nurses need to must hike or be carried hours—even minister to the needs of the people. And days—to the nearest clinic. when the people know the Adventists  Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath care, they will listen to God’s message of Offering will help build at least four love. Their future is, quite literally, in our medical clinics in the most isolated hands. Let’s care as Jesus does and give regions of PNG. sacrificially so that they can have life, both physical and spiritual.  www.AdventistMission.org 5 Papua New Guinea | Jan. 12 Joy in the Morning

Wama

After the funeral the family visited their relatives and friends. They shared stories of their home in the highlands. One night as Wama and Siong lay on their sleeping mat listening to the crickets sing, she said ama and Siong jostled against each softly, “I want to stay here and tell the Wother as the bus splashed through people what we’ve learned about God. I shallow rivers, bounced over rocky roads, want our sorrow to become a cause for joy.” and slogged through muddy sandbars Siong had the same thought. “That’s toward the village at the end of the road. good. I’ll come back every chance I get, Wama and Siong had left this village and as soon as I can, I’ll join you. We can filled with hopes for their future. Siong had reach this village together.” So Wama found work with a mining company, and the and the couple’s 12-year-old son, Gary, family enjoyed their new life. While living remained in the village while Siong in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, returned to work. the couple had accepted Jesus into their lives and found greater joy than they had Sharing Glad News ever known. Now they were returning with Wama and Siong had left their home heavy hearts, for the vehicle that carried village to live in the highlands of Papua them also carried the coffin of their daughter. New Guinea several years earlier. They had known nothing about Adventists From Death, a New Life until some friendly Adventists invited the Word had reached the villagers of couple to attend evangelistic meetings. the girl’s death, and the villagers knew There they had learned what it meant to that Wama and Siong would bring their be a true follower of Christ, and they’d

South Pacific Division daughter home to be buried. Villagers joined the Adventist Church. Wherever

ission gathered around the vehicle as it entered they lived they had found Adventists, but M the village. Wama noted that the village no Adventists lived in their home village. hadn’t changed much in the years they had They promised God that they would share dventist A been gone. their faith in their home village and help 6 people find a deeper understanding of a water supply system in the village, the God’s love through Christ. people realized that Adventists really care Most of the villagers call themselves about them, and they willingly listen. Christians, but few have a personal Darren, a youth leader in one of the relationship with Christ. People noticed large churches in the city, asked village the couple’s devotion to God. They heard leaders for permission to bring a team of the family singing hymns in their wood- teens to the village to hold seminars on G uinea w and-thatch home. Some began asking health and family issues. On the day the questions, and Wama invited them to join youth were to arrive, heavy rains had ne her and her son as they worshipped God flooded the riverbeds. Their vehicles on Sabbath. And several people come. couldn’t cross the river, so the teens, Gary began leading the children, telling determined to reach the village, fought their way across the river and walked to them Bible stories and teaching them ua PAP songs about Jesus. He started a children’s the village. They arrived exhausted to find choir that is drawing a lot of interest, and the villagers waiting to listen. he invited his school friends to worship. The teens held several seminars that weekend on health and social issues; they Help Is Coming! included many of God’s promises in their The couple met Gebob [GEH-bob], presentations. No one could remember a teacher in the nearby city who was meetings so well attended or gratefully born in the village. After he became an received. During the farewell some Adventist he returned often to the village villagers cried, for this was the first time to share God’s love. After ADRA installed outsiders had shown such care for them. A Clinic for the Village Mission Post The villagers pleaded for a medical clinic in their village. They explained  About 6.3 million people live in Papua New Guinea (PNG). They that they had to walk hours to reach the speak more than 800 different nearest medical clinic. Without a clinic, languages and dialects. the village doesn’t receive government  Most people who live outside the large medical supplies to treat their most urgent cities live in traditional villages made of illnesses and injuries. wood, bamboo, and thatch. They hunt Plans are under way to build a clinic and fish and grow vegetables in small in this village that will serve several garden plots. A major food source is thousand people in the surrounding area sago, a tasteless starch made from the heart of a palm tree. as well. It will be staffed by Adventist nurses who will help spread God’s  Medical help is one of the most messages of love and healing to thousands urgent needs of people living far from urban centers. who’ve not yet heard. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth  For more on the isolated clinic project Sabbath Offering will bring medical care in PNG, watch this quarter’s Adventist Mission DVD. to people throughout the islands of the South Pacific. Thank you.  www.AdventistMission.org 7 His Mother’s Prayers Papua New Guinea | Jan. 19 Enock

The chaplain took a special interest in him and prayed for him. At first Enock resented the chaplain’s prayers, but in time his heart began to soften. He realized that the life he was living was not the path to happiness. nock slipped into his mother’s home Some students invited him to join Eand saw her on her knees. She’s their singing group. At first he went just praying for me again, he thought. She to hang out with them and watch them keeps praying that I’ll be a pastor. Some practice. But in time he joined in singing pastor I’d make, he told himself. He songs about God’s love and Christ’s wanted to slam the door, but instead he sacrifice—songs he had not dreamed he walked quietly to his room. would ever sing. Before long he agreed to Ever since Enock’s friends had sing with the group. introduced him to alcohol and drugs, The walls that Enock had built around his life had been sliding downward. He his life began to crumble. Far from his stopped attending church with his mother friends who had led him into drugs and and joined his friends when they set out theft, he realized he had gone from to steal. They even prayed to the devil robbing people to raising funds for the for success in their robberies. He tried to needy! One day while talking to the forget his mother’s prayers, but her words chaplain, he asked for prayer. That day he and her prayers spun in his head. confessed his sins and previous life and invited Jesus into his life. A New Hope

South Pacific Division Enock had been expelled from three A New Life

ission schools for his behavior, but his mother Again and again his mother’s words M refused to give up on him. She found an reminded him that she had dedicated him Adventist school that would take him, to God and the ministry. But doubts filled dventist A and she sacrificed to send him there. his heart as he thought of the terrible 8 things he had done. “Will God really “There is an Adventist school on forgive me?” he asked the chaplain. New Britain Island, far from the capital, “God has already forgiven you,” the Sonoma Adventist College,” his chaplain chaplain said. “He forgave you the said as if he’d read the boy’s thoughts. moment you asked Him to.” Enock finished the application, and the A smile spread across Enock’s face. “I chaplain mailed it. want to become a pastor,” he said. A New Beginning G uinea w The two sat in silence for several After graduating from high school,

minutes. Then the chaplain smiled and ne Enock visited his family. “I’ve prayed said, “If God wants you to become a for you all these years,” his mother said. pastor, He will make a way.” He reached Instead of stiffening in anger as he had for a paper and gave it to Enock. for years, he smiled and thanked her. His

Enock stared at the paper. It was an father and brother noted the changes in ua PAP admissions form for the Adventist college. him and began attending church. And He looked at the chaplain, questions when Enock met some of his former filling his eyes. The chaplain nodded. friends, they were so inspired by his faith Enock began filling out the form. At that they gave him money to help pay his the question asking for his three fields of school fees. interest Enock hesitated. Then he wrote Now when Enock returns home during “theology” in all three blanks. Then he school breaks, some of his old friends ask stopped. The Adventist university was him for advice. Enock prays with them nearby, and he didn’t want to be around and tells them that drugs and alcohol his own friends. aren’t the answer—that only Jesus can help them. Enock has found a ministry helping people who are struggling with alcohol, Fast Facts drugs, and spiritual darkness as he once  Papua New Guinea (PNG) is made did. He wants others to know that Jesus up of the eastern half of the island of will forgive them and give them a new New Guinea (the western half is part of start in life, just as He did for him. His Indonesia) and dozens of smaller islands prayer for others is similar to his mother’s surrounding New Guinea. prayers for him, that they may have new  Ever since Adventists first began work life and new hope through Christ. in PNG, education has been a focus of Enock thanks God that his mother outreach. Numerous primary, middle, never gave up praying for him. He and secondary schools dot the islands. thanks God, too, for Adventist teachers Sonoma Adventist College, located on New Britain Island, and Pacific and friends who led him to Christ. Our Adventist University near Port Moresby, mission offerings support Adventist the nation’s capital, have been recipients schools around the world and are one of of Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings to help the most effective mission outreaches we educate Adventist young people for service to God and their country. have. Thank you for giving so that others can have a chance to choose Jesus.  www.AdventistMission.org 9 So Many Dreams Papua New Guinea | Jan. 26 Angela

in England too. I began looking for an Adventist church. The search was more difficult than I had thought. One day I stopped on the street to pray to find an Adventist church, and when I opened my eyes, I saw a building with blue doors. A notice was pinned to them. To my amazement, it was a sign that announced that an Adventist congregation worshipped there! The church was tiny, but the people could never become an Adventist,” were warm and kind. The pastor invited I my father-in-law told me as we me to study with him. stood outside his house and watched I remembered how my husband had some Adventists walk to church. “I complained about all the offerings like my pork!” Adventists gave, and I worried what he Pigs are an important part of the culture would say when I told him I wanted to join in Papua New Guinea, and my husband’s the Adventist Church. I wondered if he family owned lots of them. Families would be angry that I no longer would eat butchered pigs for feasts; bride prices often pork. But when I told him, he was happy! are paid in pigs. And pork is a big part of the local diet. Another Little Church When my husband finished his I wanted to know more about Adventists, about their beliefs and why studies, we returned home to Papua New they went to church on Saturday, but I Guinea. I began attending the large worried about disrespecting my husband Adventist church in town. But I wanted and his family. So I stayed quiet. a little chapel in which to worship. So

South Pacific Division I hired a boy to help me build a little

ission The Blue Doors house on our property where I could M Then my husband and I went to worship God any time. It was simple, England to study. Life was so different with a thatched roof, and about the size dventist A there. I thought, There must be Adventists of the little church in England. 10 When the pastor came to visit, he 1,000 people attended! A number of saw the chapel and offered to dedicate people had been studying with us, and we it to God. Eagerly I agreed. I invited the planned to baptize them at the end of the neighbors and my family to join in the meetings. But to my surprise, my husband dedication. I prepared a huge feast, and asked to be baptized as well! I cried with the pastor invited a singing group from joy. Now we could work together to bring the big church. people to God. G uinea w Some of my Adventist neighbors began Our congregation outgrew that little church, so we took the building apart and worshipping with me there, and in time ne other neighbors came, too. The pastor built a larger church on the same land. urged us to hold regular worship services A retired Adventist pastor has come to in the chapel, so we did. Sometimes one lead us. We’ve started another church in a nearby community, and we plan to start of the elders from the big church came to ua PAP two more. speak to us; other times we shared Bible texts and songs of praise. Soon 20 of us Going Home were meeting every week in the little But still I wasn’t satisfied. I was glad to church. Without realizing it, we had share God’s love with my neighbors, but started a new congregation. what about my own family back in the Our little congregation decided to hold village where I grew up? I started visiting evangelistic meetings in our area on a my home village to share the gospel. large lot nearby. We were amazed when “You carried your husband off to church, and now you want to carry us there as well!” my brother said, laughing. “I’ll have to move to another village so I Mission Post can eat my pigs in peace!” “Then I will build a church in that  More than half of South Pacific Division’s 423,000 Seventh-day place,” I told him. “You can’t run away Adventists live in Papua New Guinea from God!” (PNG). Some 80 percent live in We are giving Bible studies to our rural villages. They make a living as friends and neighbors in the village, and subsistence farmers. soon we will have a new congregation to  While more than 90 percent of the meet in the new church. But there are people in PNG claim to be Christians, other projects brewing as well. A local many still live under the shadow of man has offered to donate land to build ancient worship systems, fearing deities a school. they cannot see. God has given me so many dreams.  Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath So many people need to hear about Offering will provide solar-powered God’s gift of love, and my husband and I MP3 players that can plant God’s Word in the hearts of people who cannot read, want to share that gift with them. Your even when no pastor or lay worker is mission offerings help us share God’s love present to teach them. in Papua New Guinea in so many ways. Thank you. www.AdventistMission.org 11 A Boy’s Burning Faith Papua New Guinea | Feb. 2 Vahid

he earned the right to wear the bright- yellow neckerchief of a Pathfinder. Finding Ways to Share Vahid quickly realized that being a Pathfinder was more than wearing a uniform. He memorized more Bible texts, studied the Pathfinder law and pledge. He learned to be a good citizen and to share his faith with others. “Let’s have family worship!” he told his sister. She nodded, but she was shy about leading. “I’ll lead!” Vahid offered. That evening Vahid asked his parents en-year-old Vahid [vah-HEED] looked if he could have a short family worship Tup and saw his sister walking toward each evening. His mother agreed, but him. He admired her smart uniform— his father wasn’t interested. After dinner green skirt, white blouse, and yellow Vahid called the family together. He read neckerchief. He stood and trotted toward a Bible verse and explained what it meant. her. “When can I join Pathfinders and Then he prayed. Soon his family met for wear a uniform like yours?” he blurted. worship every evening. Vahid read his “You’re old enough to join Bible and Sabbath School lesson every Pathfinders,” she said, smiling. “Come morning before school so he would be with me next Sabbath.” prepared for family worship that evening. Vahid’s family didn’t attend church, It felt good leading the family worship. but his aunt took his sister to Sabbath Vahid’s confidence grew, and when School. Suddenly Vahid felt grown up; his teacher asked him to lead the class he wanted to go with her. On Sabbath in their twice-a-week religion class, he his aunt took Vahid to the children’s agreed. Some of the boys teased him,

South Pacific Division class, where he eagerly learned the songs calling him “preacher boy.” But Vahid just

ission and listened to the Bible stories and smiled and shrugged. Other classmates M memorized his Bible text. He hurried admired his willingness to lead the class. home after church to eat so he’d be ready Vahid discovered that he loved to sing. dventist A to return to church for Pathfinders. Soon He invited some of his friends to join a 12 singing group. He taught them songs he had learned in church, and sometimes they Fast Facts sang during the school worship. Five of the boys began attending church with him.  Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth. Buoyed by his success, Vahid formed The rugged mountainous terrain has a neighborhood boys’ singing group. At isolated pockets of people for centuries.

first the boys sang just for fun. But soon Villagers developed their own dialects G uinea w they were invited to sing at church and in and often cannot understand their nearest neighbors a day’s journey across people’s homes as an outreach. “If we can a steep mountain. ne sing, we can do more,” they said. And the group named themselves the Soul Seekers  Children living in many of these villages are the first generation to attend school and looked for ways to reach out to others. and learn to read and write. This quarter They visited former church members and the children’s Thirteenth Sabbath shut-ins, singing and leading Bible studies. project will help purchase 15,000 Bibles ua PAP for children to share with their parents. Tragedy to Triumph Entire families can be influenced for Then Vahid’s father got seriously ill. God by one Bible placed in the home. His kidneys were failing, and he needed a transplant. But the family didn’t have the money to send him to the Philippines, the nearest country where he could receive Father’s kidney function was improving. treatment for his condition. “God is healing me,” Father declared. Vahid’s heart felt heavy. Without a His family rejoiced. The doctors were miracle, his father would die. How would skeptical, but further testing showed the family survive without him? continued improvement. In time Father’s Vahid’s father couldn’t work, and with kidneys were functioning at an almost time on his hands, he began reading normal level. the Bible. He once had refused to join Father returned home, and when he felt the family for worship, but suddenly he strong enough, he began attending church welcomed their prayers. When he was with the family. He asked Vahid and his too ill to join the family, they prayed friends to study the Bible with him. Mother around his bed. He asked Vahid to invite joined the Bible studies as well, and one the Soul Seekers to come sing and pray day Vahid’s parents announced that they for him. Joyfully, the boys ministered to wanted to join the Adventist Church. Vahid’s father. Today the family worships together, Vahid’s uncle arranged for Father to go united in faith and thankful to God for to the Philippines for treatment. Vahid healing Father’s body and spirit. Vahid is felt a ray of hope. But when the tests thrilled that he and his friends were able to showed severe kidney failure, hope for a play a role in his parents’ journey to God. transplant seemed slim. But the family Our mission offerings help reach and church members kept praying. thousands of people in Papua New Guinea Then good news arrived from the and across the South Pacific with the Philippines. A second test showed that message of God’s love. Thank you! www.AdventistMission.org 13 Papua New Guinea | Feb. 9 Saving the School

Serah

“Don’t let the government take over the Adventist school,” Serah’s father-in- law pleaded. Rescue Plan Serah’s heart ached for the school that erah [SEH-rah] walked slowly toward had meant so much to so many. But what Sthe sturdy old buildings that make up could she do? She and her family lived on the Pisik Adventist Primary School. Grass a larger island not far away. She had a good grew through cracks in the concrete and job as a high school English teacher, and stood knee high around the buildings. her children were doing well in school. Serah had never attended this school, but But she could not stop thinking about her parents and her husband had. Her the mission school. She prayed about it father-in-law had been a pioneer teacher every day, asking God what to do. She at the school 70 years earlier. became convinced that God was asking The school had served the people on her to return to the little island and save a tiny island in northern Papua New the Adventist school. It sounded crazy, Guinea. As Serah walked, she thought even to her, to take her children out of of the generations of Adventist and non- a good school and forfeit her retirement Adventist children who had studied inside benefits to accept a job for which she its walls. Then enrollment dropped as wouldn’t be paid. But she couldn’t deny Adventists moved away and the locals God’s call. realized that the public school on a larger She resigned her job and told the island nearby was less expensive. With mission she would come as a volunteer

South Pacific Division only one retired teacher and 15 students, teacher. The family packed their

ission the remaining members voted to close the belongings and moved back to her home M school and invite the government to take island. They settled into one of the over the buildings and start a public school vacant staff houses and planted a garden dventist A on their island. to provide food for the family. Serah’s 14 children had studied in top schools; now read a passage from the Bible each day. they would study in the lowest-rated When they found a verse that spoke to school in the province. But Serah’s faith their hearts, they were to copy it into was contagious, and the children believed their exercise books. The students’ writing in their mother’s calling and God’s power improved greatly. One 14-year-old student to meet their needs. learned to write English in just two

months and was able to take the national G uinea w Learning From God exam with his class. He scored high Every morning Serah awoke at 3:00 enough to continue on to high school. to ask God for instruction. The school ne fees were lowered, and volunteers began Continuing Education repairing the school buildings. Soon a few Serah’s success in reviving the little parents returned to enroll their children in mission school has led her to return to the school. When people saw how much school herself. She’s studying at Pacific ua PAP the school had improved, others returned. Adventist University, where her thesis For three years Serah worked tirelessly explores the importance of teaching to improve the school’s curriculum. Test English, the language of education in scores rose from last place in the province Papua New Guinea, at an earlier age to fourth place. People asked how this in schools across the island nation. could happen. Her advisors believe that her research Serah knew the answer. God had taught will make a major contribution to the her. As an English teacher, she knew the education system in the country. importance of teaching English—reading, Serah is convinced that children who writing, and speaking. Government exams use the English Bible as one of their were given in English, and if the students textbooks learn English faster and better didn’t excel in English, they couldn’t than those who don’t use it. She has seen do well on the exams. She used several firsthand that reading the Bible helps the methods. One was to ask the students to students master the language. And she knows that it helps them grow spiritually as well. Mission Post Meeting a Great Need Many children in Papua New Guinea  Many families in the South Pacific don’t own a Bible. Parents often can’t read or come from families who cannot afford to write well, and Bibles aren’t available in buy a Bible. This quarter our children are every dialect. But a child who is studying raising money to help children in Papua English in school can read the Bible to New Guinea and across the South Pacific their parents. In this way a single Bible in the home blesses entire families. have a Bible they can read and explore. A Bible in a child’s hands influences the  Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help purchase Bibles for the islands entire family. Help our children give a of the South Pacific. Each Bible costs great offering this Thirteenth Sabbath in about US$10. order to buy 15,000 Bibles for the children across the South Pacific.  www.AdventistMission.org 15 Papua New Guinea | Feb. 16 Run Away to God

Andrew

He grabbed his clean shirt and pulled it over his head as he ran out the open doorway toward the Adventist church. Andrew slowed as he approached the little Adventist church. He had never been there before, but he was sure this was the church the angel meant when he had said, ix-year-old Andrew wandered down “Go to church.” Sthe steps of his parents’ bamboo- He entered the church and sat down and-thatch home in Papua New Guinea. on a wooden bench. Several families were The warm breeze pushed clouds across singing praises to God. Something about the blue sky of his mountain village. being in that simple church touched him Andrew picked up a stick and swatted deeply, and he felt at home. the wildflowers that grew in clusters surrounding his home. Surprise Opposition “Andrew!” A voice called. Andrew After the worship service Andrew whirled around and froze as he gazed at a hurried home. His father met him, a stern man with a bright face and silver hair. The look on his face. “Where have you been?” man seemed to float above the ground. he asked. And he had wings! “I went to church, like the angel Andrew called out, “Papa! Papa! Come said,” Andrew answered, puzzled at his and see!” father’s anger. Andrew’s father ran to where the boy “Do not go to that church again!” his stood. “Look over there, above the bushes!” father said, his words punctuated with a Andrew said, pointing. Papa squinted, but swat across Andrew’s back. he saw nothing. “It’s an angel,” Andrew But the next Saturday Andrew said, his eyes wide with wonder. remembered the bright-faced angel’s

South Pacific Division “Andrew,” the angel’s voice called command. He slipped out of the house and

ission again. “Get dressed and go to church.” ran up the muddy path to the little thatch M Andrew looked at his bare feet. When he church. He returned home to another stern looked up again, the angel was gone. lecture and a beating. What did I do wrong? dventist A Papa went inside, and Andrew followed. he wondered, tears spilling down his face. 16 After Andrew’s third beating, he stopped attending the Adventist church Mission Post and worked with his parents in the  The South Pacific Division has some family’s garden. But he didn’t forget the 423,000 believers. More than half of angel’s command, “Go to church.” them live in the islands that make up Andrew’s village had no school. One Papua New Guinea. day Andrew announced that he was  Many people living in the island G uinea w leaving home to attend school. His nations of the South Pacific can’t read parents allowed him to go. He walked for well. But they are eager to hear God’s ne miles to another village where he could message. One way to hear is by using MP3 players that contain the Bible study. An Adventist family took him and some children’s Sabbath School in. He tended their garden and went to lesson materials in pidgin, the local church with them on Sabbath. trade language. ua PAP Andrew completed just two years of  Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath school before he had to stop studying. His Offering will help provide hundreds of adopted family helped him understand MP3 players, or “God pods,” so that more what it meant to follow Jesus. people can hear God’s message of love. Called to Serve Years passed, and Andrew grew to adulthood. He wanted to serve God, but Bible school or his prayer for God’s help. he had so little education. One day a Surely God sent these men to encourage pastor visited Andrew. During their talk me, he thought. the pastor suggested that Andrew attend The next day his sister brought Andrew the lay workers’ Bible school. an English Bible. Andrew couldn’t read Andrew hung his head. “I can’t,” he said. English, but he knew that he would have “I’ve had only two years of studies.” The to learn to succeed in school. He opened pastor returned and again invited Andrew the Bible and stared at the letters that to study at the Bible school. After a third seemed more like a line of ants crawling invitation, Andrew agreed to pray about across the page. But as he watched, he it. As he prayed, he realized that God was began to recognize words that he could indeed calling him to prepare to become a understand! Andrew realized that God lay pastor. “Help me,” he begged God. was preparing him to serve. The next day Andrew met two strangers Andrew completed the Bible school in the village. He offered them some program and now works as a lay pastor in simple food. After eating, Andrew asked a mountain village in Papua New Guinea. them why they had come to his village. He loves to share how God has led in his “We came to see you,” one man said. life from the time he was a boy. “God has called you to serve Him, and we Thanks to our mission offerings over will help you.” the years, the land of Papua New Guinea Only after the men had gone on their has proven fruitful. Almost 250,000 way did Andrew realize that he hadn’t Adventist believers live and share their mentioned his plans to study at the faith here.  www.AdventistMission.org 17 The Bridge That God Built Papua New Guinea | Feb. 23 Maye

A tropical rain fell most of Sabbath, but it didn’t hamper the villager’s high spirits. Pastor Frank taught them Bible truths, baptized new believers, married couples who had been waiting months, and dedicated babies that had been born since his last visit. The Dangerous Trip Home When it came time for Pastor Frank to return home, one of the believers asked to accompany him to the mission astor Frank carefully descended station. As they walked along the trail Pthe steep mountainside toward the that led to the river, they met some raging river in the gorge below. He people who announced, “Turn back. was on his way to hold meetings in a The river has washed away the bridge. mountain village in the heart of Papua It’s impossible to cross.” New Guinea. Because there are no roads But Pastor Frank told his companion, in the area, the only way to reach the “We are on God’s errand; He will make a village was to follow the narrow path. way to cross the river.” Pastor Frank reached the bottom of When the men arrived at the river, they trail and made his way to the bridge that saw for themselves that the heavy rains had crossed the torrent. The bridge was not torn the fragile bridge from its moorings made of steel or even wood, but had been and washed it away. The rain-swollen river woven from bush vines. Pastor Frank was flowed so fast and so deep and so wide that used to such bridges, and he crossed the there was no way they could cross. The two river without trouble. men prayed that God would make a way for

South Pacific Division When word reached the village that them to cross the river. They tried to find

ission the pastor was coming, happy church a place to cross, but their path was blocked M members ran to greet him. With 21 other by jungle and boulders. churches in his district, Pastor Frank As they stood on the bank of the dventist A didn’t get to each village often. raging river wondering what to do next, 18 a huge log came hurtling down the river. Suddenly the current threw the log into Mission Post the air, and it came to rest on the two riverbanks, just like a bridge.  Thanks to pioneer missionaries, dozens of isolated villages now have grass Quickly the men climbed down the landing strips and can be accessed by muddy bank and stepped gently onto the church’s mission planes. But even

the log. Pastor Frank tested the slippery today church workers slog for miles to G uinea w log and decided that it was safe. The reach some isolated villages. two men carefully walked across the  Such isolated communities can still hear ne log and scrambled up the bank on the the gospel using solar-powered MP3 opposite side. Almost immediately the players, or “God pods.” One MP3 player can help several families hear God’s log crashed back into the swirling water message of love. and hurtled downstream. Still standing in the slippery mud, the  Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering ua PAP will provide MP3 players for Papua New two men offered a heartfelt thank-You to Guinea and other isolated areas of the God and then clambered up the slippery South Pacific. path toward the pastor’s home.

God Made a Way Several years ago part of the Thirteenth They met some men on the trail who Sabbath Offering helped provide a new knew that the vine bridge had been mission plane, so that more villages could washed out. “Where have you come hear God’s message for the first time. That from?” the strangers asked in surprise. offering helped provide flipcharts that are “We came from the village on the other bringing simple Bible stories to life for the side of the river,” Pastor Frank answered. children and adults in these villages. “Impossible!” the strangers said. “That This quarter a portion of the Thirteenth bridge was washed out yesterday!” Then Sabbath Offering will help provide MP3 Pastor Frank told the men about the bridge players to villages, so that people can that God had provided. The strangers hear God’s Word even when a worker didn’t believe the pastor, so they followed isn’t present. And it will provide at least the pastor’s footprints to the riverbank. four desperately needed medical clinics in They saw a gash in the mud where a large some of the most isolated regions of the log had lain. But they saw no log. Then mountainous region, so that villagers who the men knew that God really had made once had to walk for days on dangerous a bridge so that His servants could safely trails to receive medical care can now find cross the dangerous river. help nearer their village homes. Continuing God’s Work Thank you for sharing so that others God’s message continues to spread can have a chance to hear God’s message throughout the isolated villages in the of love for the first time.  mountains and swampy regions of Papua Maye Porter and her husband, George, served as missionaries in New Guinea. Our mission offerings help Papua New Guinea and other regions across the South Pacific make this work possible. for 30 years. www.AdventistMission.org 19 Vanuatu | March 2 Standing Tall for Christ Maxwell

wondered if his father was right, whether someone had cursed him. Certainly some people were angry with him. A New Life Maxwell grew up on a small island ain shot through Maxwell’s knee, and in Vanuatu [vah-noo-AH-too]. There Phe fell to the ground in agony. His people worshipped stones and trees. soccer teammates helped him off the field They treated injuries and sicknesses with and to the campus nurse. When the pain herbs from the forests that surrounded persisted for more than a few days, the their thatched homes. nurse urged Maxwell to see a doctor. Maxwell and his brother traveled to another island to complete high school. Surprise Diagnosis There he was introduced to Adventist The doctor frowned and pointed to a young people who worshipped in the school shadow on the X-ray of Maxwell’s knee. cafeteria on Sabbath. He was impressed “Your pain isn’t from an injury,” he said with their dedication to God and their soberly. “You have a tumor, and it could be careful study of the Bible. He skipped his cancer. We need to remove the tumor as work assignment and joined the Adventists soon as possible.” for worship. He told his brother about the Maxwell sat stunned. I have cancer? he Adventists, and before long both boys asked thought. He needed to pray and decide to join the Adventist Church. what to do. He needed to tell his parents. Maxwell graduated from high school and “Someone has placed a curse on you,” returned home to his island to teach in a Maxwell’s father told him on the phone. primary school. He and his brother were “Come home, where we can treat you with the only Adventists in the village. One

South Pacific Division traditional medicines.” Maxwell didn’t day the Adventist pastor asked Maxwell

ission believe in curses or magic; but he said to take over a Global Mission project that M goodbye to his friends at Fulton College another pioneer had started. Maxwell in Fiji and flew back to his island home agreed, and he began studying with people dventist A in the South Pacific. As he traveled, he and holding cottage meetings. His brother 20 joined him, and soon 12 more villagers were baptized. Fast Facts The Confrontations  Vanuatu is a chain of some 80 small Maxwell and the new believers gathered volcanic islands lying northeast of Australia. Several active volcanoes dot local materials to build a church. But the islands, including Mount Yasur on some villagers didn’t want another church the island of Tanna. in their area, and while Maxwell was  Vanuatu is a tropical island chain with a away, they tore down the church. humid climate. Its beautiful beaches and The members built the church again, volcanic mountains draw tourists from but the enemies tore it down again. The around the world. troublemakers took Maxwell to court,  The people of Vanuatu, known as accusing him of building the church on ni-Vanuatu, are Melanesian in origin. their land. But Maxwell proved that the Official languages are English, French, and Bislama, a form of pidgin English. land was his, and the judge ordered the villagers to leave the church alone. The next Sabbath, while the new believers worshipped, the troublemakers the pain continued to get worse. Maxwell destroyed the believers’ gardens. Some begged his parents to allow him to have wanted to fight, but Maxwell, his father, surgery, but they refused. After a few vanuatu and the chief quieted the people. “God months he could no longer walk. The pain has called me to raise up a church in this kept him from eating and sleeping. village,” Maxwell said. “You don’t want to Finally his parents sent him and his get in God’s way.” brother to the capital city, where doctors examined him and told him that his A Dream and a Loss tumor had spread, and his leg must be Maxwell continued serving God in amputated. He agreed; he would do his home village for 18 months. Then anything to stop the pain. he was offered a scholarship to study theology at Fulton College in Fiji. His Standing for God family didn’t want him to go, but Maxwell Maxwell wondered if God had a place was determined. His dream was to serve for a one-legged soldier. But he’s learning God. He left the church members in his that God can do anything.. “I want to brother’s care and set off for Fiji. grow strong enough to return to college His studies went well, and he enjoyed and continue preparing to serve God,” spending free moments with students from he says. “I trust God’s love as I face the throughout the Pacific region. Then he difficulties in my life. I want to stand tall injured his knee while playing soccer. His for Jesus, who died for me.” parents were convinced that Maxwell’s Our mission offerings are helping build enemies had cursed him. new congregations of believers in Vanuatu He arrived home limping in pain. His and throughout the world. Thank you for parents took him to a traditional healer giving so that others can hear God’s voice who treated him with healing leaves. But and choose to follow Him.  www.AdventistMission.org 21 Vanuatu | March 9 Ready to Serve Nurse Nancy

Nancy smiled with joy as she took up her new duties. The sick and injured could receive quality medical care close to home instead of walking for miles in the steamy heat to the government clinic. Saying Thank You “This job is my way of thanking God urse Nancy stood outside her little and my church for all they’ve done for Nhome and studied the sea. She had me. When my father couldn’t pay my worked as a nurse and nursing instructor school tuition, the mission sent me to on this small island in Vanuatu most of an Adventist secondary school and then her life. Now it was time to step aside and to nursing school. During this time I let someone younger carry the load. accepted Jesus as my Savior. I’ve worked But Nancy wasn’t ready to retire. She as a nurse and taught nursing for many looked into the sky and prayed, “Father, I years. Now I want to use my gifts to share want to keep on serving You. Please show my faith with others.” me where You want me.” Nancy lives a short walk from the clinic and can tend to people whenever she is “I Want to Serve” needed. She cleans and bandages injuries, Then Nancy learned that the aging aid gives medicines and provides care, and if station in her home village was being rebuilt necessary, she sends those who need further and upgraded to a full clinic. Her eyes care to the only hospital on the island, more sparkled with excitement. She knew what than two hours away by vehicle. God wanted her to do. Eagerly she traveled Marie arrives at the mission clinic to her village. “You’ll need a nurse,” she told for her regular prenatal checkup. If this the pastor. “I want to volunteer.” clinic weren’t here, she would have to

South Pacific Division The pastor smiled. God had sent the walk several hours in the hot sun to the

ission most qualified person on the island to work government clinic. Another woman M in the new clinic. Nancy’s love for God arrives with a gash above her eye. Nancy would make her a fine ambassador to the speaks soothingly as she cleans the wound dventist A people who sought her care. and stitches it closed. She urges the 22 mothers were desperate to help their Fast Facts infants. With the proper medical care, so many will heal and thrive who before  While nearly all children attend primary school, most do not continue beyond might not have survived. I wish everyone the most basic years, making Vanuatu in the South Pacific islands could have a one of the least-educated countries in clinic such as this,” she says wistfully. the South Pacific.  Most people in Vanuatu are subsistence Clinics for South Pacific farmers, growing only enough food to Several years ago the South Pacific feed their families. Division began a program to upgrade aging  Christianity is the most common medical clinics across the South Pacific. religion in Vanuatu; but cargo cults, Some clinics were little more than thatch- such as John Frum, centers their worship roofed huts with limited supplies and on the belief that one day their founder an aid worker with only the most basic (usually an American) will come to training. Churches across the division the islands bearing extravagant gifts for those who are faithful. began adopting a clinic, paying for medical equipment and building materials, and sometimes sending members to rebuild the clinic. Trained nurses are being called to woman to return in two days to check for staff the new clinics, and the government infection. Without the clinic’s care, this provides medicines. vanuatu woman’s injury could have proven deadly. But some remote areas in of the South Pacific still have no access to medical Personal Ministry care. Building a clinic to serve these Even more than sharing her medical isolated regions will be more costly expertise, Nancy loves sharing God’s love because the materials will have to be with the people she serves. Many people airlifted into the region. But without a in the area have no faith in God. “I’m clinic, thousands of people are at risk. so happy to give back to God and my They must walk for days to reach a clinic church,” she says. or hospital to receive treatment for Nancy’s favorite patients are the diseases or injuries. Part of this quarter’s mothers and their babies. She weighs Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help and measures the infants and gives build at least four medical clinics in them their vaccinations. She tells new the most isolated regions of Papua New mothers how to keep their infants Guinea or one of several other island healthy and well nourished. nations across the South Pacific. Nurse Nancy knows how important Once a clinic is established, the people the Adventist clinic is to the thousand realize that Adventists care about them. people who live in the rural area They warm to the gospel message and surrounding it. “I’ve seen patients seek a better life through Christ. Our who would have died without proper Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help medical help. I’ve seen babies who were strengthen outreach in these uttermost malnourished and struggling. Their places of the world.  www.AdventistMission.org 23 Vanuatu | March 16 The Hidden Village Mamau School

he located the Adventist family who worshipped alone. Joel invited the family to study the Bible with him, and they oel Toa ducked his head and pushed gladly agreed. Jtree limbs and vines out of his way. The little group met together to read He slogged across hidden streams and the Bible by the light of a kerosene lamp. through thick foliage that grew wild on Slowly it dawned on Joel that this couple the hillside. He had been hiking more could not read or write. than an hour, looking for a home he had The New School been told was somewhere in a clearing in Joel invited a couple to come and teach the thick undergrowth. this couple to read. They agreed, and they Joel had helped run a series of quickly realized that a lot of others in the evangelistic meetings about a half hour settlement couldn’t read or write either. outside the capital city of Vanuatu. He In fact, none of the children who had and his colleagues were following up on come to listen to the singing and the Bible the interested people who had attended lessons had ever held a pencil before. Joel the meetings. They noted that several learned that there was no government of those who had attended the meetings school in the area. “We need to start a were Adventists who didn’t live near an school,” he told his new friends. organized company or church. During one A school! The children were excited to such visit, the people had told him about learn that they might have a school in their a family who worshipped alone in a small village. A few days later a man stopped

South Pacific Division village through the jungle. Joel to talk to him. “This is my land,” he

ission Joel followed the man’s directions and said gesturing around him. “If you build a M finally found a small cluster of traditional school, you can have this land.” houses spread along a rutted dirt road that The young man’s father heard of the dventist A didn’t appear on any maps. Eventually plan and came to see for himself. He 24 measured off a 13-foot [four-meter] square for a classroom. Joel explained that many Mission Post students would want to study at the school—more than would fit into such a  Many children attending school come from families whose parents never small classroom. Joel stepped off a much attended school or who studied only a larger area, one that would hold about few years. Parents want their children to 60 children. The older man smiled and study and work toward a better life than nodded. Joel asked the villagers to cut they’ve had. trees and gather materials for building  By giving such children a Bible, we can the school. not only teach God’s love and laws to Joel enlisted volunteers to help build the children, but bring the entire family the two-room school. Every weekend to Christ. and holiday the men walked 90 minutes  This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath to reach the village from the nearest children’s project is to raise funds to accessible road. They carried in their own buy 15,000 Bibles to give to children whose families don’t have one. These food and water. Bibles will unite many families in Christ A few months later the school through the children. building was completed, and a volunteer teacher arrived to teach literacy to 56 adults and children. In four months the “Do you want to go to school?” she asked. vanuatu students had learned how to read the Mary nodded. Bible. Their confidence grew as they Just then a young woman carrying a baby realized that they could learn to read approached. It was Mary’s aunt. “May she and expand their horizons. come and study here?” the teacher asked. Growing for Jesus Mary’s aunt thought for a moment, and The school continues to grow, and then nodded soberly. Yes, she could study. today has 180 students. More children Today Mary is studying at the Adventist come every week, children like Mary. school in the village, learning to read and Mary had watched as children climbed write and worship Jesus. the newly graveled road toward the new school. She wanted to attend school Growing in Faith too, but her aunt, with whom she lives, Bible studies continue, and the class wasn’t sure. One day when Mary saw the has outgrown the home they have met children walking to school, she slipped in. Maranatha International has erected out of her aunt’s house and followed them. a simple church on the school grounds to When they arrived at school, Mary stood serve the congregation, which has grown near the forest, unsure what to do next. from four members to 34 in four years. She watched the children enter their The church, which has been extended classrooms. She listened as they sang songs with a tarp to seat 100, is full on Sabbaths. about Jesus. A teacher saw the little girl Thanks to faithful lay workers and watching and motioned to her to come. generous mission offerings, life in Mamau Mary walked shyly to the smiling teacher. village will never be the same.  www.AdventistMission.org 25 The Devil’s Lies Vanuatu | March 23 Max

The cult’s leaders insist that John Frum lives in their sacred volcano, Yasur, which means “god,” and speaks with the leaders at night during the secret ceremonies. At one point the cargo cult included a significant percentage of people living on Tanna Island. But Adventist lay leader Max Senembe [SEHN-ehm-bee] is working hard to lead John Frum followers to Jesus Christ. From Prophet to Praiser John N. was a member of the John he island of Tanna is part of the Frum cult. “John Frum came in the form Tisland nation of Vanuatu. It’s a sleepy of a spirit and told the people, ‘Don’t go island known for its active volcano and a to school. Don’t go to church. Hold on religious cult known as John Frum. to your customs,’” John said. “So I took my children out of school. I became a John Frum, Man or Myth? spokesperson for the cult’s leader. In time Followers of the John Frum cult believe I realized that keeping my children out of that many years ago a man named John school would not serve their best interests, Frum, apparently an American seaman, so I sent them away to school. But I appeared to leaders during a traditional continued to be a spokesperson for the ceremony. They say that John Frum told demon that called himself John Frum. them he had come to rescue them from “Then someone found out I had been the missionaries and colonial officials. sending my children to school, and they He instructed them to stop following took me to the community court. The the White man’s ways, to throw away leaders didn’t like what I had done, and their money and clothes, to take their they threatened to beat me. Because

South Pacific Division children out of school, and to go back the cult lived as a commune and shared to living in their traditional ways. These ission everything, it would have been difficult M traditional ways include drinking kava, a and dangerous to stay with them. So I mild narcotic, and worshipping the magic offered to quit the cult and move my family dventist A stones their ancestors had given them. away from the village. They agreed.” 26 Adventists Step In back. Jesus is alive; He loves you, and Adventists in the area where John lived He is coming back—not with a shipload invited his wife and children to attend of goods, but to take His followers church. The children liked the programs to heaven.” Many cult members are and attended regularly. John’s son invited realizing that they’ve spent their lives him to join them, and he began to attend. worshipping a demon, not a god. They’re When the lay pastor, Pastor Max, held listening to God’s words and leaving this a weeklong evangelistic series, John cult. But others still cling to their beliefs attended. There he learned basic truths and their traditions. of the Bible including who Jesus is, what the Sabbath is, and about the real Second A Constant Witness While Max shares his faith with those Coming. Max studied the Bible with in his district and shepherds the 300 John and his family. It took two years, but members in four Adventist congregations, eventually the entire family joined the others share God’s message of love Adventist Church. Other leaders in this through health ministries. cult have abandoned their cult beliefs and accepted Jesus as the only true God. Adventists have renovated its two Pastor Max has made the John Frum medical clinics on the island of Tanna. cult his mission field, working hard to Adventist nurses care for the people’s identify the members of the cargo cult health needs and share God’s love through vanuatu and talking to them about Jesus. “John their ministry. They hold out-clinics Frum is dead,” he says. “He’s not coming and vaccination days in the villages surrounding the clinics. They teach healthful living and disease prevention to parents, and teach maternal and child health to expectant and new mothers. People are learning that Adventists care Mission Post about them. They appreciate the health  The area around the Adventist clinic care they receive at reasonable cost in southeastern Tanna is also home to and are glad that they no longer have many who follow the John Frum cargo cult. Their hope is that one day John to walk for hours in the hot sun to the Frum will come bearing extravagant government clinic to receive medical care. gifts for his faithful followers. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth  The false teachings of the John Frum Sabbath Offering will help build more cult twist the parallel truths in the Bible medical clinics in isolated, difficult-to- and blind people to the truth. reach places in the islands of the South  Medical clinics operated by caring Pacific. Thank you for sharing so that Adventist nurses and MP3 players others can know that God cares for them containing the Bible in pidgin, the trade and wants them to be in good health and language of the South Pacific, will help spread God’s truths to the people who worship Jesus, who will come back. He need to hear. won’t be bearing gifts; He’ll be taking His believers home.  www.AdventistMission.org 27 28

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division members are farfewer. Australia andNewZealand, where most ofthefinancialresources liein are scatteredacrosstheSouth Pacific, members liveintheisland nationsthat nations. Whilemostofthe 423,000 made upofAustraliaandseveralisland Narrator: TheSouthPacificDivisionis quarterly andprojectitontoascreen,ordrawmapon alargepieceofpaper.] Props: AlargemapoftheSouthPacificDivision.[ Scan themaponbackpageof that participantscanfeelcomfortableaddinginflectionwhereappropriate.] enough withthematerialthattheydonothavetoreadeverythingfromscript.Practiceso Barnard. [Note:participantsdonotneedtomemorizetheirparts,buttheyshouldbefamiliar Participants: AnarratorandoneormorepersonstotellthestoryofLenMavis In fact, Papua New Guinea accounts In fact,Papua NewGuineaaccounts        Congregational Song Thirteenth SabbathProgram Closing Prayer Closing Song Welcome Program Offering Prayer Superintendent orSabbathSchoolteacher “Mission intheClouds” The Seventh-dayAdventistHymnal,no.582 “Working, OChrist,With Thee,” children tosing“JesusLovesMe”inpidgin. While theofferingisbeingtaken,ask The Seventh-dayAdventistHymnal,no.614 “Sound theBattleCry” much asthey haveforthousandsofyears. areas aresoisolated thatthepeoplelive near theirtraditionalvillage homes.Some raising gardensonthesteep mountainsides mountainous terrain.Many surviveby even isolatedvillagesscattered acrossthe of Adventistbelieverslive inruralor South PacificDivision.Yet themajority for morethanhalfofthebelieversin Only recently has cannibalism been wiped with the heat and lack of comforts she had out in the most isolated areas of the country. known back home. Entire villages are changed when they have a chance to hear God’s message Mission Post of love. But reaching them has been A year later the mission president an ongoing struggle to push back the invited the couple to start a leper colony darkness and claim lives for Jesus Christ. in the highlands. They rejoiced that at last they could be missionaries! But Storyteller(s) they were not prepared for what being a Len Barnard stood outside the small missionary really meant. bush hospital on the coast of Papua New The couple flew to the highlands, Guinea (PNG), a rugged and mostly boarded a crowded jeep, and bounced to untamed island nation north of Australia. the end of the rutted road. Several New [Locate Papua New Guinea on the map.] Guinean porters carried their luggage up Here and there dark patches on the a muddy path. Two hours later, tired and mountainside marked villages that could breathless, they arrived at the site for be reached only by hiking for days on the new leprosy colony. The government dangerous trails. Someday I’ll visit those official pointed to a grass-roofed hut. villages, he thought. “That’s your house,” he said. “It’s only A plane flew overhead and landed at temporary,” he added, seeing Mavis’ tear- the air base nearby. Someday I’ll fly over filled eyes. those mountaintops for God, he added. Len, Five weeks later, while mission officials a trained army medic, loved the native were visiting to lay plans, Len was people and yearned to help them. awakened from sleep by a crackling noise. “Fire!” he shouted, dashing into the larger God Will Make a Way room to awaken the mission leaders. They When the war ended, Len applied for ran outside seconds before the house was mission service. But the church had no engulfed in flames. The Barnards had lost money for more missionaries. Disappointed, everything but their lives. Len and his wife, Mavis, prayed for God’s So many people came to be treated that will. They found it in an invitation to work the mission added two nurses and a doctor for a government hospital in PNG. “Before to the staff. I go,” Len announced, “I’m going to learn “If only I could get out into the to fly!” And he did. He had no plane, but villages and treat people before their he was sure God would provide. disease advances so far,” Len told Mavis. The young family arrived at their new “I must reach them.” The villages post in northern PNG. “Lots of lepers Len spoke of were still steeped in here,” the hospital administrator said. cannibalism. “If only we had a plane,” “Learn all you can about leprosy before Len told one church administrator. We you take up your post.” Len spent weeks could build air strips and reach these watching doctors treat leprosy, asking people in hours instead of weeks.” questions, and learning how to amputate “Too expensive,” the official responded. limbs. Meanwhile Mavis learned to cope “Perhaps someday.” www.AdventistMission.org 29 30

Adventist Mission South Pacific Division God’s Plane Mission mountain junglesofPNG. the mission’s horizonacrossthevast He pioneeredmoreairstrips andstretched heathenism workingfaithfully forChrist. see nativeworkersonlya generationfrom visited everymissionoutpost,thrilledto later hereturnedtohisworkinPNG.He from theaccident,andeightmonths his legcouldbesaved,butLenrecovered leg inacast.Doctorsstilldidn’t think they wheeledhimintosurgery. missionary pilot.” the hospitalwheredoctorsexaminedhim. lifted Lenintotheambulanceandspedto until anambulancearrived.Thecrew nearly severed. knocking Lentotheground,hisleftleg suddenly fired,spinningthepropellerand the cylindersonpropeller, theengine landed ontinygrassairstrips. flew throughimpossibleweatherand build achurchandanairstrip.LenBarnard regions opened,Lenurgedthebelieversto sick inhoursratherthandays.Whennew meetings, andrescuedtheinjured new fields,ferriedmissionofficialsto Len flewthemission’s firstplanetoPNG. thought. Butitwouldtake18yearsbefore the gospel.Ifonlywehadaplane,Len who neededmedicalcareandpreaching rugged, dangerousterrain,treatingpeople After 25years inPNG,LenandMavis Len awokefollowingsurgerywithhis “There’s nochance,”thedoctors saidas “Try tosavemyleg!”Lenbegged.“I’ma “We’ll havetoamputate,”thedoctorsaid. One passengercompressedthewound Then tragedystruck.AsLenchecked The missionplanecarriedworkersto Len andhisportershikedfordaysover Battling theDarkness [Offering] Publishing Association. written byGoldieM.Downandpublished byPacificPress Adapted withpermissionfromWings OverNewGuinea, to preparelivewithHim forever. loves themandwants hear thatGod that thousandsintheSouthPacificcan darkness. Let’s giveasacrificial offeringso single Bible. can bestrengthenedinChristthrougha read God’s Word tothem.Entirefamilies or write.Theyrelyontheirchildrento for children.Manyadultsstillcannotread Offering willhelpprovide15,000Bibles God’s planofsalvationinremotevillages. tocontinuebringing pods”) players (“God offering willprovidesolar-powered MP3 people whohadneverheard.Partoftoday’s PNG. HewantedtoteachGod’s Word to clinics inthemostisolatedregionsof will helpestablishatleastfourmedical through themedicalwork.Today’s offering helped provide. which ourThirteenthSabbathOffering Today themissionhastwoplanes,oneof to reachtheuttermostpartsofPNG. Christ andHisWord tounreachedpeople. Offering reflectsthepassiontobring today. Thisquarter’s ThirteenthSabbath powers theworkinPapuaNewGuinea represents thesamemissionspiritthat younger pilotsandministers. reluctantly turnedtheirworkoverto Let’s continuetobattleagainst spiritual Our children’s ThirteenthSabbath Len’s visionwastoreachthepeople Len Barnardhadavisiontouseplane The workthattheBarnardspioneered

Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects

Next quarter the East-Central Africa Division EDitorial will feature special projects including a medical Charlotte Ishkanian Editor clinic in southern Tanzania, an elementary school Alita Byrd Contributing Editor Esther Lipscomb Contributing Editor in western Kenya, an administration building Hans Olson Managing Editor at Lukanga Adventist University in eastern Emily Harding Layout Editor Democratic Republic of the Congo, and an office of ADventist MIssion evangelistic center/training school in Kinshasa, Gary Krause Director Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rick Kajiura Communication Director Nancy Kyte Marketing Director Rick McEdwards Study Centers Director Delbert Pearman Planning Director

COmmunication Laurie Falvo Projects Manager Charlotte Ishkanian Mission Editor Hans Olson Projects Manager Leader’s Resources Ricky Oliveras Video Producer Daniel Weber Video Producer

For more information on the cultures and history of the South Pacific, check the travel section of a local library. Visit a travel Website: www.AdventistMission.org agency for brochures featuring photos of these countries. Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and copyrighted Visit our website for additional photos, recipes, language pages, © 2012 by the Office of Adventist Mission, General and other activities that you can download and print to make mission Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, 12501 Old more fun for children. Go to www.AdventistMission.org. Point to Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. “Resources” and click on “Children’s Activities” in the drop-down menu. Go to “Activities” and select the activity you want. Printed in U.S.A. Adventist Mission DVD is a free video that features stories FIrst Quarter 2013 from the featured countries as well as the worldwide mission of the Volume 102, Number 1 Adventist Church. Ask your Sabbath School superintendent to ® ® make you a copy of it. Or go online at www.AdventistMission.org to ADVENTIST and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of download one of the DVD programs. Seventh-day Adventists®. An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions and increase weekly mission giving. Ask your Sabbath School council to set a quarterly mission-offering goal; then chart Permission is granted to reproduce material from the weekly progress toward the quarter’s goal on the goal device. this quarterly for use in local Sabbath Schools Print off line drawings of medical supplies each clinic needs to and children’s ministries programs. Permission minister to the people such as bandages, splints, a stethoscope, to reproduce any portion of this material for a blood pressure cuff, and simple medications such as aspirin, sale, publication in another periodical, or other antibiotics, and malarial treatments.. Each week that the offering commercial use must be authorized in writing by goal is reached, add a medical supply. the editor at the above address. Remind members that the ongoing work of the world church For subscription inquiries, e-mail Steve Hanson depends on the weekly Sabbath School mission offerings. On the at [email protected] or call 1-800-456-3991 or twelfth Sabbath, reporMt on mission giving during the quarter. 1-301-393-3247. Annual subscription rates per Encourage members to double or triple their weekly giving on

edition: domestic, US$7.50; international, US$14.50. www.AdventistMission.org Thirteenth Sabbath. 31 South Pacific Division PACIFIC HOWLAND ISLAND KIRIBATI BAKER ISLAND OCEAN

TUVALU NAURU

TOKELAU PAPUA INDONESIA NEW GUINEA SOLOMON ISLANDS 1

EAST TIMOR Port Moresby 2

WALLIS AND FUTUNA AMERICAN SAMOA

VANUATU FIJI 3

NIUE FRENCH POLYNESIA TONGA NEW CALEDONIA

AUSTRALIA COOK ISLANDS

Churches Companies members population Australian 421 98 56,741 22,674,000 New Zealand Pacific135 60 17,998 4,970,000 Papua New Guinea 904 2,812 247,756 6,888,000 Canberra Trans Pacific 461 581 101,084 2,137,000

Totals 1,921 3,551 423,579 36,669,000 As of 12/2011

Wellington Projects: INDIAN 1 Build clinics in at least four isolated areas in Papua NEW ZEALAND New Guinea OCEAN 2 Purchase solar-powered MP3 players (“God Pods”) for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu

3 Children’s Project: Provide 15,000 Bibles for children in the islands of the south Pacific to use and share with their families