Adventist Mission Website at Emily Harding Layout Editor Bit.Ly/Missionspotlight

MissionCHILDREN’S 2020 • QUARTER 3 • WEST-CENTRAL AFRICA DIVISION

AdventistMission.org

3Q20 Children.indd 1 5/16/19 1:40 PM Contents

On the Cover: Bonte Medou, 14, loves to sing in Gabon, and Jesus has blessed his music. Because of his singing, two people have given their hearts to Jesus. Story, page 12.

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 ©2020 General Conference of stories from Gabon on pages 4-19 and download the Seventh-day Adventists®• All rights reserved above photos and other Thirteenth Sabbath project 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist photos at: bit.ly/WAD-2020. 1-800-648-5824 • AdventistMission.org 2

3Q20 Children.indd 2 5/16/19 1:40 PM Dear Sabbath School Leader, Andrew McChesney Editor

This quarter we feature the West- we visited Guinea, Liberia, and Gabon. 22 Rice for the River God | Sept. 5 Central Africa Division comprised He said about 75 percent of Adventist of 22 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, schools in the division are located in 24 Big Feet, Big Trouble | Sept. 12 Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Ghana, which is home to roughly half of Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial the division’s 834,183 church members. GUINEA Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, “The church is not strong in French- 26 A New Life | Sept. 19 Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, speaking countries,” Alexis said. “We 28 Thirteenth Sabbath: The Big Contest | Sept. 26 Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, need to help them with schools and even Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its headquarters is small clinics.” 30 Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Guinea and Gabon speak French, while 31 Additional activities The region is home to 436 million people, Liberia and Nigeria speak English. 35 Leader’s Resources including 834,183 Adventists. That’s a ratio If you want to make your Sabbath of one Adventist for 523 people. 36 Map School class come alive this quarter, we The role that Seventh-day Adventist offer a variety of photos, videos, and other education plays in spreading the gospel materials to accompany each mission became abundantly clear as I collected story. More information is provided in mission stories in three countries: Guinea the sidebar with each story. For photos and Liberia, which will receive part of of tourist sites and other scenes from the the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to open featured countries, try a free photo bank schools this quarter, and Gabon, which such as pixabay.com and unsplash.com. received funds from a 2017 Thirteenth In addition, you can download a Sabbath Offering to construct a school. PDF of facts and activities from the “Education is key to developing the West-Central Africa Division at bit.ly/ church in West Africa,” Alexis Kouadio, WAD-facts. Follow us at facebook.com/ assistant Global Mission officer for the missionquarterlies. West-Central Africa Division, told me as You can download the PDF version of the Children’s Mission magazine at bit.ly/ childrensmission and the youth and adult Opportunities Mission magazine at bit.ly/adultmission. The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering Mission Spotlight videos are available this quarter will help to: at bit.ly/missionspotlight. A printable  Construct Kobaya Academy, a K–12 mission bank image, which the children school, in Conakry, Guinea can color, can be downloaded at bit.ly/ bank-coloring-page.  Open an elementary school/center of influence in Buchanan, Liberia If I can be of assistance, contact me at [email protected].  Establish a medical center in Abuja, Nigeria Thank you for encouraging children to be mission-minded!  AdventistMission.org 3

3Q20 Children.indd 3 5/16/19 1:40 PM GABON | July 4

Pricilia Ndong, 14 Praying in Jesus’ Name

he Ndong family loves to pray in I am going to sleep, I’d like You to send TLibreville, capital of Gabon. your angels to be around me and around Father and Mother love talking to the neighbors’ houses. Father, help me to God so much that they named their have good dreams. Please reveal to us the three children after the French word for hidden things that we need to know. In “prayer,” or “priere.” The oldest boy is Jesus’ name, Amen.” Priel; the second child, a girl, is Priella; After Priella also prayed, the two girls and the youngest girl is Pricilia. slipped under the blanket. Quickly they Little Pricilia has prayed before bedtime fell asleep. every night since she was 3. Sometimes Around 2 a.m., while still sleeping, she kneels in front of the bed. But usually Pricilia suddenly couldn’t breathe. She she jumps up onto the bed and kneels felt someone’s hands squeezing her neck. on the nice, soft mattress. She folds her She struggled to gulp in air. She thrashed hands, closes her eyes, and bows her head. around on the bed, trying to get away from One night, when Pricilia was 12, she the hands clutching her throat. Then she jumped on the bed to pray at 9 p.m. Her remembered that Mother had told her to 13-year-old sister, Priella, also jumped on the pray if she had any problems. bed to pray. They slept in the same bed. “Pray in the name of Jesus,” Mother Folding their hands, they closed their had said. “You can call on the name of eyes, and bowed their heads. Jesus anytime.” “Our Father in heaven,” Pricilia prayed. Although she was terrified, Pricilia West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist “We thank You for everything. Now that calmly said, “In the name of Jesus.” Then 4

3Q20 Children.indd 4 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 5 You giveeveryday.” thank youforlifeandtheprotectionthat deliverance. Everynightsheprays,“Lord, called onthenameofJesus.” might havehappenedtoyouifhadn’t sleeping,” Mothersaid.“Whoknowswhat you throughwitchcraftwhilewere surprised andgladthatshehadprayed. about thescaryexperience.Motherwas assurance thatJesuswasprotectingher. into bed,shequicklyfellasleepwiththe her sisterwassoundasleep.Climbingback She tookadeepbreathofair. Shesawthat grip onherneck,andshecouldbreathe. harm me.InthenameofJesus,Amen.” she prayed.“Idon’t knowwhowantsto the bed. her neck.Herheartpoundedwithfright. breathe. Invisiblehandsweresqueezing she wasn’t dreaming.Shereallycouldn’t her eyesinthedarkness,sherealizedthat Lord ismyshepherd;Ishallnotwant.” she recitedPsalms23,whichbegins,“The MISSION Pricilia thanksJesuseverydayforHis “Probably someonetriedtoharm In themorning,PriciliatoldMother Immediately, thehandsreleasedtheir “Lord, thankYou forprotectingme,” Pricilia slidontoherkneesbeside Pricilia wokeupwithastart.Opening RECORD religion orare atheists. indigenous religious beliefs exclusively; and5percent no practice 12percent Islam;10percent practice traditionalof Christianity; practice in1981. Gabon About 73percent ofthepopulation at practice leastsomeelements The Adventist Church was officiallyrecognized by the government of  By AndrewMcChesney build moreschoolsinGuineaandLiberia. Sabbath Offeringthisquartertohelp you forplanningabigThirteenth hometown, Libreville,inGabon.Thank high schoolfor280studentsinPricilia’s Sabbath Offeringhelpedconstructa Story Tips           Three yearsago,partoftheThirteenth projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/Praying-in-Jesus-Name). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Pricilia-Ndong. Watch PriciliaonYouTube: next week. Read aboutPricilia’s brother, Priel, as: pri-YER. Pronounce “prayer”inFrench,“priere,” Pronounce Priellaas:pri-ELLA. Pronounce Prielas:pri-YEL. Pronounce Priciliaas:pri-sil-YA. Pronounce Ndongas:n-DONG. Find Libreville,Gabon,onthemap. 5/16/19 1:40 PM

5 AdventistMission.org GABON GABON | July 11 A Falling Bottle

Priel Ndong, 16

hirteen-year-old Priel Ndong swept He looked up. His family lived on the Tthe floor of his house in Libreville, first floor of a two-story building, and Gabon, on a lazy summer afternoon. neighbors lived on the second floor. After the floor was clean, he picked up Errrrrrrrrrrrr … a green bucket and walked to an outdoor Priel tried to understand the noise. tap. Nobody in his neighborhood had Errrrrrrrrrrrr … running water in their homes, so they all It sounded like a glass bottle rolling went to the tap with buckets to get water on the floor, rolling, rolling, rolling. for drinking and bathing. Errrrrrrrrrrrr … Priel carried four heavy buckets of Suddenly a voice said, “Get up and go!” water into the house and emptied them Priel felt annoyed and asked himself, into a large basin. “Why should I move? I’m reading a That was a lot of hard work, and he book here.” felt tired after lugging the water. He Errrrrrrrrrrrr … took a short nap on his bed. Afterward, Then he thought, “That voice was no he felt refreshed and went out on the accident. I’d better move.” front porch to read a book. Sitting down He got up and took a step away from on a white plastic chair, he opened a the chair. At that moment, a large green Christian book and began to read. Not wine bottle fell from the neighbor’s more than five minutes later, he heard a balcony above and crashed onto the porch noise from upstairs. right in front of the chair where he had West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist Errrrrrrrrrrrr … been sitting. His head had been directly 6

3Q20 Children.indd 6 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 7 We shouldalwayslistentoGod.” and Hesparedmefromaseriousaccident. kind. Hedidn’t wantmetobeinjured, protected himonthatsummerday. know whatwouldhavehappenedtome.” Lord. IfYou hadnotbeenthere,Idon’t protected himinaremarkableway. had to move.Hefeltashamed.God annoyed aboutthevoicetellinghim was safe.Thenherememberedfeeling Not onepieceofglasshithim.He shattered intosmallpieces. in thepathofbottle.Theglassbottle you forplanningabigThirteenth hometown, Libreville,inGabon.Thank high schoolfor280studentsinPriel’s Sabbath Offeringhelpedconstructa “I learned a lesson,” he said. “God is so “I learnedalesson,”hesaid.“God Priel hasneverforgottenhowGod In hisbedroom,heprayed,“Thankyou, Priel jumpedwithfrightatthesound. AMAZING Three yearsago,partoftheThirteenth NATURE birds can befound there. gorillas, chimpanzees, and such asforest elephants, ofwildlife,Africa. Avariety forest in important clearings Bai, oneofthefive most- Kongou Falls andLangoué and itcontains thefamous bybisected theequator, is It east-central Gabon. from Librevillekm) in is located 225miles(362 Ivindo National ParkIvindo  By AndrewMcChesney countries, GuineaandLiberia. build moreschoolsintwootherAfrican Sabbath Offeringthisquartertohelp Story Tips        projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/A-Falling-Bottle). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Priel-Ndong. Watch PrielonYouTube: of love.” isaGod His children.God isourFather,says, “God andHeprotects Share aspecialmessagefromPriel.He week andabouthisfathernextweek. Read aboutPriel’s youngersisterlast Pronounce Prielas:pri-YEL. Find Libreville,Gabon,onthemap. 5/16/19 1:40 PM

7 AdventistMission.org BigStockPhoto.com GABON GABON | July 18

Brilland Abessolo Ndong, 44 Everything Went Black

verything went black when 13-year-old “It looks like the fever is gone,” she said. EBrilland Ndong stepped into the big Brilland nodded his head. cathedral in Libreville, Gabon. “Everything is fine now,” he said. His family had just moved to the city It was the strangest thing. He didn’t from Melo village on the border with understand what had happened, but Cameroon. Mother took Brilland and it seemed that God was not present in his three sisters and two brothers to the that church. cathedral on Sunday. The next Sunday, Mother took But when Brilland stepped through the Brilland to another cathedral, the biggest front door, he went blind. Everything was in Libreville. He walked in — and dark. He couldn’t see a thing. And he felt everything went black. He had a fever. really hot. “Mother, I can’t see,” he said. “The “I can’t see anything,” he called out to fever is back. Please take me to the street.” Mother. “I have a fever. Please take me Outside the cathedral, he regained his back outside.” sight, and the fever disappeared. Mother led him by the hand out the The next Sunday, Mother took Brilland door. As soon as he stepped outside, he to the big cathedral one more time. Again could see the sky, trees, and Mother’s Brilland went blind and had a fever. worried face. Mother told the boy that he didn’t have “Are you OK?” Mother asked. “Can to go to church anymore. you see?” Father was happy. He wasn’t a West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist She placed a hand on his forehead. Christian, and he didn’t see any reason for 8

3Q20 Children.indd 8 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 9 normal. Hecouldseejust fine. leg inthechurch,everything seemed would goblindifheentered. With one the church,buthewasscaredthat the door. Hewantedtoknow moreabout church andcautiouslyputafootinside unfamiliar sightshockedhim.Heranhome. sitting insmallgroupsachurch,andthe Sabbath School.Hehadneverseenpeople sitting aroundthehallinsmallgroupsfor cautiously lookedinsideandsawpeople over tothechurch.Atfrontdoor, he chores, hehadnothingtodoandwalked and hewonderedaboutthechurch. Church.” Everyday, hepassedthesign, with thewords“Seventh-dayAdventist was walkingtoschoolandnoticedasign his sontogochurch. Story Tips       “Come in,comein,”avoice said. The nextSaturday, hereturnedtothe One Saturday, afterhefinishedhis Some timepassed.Oneday, Brilland Sabbath projects:bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenth (bit.ly/Everything-Went-Black). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook July 4and11. Read aboutBrilland’s twochildrenon about pioneersat:bit.ly/GMpioneers. Global Missionpioneers.Readmore he overseesmissionprojectsand Gabon. AsGlobalMissioncoordinator, the Seventh-dayAdventistChurchin and theGlobalMissioncoordinatorfor Know thatBrillandisaphysicsteacher Pronounce Brillandas:bri-YAN. Find Libreville,Gabon,onthemap. By AndrewMcChesney the home. touched Father’s heart.Peacereturnedto hadansweredhisprayersand God church, andIwillgo,too.” I wantallofmychildrentogothat “They don’t permitdrinkingorsmoking. is thechurchofLord,”Fathersaid. meeting andinvitedBrillandtojoin. a lifestylethathewantedforhischildren. realized thattheAdventistChurchtaught and thepastoransweredthem.Father questions abouttheAdventistChurch, pastor tosendhissonhome.Hehadmany went totheAdventistchurchbeg an Adventistfriendforaweek. anymore andlefthome.Hestayedwith he couldnotlistentotheangrywords Father’s heart.Butaftersometime, his songoingtochurch. that andwasbaptized. a seat.Noblindness,andnofever. him tositdown.Theboyenteredandtook church sawhishesitationandwasinviting countries, GuineaandLiberia. build moreschoolsintwo otherAfrican Sabbath Offeringthisquarter tohelp you forplanningabigThirteenth hometown, Libreville,inGabon.Thank high schoolfor280studentsinBrilland’s Sabbath Offeringhelpedconstructa Brilland wassurprisedandoverjoyed. “The churchwhereBrillandisgoing At home,Fathercalledafamily Father regrettedspeakingharshlyand tosoften Brilland prayedforGod Father wasn’t happy. Hedidn’t like Brilland returnedeverySabbathafter Brilland lookedup.Amaninsidethe Three yearsago,partoftheThirteenth  5/16/19 1:40 PM

9 AdventistMission.org GABON GABON | July 25 The Big Fight

Aggee Mombo-Taty, 15

at the front of the classroom for two hours. It was a long two hours. After some time, Aggee whispered to mmanuel wanted to annoy 13-year-old Emmanuel, “Why were you mean to me?” Aggee during a break between French E “I was only joking,” Emmanuel and physics classes at the Seventh-day whispered back. Adventist school in Libreville, Gabon. Aggee wished that he hadn’t lost He knew that Aggee had a short his temper. temper, so he started saying unkind things. Annoyed, Aggee immediately slapped That summer, Grandfather sent the boy on the cheek. Emmanuel didn’t Aggee to a Pathfinder campout in like being slapped, and he slapped Aggee Franceville, located a long 12-hour drive on his cheek. Now Aggee was furious. He from Libreville. punched Emmanuel in the face. Aggee’s Bible teacher also went to Children crowded around the two the campout, and he spoke for morning fighting boys. “Don’t stop!” they yelled. and evening worship. At the end of the “Let them fight!” A class monitor came three-week campout, he asked whether running, causing the children to scatter to any children wanted to give their hearts their seats. The class monitor pulled apart to Jesus. the fighting boys. “You have not made a decision to “Why are you fighting?” he asked. give your life to Jesus,” he said. “You “He was mean to me,” Aggee said. are still struggling with sin in your life. “He hit me,” Emmanuel said. You don’t want to let go of something “You shouldn’t fight,” the class monitor because you have not completely said. “Fighting is for animals. Apologize.” surrendered to Christ.” West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist As punishment, the boys had to kneel When Aggee heard those words, 10

3Q20 Children.indd 10 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 11 quietly walkedaway. he slappedAggee. am notfeelingwell.” didn’t wanttobuyone. some cakestosellinclass,andAggee that hewasn’t easilyangeredlikebefore. things ofthepast.Hisfriendsnoticed noticed thathenolongerenjoyedmany seemed normal. miraculous wouldhappen,buteverything before. Hethoughtmaybesomething after hisbaptism,hefeltthesameas that hewantedtobebaptized. standing. HisBibleteacherwashappy front. Peopleweresurprisedtoseehim silently, “Lord,Iwanttofollowyou.” He wantedtochange,andheprayed many fightsandmadehisparentsunhappy. remembered howhistemperandledto he rememberedhisshorttemper. He AMAZING “Fighting isforanimals,”hesaid,and Aggee didn’t feelangryatall. “Go!” hesnapped.“Goaway!” Emmanuel’s facetwistedinanger, and “No, Ican’t,” Aggeesaid. “Come on,buy, buy!”Emmanuelsaid. “I don’t wanttobuytoday,” hesaid.“I Just theotherday, Emmanuelbrought As thedayspassed,however, he When Aggeecameoutoftheriver upandwenttothe Then hestood NATURE lives in cities. percent ofitspopulation is rainforest, and80 80 percent of the country baboon population. Also 80 percent of Africa’s Gabon ishometo Gabon By AndrewMcChesney countries, GuineaandLiberia. build moreschoolsintwootherAfrican Sabbath Offeringthisquartertohelp you forplanningabigThirteenth hometown, Libreville,inGabon.Thank high schoolfor280studentsinAggee’s Sabbath Offeringhelpedconstructa short temperwereover. Story Tips       Three yearsago,partoftheThirteenth With God’s help,hisdaysofhavinga projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/Big-Fight-WAD). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Aggee-Mombo. Watch AggeeonYouTube: Know thatAggeeisHaggaiinEnglish. Pronounce Aggeeas:azh-EE. on themap. Find LibrevilleandFranceville,Gabon,  5/16/19 1:40 PM 11 AdventistMission.org BigStockPhoto.com GABON GABON | August 1

Bonte Medou, 14 Power of a Song

he choir director had an exciting impressed. “I’ll try to come.” Tannouncement. Bonte approached another classmate, “Our Christ’s Kids children’s choir has Obame. Sometime earlier, Obame had been invited to sing at a musical concert invited him to visit his Sunday church, at the big Cabaret des Artistes concert and Bonte had gone with his uncle just hall,” she said. “We need to rehearse.” in case he needed to explain his own The 30 children in the Christ’s Kids Adventist faith. choir from the Seventh-day Adventist “Obame, I’d like to invite you to come English Church would sing five songs to our concert,” Bonte said. at the concert in Libreville, Gabon. Obame smiled. Children’s choirs from other Adventist “You are always kind,” he said. “You churches also would sing. accepted my invitation to visit my church, Twelve-year-old Bonte couldn’t wait for so I’ll try to come to your concert.” the big day to come. He practiced with Bonte invited eight classmates to the the choir for the concert. concert, and five ended up attending. At his Adventist school, he invited a Afterward, Bonte asked his friends what friend to the concert. The friend laughed. they thought about the music. “Can you sing?” he asked, mockingly. “It was good,” said one. “Do you know how to sing?” “We had a great time listening to praises Bonte had a concert ticket in his pocket, to Jesus,” said another. and he pulled it out to show his friend. Bonte was pleased that he could share West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist “Wow, you can sing,” the friend said, his love for Jesus through music. 12

3Q20 Children.indd 12 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 13 Bible andlatergavehisheart toJesus. had wantedtoknowmore, sohereadthe stop thinkingaboutJesus afterward.He big impressiononhim,and hecouldn’t concert. Hesaidthesongshadmadea to anotherschool.” Carlin said.“Myparentsjustmovedme Bonte said.“Whyareyouhere?” moving toanothercity. year andtoldeveryonethathisfamilywas the Adventistschoolatendofthat invited totheconcert.Carlinhadleft see Carlin,oneoftheboyswhomhehad someone callhisname. groceries forMother, andheheard the concert. Story Tips       Carlin begantotalkaboutthe “My familydidn’t endupmoving,” “You toldmethatyouweremoving,” He turnedaroundandwassurprisedto “Bonte! Bonte!”aboysaid. One day, hewenttoashopbuy Two yearspassed,andheforgotabout projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/Power-of-a-Song). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Bonte-Medou. Watch BonteonYouTube: “being gentle.” or Know thatBontemeans“beinggood” Pronounce Bonteas:bon-TE. Find Libreville,Gabon,onthemap. By AndrewMcChesney he said. church onSabbath. to inviteotherchildrenandadults the livesoftwopeople.Hedecided hadusedhimtochangeshop. God his pocket. help others,”Bontesaid. “He’s offeringmoney. Take it.” the money. couldn’t believethatBontewasrefusing the money. “We sharethetruthofBibleforfree.” his head. and triedtogiveitBonte.Bonteshook congregation. Thatmanwasbaptized. had touchedtheheartofamanin he hadheardattheconcertandit In hisnewchurch,hesangasongthat else’s lifealsowaschangedbytheconcert. when Ididn’t knowanythingaboutit.” Carlin said.“You taughtmethetruth countries, GuineaandLiberia. build moreschoolsintwo otherAfrican Sabbath Offeringthisquarter tohelp you forplanningabigThirteenth hometown, Libreville,inGabon.Thank high schoolfor280studentsinBonte’s Sabbath Offeringhelpedconstructa “I wanttowinsoulsfortheLord,” Bonte smiledwithjoyasheleftthe Carlin putthemoneybackinto “No, wedon’t takemoneywhenwe “What’s wrongwithyou?”hesaid. boy,A neighborhood standingnearby, Carlin insistedthatBontetake “No, Icannottakeanymoney,” hesaid. Carlin pulledmoneyfromhispocket There wasmore.Carlinsaidsomeone “I don’t knowhowtothankyou,” Three yearsago,partoftheThirteenth  5/16/19 1:40 PM 13 AdventistMission.org GABON GABON | August 8 “It’s Burning!”

Djerlinde Mounguengui, 32

When she was 7, she ran out of the house, across the yard, and jumped over the 5-foot (1.5-meter) fence in a single leap. omething strange happened when When Mother asked her how she had SDjerlinde Mounguengui was 3. Her managed to jump so high, Djerlinde was hands suddenly felt extremely hot. surprised. She didn’t remember jumping “It’s burning! It’s burning!” she wailed, over the fence. shaking her hands in an unsuccessful “How could I jump it?” she said. “It’s effort to cool them off. too high.” Her brothers and sisters laughed. They Sometimes Djerlinde felt a strong urge thought she was playing a game. “It’s burning! It’s burning!” they to strangle her parents or her siblings with repeated, shaking their own hands. her bare hands. But she sensed an inner But Djerlinde was not playing a game. voice say, “Don’t do that!” With all her She felt terrible. might, she managed not to attack anyone. The burning sensation lasted for about Djerlinde could not go to school. No a week and then abruptly went away. one knew when she would begin to act Everything was normal for two or three strangely, and someone had to watch her months, and then — all the time. She felt so unhappy. “It’s burning!! It’s burning!” Djerlinde When Djerlinde was 13, an older sister cried, shaking her hands. took her to a Seventh-day Adventist “It’s burning! It’s burning!” her brothers church for an evangelistic series in Port- and sisters giggled. Gentil, Gabon. The preacher said Jesus As Djerlinde grew older, other strange could deliver people from any problem. things happened. Sometimes she ran Walking home, the sister asked Djerlinde, West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist wildly as if someone were chasing her. “Did you hear what the preacher said? 14

3Q20 Children.indd 14 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 15 from demonpossession. house andprayedforhertobedelivered again. Churchmemberscametoher church becauseherhandswereburning evening, sheskippedprayermeetingat strange occurrencescontinued.One in preparationforbaptism.Butthe studied theBiblewithachurchmember Jesus candeliveryoufromyourmadness.” Story Tips       Djerlinde gaveherhearttoJesusand After themeetingsended,Djerlinde “I wanttobedelivered,”Djerlindesaid.

AMAZING projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/Its-Burning). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Djerlinde. Watch DjerlindeonYouTube: first childborntoFather’s fourthwife. wives and20children.Djerlindewasthe Know thatDjerlinde’s fatherhadsix Pronounce Djerlindeas:GER-lind. Find Port-Gentil,Gabon,onthemap. NATURE detailed faces. exaggerated features andrealistically shapes,include geometric stylized, and cultural and identity. instyle vary Masks provide protection, andexpress spiritual and agrarian rites, to promote fertility, transformation. offuneral They are part life events important mark by signifying The Gabonese peopleusemaskstoThe Gabonese also inthe Psalms 37:4,whichsays,“Delightyourself Christians. HerfavoriteBibleverseis brothers andsistershavealsobecome meetings andhewasbaptized.Ten ofher delivered her, andshewasfree. Church,” shereplied. baptized into theSeventh-dayAdventist Father askedwhathadhappened. and sistersawthatsomethingwasdifferent. occurrences fadedaway, andherbrothers was baptizedattheageof14.Thestrange the desiresofyour By AndrewMcChesney and Hedeliveredme.” Lord todelivermefrommymadness, He answersme,”shesaid.“Iaskedthe African countries,GuineaandLiberia. Offering tohelpbuildschoolsintwomore you forplanningabigThirteenthSabbath 280 studentsinLibreville,Gabon.Thank Offering helpedconstructahighschoolfor Later sheinvitedFathertoevangelistic Djerlinde hadanewlife.Jesus “I gavemyhearttoJesusandwas “Every time I ask God forsomething, “Every timeIaskGod Part of a 2017 Thirteenth Sabbath Part ofa2017ThirteenthSabbath

Lord, andHeshallgiveyou

heart.”  5/16/19 1:40 PM 15 AdventistMission.org commons.wikimedia.org GABON GABON | August 15

Rorive Vinga, 22 A Real Missionary

orive Vinga introduced a friend to sundown worship. RChrist when he was only a boy. At school, Rorive made new friends. Father, a soldier in the Gabonese He loved Jesus, and he loved to talk about military, was stationed in the eastern city Jesus. A new friend, Glen, was curious and of Koulamoutou. So, Rorive moved into a asked to know more. The two boys began new home there with his parents and four to talk about Jesus after school. younger brothers and sisters. One Friday evening, Rorive arrived But they had a problem. There were at the church for sundown worship with no other Seventh-day Adventists in the Father, Mother, his little sister, and three city. There was a church, but it had been little brothers. To his surprise, he saw closed for many years because no one Glen standing outside the church. worshipped there anymore. The building “What are you doing here?” Rorive asked. was old and falling apart. “I live next door,” Glen said. Father called Rorive and the rest of the “Great!” Rorive said. “Join us.” family to repair the church. Glen couldn’t come to church that “We will worship God on Sabbaths day, but he promised to visit another in the church even if we are the only time. Two weeks later he showed up for a Adventists in the city,” Father said. Sabbath service worship, and he liked it. The family worked hard to repair “This church is different,” he said. the church, and soon they worshipped Several months later, Glen gave his life there every Sabbath, every Wednesday to Christ and was baptized. After that, he West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist for prayer meeting, and every Friday for invited his whole family to church, and 16

3Q20 Children.indd 16 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 17 worshipped inthechurchonSabbaths. As timepassed,moreandpeople family hadgiventheirheartstoJesus. house!” hesaid. church waslocatedrightbesidemy the city. “I neverrealizedthattheright church whenRorive’s familymovedto toleadhimtheright praying forGod they alsowerebaptized. An UnusualDream God had answered his question. He must hadansweredhisquestion.Hemust God about Jesus. what Idohavegiveyou,”hesaid. empty, andRorivesmiledathim. came outempty! hand intoRorive’s pocket,buthishand tried tostealhiswallet.Themanslid water taptofetchwater, andayoungman water. Inthedream,Rorive wenttothe watertaptofetch to aneighborhood homes in Gabon and have to takebuckets people don’t haverunningwaterintheir thought, “No,theyarelost.” change thesepeople?”Hedoubteditand church severaltimes. were thieves,andtheybrokeintothe drank alcoholaroundthechurch.Some young peoplehisageuseddrugsand Many was locatedinabadneighborhood. Church. Buthenoticedthatthechurch in SamarieSeventh-dayAdventist He madenewfriendsandbecameactive capital, Libreville,togotheuniversity. Rorive washappythatGlenandhis Glen toldRorivethathehadbeen When Rorive woke up, he knew that When Rorivewokeup,he knewthat Then hetoldtheyoungman “Silver andgoldIdonothave,but The thiefwassurprisedtofindhishand That night,hehadadream.Many One day, Rorivewondered,“CanGod Rorive grewupandmovedtoGabon’s By AndrewMcChesney me, whycouldn’t Heuseyou?”hesaid. used God “If goes tochurchonSabbath. important questiontoaskeveryonewho him toleadpeoplebaptism.Hehasan he invitedwerebaptized. to theprogram.Sixyoungpeoplewhom thieves, drugusers,anddrinkerstocome meeting ashorttimelater, Roriveinvited When hischurchorganizedanevangelistic and drinkerswholivednearthechurch. share Jesuswiththethieves,drugusers, people learnaboutJesusin school. Gabon. Thankyouforhelping young Adventist highschoolin Libreville, Offering helpedopenaSeventh-day Story Tips        Rorive is thrilled that God has used hasused Rorive isthrilledthatGod Part ofa2017ThirteenthSabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/A-Real-Missionary). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Rorive-Vinga. Watch RoriveonYouTube: invite friendstochurch. opportunities totalkaboutJesusand missionaries thisweekbyseeking Challenge thechildrentobe about Jesusinwordsoractions.) missionary isanyonewhotellsothers what itmeanstobeamissionary. (A story iscalled“ARealMissionary.” Ask Ask thechildrenwhytheythink Pronounce Roriveas:roar-EEV Gabon, onthemap. Find KoulamoutouandLibreville,  5/16/19 1:40 PM 17 AdventistMission.org GABON GABON | August 22

Emma Flore Etiabeguel, 23 Voice in the Well

ncle was a mean man. He picked up the little girl and threw U When his children went to school, her in. Then he placed a wooden cover he made Emma stay at home in Libreville, over the well. Gabon. She didn’t understand why the Emma tumbled down 50 feet (15 other children could study at school and meters) into the darkness. The water was she had to cook meals and clean the house. cold and deep. She couldn’t touch the “Why can’t I go to school?” she asked. bottom with her feet, and she didn’t know “Why should you go to school?” Uncle how to swim. She didn’t know what to do. said. “You’re stupid.” At that moment, she heard the Emma worked hard, waking up before gentle but firm voice of a man, her seven older brothers and sisters to cook speaking in the darkness. and clean. She had never heard about God, “Don’t be afraid,” the voice said. “Don’t but she believed that Someone out there move. Wrap your arms around yourself to loved her. keep warm.” One morning when she was 7, she woke Emma obeyed. She wrapped her arms up late, and Uncle was furious. He called around herself and didn’t move. She her as he left the house for work. didn’t sink, and she didn’t get tired. “Come with me,” he said. That evening, Aunt asked Uncle about They walked a short distance, and Emma when he returned home from work. Uncle stopped at a deep well. “Where’s the child?” she said. “You’re stupid,” he said. “So, I’m going “I threw her in the well,” he said. West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist to throw you in.” Aunt was sure that Emma was dead. 18

3Q20 Children.indd 18 5/16/19 1:40 PM 3Q20 Children.indd 19 well thatday. her. whohadsavedherinthe ItwasGod was theSomeoneouttherewholoved her forsomethingspecial. to sufferbecauseHemustbepreparing can liveforever. allowedher HesaidGod means thatpeoplewhobelieveinHim again?” Emmaasked. again,” thestrangersaid. doesn’tEmma said.“God careaboutme.” door andspokeaboutGod. Someone outtherelovedher. and sufferedpain.Butshebelievedthat treat herevenworsethanbefore. be alive.Butafterawhile,hebeganto He didn’t understandhowshecouldstill alive. SheliftedEmmaoutwitharope. cover, shefoundthatthelittlegirlwas well But whenshetookawaythewooden Emma Flore Etiabeguel is now 23 years old Emma FloreEtiabeguelisnow23yearsold Emma believed.SheknewthatGod The strangertoldhowJesus’death “How isitpossibletodieandlive “Even ifyousufferanddie,willlive “Why areyoutalkingaboutGod?” One day, astrangerknockedonher Emma wondered why shehadbeenborn Uncle wasscaredwhenhesawEmma. AMAZING NATURE pineapples andsugarcane. as tropical fruitslikebananas, wild boarandsnake, aswell from antelopes, porcupine, coastal belt, gamemeat alongtheriversplenty and rice, fishthat isfound in based onstaplesofcassava, Local cuisineis Gabonese me seeGod’s gloryinmylife.” school. Allthepeoplewhooncemocked “Now Iamfinishingthelastyearofhigh because Ineverwenttoschool,”shesaid. and wouldneveramounttoanything and willsoongraduatefromhighschool. By AndrewMcChesney people learnaboutJesusinschool. study. Thankyouforhelpingyoung Gabon, wherestudentslikeEmmacan Adventist highschoolinLibreville, Offering helpedopenaSeventh-day Story Tips     “People usedtosaythatIwasstupid Part ofa2017ThirteenthSabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Download photosofThirteenthSabbath (bit.ly/Voice-in-the-Well). (bit.ly/fb-mq) orADAMSdatabank Download photosonFacebook bit.ly/Emma-Etiabeguel. Watch EmmaonYouTube: Find Libreville,Gabon,onthemap.  5/16/19 1:40 PM 19 AdventistMission.org BigStockPhoto.com GABON LIBERIA | August 29

Albert Elijah Maye, 44 A Boy Named Daddy

ather called 8-year-old Albert to carry a “My son, let’s go,” Albert said. Fplate of rice to a bush in Siahn village The plate was empty. There was no in Liberia. sign of the rice, egg, or kola nuts. “What “Daddy, come on,” Father said. “Let’s go happened, my son?” Albert asked Father. and worship our ancestors.” “Daddy, that’s a sign that our ancestors “My son, let’s go,” the boy replied, have agreed that we can farm this year,” picking up the plate of rice sprinkled with he said. red palm oil. Also on the plate were an Whenever Father wanted something, egg and kola nuts. he took Albert to the bush with a plate At the bush, Father knelt and took of rice. When he hoped for a good rice the plate from Albert. Holding out the harvest, they went to the bush. When he plate with both hands, Father called on wanted his wife to have a baby boy, they his father, grandfather, and other dead went to the bush. When he wanted rain, relatives. “I’m ready to plant rice on my he went to the bush. farm,” he said. “I need the farm to prosper. Albert wondered whether dead ancestors As my ancestors, I am leaving some food really ate the food, but Father forbade him on the ground for you. If you agree with from going to the bush to watch. my wish for a good rice crop, let the plate “Daddy, you can’t go to the bush on your be empty when I come back for it.” own,” he said. “You can only go with me.” The next day, Father called Albert. “Fine, son, I won’t go alone,” “Daddy, go to the bush to see how our Albert promised. West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist ancestors responded,” he said. You might be wondering why Father 20

3Q20 Children.indd 20 5/16/19 1:40 PM called Albert “Daddy” and Albert called his father “son.” The answer is simple. Story Tips A witchdoctor told Father that his own father had been reincarnated, or reborn,  Find Buchanan, Liberia, on the map. Siahn village is located nearby. in Albert after dying. So, Father believed that Albert was actually his own father.  Watch Albert on YouTube: bit.ly/Albert-Maye. Everything changed when Father sent Albert to the Seventh-day Adventist  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank school in the village. On the first day, the (bit.ly/Boy-Named-Daddy). children were surprised to hear Father call Albert “Daddy.”  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. “How old are you?” one boy asked Albert. LIBERIA Albert tried to explain. “He calls me ‘Daddy’ because we believe his father was the Bible. Father became very sad. He reincarnated in me,” he said. realized that Albert was speaking the The other children were confused and truth. From that day on, he never called not convinced. They had studied the Bible Albert “Daddy” again. Albert stopped at school, and they were sure that dead calling his father “son.” people could not be reincarnated. Albert Father and Albert also stopped taking also was confused that the children didn’t plates of rice to the special bush. They no understand him, and he asked a teacher to longer needed to worship their ancestors. explain the Bible. The teacher opened the They were determined to worship only Bible to Job 14:12 and read, “So man lies their Father in heaven.  down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth roused from their sleep.” Sabbath Offering will help to construct a Albert believed for the first time that school in Buchanan, Liberia, to replace a he was not his father’s father school destroyed in Liberia’s civil war in At home, he told Father about the the 1990s. Buchanan is located near to conversation with the teacher. Father Albert’s home village. couldn’t read, so Albert read to him from By Andrew McChesney

The headquarters of the South-East Liberia Mission is located on Tubman Street in the city of Buchanan. Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) was an American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made 13 missions to rescue about 70 enslaved people, family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. AdventistMission.org RECORD MISSION MISSION 21

3Q20 Children.indd 21 5/16/19 1:40 PM LIBERIA | September 5

Amos P.M. Jacobs, 49 Rice for the River God

ather placed white rice sprinkled with Everyone shouted, “Yes!” Fred palm oil on a white plate. A boiled “Then eat,” Father said. “But remember chicken went on top of the rice. Then to leave a little food on your plates.” Father walked with the rice and chicken Father and the villagers ate the rice and to the mighty river located 45 minutes the chicken. When only a little remained, from his home village, Siahn, in Liberia. the villagers stood in a line to the river’s He didn’t go alone. Together with him edge. At the front of the line, Father walked 10 villagers, each carrying white addressed the river. plates with rice and boiled chickens. As “We have come for our blessing,” he said. they followed the path, the men and He picked up the rice and chicken that women sang traditional songs. remained on his plate and threw it into “Duoo, duoo, duoo,” they sang, which the river. means in the native Bassa language, “A Stepping aside, Father motioned for the blessing is coming, a blessing is coming, a next person to go forward. That villager blessing is coming.” also addressed the river and threw in rice “Duoo, duoo, duo,” they sang. and chicken. After each person had taken At the river, the men and women sat a turn, the villagers held hands in a circle, down and placed their plates before them and Father stood in the center. on the ground. “Do you have any other god who can Father, who was the village chief, stood bless you besides our river god?” he said. up to address the group. “No!” the villagers shouted. “Do you believe that you will have a The group returned to the village. West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist blessing?” he said. One day, Father was working at the 22

3Q20 Children.indd 22 5/16/19 1:40 PM seaport in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, when he received a phone call from a Story Tips village friend who knew about his devout worship for the river god.  Find Buchanan, Liberia, on the map. Siahn village is located nearby. “I have good news,” said the friend, Willie Helbig. “There’s a new God. Come  Pronounce “duoo” as: DOO-woo. back to the village.”  Know that Father died in 2011 at the Father returned to the village. He age 74. learned that Willie had been baptized  Watch Amos on YouTube: into the Seventh-day Adventist Church bit.ly/Amos-Jacobs. after learning about God from Rudolph  Download photos on Facebook

Helbig, a German missionary pioneer. He (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank LIBERIA had even adopted the missionary’s last (bit.ly/Rice-for-River-God). name. Now Willie wanted to give Bible  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath studies to Father. projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Over the next few months, Father learned about the God who lives in Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth heaven and does not require rice to answer Sabbath Offering will help to construct prayers. He was baptized. a K–6 school in Buchanan, Liberia, Father, whose full name is Joe S. to replace a school that was destroyed Jacobs, went on to become an Adventist in Liberia’s civil war in the 1990s. pastor and to have 12 children. One of Buchanan, located near to Father’s home them, Amos P.M. Jacobs, the third-eldest, village, is the birthplace of the Seventh- also became a pastor, and he loves to tell the story about how his father found the day Adventist Church in Liberia and real God. the place where the first Adventist “Father forsook the river god in favor missionary, Rudolph Helbig of Germany, of the living God,” said Amos, who is 49 planted the first church after his arrival years old. “That was a great change for a in 1926. better life.”  By Andrew McChesney

Liberia is known for its detailed decorative masks, wood carvings of realistic human faces, and carved accessories, particularly combs, BigStockPhoto.com spoons, and forks. Liberian wood sculptures are heavily influenced by ancient history, folklore, proverbs, spirituality, and rural life and show the artist’s attention to detail and their AdventistMission.org NATURE connection to the people and objects sculpted. AMAZING AMAZING 23

3Q20 Children.indd 23 5/16/19 1:40 PM LIBERIA | September 12

Wilmot Redd, 26 Big Feet, Big Trouble

ine-year-old Wilmot Redd woke up to The trip to the hospital took 30 minutes. Nsee that his feet and legs were gigantic. At the hospital, a physician ran tests His feet and legs had doubled in size since but couldn’t find anything wrong. Leaving he went to bed the night before in a village Wilmot at the hospital, Father returned in the West African country of Liberia. to the village to find Nakontee, an old Wilmot tried to slip on a pair of pants, woman who prayed for people for money. but they were too tight. He tried to put Nakontee told Father to give her U.S.$30 on a pair of shoes, but they were too for a bar of soap, a towel, and a jar of small. He chose a pair of shorts and ran olive oil. “When the boy comes home, he barefoot to Father. should use the soap whenever he takes a “My feet are big!” he said. bath or washes his hands,” she said. “He Father looked worried. should use the towel to dry himself. After “Does it hurt?” he asked. baths, rub his body with the olive oil.” “No, nothing hurts,” the boy said. “Just Then the woman prayed for Wilmot. my feet are really big. I can’t wear pants When she finished, she told Father to or shoes.” forget the soap, towel, and olive oil. Father thought the swelling might go “I just had a vision,” she said. “The soap, down on its own, and he suggested that towel, and olive oil won’t help the boy. He they wait a few days. But after a week, has been cursed by someone who lives near Wilmot’s feet were bigger than ever. Father here, so you must take him far away. That called the hospital. An ambulance arrived is the only way that he will be cured.” West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist with lights flashing and siren shrieking. Father left the soap and other items at 24

3Q20 Children.indd 24 5/16/19 1:40 PM sometimes punished Wilmot by forcing Story Tips him go hungry all day on Sabbaths.  Find Buchanan, Liberia, on the map. Wilmot tried to talk to his father about the Sabbath, but Father refused to listen.  Pronounce Nakontee as: na-KON-tee Wilmot prayed every day for God to  Watch Wilmot on YouTube: soften Father’s heart. bit.ly/Wilmot-Redd. One evening during family worship,  Download photos on Facebook Wilmot asked Father to show him where (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank the Bible said that Christians should (bit.ly/Big-Feet-Big-Trouble). worship on Sunday. Father opened his  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath

projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. Bible and looked for a text. He couldn’t LIBERIA find any. Then Wilmot turned in his Bible home and returned to the hospital. Hailing to Luke 4:16 and gave the book to Father. a taxi, he took Wilmot to an uncle’s house “Read this,” he said. far away. He wanted the boy to be safe Silently, he prayed for God to soften from the curse. Father’s heart. In the new city, Father took Wilmot Father read that Jesus went to church to another hospital. A physician declared every Sabbath. The verse said, “And that Wilmot had a kidney infection. After as His custom was, He went to the two weeks of treatment, Wilmot’s feet synagogue on the Sabbath day.” Father and legs returned to their normal size, and looked up with shock. the boy was released from the hospital. “I didn’t realize that Jesus worshipped But Father still believed that he had been every Sabbath,” he said. “Son, I’m sorry cursed and only recovered because they had traveled far away from home. Father for treating you unkindly.” made arrangements for Wilmot to live Wilmot never again had any trouble on with his uncle. Sabbath. He is praying for his Father to After four years, when Wilmot was 13, become a Seventh-day Adventist. But he Father moved to another town and sent has never gone to the prayer woman. He for his son. He enrolled the boy in the goes directly to God. local Seventh-day Adventist school. “I pray to the heavenly Father,” he said. At the school, Wilmot learned that “I put everything into His hands.” God does not require money to answer prayers. He loved God and wanted to Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath show his love by keeping the seventh-day Offering will open a K–6 school in Sabbath. He was baptized. Buchanan, Liberia, where Wilmot lives, Father worshipped on Sunday, and he so children can learn about Jesus just as he was upset about Wilmot’s new beliefs. did as a child. Thank you for planning a Saturday was a busy day for the family, and Wilmot no longer helped wash clothes generous Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. or clean the yard on that day. Father By Andrew McChesney AdventistMission.org 25

3Q20 Children.indd 25 5/16/19 1:40 PM GUINEA | September 19

A New Life

Moriba Monemou, 12

wasn’t me.” But no one believed him, and people beat him nearly every day. Aunt Rosalie saw the beatings, and she ittle Moriba Monemou was always worried that the boy might be injured Lan obedient boy. But his life changed seriously. She took him from the family when he was 6. His mother died. farm and moved with him across the Father had no time for the boy because country to the capital, Conakry. he was busy working on the family farm Aunt Rosalie was an Adventist, and in the West African country of Guinea. she wanted Moriba to learn about Jesus. Father’s second wife had no time for She enrolled him in a Seventh-day the boy because she was caring for her Adventist school. own five girls and four boys. No one fed School was very difficult for the boy. Moriba. No one hugged him or said a kind He had never studied, and it required a word to him. lot of effort to read and write. It was even Moriba became rude. He refused to harder to sit still at his desk. He was used work on the family farm. If Father asked to spending his days playing outdoors, and him to deliver a message, he stayed out now he had to sit in a classroom. all day, playing with friends, and only Moriba couldn’t sit for long. After a returning home at night. He stole money short time at his desk, he stood on his to buy food to eat. He stole corn and chair and jumped from chair to chair in peanuts from neighbors’ farms and sold the classroom. The other children liked it, them to buy food. but the teacher didn’t. Then — CRACK! Moriba lied to cover up his A chair broke, and Moriba was sent to wrongdoings. When people asked if he the principal. The principal called Aunt West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist had stolen something, he replied, “No, it Rosalie to the school. 26

3Q20 Children.indd 26 5/16/19 1:40 PM “This boy will never learn,” said one. Story Tips “You’re wasting time with school,” said another neighbor.  Find Moriba’s birthplace, Nzerekore, a city in southeastern Guinea, on the map. Aunt Rosalie firmly shook her head. Find his current city, Conakry, on the “Moriba is a smart boy, and God will west coast. help him learn,” she said.  Pronounce Moriba as: MOREE-ba God heard her prayers. After the first semester, Moriba began to read well. He  Watch Moriba on YouTube: bit.ly/Moriba-Monemou. wrote well. He began to understand the lessons as he kept studying. The teachers  Download photos on Facebook (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank were filled with joy, and they happily gave (bit.ly/New-Life-WAD). him extra tutoring every day after classes. Today, Moriba is 12 years old and in  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. the third grade. He can read his Bible, which he received as a gift from the school, and he is preparing to be baptized. “I’m so sorry,” Aunt Rosalie said. “We He wants to serve God with his new life. will do our best so he doesn’t destroy

“I’m very happy for my new life,” GUINEA school property.” he said. “People like me now. I am not But Moriba just couldn’t sit still. He was the same boy that I was before. I have used to being free outdoors. He didn’t mean changed. Jesus, the Sabbath, and the to be naughty, but he kept breaking chairs. school have changed me.”  Every time, Aunt Rosalie was called to the school, and every time she apologized. “We will do our best so he doesn’t Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth destroy school property again,” she said. Sabbath Offering will open Kobaya Neighbors wondered whether Moriba Academy, a much-needed K–12 school, would ever be able to learn. They told in Conakry, Guinea. Thank you for Aunt Rosalie to give up trying to teach remembering Moriba and the school in him to read and write and instead to your prayers. teach him to become a farmer. By Andrew McChesney

The work in Guinea began in 1987, when a lay couple from Europe quietly witnessed to their faith. In April 1992, the first war refugees from Liberia arrived in Guinea, including a number of Seventh-day Adventists and a licensed pastor, W. Oloysius, who soon began witnessing for their faith. AdventistMission.org RECORD MISSION MISSION 27

3Q20 Children.indd 27 5/16/19 1:40 PM 13th SABBATH | September 26

Junior Kekura Soropogui, 13 The Big Contest

unior was not pleased with his new Junior wasn’t so sure. Jschool in Conakry, Guinea. But as the days went by, he began to The one-story school building had like the Bible class. He was interested to no doors or windows. It didn’t have a read that God had created the world and playground, only piles of dirt. In contrast, that Jesus had died for his sins. He had his old school was a yellow four-story never heard about those things before. building with doors and windows. It had a One day, the teacher made a big nice playground and a basketball court. announcement in Bible class. “I don’t like this school,” Junior “We are going to have a quiz tomorrow,” complained to Father after his first day of he said. third grade. “I’m not happy there.” He wrote five verses on the blackboard Father had enrolled Junior and his younger and told the children to copy them into brother, Emile, at the Seventh-day Adventist their notebooks. school because he wanted them to learn “Memorize one verse for the quiz about God. The newly built school didn’t tomorrow,” she said. have doors, windows, or a playground At home, Junior repeated Ephesians because money had run out. 6:1, 2 over and over: “Children, obey Junior had gone to a regular school for your parents in the Lord, for this the first and second grades, and Emile was is right. ’Honor your father and just starting first grade. mother,’ which is the first commandment Father insisted that Junior should stay with promise.” at the new school. Father and Mother were happy to see West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist “The school will get better,” he said. Junior memorizing from the Bible. 28

3Q20 Children.indd 28 5/16/19 1:40 PM The next day, Teacher gave each student a piece of paper and told them to Story Tips write what they had memorized. Junior  Watch Junior on YouTube: received a perfect mark. bit.ly/Junior-Soropogui. After that, Teacher gave many more  Download photos on Facebook quizzes, and Junior liked memorizing from (bit.ly/fb-mq) or ADAMS databank the Bible. (bit.ly/The-Big-Contest). Although the school didn’t have  Download photos of Thirteenth Sabbath basketball, the children began to play projects: bit.ly/WAD-2020. another kind of game. Teacher told Junior and another boy and a girl from the third Before 13th Sabbath grade to prepare for a big contest against  Send home a note to remind parents the second-grade class. The contest would of the program and to encourage the determine who knew more Bible verses. children to bring their Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on September 26. At home, Junior opened his Bible and Remind everyone that their mission reread the verses that he had memorized. offerings are gifts to spread God’s Word He was happy that Teacher had chosen around the world, and that one-fourth of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering him to represent his class. Mother also will go directly to help three projects in GUINEA was happy. the West-Central Africa Division. The “You will know more about the Bible,” projects are listed on page 3 and on the she said. back cover. The next day, Junior joined his two  The narrator doesn’t need to memorize classmates at the front of the classroom. the story, but he or she should be familiar Three students from the second-grade enough with the material so as not to have to read it. The children can mime team also stood at the front. The other or otherwise act out the story as it is told. students watched from their desks.  Before or after the story, use a map to Teacher gave the rules. She would call show the three countries — Guinea, out the Bible book and verse, and both Liberia, and Nigeria — that will receive teams would have a chance to answer. the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Briefly “John 3:16,” Teacher said. describe how each will benefit from the offering. For today’s story, show Conakry, The second-grade team knew the Guinea, on the map. answer, and one child said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only  Know that Father’s name is Pepe Voctorien Soropogui, 43, and Mother’s begotten Son, that whoever believes name is Tido Grace Haba, 36. in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The third-grade team also knew the score was 1-1. answer: “For God so loved the world The teacher gave another verse, and both that He gave His only begotten Son, teams answered correctly. Two-two. Both that whoever believes in Him should not teams answered all four verses correctly, and perish but have everlasting life.” the score was tied at 4-4. The students Both teams received a point. The were eager to see one team win. AdventistMission.org 29

3Q20 Children.indd 29 5/16/19 1:40 PM “Let’s start again with another four wasn’t so bad after all. verses,” Teacher said. Teacher saw that Junior enjoyed Bible Both teams correctly answered the first class and invited him and Emile to church three verses. The score was 7-7. Then on Sabbath. Soon Junior and Emile were came the last verse. going to church every Sabbath, and they “Ephesians 6:1, 2,” Teacher said. invited their parents to join them. The children in the second-grade team Father and Mother also liked the looked puzzled. None could remember church, and they were baptized. Junior the verse. and Emile hope to be baptized as well.  Junior’s teammates also weren’t sure about the verse. But Junior remembered it. Today, Junior is 13 and wishes that It was the verse that he had memorized for he was still studying at the Adventist the first quiz at the school. school. The school only teaches children “Children, obey your parents in the in grades one to six and Junior is now Lord, for this is right. ’Honor your in the seventh grade. This quarter’s father and mother,’ which is the first Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will allow commandment with promise,” he said. Junior to return to the Adventist school “Correct!” Teacher said. “The score is by constructing a new four-story building 8-7. The third-grade class wins!” where children will be able to study The third graders shouted with joy and from kindergarten to the twelfth grade. clapped loudly. Warm satisfaction filled Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Junior. Maybe the new school didn’t Offering to help the school and other look as nice as his old school, and maybe projects in Liberia and Nigeria. it didn’t have a nice playground. But it By Andrew McChesney Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects

The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in fourth quarter 2020 will help the Southern Asia Division to construct the following projects in India:

. Boys’ dormitory, Garmar Academy, Savanagar Tamil churches in Karnataka state Rajanagaram, Andhra Pradesh state . Two classrooms, Seventh-day Adventist . Five classrooms, Flaiz Adventist College, English High School, Azam Nagar, Rustumbada, Andhra Pradesh state Karnataka state . Church building, Amritsar, Punjab state . Boys’ dormitory, E.D. Thomas Memorial . Church building, Ranchi, Jharkhand state Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur, . Dormitory, Seventh-day Adventist Tamil Nadu state School, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state . Labs and library, Thirumala Seventh- . Second phase of school building at day Adventist Secondary School, Roorkee Adventist College, Roorkee, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state Uttarakhand state . School building, Spicer Adventist West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist . New buildings for Central Kannada and University, Ahirewadi, Maharashtra state 30

3Q20 Children.indd 30 5/16/19 1:40 PM Color The Flag

LIBERIA

DIRECTIONS: Color every other stripe red, starting at the top and ending at the bottom with red stripes. Leave the other stripes white. Color the square in the top left corner blue, leaving the star white.

GABON

DIRECTIONS: Color the top third green, the middle third yellow, and the bottom third blue. AdventistMission.org

3Q20 Children.indd 31 5/16/19 1:40 PM Color The Flag

GUINEA

DIRECTIONS: Color the left third red, the middle third yellow, and the right third green.

Let’s Cook! GINGER DRINK (GUINEA) INGREDIENTS 6 cups (1.4 liters) boiling water 2 whole cinnamon sticks 1 cup (115 g) fresh ginger root, 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh lemon or peeled and grated lime juice 1 cup (200 g) sugar 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice 10–12 whole cloves 8 cups (1.9 liters) cool water

INSTRUCTIONS Pour the boiling water over the grated ginger root, sugar, cloves and cinnamon in a large enamel, glass or stainless-steel bowl. Cover and set aside in a warm place for at least an hour. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve or cloth, add the juices and water and set aside in a warm place for another hour. Gently strain the liquid again, taking care not to disturb the sediment at the bottom. Store in the refrigerator or a cool place in a large glass container. It can be served warm, cold, or on ice, either as it is or diluted with water or sparkling water. A squeeze of fresh lime juice in each glass of ginger drink is good. West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist

3Q20 Children.indd 32 5/16/19 1:41 PM Let’s Cook!

BAKED BANANAS (GABON) INGREDIENTS 8 bananas cut into three equal 3.5 oz (100 g) bread crumbs diagonal pieces ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil 1 egg 1½ cup (350 ml) sour cream 2 tbsp (30 ml) orange juice 8 tbsp (100 g) brown sugar

INSTRUCTIONS Beat the egg and the orange juice together. Dip the bananas in the egg mixture and then in the breadcrumbs. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the bananas until they begin to brown lightly. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in an oven pre-heated to 350 F (170 C) for 5 minutes. Serve 1 banana per person, topped with sour cream and sprinkled with brown sugar. BigStockPhoto.com AdventistMission.org

3Q20 Children.indd 33 5/16/19 1:41 PM Let’s Sing and Play!

LE PETIT LAPIN (THE LITTLE RABBIT) (GABON) FRENCH ENGLISH Mon petit lapin a bien du chagrin My little rabbit is very sad, Il ne saute plus, ne danse plus dans He no longer hops or dances in mon jardin. my garden. Saute, saute, saute, mon petit lapin Hop, hop, hop, my little rabbit Et va-vite embrasser quelqu’un. And quickly go kiss someone. GAME INSTRUCTIONS One child plays the role of the rabbit. The children form a circle, with the little “rabbit” in the center. The children go around him singing the first two lines of the song and then they stop moving but continue to sing and clap their hands and the little rabbit in the middle starts hopping. On the last line, the little “rabbit” chooses one of the other children and tags him or her and that child takes the role of the rabbit in the center. A link to an audio clip of the song can be found at bit.ly/LePetitLapin.

TRAIN, TRAIN PARTY (LIBERIA) DROP THE HANDKERCHIEF GAME Leader: Train, train party! Leader: I wrote my letter to my Dad Group: Aaaaa, party! And on the way I dropped it, Leader: Train, train party! Little boy picked it up Group: Aaaaa, party! And put it in his pocket. GAME INSTRUCTIONS The children squat in a circle looking forward. One child (the leader) walks around outside the circle holding an object like a handkerchief or a shoe. The leader sings her part of the lyrics and the group responds with their part. At some point the leader drops the object behind one of the children in the circle and runs around the ring. The second child then has to chase the leader. If he catches the leader before she reaches his empty space in the circle, the leader must go around again with the handkerchief. Otherwise, the second child becomes the new leader and the game starts over again. The game and song can be seen on YouTube at bit.ly/TrainTrain (the game starts in the video at 1:57). West-Central Africa Division Mission West-Central Adventist

3Q20 Children.indd 34 5/16/19 1:41 PM Leader’s Resources

EDITORIAL Be sure to download your free Mission Spotlight video, featuring Andrew McChesney Editor video reports from around the West-Central Africa Division and Wendy Trim Editorial Assistant beyond. Download or stream from the Adventist Mission website at Emily Harding Layout Editor bit.ly/missionspotlight. A printable mission bank image, which the OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION children can color, can be downloaded at bit.ly/bank-coloring-page. Gary Krause Director Rick Kajiura Communication Director Online Information Homer Trecartin Study Centers Director Following are sources of information that may be helpful in Jeff Scoggins Program Director

preparing for the mission segment of Sabbath School. For more COMMUNICATION information on the cultures and history of the countries featured in Andrew McChesney Editor, Mission this quarterly, visit: Laurie Falvo Projects Manager Kayla Ewert Projects Manager Websites Ricky Oliveras Video Producer Earley Simon Video Producer Liberia: government website bit.ly/LibGovt Donna Rodill Editorial Assistant World Travel Guide bit.ly/WTGLiberia Thanks to the following organizers and interpreters: Gabon: government website bit.ly/GabGovt Alexis Ebe (Gabon), Blozo Jacob Gbale (Guinea), Wanderlust bit.ly/WLGabon James M. Golay (Liberia), Michel Guilavogui (Guinea), Guinea: government website bit.ly/RepGuiGovt Alexis Kouadio (WAD), Tony Ogouma (Gabon), Elie Weick-Dido (WAD). Lonely Planet bit.ly/LPGuinea Web site: AdventistMission.org Seventh-day Adventist West-Central Africa Division bit.ly/SDAWAD Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and copyrighted © 2020 by the Office of Adventist Mission, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. An offering goal device will help focus attention on world missions Printed in U.S.A. and increase weekly mission giving. Determine a goal for your class’s weekly mission offering. Multiply it by 14, allowing a double goal for Fourth Quarter 2020 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 from mission offerings will help the missionary work of the world church this quarterly for use in local Sabbath School and that one quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go and children’s ministries programs. Permission to reproduce any portion of the material for directly to the projects in the West-Central Africa Division. On sale, publication in another periodical, or other the twelfth Sabbath, report on mission giving during the quarter. commercial use must be authorized by the editor at Encourage members to double or triple their normal mission giving on the above address. Thirteenth Sabbath. Count the offering and record the amount given For subscription inquiries, e-mail Rebecca Hilde at [email protected] or call 1-800- at the end of Sabbath School. 545-2449 or 1-208-465-2527 Annual subscription NKJV. Bible texts credited to NKJV are from the New King rates per edition: domestic, U.S.$7.50; international, U.S.$14.50. North American Division churches can James Version ® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by receive a complimentary subscription by contacting AdventistMission.org Permission. All rights reserved. the above telephone numbers or e-mail address. 35

3Q20 Children.indd 35 5/16/19 1:41 PM Lux. Czech Rep. Ukraine Slovakia Austria Mold. Kazakhstan Hungary Switz. Slovenia Romania Croatia Italy France Bos. & Herz. Serb. Mont. Kos. Bulgaria Spain AlbaniaMace. Georgia Portugal ArmeniaAzerb. Uzbekistan Greece Turkmenistan Turkey

Malta Cyprus Syria Iran 3Q20 Children.indd 36 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 Djibouti 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 Somalia Bangui Yaounde Uganda Equatorial Guinea Kenya Libreville São Tomé Congo and Príncipe Gabon Rwanda Democratic Republic Brazzaville of the Congo 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 Zimbabwe 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 urbanBotswana 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 1:41 PM 3 Establish a medical West African Union Mission 131 208 34,842 24,458,000 Swaziland 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 South Africa