1St Quarter 2015

MissionYOUTH & ADULT 2015 • QUARTER 1 • NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION

www.AdventistMission.org Contents

On the Cover: Mr. Roland Moody has profoundly impacted the lives of generations of native Alaskans through the mission school and camp he established.

= stories of special interest to teens Your Offerings at Work

The South- freely distributed to those who are poor, Pacific Division illiterate and are in isolated areas. We (SPD) received are making good progress in distributing the Thirteenth 5,750 Godpods . . . [and] would like to Sabbath Offering express our deep gratitude to the General for the First Conference and the church for their Quarter, 2013. support to bring the everlasting gospel to One of the all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues projects was to through the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering provide solar- for the Godpods. powered “Godpods” containing the Bible Geraldine Przybylko, and other religious literature for people in Adventist Media Network, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Wahroonga, N.S.W., Vanuatu. Here is a letter of thanks: Australia

Inter-American Division Inter-American “The Godpods have been a huge blessing for the church to use as a tool to ission

M reach the people in the SPD. For many, © 2014 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® • All rights reserved this is the first time they have heard 12501 Old Columbia Pike, dventist A the gospel message. The Godpods are Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 800.648.5824 • www.AdventistMission.org 2 Dear Sabbath School Leader,

Welcome to a new year, a new quarter, American Division (NAD) has a and a new division on which to focus our little more than one million members, attention and our prayers. comprising less than 7 percent of the church’s worldwide membership. North American Division This quarter we’re featuring exciting The North American Division includes stories coming from some of the most Canada, the United States of America and remote parts of this division—from its territories of Guam and Wake Island, the warm tropical islands of Guam and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Micronesia to the cool and beautiful state island nation of Bermuda, and several of Alaska and the rolling mountains and island possessions. rivers of Appalachia, you will see God’s The Seventh-day Adventist Church hand moving in mighty ways through His was born and nurtured in North America, people in NAD. where it was officially organized in 1863. In addition to the stories and Today the Adventist Church has more information provided in this quarterly than 18 million members, and ministers magazine, we would like to also remind in 216 countries around the world in more you that many excellent mission stories than 900 languages. are available to you completely free But growth of the church in North on our new Mission Spotlight/Mission America, like much of Europe and 360 DVD. Your church should receive Australia, has slowed. Today the North one free each quarter. In addition, you may also download the video stories (and quarterly magazines) at www. adventistmission.org/resources. Opportunities Please remind people that in addition The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to giving their Thirteenth Sabbath this quarter will help: Offering on the last Sabbath of the quarter, they are also welcome to give to  build bathhouses with showers and toilets at Camp Polaris, near this and other Adventist Mission offerings Dillingham, Alaska; at any time on our secure website:  hold 35 evangelistic meetings www.adventistmission.org/give simultaneously across the Mountain Thank you for all you do to promote View Conference, West Virginia; mission—the heartbeat of Adventism! May the Lord richly bless you!  provide gymnasiums for Adventist schools in the Guam-Micronesia Mission. Gina Wahlen, Editor www.AdventistMission.org

3 ALASKA | January 3 A Guiding Star

Roland

cabin. Mr. Moody and the eldest son took their large fishing boat down into Bristol Bay, home of the world’s largest source of red salmon, while Mrs. Moody cared for the three younger children at home. Sadly, just a few months after settling into their new home, tragedy struck the Moody family. As father and eldest son headed ife was hard in the western up the river from Dillingham, somehow Washington town of Humptulips L both men ended up in the fast current and during the 1930s. Located on the drowned, leaving the mother to raise the Humptulips River on the Olympic two younger sons and a daughter. peninsula, the town had seen better days for the commercial fishermen trying to A Family of Faith earn a living. Being a family of faith, the mother One family, the Moodys, found life so continued to gather the children for difficult in Humptulips that they decided worship and on Sabbath they met with to follow Mrs. Moody’s brother to Alaska, Mrs. Moody’s brother and his family. where, according to the brother, the During the week, Mrs. Moody carried out fishing was good and there was money the family fishing business, with the help to be made. The family of six packed up of her two sons, Lloyd, 14, and Roland, 13. and traveled the 2,500 miles (4,023 km.) “We grew up fast,” remembers Roland. from Humptulips, to the Canadian border, “We had a mother and little sister to help.” then on through British Columbia and To help their family survive, Lloyd and the Yukon before heading west to the Roland had little time for school as they frontier town of Dillingham, Alaska. From worked as commercial fisherman near their Dillingham they headed up the Wood home. By the time they were no longer River, finally arriving on the remote shores teens, the young men had not yet finished

Inter-American Division Inter-American of Lake Aleknagik. at the rural public school. Early each

ission Although Aleknagik is a Yupik word morning Roland, who was now 20, built a M meaning “wrong way home,” the Moody fire in the school’s wood stove so that the family found a good place to settle beside place would be warm. During those early dventist A the lake, where they built a small log mornings, Roland not only warmed up the 4 classroom—he also took the opportunity ,have any place to take the young kids for to get to know the school’s beautiful activities and stuff,” recalled Roland, “and young teacher, Miss Jackie. By the end of kids like to go someplace.” They named the year, they were married and set up a the new place “Camp Polaris”—after the

home beside Lake Aleknagik. guiding light of the North Star. ALASKA Roland Moody purchased several old Camp Polaris—a Guiding Star buildings from Crick Cannery, which had After they married, Roland and Jackie gone out of business. He barged these started talking about ways to reach out to buildings across Bristol Bay to Aleknagik, the native Alaskan community around and then 12 miles up the lake to Camp them, and decided to build a Seventh- Polaris. More than 60 years later these day Adventist school on their property old cannery buildings are still in use each by the lake. They called it the “Mission School” and offered grades 1 through summer by the children of western Alaska. 8. Students and parents were delighted, Continuing the Camp Ministry and kids came from as far away as Nome For decades Roland and Jackie Moody just to attend the mission school. In enjoyed hosting the children and ferrying order to accommodate the students, two them up the lake by barge to the camp. dormitories were built. Additionally, the Each year on the last Sabbath of camp, Moodys started an Adventist congregation the entire Aleknagik Adventist Church and built the first Aleknagik Seventh-day prepared a feast for the kids and made the Adventist Church. 90-minute boat trip up the lake to Camp As the school grew, Roland and Jackie Polaris, where they enjoyed a special wanted to provide more for their students, Sabbath by the lake with the campers. so they started a camp. “We just didn’t After Jackie passed away, Roland married Beverly, who helped continue the Camp Polaris traditions. Fast Facts Over the years the camp has been a vital ministry to the young people of western  The term Alaska native refers to Alaska’s Alaska. Many of the children who attend original inhabitants including Aleut, Eskimo and Indian groups. camp come from less-than-ideal homes where poverty, alcoholism, and abuse are  Alaska officially became the 49th state too often the norm. They often exclaim on January 3, 1959. that coming to the camp is the highlight of  Alaska is the United States largest their year, because it is a place where they state and is over twice the size of Texas. feel loved, accepted, and cared for.  Measuring from north to south the state is approximately 1,400 miles long and measuring from east to west it is 2,700 Note about picture on p. 4: Mr. Moody owned a miles wide. fuel station. He is in the center of the picture, wearing  Nearly one-third of Alaska lies within whitish overalls. To the left is the late U.S. Senator the Arctic Circle. Ted Kennedy, and his son, Patrick, who stopped by to refuel while visiting Alaska many years ago. www.AdventistMission.org 5 Finding Jesus at Camp ALASKA | January 10 Heather and Travis

asked many questions, wondering how Joseph was able to do all that he did. “Although Logan still acted tough, you could see the gears starting to turn as he wondered what we were all about,” remembered Travis. “It was kind of cool to see the change that took place over ravis didn’t know what to do with the week.” This camper. At age 12 Logan* was the toughest kid in the cabin and wanted to It Takes a Lot of Prayer be in charge of everyone and everything. Most of the kids who come to Camp One night Logan decided he wasn’t going Polaris don’t know the Bible. Travis to bed, so Travis and his co-counselor remembers a time when only one camper came up with a plan. knew the story of David and Goliath. “OK,” they told the obstinate camper. “We’re ministering to kids who don’t grow up in Christian homes, who don’t read the “You can stay up—as long as you read the Bible. It takes a lot of prayer to help reach Bible.” Logan agreed, except he didn’t these kids . . . to know how to reach them.” have a Bible; in fact, he had never read Travis, a senior mechanical engineering one. So the co-counselor lent Logan his student at Walla Walla University, started Bible, and by the light of the moon and working at Camp Polaris in 2011. In a flashlight the boy met the heroes of addition to being a counselor, he has Genesis for the very first time. taught a variety of classes, including The next morning Logan confided to Inter-American Division Inter-American wakeboarding and model rocketry. his counselors, “I actually found some ission “I’ve loved it every summer, that’s why I M cool stories in there.” He was especially keep coming back,” he says. “I’ve learned interested in the story of Joseph, and a lot about trusting in God, because you dventist A * Not his real name. get situations where you don’t know how 6 to make it through the week, but you it over the candle, and it didn’t pop! The always do. Then in hindsight, you see that presenter explained that we are like the even the tough things were a positive. It balloon and the water represents Christ. definitely is about learning to trust God. If we have Christ in us, He calms us

“I think I’m a little more comfortable and gives us peace and strength—He’s a ALASKA now with just being thrown into a resource that we can latch on to.” situation. I’ve learned to be flexible and go with the flow, and to be ready for They Keep Coming Back Heather now tries to pass on these whatever—because you don’t know what’s lessons to campers as she works at Camp going to happen next.” Polaris. “The kids aren’t Adventists, and A Light in the World they don’t come from the best families. Heather Ueeck grew up in Delta They aren’t used to discipline, to structure, Junction, a small town at the end of the and people caring about them. They often Alaska Highway. As a child, Heather act up. Sometimes it seems as if they hate loved going to camp every summer, and camp, but they keep coming back. Even she kept a record of her experiences, with the struggles, underneath they realize listing her daily activities. Early on she that we actually care about them.” wrote: “And of course we had to do Heather admits that working at Camp worship, and that was dumb.” Polaris has taught her patience. “It’s my But as the years went by, camp worships job to lead the kids toward God. Patience became more meaningful to Heather. and flexibility are so important. And One worship that made a big impression trusting in God. It’s given me a strong involved a candle and a balloon. “They tool for facing situations that will come held a balloon over a lit candle and the up in my life—just learning to deal with balloon popped right away. Then they the things that this world throws at you. put water into another balloon and held It’s given me appreciation for others who have served me, and has given me the attitude that I want to help other people and be a light in the world.” Camp Polaris is in need of updated Mission Post facilities, such as “bearproof cabins,” says  The Alaska Conference of Seventh-day Heather. And now that the Moodys have Adventists was established in 1901—58 left, the only way to ferry the children to years before Alaska became one of the camp is by making several long trips by states in the U.S.A. small boat. Restroom and bathing facilities  The Alaska Conference covers one of include two outhouses, a steam sauna, and the largest territories in the world. Many the icy waters of Lake Aleknagik. areas of the conference are accessible only by boat or airplane. “I’ve lived in Alaska all my life,” Heather says, “and Camp Polaris is the  As of 2013, there were 3,842 Adventist members in Alaska, and 29 most isolated I’ve ever been. But it’s Adventist churches. definitely a place where you can feel very close to God. I really love it up there.” www.AdventistMission.org 7 Changing People’s Lives ALASKA | January 17 Chad

remember when I was 8 years old and I I told them that I just wanted to go to I couldn’t go to “junior camp” (as Camp sleep, but they started telling ghost stories Polaris is known to the locals), because I anyway. Our counselor was asleep, so he was too young. I went there to drop off my didn’t know what was going on. After a older sister and cousin, and when I had while things started getting really eerie. to get back in the boat to leave, I started One of my good friends was sitting in the crying. I wanted to stay at camp so bad corner very quietly. After the last ghost with all the other kids! They were having story was told, he jumped up and ran to fun, there was structure, there was this the other side of the cabin where I was. vibe . . . and I wanted to be a part of that! The only beam of light that was showing When I turned 9, I finally got to go to through the door was shining right by camp, and I absolutely loved it! I went my bunk, and he wanted to be there every year, all the way to age 16. While beside me. “Chad,” he said, “I don’t know I had many experiences at junior camp, what happened, but I’m really scared— one that really stands out happened the something happened to me. summer I was 14.

Inter-American Division Inter-American I was also frightened and said, “Let’s

ission Ghost Stories get a Bible!” I started reading the Bible M We were all in the cabin, and some to him, and another friend joined us on of the guys wanted to tell ghost stories. my bunk, saying that he was scared too. dventist A It was about 12:30 in the morning, and I continued reading Bible stories, but I 8 could see that my friends were still scared, can’t believe that I was a part of that— so I asked, “Jim, do you have a Bible?” He I’m too young for this.” But looking said that he did. Not knowing what else back, I realize that’s where God started ALASKA to do at that point, I told him to open it working in me, at that moment, at up and place it on his chest. I continued Camp Polaris. It was at there at Camp reading Bible texts, but they were still Polaris where, in spite of Satan trying spooked, so I suggested that we go outside. to scare us into thinking that he had Angels on the Mountain power even at a Bible camp, that God conquered that night. By the light of the moon we could see Lake Aleknagik and the huge mountains Changing Lives all around us. As I looked up at those tall The staff at Camp Polaris influenced mountains, I remembered a Bible story me too. One day a staff member named that I had heard as a kid—the story about Monica said, “Chad, you have a nice Elisha’s servant being so afraid when they voice. You should sing.” Nobody had ever were surrounded by the enemy, Elisha told me that in my life. It’s because of her prayed that God would open the eyes of affirmation that I sing today. the servant. Remembering that story, I And it’s because of the event that suddenly blurted out to my friends, “You night with angels on the mountain that I guys, look! Look at the mountain line! believe I’m a minister today. Junior camp All the angels are on this mountain!” You seriously changed my life. could just see my friends calming down. Camp Polaris is really worn-down now, We went back to the cabin and fell asleep. but I know that people are trying hard The next morning, I felt so humbled to get funds to build that camp back up that God would have actually used me to help others. I was telling myself, “I again. That place has changed so many people’s lives here in Alaska—local lives! Just recently, when I was fishing 100 miles away, I still heard good things about Fast Facts Camp Polaris. I believe that if we keep on  At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. building it up, making it better for kids, McKinley, located in Alaska’s interior, is it will keep on changing lives, like mine the highest point in North America. was. And who knows? Maybe another  The Alaskan malamute sled dog is local person here in Alaska will become strong and heavily coated. It was a Seventh-day Adventist minister or a developed as a breed by a group of missionary—whatever God wants them to Eskimos named the Malemiuts. be. All I know for sure is that God’s work  Alaska’s name is based on the Eskimo at Camp Polaris isn’t done yet.  word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula. Chad Angasan, a native Inuit/Aleut, is a Global Mission Pioneer pastoring in the village of Togiak, Alaska. www.AdventistMission.org 9 The Camp Lady & The Camp Man

ALASKA | January 24 Ken and Debbie

ost locals in Aleknagik, Alaska, don’t I’m the [camp] committee chairman.” Mknow Debbie and Ken Reiswig by their But the Reiswigs are much more than actual names. Known as the “Camp Lady” this, as they provide a continual, year- and the “Camp Man,” the Reiswigs have round caring presence for the kids who been looking after Camp Polaris, and its get to enjoy Camp Polaris just one week campers, for the past 20 years. out of the year. Originally from Washington State, When camp isn’t in session, local Debbie and Ken went to the northern part kids often come to the Reiswigs’ home of Alaska as self-supporting and camp out. “Those missionaries several years are ‘our’ kids,” Debbie ago. Sometime later the affirms. “They’ve all conference asked them These kids are been in our home. Some to help at the Aleknagik officially, some not church, and that was when just like little officially. But they’ve they became involved with sponges; they always been there—

Inter-American Division Inter-American the camp. soak up every emergency care or just

ission “Ken and I can be because they can, they M called the caretakers,” says little bit of always have an open Debbie. “Ken is also the home.” dventist love. A treasurer for the camp, and Many of the children 10 view Ken and Debbie as the adults in In four pages of notebook paper the their lives who are stable, and they turn boy poured out his heart to the “Camp to them when there’s a crisis—big or Lady,” explaining why he wanted to small— knowing that the “Camp Lady” come to camp that year. “He went on

and the“Camp Man” will do all they can and on about the songs, the campfires, ALASKA to help. the people who cared about him,” said Debbie, and “that ‘the girls were the Finding a Way cutest’!” Debbie found a way, and the boy “There was a kid who came to me,” got to go to camp. remembers Debbie, “who couldn’t afford “Every April or so kids start trooping his camp fees—and back then it was into my office, asking if there’s going to $200 a week. He came every week with be camp. They ask if they can have an pennies and quarters that he had raised application. They ask what they need to from washing cars. Sometimes he would do and if I’ll help them get to camp. . . . buy a couple of candy bars and resell And that’s just the moment for me—every them to his friends. Then he’d come up year, every kid—it’s just reinforcing into to my desk and pull out the coins (never me that it’s not always fun, but that it’s dollar bills) from his pockets and put always really rewarding. There’s never them on my desk. I got a ledger sheet for been anything in my life so rewarding. him, and he earned every penny until he These kids are just like little sponges; they got his camp fees.” just soak up every little bit of love.” The camp also has a limited scholarship fund, started with seed money from Camp Needs the Anchorage Seventh-day Adventist Camp Polaris will be receiving a Church. In order to receive scholarship portion of this quarter’s Thirteenth funds, the child must write a letter Sabbath Offering to build a bath house explaining why he or she wants to go to with showers and toilets. The Reiswigs camp. In addition, they must have two think that this will definitely “infuse letters from their community stating why enthusiasm” because the current facilities the child should come to camp. have been in use since the camp began One day several months before camp many decades ago. Regarding future Debbie looked out the window of her projects, the camp is hoping to one day office and noticed a boy hiding in the build a larger lodge. “It doesn’t have to be bushes by the fence. He stayed there fancy, but just a little bit bigger so that it for a couple of hours until Debbie went will be easier to accommodate everyone out to see what he was doing. Very shyly (see pictures of the current lodge on our he pulled a little paper packet out of his website at www.adventistmission.org/ pocket. Handing the packet to Debbie, resources). “If we had better facilities, the boy quickly turned and ran away. we could probably have more kids come Unfolding the packet, Debbie found a to camp, and the camp could be used a handwritten letter. The boy desperately few more weeks during the summer, and wanted to come to camp, but he had no possibly even in the wintertime. money, and his parents had no money. Thank you for your generous support.  www.AdventistMission.org 11 ALASKA | January 31 Something Deeper

Sherilyn

s the nurse at they don’t have a lot they ACamp Polaris, one “I don’t want to go can do at home. They of my favorite things don’t play in groups. If to do at camp is to just home. I wish I could they have a bicycle, they mingle with the kids, stay here forever.” ride alone. Many of them listening to the stories just sit at home and don’t they tell, the questions do much of anything. they ask, and seeing the But at camp, I think one of the biggest excitement on their faces when they’re impacts for the kids, even greater than learning new things that they might not the activities, is knowing that there are get to do anywhere else. It’s wonderful people here whom they can trust, people to just see them enjoying their camp who will love them and are willing to talk experience. Outside of camp they don’t with them about Jesus and present Him have a lot of opportunity to be creative, as their Friend who will always be there, other than drawing on their own. So even when we can’t be with them. That’s we do a lot of crafts here, giving the something that seems to really resonate kids opportunities to make things with with a lot of these kids—learning that Jesus their hands. And most don’t have the can be their Friend, that He is somebody opportunity for water sports—so they they can turn to, that they can talk to, who

Inter-American Division Inter-American really enjoy swimming, wakeboarding, can help them when they are happy or sad,

ission and canoeing on Lake Aleknagik. or when they have a problem. M During the school year many of the kids don’t have much that they do outside of

dventist Need for Warmth A school. From the things I hear them say, Of course as the camp nurse I’m also 12 kids. I’m sure that at many camps kids say Mission Post they don’t want to leave, but we really do hear it a lot at Camp Polaris. We often  The Alaska Conference operates hear comments such as, “I don’t want to three camps—Camp Lorraine (on ALASKA Vank Island), Camp Tukuskoya, and go home. I wish I could stay here forever.” Camp Polaris. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had. I don’t want to go home.”  Visit the Alaska Camps website at www.alaskacamps.org to see photos You can see this look in their eyes taken at the camps. that just kind of tugs at your heart. It’s a  Watch stories from Camp Polaris on our look that says there’s something behind Mission Spotlight/Mission 360° DVD at their words. It’s a look that tells you that www.adventistmission.org/dvd they’re not just saying, “I’m having fun, I don’t want to quit having fun”; there’s something deeper that you can see in their eyes. concerned about the children’s physical Recently, when asked what I would say well-being. The camp has been here a to someone coming to Camp Polaris for long time, and the doors of the lodge the first time, I told them that they are and many of the cabins have big gaps going to be meeting a fantastic group of underneath and above them. The wind kids who are probably as needy or more comes through, so the kids are often cold. needy than anyone they have ever met. Many times it’s raining, and the kids are They should come with an open mind wet. The only way to get them warm is to and open heart, knowing that they’re not get them huddled around the stove, but going to be enjoying any of the luxuries of you can only get so many kids around the life, but that the reward is going to be in stove. Sometimes you don’t really stop their hearts. They should know that they and think about how warmth can have may be faced with questions that they’ve such an effect on kids, but when they never had to answer before, and it’s going are really cold, the first thing we need to make them evaluate their own personal to do is get them warmed up. Currently walk with Christ. we don’t have any shower or bathroom Camp Polaris is a special ministry, and facilities (other than the makai* and it would be wonderful if people outside of outhouses), so having a bath house with this area could see and appreciate what’s hot showers and indoor bathrooms will here—the mission outreach for the kids. make a huge difference. One of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering Highlight of the Year projects this quarter is to provide a bathhouse But in spite of the hardships and with showers and restrooms at Camp Polaris. difficulties, their one week at camp is You can make a real difference in this special really a highlight of the year for these mission outreach by giving generously to the www.AdventistMission.org * A makai is a steam sauna fueled by burning wood. Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. 13 Opening More Doors WEST VIRGINIA | February 7 Angela, Heather, and Lee

n Bridgeport, West remembers Heather, IVirginia, the only “handing out the first two Adventist church in We could actually lessons, and asking people Harrison County meets be a part of if they wanted to have each Sabbath in the local personal visits or continue Presbyterian church. something and watch the lessons through the Although they don’t yet the church grow. mail. One of the ladies have their own building, we met requested that we members of the Central return, so Angela and I Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church are decided that we would do it. We studied certainly building relationships. with her every week. In response to the Discover Bible “That winter her son committed School mailings, the Central Hills suicide. We quit doing Bible studies, but church has received more than 300 we’d still visit her. We helped her around requests for Bible studies—just from Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes within Harrison County. Pastor James she comes to church.” Heather and

Inter-American Division Inter-American Volpe and his 30 church members are Angela have since resumed the Bible doing their best to keep up. Some of the ission studies with this student. M most active members include Angela, 21, While Lee doesn’t give personal Bible Heather, 20, and Lee, 22. studies, he jumped in and organized the dventist A “We were driving from house to house,” mailings. “I make sure the completed 14 lessons get graded and sent back so that person can start on their next lesson. If Mission Post a month goes by and we haven’t heard from the Bible student, then we follow-  Over the course of three years (2012, 2013, 2014), every home up and make sure that we keep in contact in West Virginia received a with them.” mailing with an invitation card for While the members of the Central Hills requesting Bible studies. church have been supportive, the church’s  By 2014 the churches in the young people have especially enjoyed Mountain View Conference (MVC) being involved. had received more than 10,000 “Our youth group has gotten a lot requests for Bible studies. stronger,” says Angela. “I’ve always liked  The pastors, Bible workers, and to be involved in some way—I just didn’t members of MVC appreciate your know how.” prayers and support through the “I think this is one of the first times we Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to help

them in reaching out to the thousands VIRGINIA WEST could put into practice all of the stuff we in their territory who are longing to hear every week; we could actually be a know God through His Word. part of something and watch the church grow,” adds Lee. Heather believes that giving personal coming to the area, but by us doing Bible studies is one of the best methods for the Bible studies and getting out—that church growth and spiritual commitment. helped our church to grow. It opens a lot “All of the youth were together, delivering more doors.” the lessons. Then once Angela and I started giving Bible studies, I enjoyed it. It MVC President Larry Boggess, and made me grow spiritually. Secretary/Treasurer Victor Zill are “We had an [evangelistic] seminar grateful for your support of mission. www.AdventistMission.org

15 They Deserve a Chance WEST VIRGINIA | February 14 Paul Brown with his “kids”

While in Costa Rica they built a church during the day, and presented evangelistic meetings and Vacation Bible Schools in four different churches in the evenings. In spite of his own full schedule Pastor Dan was impressed with the dedication of the pastor in Costa Rica who shepherds six churches—and doesn’t have a car. hen Dan Jacko isn’t busy helping Not only does Pastor Dan and his Wpeople learn to walk again, he’s members build churches abroad—they also assisting his church members with their build them at home, where they recently spiritual walk. Pastor Dan, a professional completed their own church and school, physical therapist, is also serving as lay located on five and a half acres (2.2 pastor for the Mountain View Conference hectares), all are completely debt-free. in the two-church district of Elkins and Overwhelmed with Requests Parsons, West Virginia. He also teaches The most recent challenge for Pastor biology and chemistry to the academy- Dan and the 80-member Elkins church level students at the Highland Adventist is keeping up with the many Bible study School in Elkins. His wife, Cheryl, is an requests coming from their community. educator and registered nurse, and serves as Over the course of three mailings in 2013 the principal of the K-12 school. Their son, and 2014, everyone in the state of West Jeremy, teaches Bible, math, and history. Virginia received an invitation for the Believing mission is important, Voice of Prophecy’s Discover Bible course.

Inter-American Division Inter-American Pastor Dan leads the students and The response was overwhelming—with

ission church members on a mission trip 10,000 people indicating that they would M every other year. So far, they’ve been like to have Bible studies. Of that number, to Mexico, Panama, Honduras, and, in more than 200 came from the Elkins/ dventist A 2014, Costa Rica. Parsons area. 16 “Some are face-to-face Bible studies,” kids would tell him, ‘No! We’re not going explains Pastor Dan, “and others prefer to to eat that!’ ” take them by correspondence, which are then graded by our local church members.” Moving In The local churches are responsible for Before long the visitors were asking purchasing the lessons and providing to move in with the Browns. “Brayden* postage for correspondence students. spends every weekend at our house,” says “What makes this area even more Paul. “It’s his Sabbath retreat, and gets of a mission field,” says Pastor Dan, “is him away from his house.” During the that you’ll get a lot of people who say, ‘I week Brayden tries to avoid his abusive believe this,’ but if their family isn’t in alcoholic stepfather as much as possible. favor of it, a lot of them just won’t make Hunter and Wyatt are two others who the commitment.” spend much time with the Browns Both Nevertheless, Pastor Dan and the small coming from difficult situations, the boys churches he leads see reaching people for feel safe with Paul and Cindy, whom they Jesus in their territory as an important consider to be their surrogate parents. VIRGINIA WEST mission and are willing to give the time, “I try to treat all the kids as if they’re effort, and funds needed to help it succeed. my kids,” says Paul, “because they deserve a chance too.” That includes providing There Are Rules clothing, bicycles, and various other Two members of the Elkins church who items. “Even the vehicle I drive—an have already made a positive impact in extended-cab truck—is based on how their neighborhood are Paul and Christie many kids we’re looking after, so we can Brown. When the Browns moved into take them to and from school.” a less than desirable area of Elkins, they With parental permission, the Browns didn’t know that their home would have taken Brayden and Hunter with become a magnet for young people. them to Pathfinders and to church, “I’ve always been youth-focused,” says and are even paying for them to attend Paul, “so when the neighborhood kids the local Adventist church school. wanted to hang out with our kids at the Unfortunately Wyatt’s mother will not house, we said, ‘OK, but there are rules: give permission for him to join in these 1. Respect. You will treat yourself and activities, but for Brayden and Hunter, others respectfully, with no swearing and their experience has been life changing. no name calling. On November 2, 2013, both boys, along 2. No lying. You lie to me, and it’s with the Browns’ son, Payton, were done—you are out the door. baptized at the Elkins Seventh-day 3. Health/dietary issues—no drugs, no Adventist Church. alcohol, no unclean meat.’ ” “We’ve been living here for three years Once the young people understood now,” Paul says, “and my wife really feels about clean and unclean foods, they that the Lord put us in this neighborhood. tried sharing what they had learned with It’s not where we would have chosen, but their families. “The grandfather would be we are sure that the Lord led us here.”  www.AdventistMission.org cooking a groundhog,” says Paul, “but the * All names of neighborhood children have been changed. 17 WEST VIRGINIA | February 21 A Big Heart

Payton

y dog’s been shot!” Brayden* blurted wanted to stay with Payton, too. “So I was Mout in tears to his friend Payton. housing three people in my room,” Payton “Would you speak at his funeral?” explained. Twelve-year-old Payton had never While Payton’s bedroom may be small, conducted a funeral, but wanting to his heart is big. He befriended another help his friend, he agreed to do what he neighbor, Wyatt, whose father committed could. “I planned the whole thing out,” suicide. At age 13 Wyatt had been kicked he said. “The dog is buried in my yard— out of several public schools, and his Brayden and I dug his grave.” After mother didn’t know what to do with him. Payton did the eulogy, the boys added Payton spent time with Wyatt and invited the dog’s dish, collar, and squeaky toy him to come with him to Pathfinders and before filling the grave. to church, along with the other boys, but When Payton and his family first moved Wyatt’s mother would not allow her son to into the neighborhood, Payton befriended join in. Brayden and learned about the struggles Over the next three years Payton often he was facing at home. “I told him that I shared his faith with Wyatt, and one day was a Christian, and shared my beliefs with after hearing that they might be moving, him,” said Payton, “and then he told me, Wyatt handed Payton and his sister, ‘I want to try that out!’ ” Stormy, a note. The note is so precious Brayden began spending more time at that Payton keeps it in the family safe.

Inter-American Division Inter-American Payton’s house and often spent the night— “Dear Payton and Stormy, especially on Fridays, so he could go with ission Before you move I want to thank you. M Payton and his family to church the next When you first came I had lost my way. I day. Before long Brayden’s cousin Hunter stopped going to church and didn’t plan on dventist A * All names of neighborhood children have been changed. coming back. When we became friends I 18 was trying to act tough, but on the inside, I wanted to be more like you, Payton. Mission Post When the hard times came and I lost my father, talking to you was a comfort. I  The Mountain View Conference (MVC) encompasses nearly the entire learned about God through you. You were U.S. state of West Virginia, along and still are a hero, inspiration, and role with two western counties of the state model to me. Your parents should be very of Maryland. proud of you, knowing that you helped me  The MVC is the smallest conference in find Jesus.” the North American Division, with 33 churches, 3 companies, and 7 schools. Brayden’s Testimony  As of 2013, there were 2,380 members The Brown family had such an impact in the conference, with a population on Brayden that he too wanted to share of 1,808,030. his testimony: “Paul Brown and his family are a true blessing to me. A few years ago when VIRGINIA WEST they moved in, my stepgrandfather asked and staff are really nice, and the students Paul if I could mow his yard. Paul agreed, are friendly, not fighting. and soon a connection grew between “One day as we were going to church, me and his family, and I found out what Payton said he wanted to get baptized. nice people they are. His kids, Payton Hunter and I said that we wanted to get and Stormy, are very upbeat and friendly. baptized with him. So we all took Bible Their mother, Christie, is really nice and studies together and were baptized on is always there to help me. November 2, 2013. “One day I asked Payton why they were “The church members are the nicest always away on Saturdays. I thought it was people I’ve ever met. They are always weird that I couldn’t do any work for them there for you. And the pastor, Don— on that day. Payton invited me to come there’s something about his preaching that to church with them. I liked it, but after just sticks with me. I like the people here a while started slacking off. Six months a lot—they are like my second family that later I was back—this time to stay. I’ve always wanted. “I joined the Pathfinder Club. As “Being able to come here and know we were coming back from a campout, about the Seventh-day Adventist Payton, my cousin Hunter, and I were Church has been a real blessing to me. talking about school. Hunter and I didn’t No one else in my family is Adventist. like our school because there were so They don’t understand why I don’t do many fights. Hunter said that he hoped some things I used to do. My stepdad someday to go to a Christian college. can’t understand why I don’t eat pork— Payton asked, “Why don’t you just go to all my life I’ve eaten it, and at first it was a Christian school?” Our parents agreed hard not to eat it. But I’m glad I went off to let us go to Highland Adventist School of it. I’ve seen a change in my weight and here in Elkins, and Paul found sponsors my personality. Everything is better since for us. I like the school a lot. The teachers I was baptized.”  www.AdventistMission.org 19 The Kindness Experiment WEST VIRGINIA | February 28 Miranda

iranda Starr, principal and teacher what else could we do for them, to Mat Parkersburg Academy in West make relationships?” Then another idea Virginia, wanted to do an experiment struck—the students could practice their with her first- and second-grade students. reading skills by reading aloud to the “In Bible class we were studying about Eagle Pointe residents. kindness, and how it is contagious,” she says. “We wanted to see if it really works.” Then Miranda had an idea—why not go to Eagle Pointe, a local nursing home, where the students could practice their reading skills and make friends

Inter-American Division Inter-American with the residents? “This

ission was something I had M always wanted to do,” she admits. “We like to dventist A sing, but [I wondered] 20 about a red fox. She told me that she once Fast Facts had a red fox as a pet!” The residents clearly enjoy the visits,  Nearly 75% of West Virginia is covered as do the young readers. “I like seeing my by forests. partner smile,” Ben said.  One of the first suspension bridges in The students in grades 3 to 8 also the world was completed in Wheeling, participate in the ministry at Eagle Pointe. WV in November, 1849. “I really like going there,” says Ryleigh, 9.  The first electric railroad in the world “There’s one man I read to—Mark. He’s was constructed between Huntington always happy to see me, and says, ‘God and Guyandotte, WV. loves you.’ I really like him and wish we  Mrs. Minnie Buckingham Harper, could go more often.” a member of the state’s House of In appreciation of the students’ visits, Delegates by appointment in 1928, was Eagle Pointe held a banquet in their honor, the first African American woman to and presented Miranda Starr with an award

become a member of a legislative body VIRGINIA WEST in the United States. plaque: “Junior Volunteers of the Year— Parkersburg Academy. You’ve warmed the hearts of many by the caring that you show. Volunteers are Shining Stars.” Miranda shared her idea with her Reflecting on their “kindness class, and all of the children were excited experiment,” Miranda and the students and motivated to read. By January the know it was a success. “Kindness did come students were reading well enough to back. We tried to give them joy, but they read on their own. gave more to us.”  Happy to Share “We go to Eagle Pointe every other Friday,” explains 8-year-old Ben. “We sing to the whole group, and we read to our partners.” “It wasn’t hard to pick our partners,” chimes in Reagan, 7. “We saw them, looked at their faces, and then chose one because we liked them!” The students also get to choose the book or books that they want to read to their partner, and they are welcome to exchange books with other students if they finish their own. As the students read, they are also developing friendships. “My partner’s name is Miss Jane,” says Sophia, 6. “I was Students and Eagle Pointe residents look reading about animal tracks, and I read forward to their time together. www.AdventistMission.org 21 From Despair to Hope, Part 1 GUAM | March 7 Jesse photo: BigStock.com

was only 4 years old when my mother aunts, uncles, and cousins on her side. I died; I was too young to understand My cousin took me to his house to death, but I knew something was wrong. meet my family. The house filled with My childhood was unhappy. No matter more and more relatives who wanted how hard I tried, I could not please my to take a look at me. As we talked, I father. He paid little attention to me. learned that my mother had died of When I was 9 years old, I left home and complications from the beatings my stayed with friends and relatives until I father had showered on her. was placed in a series of foster homes. I was released from the boys home and I lived in a boys home for three years went to live with my uncle. I sometimes when I was a teenager. While there I met went to my father’s house to see my a really tall boy who was a good basketball younger brother and sister. Once as I player. We started talking, and when I told approached the house, I saw my father him my name, he looked surprised. Then pick up my little brother and throw him

Southern Asia Division he told me that we were cousins. against the wall. When I ran up and tried to stop him, he picked up a two-by-four

ission “Your mother and my father were M brother and sister,” he assured me. I could board and hit me with it. hardly believe it. I had never known my My anger against my father festered and dventist A mother’s family, and I did not know I had grew. He was well liked and respected on 22 From Despairto Hope, Part 1 home alot,and itwasdifficultkeeping a children. My workkeptmeawayfrom way upthroughtheranks tosergeant. transferred totheMarines. Iworkedmy away fromtheisland.Two yearslaterI I joinedtheAirNational Guardtoget buy myownclothes.WhenIgraduated, way throughhighschoolandworkedto family knewwhathewaslikeathome. outsideour the islandofGuam.Nobody Fast Facts      I married,and mywifeandIhadthree I refusedtorelyonanyone.paidmy low lyingislandsandatolls. Guam, andiscomprisedofmanysmall approximately 1500milestotheeastof is alsoanindependentisland,located The RepublicoftheMarshallIslands Caroline Islandsarchipelago. together makeupthenationsin independent islandnationsand (FSM) andPalauareboth The FederatedStatesofMicronesia Islands archipelago. along withGuam,formstheMariana islands justtothenorthofGuam,and Commonwealth consistingof14 Mariana Islands(CNMI)isaU.S. The CommonwealthoftheNorthern the region. “gateway” toMicronesiaandahubfor most populousisland,consideredthe Guam, aU.S.territory, isthelargestand States ofMicronesiaandPalau. of theMarshallIslands,Federated Northern MarianaIslands,theRepublic includes theCommonwealthof Together withGuam, Micronesia Unfulfilled family andfeltcompletelyalone. hurt andemptyinside;oncemoreIhadno absences. Eventuallywedivorced.Ifelt marriage togetherwithmytemperand father. Mylife wasabigfatzero. I hadnojob,family, andIhatedmy the Marines.NowIreally hadnothing. he walkedaway. through thebarrel. that thebullethadjammedhalfway alive. Theyexaminedthegunandfound in andpulledmeoutofthewater. Iwas backward offtherock. trigger. Therewasanexplosion,andIfell the gunintomymouthandpulled I sawhimwalkingtowardme,put refused. Thenmyfatherarrived.When and orderedmetoputthegundown.I my colonelfromtheMarinebasearrived and warnedhimtostayback. the watertowardme.Iraisedrifle contemplating suicide,andwadedinto officer approached.HesawthatIwas sitting thereforawhilewhenpolice about myfailedlife.Ihadbeen and satdownwithmygun.Ithought to endmylife. rifle andammunitiondowntothebeach that lifewasnotworthliving.Itookmy mattered tomeanymore,andIdecided Marines, Istillfeltunfulfilled.Nothing After thisIreceivedadischarge from When mydadsawwhathad happened, The peoplestandingaroundrushed The policeofficerbackedaway. Soon I wadedouttoarockinthewater Though Ihadasuccessfulcareerinthe To becontinued nextweek.  23 www.AdventistMission.org GUAM From Despair to Hope, Part 2 GUAM | March 14 Jesse

ne day I tried to the bedside stand. As I Ocommit suicide was leaving, Dr. Nozaki again. In the hospital For the first time in urged me to read them, emergency room I met my life I felt peace. but I told him I wasn’t Dr. Nozaki. The nurses interested. told the doctor that I “Just read the book of was suicidal. “There is no hope for this John,” he said. Finally, I agreed to read guy,” they said. “One of these days he will just John, I don’t know why, but I took succeed in killing himself.” all six Bibles home. And I read John. I “Don’t say that,” I heard Dr. Nozaki say. had to admit it was interesting. “We are going to save his life.” Dr. Nozaki operated on my wounds, Care and Trust and I awoke in a hospital room. I looked Dr. Nozaki did not forget me when I around and saw a Bible lying on the stand. left the hospital. He called me every day,

Southern Asia Division I put it out of sight and tried to go back to visited me, and made sure I had food and

ission sleep. When I awoke again, I saw another clothes. I wondered why someone would M Bible on the stand. I put that one away take so much interest in me when even too. By the time I left the hospital a week my own family did not care about me. dventist A later, I had stashed away six Bibles in I realized that Dr. Nozaki really 24 Peace became aSeventh-dayAdventist. continued tostudy, wasbaptized,and forsavingmylife.Iand thankedGod the rock wheremyselfkill to Itried had my lifetoHim.OnedayIwentback me. Ittookawhile,butIsurrendered and IlearnedthatJesusreallydoeslove around. Heinvitedmetohischurch, with him,andmylifestartedtoturn too. IstartedattendingBiblestudies cared,and intimeIlearnedtotrusthim to reconcile with theirmother, Iagreedto daughters, and whenDr. Nozakiurged me For thefirsttimeinmylife Ifeltpeace. waswithme. I wasnottrulyalone—God Mission PostMission I startedspendingmoretime withmy I stillfeltlonely, butnow Iknewthat     restaurant/grocery storeonGuam. successfulvegetarian Food”—a The GMMownsandoperates“Simply broadcasting fromGuam. FM (KSDA-FMandKORU-FM) two radiostations,knownasJOY The Missionownsandoperates Guam, Palau,Pohnpei,andYap. the islandsofChuuk,Majuro,Ebeye, Mission alsooperatesschoolslocatedon on Guam,theotherinSaipan.The GMM hastwohealthclinics—one its territoryis410,000(2013figures). membership of4,773.Thepopulation The GMMhas20churchesanda North AmericanDivision. Southern Asia-PacificDivisiontothe in 2012whenitwastransferredfromthe was organizedin1948andreorganized The Guam-MicronesiaMission(GMM) education atGuamAdventistAcademy. can saveanyone. father. cansaveme,He IknowthatifGod had savedmyrelationshipwithearthly I wasabletosharehowmyfaithinGod with himbeforehedied.Athisfuneral too late.Itwastough,butImadepeace urged metospeakhimbeforeitwas reconciled withmyfather. Dr. Nozaki one piecewasstillmissing.Ihadnever of theAdventistclinic. I wasaskedtocoachthenewsoftballteam workeditalloutforme,though, and God was moreimportanttomethansoftball. church toplay. ThenIrealizedthatGod In fact,forawhileIstoppedattending temptation toplaysoftballonSabbath. I neededwork,andstruggledwith wasfarfromsmooth. my walkwithGod given anotherchancewithmyfamily. home. Iwassohappythathadbeen chance, andweremarriedinDr. Nozaki’s my life,shesaidwouldgiveitanother give itatry. Whenshesawthechangesin Jesse Laguñateachesmiddleschoolandhighphysical My lifewascomingtogether. But But thingswerenotalwaysperfect,and 

photo: BigStock.com 25 www.AdventistMission.org GUAM GUAM | March 21 The Sabbath Shoes Dwight McKeever

accepted my apology. “I don’t live far,” she said. “I can come tomorrow. You are sure photo: BigStock.com the shoes will arrive tomorrow?” she asked. “I do need them on Saturday morning.” Late Friday afternoon when Becky arrived, I greeted her with a red face. The shipment had not yet arrived. I urged her to wait a few minutes.“Why do you need young woman entered the shoe shop the shoes tomorrow?” I asked, trying to A where I worked. Something seemed delay her departure. different about her, but it took me a while “I’m playing the organ, and my old to figure out that she was wearing no shoes are rather worn,” she answered. makeup or jewelry. Still, she seemed to Becky waited a few more minutes, then glow with a wholesome attractiveness. said she had to go. Although she was very I brought out shoes for her to try on, polite, I knew she was disappointed. Just but we didn’t have her size. No problem, I 15 minutes later the driver arrived with assured her. We could order them and have them within three days. Becky ordered the her shoes. Quickly I telephoned Becky and shoes, and I told her to expect them in by told her that her shoes had arrived. Wednesday afternoon. “That’s great,” she To my surprise, Becky replied, “It’s OK. said. “I don’t need them until Saturday.” I’ll pick up them up on Saturday night.” The Missing Shoes Strange Refusal Becky returned Wednesday afternoon, I tried to encourage her to get the shoes but her shoes hadn’t arrived. I apologized that evening, but she declined. Imagine for the inconvenience and assured her that my shock when Becky entered the store a they would be in the next day. But when few minutes later. She said she had come the shipment arrived on Thursday, Becky’s to assure me that she was not at all angry

Southern Asia Division shoes weren’t there. I quickly telephoned that the shoes hadnt’ arrived in time, and

ission the company and the manager explained she was impressed at my efforts to solve M that the shoes would arrive the next day. the problem. Then she turned to leave. When Becky came to get her shoes, I “But what about your shoes?” I asked. dventist A explained the problem, and she graciously She said she hadn’t come to pick up the 26 Friday. You canstillgetyourshoes.” years? ThenItoldher, isstill “Buttoday How couldIhaveoverlookedthisfor25 Saturday wastheseventhday, notSunday. said confidently. ThenIlookedagain. and Ipointedtothecalendar. “See?”I the desk.We walkedback to thestore, shoe storewhereIhadacalendaron day. Checkyourcalendar.” the seventhdayofweek,notfirst Sabbath isn’t untilSunday.” Sabbath day.” we shouldn’t buy, sell,orworkonGod’s Sabbath daytokeepitholy. Thatmeans Commandments tellustorememberthe with asmile,“thenyouknowthattheTen your nottakingtheshoestoday?” “What doesChristianityhavetodowith Christian.” doesn’t makeanysense.” take theshoestoday,” Iaskedher. “It “Please, justtellmewhyyouwouldn’t out ofthestoreandcaughtuptoBecky. Suddenly Ihadtoknowtheanswer. Iran won’t shetaketheshoestoday?Iwondered. for theshoes,butshesmiledanddeclined. evening. Iofferedtolendherthemoney shoes andwouldreturnforthemSaturday An Invitation to Understand church event thatIwillplayfortomorrow be interested inlearningaboutit?The Bible explains itquitewell.Would you more complicatedthanthat, butthe tomorrow night,”shesaid. “Itisalittle I invitedhertoreturnwithmethe “No,” shesmiledagain.“TheSabbathis “But it’s onlyFriday,” Isaid.“The “If youareaChristian,”shereplied “But I’maChristiantoo,”Itoldher. She hesitated,thensaid,“Iama theretotallyconfused.Why I stood “I’ll stillwaittobuytheshoes until grateful. For thatyoung womanIameternally heard of,truths whichIholddeartoday. faith ledmetoBibletruths Ihadnever the shoesshehadwanted somuch.Her refused tocompromiseher faithandbuy an Adventist. any longer. Istoppedfightingandbecame Church. FinallyIcouldn’t denythetruth the truthsIlearnedinAdventist more Irealizedcouldnotargueagainst I reasoned.Butthemorestudied, so manySundaykeepingpeoplebewrong? years tryingtodisprovethem.Howcould shocked me,andIspentthenextseven seminar. TheBibletruthsIlearnedthere came overme.Idecidedtoattendthe suddenly anoverwhelmingsenseofpeace take thenextexitandforgetthisfoolishness. these thoughtsforseveralminutes.Icould They mightevenbeacult!Iwrestledwith could beaboringwasteoftime,orworse. a churchyou’veneverevenheardof?This following strangerstoareligiousmeetingin drive Iaskedmyself,Whatareyoudoing her familyvantochurch.Duringthe motorcycle toBecky’s homeandfollowed think Iwillgo.” anyone evenattempttoexplainit.Yes, I totally confusing,andI’veneverheard matter offact,thebookRevelationis you tocome.” to learnthetruthfromBible,I’dlike Sabbath andSunday. Ifyou’renotafraid a completestudyonthesubjectof about Bibleprophecy, whichwillinclude a visitingevangelist.He’llbetalking is aRevelationSeminarpresentedby I praise God forayoungwomanwho I praiseGod tohelpme decide,and I askedGod my The nextmorningIrode “I’m notafraid,”Isaidbravely. “Asa  27 www.AdventistMission.org GUAM 28

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division Katie P:Maybe60percent, butit’s a other Christian background? Interviewer: Howmanyarefromsome Katie P.: About5to10percent. Camp PolarisareAdventists? Interviewer: Howmanyofthechildrenat Shupe, whostartedlastsummer(2014). Katie Fry, KrisiKoliadko,andTalea at thecampforpastfouryears,and counselors—Katie Purvis,whohasworked and fouryoungwomenwhoarecamp Conference’s OfficeofAdventistMission, between LaurieFalvo,fromtheGeneral Polaris inAlaska.Thisconversationwas we willlistentoaninterviewatCamp stories fromeachoftheseareas,today West Virginia. Whilewehaveheard and theAppalachianmountainsof Division—Guam/Micronesia, Alaska, remotest partsoftheNorthAmerican Sabbath Offeringisgoingtosomeofthe Narrator/Interviewer: OurThirteenth so thatparticipantsfeelcomfortable.] participants don’t needtomemorizetheirparts,butshouldbefamiliarwiththematerial.Practice Participants: Fivespeakers—anarratorandfourspeakers,allyoungwomen.[Note:  Sabbath Note to Thirteenth SabbathProgram Leader: School Thank you! at oursecurewebsite:www.adventistmission.org/give. remind peoplethattheyarealwayswelcometogiveonline offering, followedbyaclosingprayer. You mightalso welcome, andtheprogrambelow. Collectthemission We inviteyoutochooseafavoritesong,followedbyprayer, Interviewer: Italmostsounds likeshe would keepall ofhersecretssafe.” she couldtalkwithJesus and thatHe who won’t tellanything.” Itoldherthat me andIfeellikehe’s theonlyperson him atnight.Hekeepsall mysecretsfor dark presencethatcomesandItalkwith I askedwhy, shesaid,“Becausethere’s a that shewasgoingtobeinheaven.When cabin, onegirlsaidthatshedidn’t think presences. Duringeveningworshipinour the eye—thatthereareotherbeingsand there’s moreouttherethan whatmeets are soaware,fromaveryyoungage,that Katie P:Itshocksmebecausethesekids spiritual world. Katie FTheyareveryconnectedtothe the nativevillages. Krisi: Shamanismisreallyprevalentin beliefs mixedin. beliefs withsometraditional/supernatural weird combinationofsomeChristian has a friendship with this being. Like she Krisi: Basically. It’s the practical part trusts it. of God’s love like sharing warm clothes and blankets. One girl came here and Katie P: Yes. Some of the girls were talking the only pair of shoes she had were a about going into the woods at night and ripped up pair of black flats. She wore being confronted by what they call “the them everywhere—even in the water. little people.” I explained that there is She didn’t have anything else to wear, good and evil in the world, and that Jesus so I gave her a pair of my flip flops. Now can overcome the darkness. They started she’s happier and getting along with to realize that Jesus really could be their the other kids because her feet aren’t friend. Ever since this conversation, all the hurting her anymore. girls in my cabin sleep easier. The whole group atmosphere is more open to Jesus. Interviewer: Tell us a little of what you know about their home lives. Interviewer: Have you experienced watching the children listen to Bible Katie P.: When we talk in the cabin, we stories knowing that it must be the first gather around in our sleeping bags and time they’ve heard these stories? sit on the floor. They’ll tell stories, and almost every story involves alcohol. They’ll Katie P: Every night before we go to bed say, “When my parents were drunk, this we read them stories. During my first happened.” Or, “When my uncle was year here I was trying to find something drinking, we crashed the snowmobile. Or, interesting, and then I realized that all “We were playing hide-and-seek, but we they wanted were stories from the actual had to stop because my dad was angry and Bible. When I read them Bible stories, drunk.” They say these things so normally, they would get quiet and just sit and like it’s not even a big thing. listen. They really enjoyed hearing them. Interviewer: Do you get the sense that Interviewer:Do they seem open spiritually? the children are abused?

Katie P.: Very open. I think it’s because Katie P: Katie P: Yes. My mom works their situations are a lot more extreme for the state [of Alaska], and they deal than a lot of other kids, and they realize with all the things that come with that life is hard. It’s not just about having drunkenness. Suicide rates are high. Abuse fun with their friends. A lot of the time rates are high, and that brings another they are with people who are drinking. At dimension to camp—kids coming who home, they are hungry, they don’t have have been molested or abused. There’s a enough. But at camp they are fed, and we lot of self-abuse, too. We had a camper help where we can, so they realize that who came year after year, but sadly she there is practical help that comes from committed suicide. That was devastating Jesus. And they’re so sweet and so open to for all of us. The girls in my cabin were it. They really are. talking about it, and they brought up the subject of cutting or hurting themselves. Interviewer: So their first exposure to They said, “That’s just a way to show that God’s love could be you. you’re ready to go to heaven.” www.AdventistMission.org 29 30

Adventist Mission Inter-American Division life is like with Jesus, because so many of life islikewith Jesus,becausesomany of be here.Ilove kidsandshowingthem what run outintothe water. They’resohappy to Polaris, thekidsaresopositive! Theyjust the kidscomplainedalot. ButatCamp camp, thewaterwascold (like here!),and at anothercampin[mystate]. Atthat my senioryearofhighschool. Ihadworked Katie F:IheardaboutCampPolarisduring them beinghappybecausewe’rehere. these childrenforChrist.Iloveseeing Krisi: Themainmissionistoinfluence anywhere else,itseems. here thattheydon’t getathome,or Katie F:ThesekidsgetthelightofJesus you thinkthatCampPolarisisimportant? Interviewer: Whyareyouhere,andwhydo sadness, buttheystillreallyshowstrength. arm aroundanothergirl.There’s somuch got outofhersleepingbagandput suicide, thereweremanytears.Onegirl talking aboutthegirlwhocommitted love towardoneanother. Whenwewere all theirtroublestheystillshowasenseof will raisethosechildren.Butevenwith when they’reyoung.Thentheirparents grow upveryunstableandhavechildren parents arealcoholics.Thenthesekids by theirgrandparentsbecauseown Katie P:Alotofthesekidsareraised dying ofhypothermia. then wanderingoutontothetundraand I’ve heardstoriesofteenagersdrinkingand starts inonegeneration,itcontinueson. Krisi: Ithinkit’s adominoeffect.Ifit say tothat.Ittookmebysurprise. Katie P.: Yes. Iwasn’t quitesurewhatto euphemism forcommittingsuicide? Interviewer: So“goingtoheaven”wasa offering. Thank you! Please givegenerously tothisveryspecial can playduring theheavyislandrainfalls. Micronesia haveagymnasium wherethey Finally, wecanhelpthe schoolchildrenin Bible truthtothepeople of Appalachia. sisters inWest Virginia asthey bring we canpartnerwithourbrothers and to thechildrenofAlaska.Inaddition Camp Polarisinitsveryspecialministry Thirteenth SabbathOfferingtohelp the wonderfulopportunitythrough Narrator/Interviewer: Today wehave actually relax,havefun,andbekids. from alltheirtroublesathome;theycan these kidswoulddo.Heretheycangetaway Camp Polarisweren’t here,Idon’t knowwhat you tomorrow.” Ithought,Oh,myheart.If you somuch!Ihadmuchfun.I’llsee class agirlhuggedmeandsaid,“Thank life, sothat’s whyI’mhere.Onedayafter and makeapositivedifferenceinchild’s Talea: I’vealwayswantedtoworkatcamp to playfootballwiththemandtacklethem. you. Andtheboyswantguycounselors They wanttocrawlontoyourlap,andhug Katie P:Definitely. Theyaresoneedy. children arehungryforlove? Interviewer: Would yousaythatthe here becausethere’s suchaneed. children inAlaska.Iwantedtocomework because IhaveapassionforAlaskaandthe the villagesarelike,Iwantedtobehere with them.SinceIknowwhatsomeof the beachwithkids,sharingJesus andon basically justoutinthewoods of thefacilitiesandnicerthings,sowe’re than othercamps.We don’t havealot camp becauseit’s alotmoreextreme Katie P.: CampPolarisissuchamission them don’t haveanyidea. YOUTH & ADULT Leader’s Resources Mission For more information on the cultures and history of the United States (particularly on the states of Alaska and West Virginia) and the territories of Guam/Micronesia, visit your local library or a EDITORIAL travel agency. In addition, the following websites may be helpful: www.alaskaconference.org, alaska.gov, travelalaska.com, alaska. Gina Wahlen Editor org; www.mtviewconf.org, www.wv.gov, www.wvtourism.com; Karla Rivera Editorial Assistant Hans Olson Projects Manager gmmsda.org, www.guampedia.com/seventh-day-adventists, www. Emily Harding Layout Editor magnificentmicronesia.com. In addition, the Adventist Mission website contains material OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION that can add flavor to your mission presentation. Look for native Gary Krause Director languages from Alaska and Micronesia, as well as puzzles, recipes, Rick Kajiura Communication Director and games from North America on the Children’s Mission site. Nancy Kyte Marketing Director Delbert Pearman Planning Director Go to www.AdventistMission.org. Click on “Resources” and Rick McEdward Study Centers Director “Children’s Activities” in the pop-up menu. Click on “First

Quarter” and select an activity. COMMUNICATION Laurie Falvo Projects Manager An offering goal device will help focus attention on world Gina Wahlen Mission Editor missions and increase weekly mission giving. Ask your Sabbath Hans Olson Projects Manager School council to set a quarterly mission offering goal (set the Ricky Oliveras Video Producer goal a little higher than last quarter and divide it by 15, one part Earley Simon Video Producer for each of the 13 regular Sabbaths this quarter and two parts for Thirteenth Sabbath). Chart the weekly progress toward the quarter’s goal on the goal device. Website: www.AdventistMission.org Enlarge photos of children and adults from around the world, including those from Alaska, Guam/Micronesia, and West Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and Virginia. Place a picture of the earth in the center of a felt board copyrighted © 2014 by the Office of Adventist Mission, General Conference of Seventh-day or on heavy poster board. Each time a week’s goal is reached, add Adventists®, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver a figure to the poster. Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. Remind members that the ongoing work of the world church depends on Sabbath School mission giving every week, and that Printed in U.S.A. one quarter of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go directly to First Quarter 2015 the projects in North America. On the twelfth Sabbath, report on Volume 104, Number 1 mission giving during the quarter. Encourage members to double or ® ® triple their normal mission giving on Thirteenth Sabbath. Count ADVENTIST and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST the offering and record the amount given at the end of Sabbath are the registered trademarks of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. School. This immediate feedback will encourage members to continue their mission giving. Permission is granted to reproduce material from this quarterly for use in local Sabbath Schools and children’s ministries programs. Future Thirteenth Permission to reproduce any portion of this material for sale, publication in another Sabbath Projects periodical, or other commercial use must be authorized in writing by the editor at the Next quarter the Northern Asia-Pacific Division will above address. be featured. Projects include a youth training center in For subscription inquiries, e-mail Steve Hanson S. Korea, centers of influence in Taiwan, church plants at [email protected] or call 1-800-456-3991 in China, an international evangelism center in Japan, or 1-301-393-3280. Annual subscription rates per edition: domestic, US$7.50; international, and a library for a school in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. www.AdventistMission.org US$14.50. 31 ARCTIC OCEAN GREENLAND

CONFERENCE CHURCHES COMPANIES MEMBERSHIP POPULATION Atlantic Union 572 70 113,625 34,442,859 North American Division Canada 372 73 66,789 35,256,000 Columbia Union 712 77 140,298 51,011,461 Lake Union 502 58 85,778 35,273,432 Mid-America Union456 67 67,618 26,837,795 North Pacific Union440 67 99,033 14,229,323 Pacific Union 699 118 225,921 51,973,265 Southern Union 1,102 185 273,855 62,801,941 Southwestern Union574 92 109,504 39,655,924 Attached Field: Guam-Micronesia 20 11 5,068 410,000

Total: 5,450 818 1,187,514 351,892,000 Statistics as of December 2013

PROJECTS 2 4 1 Harvest Time Appalachia Evangelism Program, West Virginia 2 Bath houses and restrooms for Camp Polaris Youth Camp, Alaska

3 Gyms for Adventist schools, Micronesia 4 CHILDREN¹S PROJECT: Mattresses for the CANADA children at Camp Polaris

Guam Federated States of Micronesia

Ottawa

U. S. A. 1 Washington D. C. ATLANTIC OCEAN Papua New Guinea BERMUDA

MIDWAY ISLANDS PACIFIC THE BAHAMAS OCEAN MEXICO JOHNSTON ISLANDS