Mission 2021 QUARTER 3 NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION - AdventistMission.org - Adventist Mission
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Mission
YOUTH & ADULT
2021 • QUARTER 3 • NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION
AdventistMission.org
Contents
O n t he Cover: Aliandra saw her Navajo mother go in and out of jail and her father deported to
Mexico. She felt alone — until she met God at Holbrook Indian School. Page 8.
ARIZONA, U.S.A. CANADA
4 Happy to Be Back | July 3 18 Soup, Soccer, and God | Aug. 21
6 Guarded Journey | July 10
NAD REFUGEES
8 You Aren’t Alone | July 17 20 Angel at the Gas Station | Aug. 28
10 Surrounded by Love | July 24 22 The Dilemma | Sept. 4
12 Caregiver for the Cure-Giver | July 31 24 Rescinded Resentment | Sept. 11
14 Beach or Desert | Aug. 7 26 Two Men Against One God | Sept. 18
28 Thirteenth Sabbath: Morsel of Truth | Sept. 25
MARSHALL ISLANDS 30 Future Thirteenth Sabbath Projects
16 A Special Friendship | Aug. 14 31 Leader’s Resources
= stories of special interest to teens
Yo u r O f f e r i n g s a t W o r k
Adventist Mission North American Division
Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering
three years ago that helped kickstart a new gym and
health center called New Life Center at Holbrook
© 2021 General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventist Indian School. Your offering Seventh-day Adventists ® • All rights reserved
this quarter will help finish the second phase of the 12501 Old Columbia Pike,
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601
center. Read stories from Holbrook on pages 4-15. 1-800-648-5824 • AdventistMission.org
2
D e a r S a b b a t h S c h o o l L e a d e r, Andrew McChesney
Editor
This quarter we feature the North on Palau, an archipelago of more than
American Division, which oversees the 500 islands that is part of the Micronesia
Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in region in the western Pacific Ocean. A
the United States, Canada, the French fourth project aims to assist refugees in the
possessions of St. Pierre and Miquelon, North American Division. See the sidebar
the British overseas territory of Bermuda, below for more information.
the U.S. territories of Guam, Wake If you want to make your Sabbath
Island, and Northern Mariana Islands School class come alive this quarter,
in the Pacific Ocean, and three nearby we offer a variety of photos and other
states in free association with the United materials to accompany each mission
States—Palau, the Marshall Islands, and story. More information is provided in the
the Federated States of Micronesia. The sidebar with each story.
region is home to 367 million people, For photos of tourist sites and other
including 1.25 million Adventists. scenes from the featured countries, try a
That’s a ratio of one Adventist for every free photo bank such as pixabay.com and
293 people. unsplash.com.
This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath In addition, you can download a
projects are in the U.S. state of Arizona, PDF of facts and activities from the
in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, and North American Division at bit.ly/
NAD-2021. Follow us at facebook.com/
missionquarterlies.
You can download the PDF version
Opportunities of the youth and adult Mission
The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering magazine at bit.ly/adultmission and the
this quarter will help the North Children’s Mission magazine at bit.ly/
American Division to construct: childrensmission.
The Mission Spotlight videos are
Staff housing, Palau School, Palau
available at bit.ly/missionspotlight.
Second phase of multifunctional gym, A printable mission bank image, which
Holbrook Indian School, U.S.A. the children can color, can be downloaded
Churches for refugees and to grant at bit.ly/bank-coloring-page.
scholarships, Canada and U.S.A. If I can be of assistance, contact me at
Church and community center, mcchesneya@gc.adventist.org.
AdventistMission.org
Igloolik, Canada Thank you for encouraging church
members to be mission-minded!
3
Happy to Be Back
ARIZONA, U.S.A. | July 3
A d r a i n Wi l e s , 2 0
since his twelfth-grade graduation. Here is his
story in his own words.
Itograduated from Holbrook Indian
School in 2018. I had given my life
Jesus, and He helped me overcome
drugs and alcohol and find a purpose in
life. Following in the footsteps of one
of my uncles, I decided to become an
engineer. I enrolled at Union College, an
Adventist Mission featured Adrain
Adventist school in Nebraska, and began
for a children’s mission story in second
a new journey as a college student.
quarter 2018. He was just finishing twelfth
Everyone at the college was so nice
grade at Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist
and friendly and happy. Even strangers
Indian School, a mission school for Native
greeted me.
Americans, in the U.S. state of Arizona. I made friends in classes, choir, and
Adrain did not know his father, and his intramural sports. I was invited to study
mother often drank. When he was 7, an older the Bible with religion students and loved
brother taught him how to drink alcohol and all of the spiritual programs the school had
use drugs. Adrain didn’t think anything was to offer, including the After Glow vespers
wrong with his life, and he didn’t want to live program on Friday evenings.
at Holbrook when he was enrolled there for Everything was going great until I found
the third grade. But he learned many new out that my education was going to cost a
Adventist Mission North American Division
things at the school, including the importance significant amount of money. I had no idea.
of taking baths and washing his clothes. He When I received the bill, I was shocked.
stopped drinking and using drugs. He found The next year I decided to go to the
that playing basketball in the gym helped cheer school on the Navajo Reservation. After
him up when he felt sad. In the seventh grade, doing some online research, I saw that a
he studied the Bible with the pastor and gave technical college in New Mexico had a
his heart to Jesus. good engineering program. I was excited
Let’s find out what has happened to Adrian to continue my education there without
4having to worry about the high cost of a
A R I ZO N A, U.S.A.
private Christian school. Stor y Tips
After I arrived, however, I quickly
realized that the school didn’t have any Ask a young man to share this first-
person account.
other Christian students with whom I
could socialize. The temptation to drink Read Adrain’s full story from 2018:
and use drugs was overwhelming. I was bit.ly/Adrain-2018.
able to avoid getting caught up in that Download photos on Facebook:
lifestyle, but I was lonely. bit.ly/fb-mq.
By the second semester I was so Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
lonely that I couldn’t take it anymore. from the North American Division:
I spoke with staff at Holbrook Indian bit.ly/NAD-2021.
School who had kept in touch with me. Know that this mission story illustrates
Amazingly, a position had just opened the following components of the
up, and they wanted me to come back to Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will
Go” strategic plan: Spiritual Growth
Holbrook to work as a taskforce dean and Objective No. 6 “to increase accession,
to continue my education through the retention, reclamation, and participation
school’s college transition program. of children, youth, and young adults,”
The difference between the atmosphere and Spiritual Growth Objective No. 7
“to help youth and young adults place
at the technical college and Holbrook God first and exemplify a biblical
Indian School is huge. Holbrook is my worldview” by encouraging “youth and
home. I am happy to be back. young adults [to] embrace the belief (FB
I would like to return to Union College 22) that the body is the temple of the
Holy Spirit, abstaining from alcohol,
to finish my education, and I am praying tobacco, recreational use of drugs and
that God will provide a way for me to other high-risk behaviors, and embrace
return without going into debt. I know church teachings (FB 23) on marriage,
God has a plan for my life. Please pray for and demonstrate sexual purity” (KPI
me as I continue to follow Him wherever 7.2). Learn more about the strategic plan
at IWillGo2020.org.
He leads me.
Thank you for your Thirteenth
Mission Post
Sabbath Offering three years ago that Holbrook Indian School was opened
helped kickstart plans for a new gym and in 1946 in Holbrook, Arizona. As well
health center called New Life Center at as teaching the regular curriculum of
English, history, math, and science,
Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian classes are held in vocational subjects
School. Your offering this quarter will such as auto mechanics, horsemanship,
help finish the second phase of the center, welding, and woodworking. The school
where the school will address high rates of also works to preserve Native American
culture by teaching the traditions of
obesity, heart disease, diabetes, depression,
AdventistMission.org
pottery making, Navajo language, and
and suicide among Native American government. Currently the school
children and youth. is funded 20% by the Pacific Union
Conference and 80% through donations.
By Adrain Wiles
5ARIZONA, U.S.A. | July 10
Guarded
Journey
Jodi Opitz, 39
the road. Then it rolled onto Derek’s side
and slid down the highway backward,
stopping about 75 yards (75 meters) from
the initial point of impact. Somehow the
M y husband, Derek, and I were
making the three-hour drive
from Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist
jeep stopped upright on all four wheels.
Derek and I sat in complete shock.
Then Derek struggled to open his door. It
Indian School to Arizona’s capital, wouldn’t budge. It was jammed into the car
Phoenix. I work at Holbrook as frame. Derek smelled smoke. Fearing that
registrar and administrative assistant, the vehicle was going to catch on fire, he
while Derek is the maintenance exclaimed, “We have to get out of here!”
assistant. On that Sabbath afternoon, At that moment, my door opened.
I was driving our jeep, and Derek was “Are you OK?” asked the woman who
taking a nap in the passenger seat. had opened the door.
We were running late. We were headed The woman had witnessed the entire
to Phoenix to listen to a Sabbath- accident and had stopped to help.
afternoon sermon at a church, but we first Minutes later a small crowd of people
needed to pick up my mother so she could surrounded our vehicle. They asked
go with us. whether we had called for a tow truck.
It rained heavily on and off during the We had not but, before we could reply, a
drive. The wet road ran through many tow truck stopped right in front of us. The
Adventist Mission North American Division
mountain ranges, and I navigated many driver, who owned a towing company, was
curvy corners. Yet, I was pushing down traveling from a dentist appointment.
on the gas pedal. A number of cars were “Can I help?” he asked.
speeding beside us on the road. Then, without us calling the police,
About halfway into the trip, our vehicle a police officer showed up to direct the
started to hydroplane. In just seconds steady flow of traffic whizzing past us.
the jeep spun 180 degrees around and His help was much needed because our
slammed into a mud hill on one side of vehicle, located around a curve and on a
6downslope, was not clearly visible to the
A R I ZO N A, U.S.A.
oncoming traffic. Stor y Tips
In just minutes our jeep was loaded
Ask a woman to share this first-
onto the tow truck and ready to go. We person account.
inspected the damage. The jeep had two
working wheels and an undamaged hood Download photos on Facebook
bit.ly/fb-mq.
and roof. Everything else was ruined. The
vehicle was totaled. Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
from the North American Division:
Derek and I sat in the tow truck, trying bit.ly/NAD-2021.
to put together the pieces of what had
Know that Jodi tells her mission story
happened. We had intended to take a to “help youth and young adults place
friend with us to Phoenix that day, but God first and exemplify a biblical
the plan had not worked out. Normally worldview,” which is Spiritual Growth
we traveled with our dog, but it she wasn’t Objective No. 7 of the Seventh-
day Adventist Church’s “I Will Go”
with us that afternoon. The opposite side strategic plan. Learn more about the
of the road, away from the mud hill that strategic plan at IWillGo2020.org.
we had initially hit, had a steep drop-off.
Derek and I had survived the accident with Fa s t Fa c t s
only cuts, sore muscles, and a few bruises.
How was it possible that we had not After The Long Walk, the government
hit any other cars? How did we end right- tried to compel the Navajo to enroll their
side up? Why did we not hit the guard rail children in Western-style education,
in particular boarding schools, which
and plunge down the 100-foot (30-meter) were designed to not only educate but to
drop-off? “Americanize” them, which some have
The only possible answer is that God subsequently called “cultural genocide.”
spared our lives. He took care of everything If you cut down a cactus in Arizona you
even before we set off on the journey. Later could end up in jail for 25 years. The
we learned that three friends and families saguaro cactus can grow up to 50 feet (15
had felt impressed to pray for us that day. meters) tall, but it grows very slowly, and
it can live for up to 200 years.
God answered their prayers. Less than
an hour after the accident, friends from
Holbrook Indian School picked us up and ago that helped kickstart plans for a
took us home. new gym and health center called New
Psalm 94:22 says, “But the Lord is Life Center at Holbrook Seventh-day
my refuge; my God is the rock of my Adventist Indian School. Your offering
protection” (CEV). God has protected us this quarter will help finish the second
many times at Holbrook Indian School. phase of the center, allowing the school to
We truly thank God for his continual address high rates of obesity, heart disease,
AdventistMission.org
watch over us. diabetes, depression, and suicide among
Native American children and youth.
Thank you for your generous
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering three years By Jodi Opitz
7You Aren’t Alone
ARIZONA, U.S.A. | July 17
Aliandra, 17
T hroughout my childhood I’ve while driving, and other things. It hurt me
experienced things that I don’t so much inside.
feel children should have to go At the same time, my father wasn’t at
through. I saw people drinking and home much. He was deported to Mexico
losing their minds over drugs. I saw many times, but he kept coming back
people smoking marijuana in hope of to the United States. He’s never even
feeling good for a short time. wished me a happy birthday. But somehow
My mother is Navajo, and my father God gave me strength every day to keep
is Mexican. My family once was so good moving forward. Even though I didn’t
and loving, and we attended church every have an earthly father who cared, I had a
Sunday. But then my mother began to Heavenly Father who loved me.
drink alcohol, and everything seemed to I got used to hiding my feelings and
Adventist Mission North American Division
fall out of place. As a small girl, I saw my acting as if everything was all right.
father beat my mother with his bare hands People sometimes asked me how I kept all
and sometimes with a pool stick. I was my feelings bottled up inside. It’s hard, but
scared because I felt weak and helpless. I you get used to it when no one listens to
didn’t have the strength to do anything how you feel.
about it. As I grew older, I changed and became a
My mother went in and out of jail on different person. I became overprotective
charges of domestic violence, drinking of my younger siblings. I got into multiple
8fights, skipped school to be cool, and
A R I ZO N A, U.S.A.
started smoking marijuana. Stor y Tips
Then, when I was 12, I realized that I
didn’t want to become like my parents. Ask a young woman to share this first-
person account.
But I didn’t know what to do.
A year or two later, I came to Holbrook Adventist Mission does not identify
people under age 18 by their full names.
Seventh-day Adventist Indian School to
start ninth grade. At the school, I grew to Download photos on Facebook:
love Christ, and I realized the kind of love bit.ly/fb-mq.
that He has for me. Despite all that I had Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
gone through, God had a plan for me that from the North American Division:
bit.ly/NAD-2021.
included coming to Holbrook.
My understanding of life has changed. Know that this mission story illustrates
Now I know that God has been with me the following component of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I
my entire life. I just didn’t realize it. He Will Go” strategic plan: Spiritual
has always been right beside me, giving Growth Objective No. 7 “to help youth
me the strength to keep going forward and young adults place God first and
regardless of what I experienced. To this exemplify a biblical worldview” by
encouraging “youth and young adults
day, He continues to give me strength [to] embrace the belief (FB 22) that
with everything that I do, every decision I the body is the temple of the Holy
make, and every time I feel like giving up. Spirit, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco,
My favorite verse is Exodus 14:14, recreational use of drugs and other high-
risk behaviors, and embrace church
which says, “The Lord will fight for you; teachings (FB 23) on marriage, and
you need only to be still” (NIV). demonstrate sexual purity” (KPI 7.2).
God will give you victory over anything Learn more about the strategic plan at
you’re going through if you allow Him to IWillGo2020.org.
take care of it. He has you in His hands,
and He is going to fight for you. Fa s t Fa c t s
You are not alone. The United States of America is the
I am not alone. world’s third-largest country in size
(after Russia and Canada) and the
Thank you for your Thirteenth third-largest in terms of population
(after China and India).
Sabbath Offering three years ago that
helped kickstart plans on a new gym and Arizona is the sixth-largest U.S. state
health center called New Life Center at in terms of territory and the fourteenth
in terms of population. It is located in
Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian the southwestern United States, and
School. Your offering this quarter will it borders the states of Nevada, New
go toward the center, helping the school Mexico, Utah, California, Colorado.
address high rates of obesity, heart disease,
AdventistMission.org
Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon,
diabetes, depression, and suicide among which is more than a mile (1.6 km) deep,
Native American children and youth. 227 miles (365 km) long, and up to 18
miles (29 km) wide.
By Aliandra, as told to Diana Fish
9Surrounded by Love
ARIZONA, U.S.A. | July 24
Shanel Draper, 24
E ven though I grew up with family
in a small town, I saw alcoholism,
drugs, and violence almost every
a day school and didn’t have a dormitory.
Finally, my mother saw that a couple of
our relatives had children at Holbrook
day. It was common. I remember Seventh-day Adventist Indian School in
seeing people put up fences outside Arizona. The school was some distance
the schools, but that didn’t stop the from home, but my mother and aunt
alcohol, drugs, and violence from decided that it would be best for me.
entering the classrooms. Gangs started I entered the ninth grade in August
fights and brought in drugs and 2010. It was tough at first being away from
alcohol. This was in middle school. family. I had no problem doing things on
Sometimes even walking home from my own like laundry, cleaning my room,
the bus stop wasn’t safe for me alone. and basically taking care of myself. The
Maybe these are some of the reasons only thing I wasn’t ready for was Bible
Adventist Mission North American Division
that my mother and aunt decided to class. I had attended church with several
pull me out of public school and send aunts, but I only went because I wasn’t
me to a private school. allowed to stay home alone. My aunts had
My mother’s first choice was private taken me to various churches and even to
school in the U.S. state of New Mexico, Vacation Bible School. Still, I didn’t know
but I was put on a wait list. Then we how to read the Bible.
considered another school in New Mexico. At Holbrook, it was embarrassing
But I wasn’t able to attend because it was not knowing how to read the Bible at a
10Christian school. But slowly I started to
A R I ZO N A, U.S.A.
learn about Jesus and how He works in our Stor y Tips
lives. I gave my heart to Jesus.
Four years later, I graduated from As a young woman to share this first-
person account.
Holbrook Indian School. I studied in
college for two years but then moved on Download photos on Facebook:
bit.ly/fb-mq.
to other things. My life became busy, and
I lost sight of Jesus and being a Seventh- Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
day Adventist. from the North American Division:
bit.ly/NAD-2021.
While visiting a friend in Texas, I heard
that my aunt, who was like a mother to Know that this mission story illustrates
me, had gotten really sick and was in and the following components of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will
out of the hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. I Go” strategic plan: Spiritual Growth
caught a flight from Texas back to Arizona Objective No. 6 “to increase accession,
on my birthday to surprise my aunt. I retention, reclamation, and participation
spent time with her before she passed of children, youth, and young adults,”
and Spiritual Growth Objective No. 7
away a few days later. “to help youth and young adults place
After her passing, I ran away from home God first and exemplify a biblical
and back to Texas. But I wasn’t happy. worldview” by encouraging “youth and
When a friend from Holbrook informed young adults [to] embrace the belief (FB
22) that the body is the temple of the
me about a job opening for a taskforce Holy Spirit, abstaining from alcohol,
worker at the school, I jumped at the tobacco, recreational use of drugs and
chance. When I returned, I worked closely other high-risk behaviors, and embrace
with the students, and it brought me so church teachings (FB 23) on marriage,
and demonstrate sexual purity” (KPI 7.2).
much joy. The following year, the school Learn more about the strategic plan at
asked me to return as the scholarship IWillGo2020.org.
coordinator. Being back at Holbrook has
changed my life in so many ways, and it Mission Post
feels amazing to be surrounded by love.
The Arizona Conference, where the
Holbrook Indian School is located, has
Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath 78 churches and 20,692 members. With
Offering three years ago that kickstarted a population of 7,052,954 in the state,
plans for a new gym and health center there is one Adventist for every 341
called New Life Center at Holbrook people in Arizona.
Seventh-day Adventist Indian School. Oakwood University, in the state
Your offering this quarter will help finish of Alabama, is the only educational
institution attached directly to the North
the second phase of the center, where the American Division.
school will address high rates of obesity,
heart disease, diabetes, depression, and The Navajo Nation is located in parts of
AdventistMission.org
the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and
suicide among Native American children Utah and is comprised of over 27,000
and youth. square miles (71,000 km2) — larger than
ten of the fifty states in the U.S.
By Shanel Draper
11Caregiver for the Cure-Giver
ARIZONA, U.S.A. | July 31
Nannette Ortiz, 53
Many girls who come to Holbrook
Indian School arrive with extra emotional
baggage. They have experienced many
forms of trauma even at an early age. I
remember a second grader, Rose, tell me
that she had witnessed her father’s murder.
One night, as I prepared to leave my
dormitory desk go to bed, the little girl ran
to me and jumped into my arms.
“I can’t sleep,” she said. “I see my Dad
smiling at me through the window.”
I took her back to her room and
sang and prayed with her. I had trouble
W hat is it like being girls’ dean to
a group of several dozen girls and
young women at Holbrook Seventh-
sleeping myself, thinking about what the
girls were going through.
day Adventist Indian School? Two months into the school year,
I met Lily when I first came to Lily confided how she was tormented by
Holbrook Indian School. The 17-year- terrible nightmares. When she started
old girl immediately adopted me as her describing the nightmares, I understood
grandmother. She was eager to help me why I had come to the school. You
around the dormitory. “Can I help you see, I had experienced the same kind
bake the muffins this week?” she would of nightmares when I was a teenager.
say, or, “Can I help you write the Bible God wanted me to develop a special
verse on the chalkboard?” relationship with Lily so I could assure
I clearly remember another question that her that she, too, could overcome those
she asked me at the beginning of the school nightmares with God’s help. I told
Adventist Mission North American Division
year. “Do you know that I had to be put on a her that God had set me free of the
contract twice last year?” she asked. nightmares with His power and that He
What was she talking about? I learned could do the same for her.
that she had been so depressed the previous Some students would rather stay at the
school year that she had been deemed at school than go home during vacation. This
risk of harming herself. She had signed the happens because the environment at home
contract as a promise to seek help before is toxic. I remember, Rose, the second
doing anything to harm herself. grader, returning from a short vacation
12with her mother. As I opened the door
A R I ZO N A, U.S.A.
for her to enter the dormitory, she looked Stor y Tips
around the place. Then she sighed. Ask a woman to share this first-
“It’s good to be home,” she said. person account.
Lily tried to avoid going home. To
Students’ names have been changed to
this day, I do not know what kind of protect their privacy.
trauma she had experienced that had
Download photos on Facebook:
inflicted so much emotional harm. But bit.ly/fb-mq.
that is not my job. My job is to show
Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
unconditional love to all the girls,
from the North American Division:
understanding that I am their caregiver bit.ly/NAD-2021.
and God is their Cure-giver.
Know that this mission story illustrates
Just this week, as we studied the story of
the following components of the
Creation, I asked Lily, “Did you know this Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will
story before you came to this school?” Go” strategic plan: Spiritual Growth
“No,” she replied. Objective No. 6 “to increase accession,
retention, reclamation, and participation
“What about the Bible? Did you see of children, youth, and young adults” by
a Bible at home or in your shimasani’s encouraging “all members and yet-to-
[maternal grandmother’s] house?” be-baptized young people [to] embrace
She shook her head. The first time that and practice stewardship principles
regarding time, spiritual gifts, and tithes
she had seen a Bible was when she came and offerings” (KPI 6.5) and “church
to Holbrook Indian School. members [to] exhibit cross-cultural
I explained to Lily that many people in understanding and respect for all
the world regard the Creation story as a tale. people” (KPI 6.6). Learn more about the
strategic plan at IWillGo2020.org.
“What do you think about this story?”
I asked.
Lily had no doubt. Fa s t Fa c t s
“Mr. Hubbard, the math teacher, always The name Navajo is derived through
starts his class with a little devotional,” she Spanish from the Tewa (spoken by the
said. “Just today, he made us think when Pueblo people) word navahū “fields
adjoining a ravine.” The Navajos call
he told us how things can’t come up out of themselves Diné.
nothing. There needs to be a Creator!”
The conversations with Lily and the
other girls remind me of 1 Corinthians Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian
3:6, where Paul says, “I planted the seed, School. Your offering this quarter will
Apollos watered it, but God has been help finish the second phase of the center,
making it grow” (NLT). where the school will address high rates of
obesity, heart disease, diabetes, depression,
AdventistMission.org
Thank you for your Thirteenth and suicide among Native American
Sabbath Offering three years ago that children and youth.
helped kickstart plans for a new gym and
health center called New Life Center at By Nannette Ortiz, pictured with her husband in the photo
13ARIZONA, U.S.A. | Aug. 7
Beach
or Desert
Diana Fish, 56
she excitedly pointed at the other woman
in the booth. “She is our development
director, and she is retiring,” she said.
She told me that Holbrook was located
in Arizona. “There is no chance that we
are moving there,” I thought.
My husband and I were partial to water.
M y husband, Loren, and I had our
dream jobs. He had a successful
Arizona’s desert was not on our list of
places where we wanted to live.
counseling practice, and I worked in
Six months passed, and Loren and
development at AdventHealth. We loved
I continued praying. A friend alerted
living the beach life in Florida. Loren about an opening for a social-
But something seemed to be missing. work professor at Southern Adventist
We began praying for God to lead us into University in Tennessee, and we began to
working in full-time ministry together. In dream about a move.
truth, however, we weren’t open to being Loren made a last-minute decision to
led anywhere except to Tennessee, where attend the 2015 General Conference
our children and grandchildren lived. Session in San Antonio, Texas. While
On a whim, I attended a conference there, he saw horse-hair pottery off in
organized by the North American the distance of the exhibition hall, and
Division’s Women’s Ministries. It was a he soon found himself at the Holbrook
time of powerful prayer and surrendering Indian School booth. A woman at the
of self to God. I happened to walk by booth noticed his badge with the letters
Adventist Mission North American Division
the Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist “LCSW.” “Does that stand for ‘licensed
Indian School booth in the conference’s clinical’ something?” she asked.
exhibition hall, and I noticed some Loren nodded his head. “Licensed
beautiful student-made pottery. I bought clinical social worker,” he said.
three pieces of horse-hair pottery. “We need one of those!” the woman
As I made the purchase, a woman at exclaimed excitedly.
the booth asked about my work. When Loren smiled nervously, looking to make
I told her that I worked in development, his escape, but the woman asked about his
14wife’s job. He responded that she worked in
A R I ZO N A, U.S.A.
development at Florida Hospital. Stor y Tips
“We need one of those, too!” the
Ask a woman to share this first-
woman said, waving at her husband, who
person account.
happened to be Holbrook’s principal.
Later Loren told me about what Download photos on Facebook:
bit.ly/fb-mq.
had happened. “Uh-oh,” I replied.
Weeks later, we decided to visit Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
from the North American Division:
Holbrook at the end of a vacation. Before bit.ly/NAD-2021.
arriving, Loren received a call from
Southern Adventist University. He had Know that this mission story illustrates
the following components of the
not gotten the job. Panic set in. I sensed Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
that God was testing me to see whether I “I Will Go” strategic plan: Mission
was willing to go wherever He led. Objective No. 1 “to revive the concept
Loren and I spent more than nine of worldwide mission and sacrifice for
mission as a way of life involving not
hours talking with Holbrook staff about only pastors, but every church member,
the school’s mission to Native American young and old, in the joy of witnessing
children and youth. We learned that for Christ and making disciples” through
“increased number of church members
the staff dreamed of having Christian
participating in both personal and public
counseling available around the clock evangelistic outreach initiatives with
for students dealing with post-traumatic a goal of Total Member Involvement
stress disorder and other mental health (TMI)” (KPI 1.1); and Spiritual Growth
Objective No. 5 “to disciple individuals
issues. I struggled to sleep that night. and families into spirit-filled lives”
But before I opened my eyes in the through a “significant increase in
morning, thoughts began racing through numbers of church members regularly
my mind about how wonderful it would be praying, studying the Bible, using the
Sabbath School Bible Study Guides,
to work at Holbrook. Jumping out of bed, reading the writings of Ellen White and
I noticed a familiar book on a bookshelf. I engaging in other personal devotions”
reached into my backpack and pulled out (KPI 5.1). Learn more about the strategic
the same book, which Loren had received plan at IWillGo2020.org.
at the General Conference Session. I had
packed it at the last minute. The book submitted our resumes and began packing.
was titled, “Follow: Anytime, Anywhere, Two weeks later we were hired. We are so
at Any Cost” by Don Maclafferty. At that glad that we followed God to Holbrook.
moment, I knew God was calling me to
Holbrook Indian School. I told God that Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath
He would have to put the same impression Offering three years ago that kickstarted
on Loren’s heart. I prayed and waited. plans for a new gym and health center
AdventistMission.org
Several days later, as we entered our called New Life Center at Holbrook
home in Florida, Loren announced that Seventh-day Adventist Indian School.
he felt convicted that God wanted us
to move to Holbrook. That evening we By Diana Fish
15A Special Friendship
MARSHALL ISLANDS | Aug. 14
Ra i j a n , 1 5
school supplies for the family and other
missionaries on the island.
Raijan was 13 years old when the first
packages arrived, and he and his family
knelt and thanked God before opening
each one. But before he could play with
a new toy or taste a treat, Father said
he had to write a thank-you letter to
Grandpa Bob. That is how the unlikely
friendship by mail began. Grandpa Bob
sent packages, and Raijan replied with
handwritten letters.
For three years, Raijan received many
A15-year-old missionary kid in the
Marshall Islands formed an unlikely
packages and sent many letters. He wrote
about his joy in receiving the packages.
friendship by mail with a 77-year-old He described his struggles at school. He
retired missionary in the faraway U.S. expressed fear of death when a schoolmate
state of Texas. died unexpectedly and basketball star Kobe
The friendship started when the retired Bryant died in a helicopter accident on the
missionary, Grandpa Bob, learned about same week.
the missionary kid’s family through Soon after sending the letter about
mission stories in the Mission quarterly. death, he received a reply from Grandpa
The boy’s father was the school principal Bob. It was the first and only time that
and his mother taught at the Seventh-day Grandpa Bob sent him a personal letter.
Adventist mission school on the remote Three weeks after that, Grandpa Bob
island of Ebeye, and Grandpa Bob wanted was in the hospital and, a short time later,
Adventist Mission North American Division
to do something special to support the he returned home on hospice. During
family. He already contributed to the his two weeks on hospice, Grandpa Bob
Sabbath School mission offering every prepared eight more packages for Raijan
week, and he gave something extra when a and his family. His son mailed the last
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering was collected packages after Grandpa Bob died.
to help the school in 2018. But he wanted The death of Grandpa Bob dismayed
to do more. So he decided to send monthly Raijan, but he continued writing letters.
care packages containing toys, food, and He sent the following letter to Grandpa
16Bob’s son in response to a package:
Condolences. The day we heard about Stor y Tips
Grandpa Bob’s death, I was shocked, even
though I knew that he had a few days left to Pronounce Raijan as: RAY-jahn.
live. I had hoped otherwise. Early February Grandpa Bob is Robert McChesney,
this year I wrote to him about how death can a retired missionary who taught at
come so easily to us humans and about the Seventh-day Adventist institutions
in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and
recent deaths of a fellow teen and the famous the United States for 40 years. He is
basketball star Kobe Bryant. A week later, the father of Adventist Mission editor
he replied with a letter saying that though it is Andrew McChesney.
sad when someone dies, we should not fear Watch Raijan on YouTube:
I S L A N D S
death because our God has overcome it. He bit.ly/Surprise-Box-NAD.
said we should live our life as if we were to die Download photos on Facebook:
tomorrow while also expecting to live another bit.ly/fb-mq.
100 years. Grandpa Bob encouraged me to Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
move on with my life or else I would miss the from the North American Division:
new opportunities tomorrow may bring, while bit.ly/NAD-2021.
MA R S H A L L
also using each day as a fresh opportunity to Know that this mission story illustrates
witness to people about God and potentially the following components of the
win their lives for Him. I am very thankful Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I
Will Go” strategic plan: Spiritual
for his encouragement and comfort because Growth Objective No. 6, “to increase
now I am less grieved than I would have been accession, retention, reclamation,
if not for his letter. Though I may not have and participation of children, youth,
known him personally, I have been influenced and young adults” by encouraging
“all members and yet-to-be-baptized
and encouraged by him to be a more kind, young people [to] embrace and practice
friendly, and loving person. And though I stewardship principles regarding time,
will never get to know him personally in this spiritual gifts, and tithes and offerings”
world, I firmly believe that I will see him (KPI 6.5) and “church members [to]
exhibit cross-cultural understanding and
when we all get to heaven someday. I may respect for all people” (KPI 6.6); and
not know how much grief you may be feeling, Spiritual Growth Objective No. 7, “to
but I know that God understands whatever help youth and young adults place God
circumstances we go through and that we can first and exemplify a biblical worldview.”
Learn more about the strategic plan at
find comfort in God. IWillGo2020.org.
Thank you for your weekly mission Mission Post
offerings that help support the work of
missionaries in the Marshall Islands and Delap Seventh-day Adventist School,
where Raijan now studies, is a K-12
elsewhere around the world. Thank you
AdventistMission.org
school run by the Guam-Micronesia
for considering doing a little extra to Mission in Majuro, capital of the Marshall
further God’s end-time work. Islands. It was founded in 1978 and is
operated mainly by student missionaries.
By Andrew McChesney
17Soccer, Soup, and God
NUNAVUT, CANADA | Aug. 21
Sa k h i l e S i b a n d a Ka m e r a
challenges with high levels of homelessness
and domestic violence. What can
Adventists do?
Sakhile: When we arrived in Pond Inlet,
an Adventist family from Jamaica lived
there. After they left, we were the only
Adventists, and we lived in the heart of
the community. My husband worked for
the municipal government, and I was the
only Public Health nurse in town. If we
had not been doing our jobs, things would
not have happened in the community. As
Ask two people to present this interview a result, you could say that we held
during the mission-story time. positions of influence. That made it
Narrator: Nunavut is the newest, biggest, difficult to witness. Some people were
and most northerly territory of Canada. willing accept anything that we said as
Nunavut, which was created in 1999, is fact, and we did not want to take
an immense, sparsely populated territory advantage of their trust. We also did not
with tundra, rugged mountains and remote want to be seen as using our positions to
villages that are only accessible by boat impose our beliefs on others. So we were
or airplane. It also is the home of a small very careful. But there were certain things
that we did. We started a soccer club for 9-
group of Seventh-day Adventists. Today we
to 12-year-old girls. Pond Inlet didn’t have
will meet one of those Adventists. [Turn
any girls’ soccer clubs, and our club had a
to the interviewee.] Would you please
good influence on the community. Adults
introduce yourself?
started noticing that young girls were
Adventist Mission North American Division
Sakhile: My name is Sakhile. I am a wife no longer roaming the streets aimlessly.
and the mother of two children, a boy and The girls had a purpose. They came to the
a girl. I work as a nurse in the capital city soccer club for training, snacks, and
of Nunavut, Iqaluit, which has about 8,000 friendship. We also taught the girls to
people. We moved here a year ago from fundraise for the club. It wasn’t just me
Pond Inlet, a small community of 1,800 baking a cake to sell. It was mentoring. We
people way up north in Nunavut. taught the girls to take ownership for the
Narrator: The territory of Nunavut faces club so they could continue without us.
18 Another way that we had an impact onthe community was through my children’s
friends. Their friends asked to come over Stor y Tips
to our house to play on Friday evenings
Ask a man and a woman or two women
and Saturdays. We had our Sabbath to present this interview during the
worship at those times, and we invited the mission story time. The volunteers
children to join us. do not need to memorize the text but
should be familiar enough not to have
Narrator: How does Iqaluit compare to to read it.
Pond Inlet?
Pronounce Nunavut as: NUUN-a-vut.
Sakhile: Several Adventist families live
in Iqaluit, and the fellowship has really Pronounce Iqaluit as: ee-KAL-oo-it.
helped us to grow spiritually. I can call Download photos on Facebook:
other church members and ask them to bit.ly/fb-mq.
pray for us. I feel that there is a safety net. Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
In Iqaluit, I teach the Junior from the North American Division at:
bit.ly/NAD-2021.
PowerPoints Sabbath School class, and I
am making plans for the children to get Know that this mission story illustrates
involved in helping the elderly and doing the following component of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
other acts of kindness. “I Will Go” strategic plan: Mission
Narrator: What is your dream for the Objective No. 1 “to revive the concept
Adventist Church here? of worldwide mission and sacrifice for
mission as a way of life involving not
Sakhile: We need our own church only pastors, but every church member,
building. Our witnessing initiatives are young and old, in the joy of witnessing
C A N A DA
for Christ and making disciples”
really limited by our inability to have a through “increased number of church
place that we can call home. When I first members participating in both personal
visited Iqaluit several years ago, we had and public evangelistic outreach
a dedicated place for Sabbath worship initiatives with a goal of Total Member
Involvement (TMI)” (KPI 1.1).
where we served soup to the homeless Learn more about the strategic plan at
during the week. Although we did not IWillGo2020.org.
operate the soup kitchen on Sabbath,
homeless people knew that they could
come to the building on Sabbath for a Narrator: Thank you for providing a glimpse
fellowship meal. The smaller space that of the remote Canadian territory of Nunavut.
we now rent is not big enough for meals. [Turn to the congregation.] Part of this
My Sabbath School class meets in the quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will
living room of my house. The Primary help open a new church and community
class meets in someone else’s living services center to witness for God in
room, and a third children’s class meets one of Nunavut’s communities. Thank
AdventistMission.org
in another home. The adults meet in you for planning a generous offering for
our rented church building. It would be Thirteenth Sabbath.
wonderful if we could worship and have
other gatherings in one place. By Patience Chimhanda
19Angel at the Gas Station
NAD REFUGEES | Aug. 28
Lamphai Sihavong, 64
Complicating matters, Lamphai didn’t
dare to drive on U.S. highways. She had
just learned to drive and received her
driver’s license in California, and two
friends from California had accompanied
the family to Nebraska, one driving the
family car and the other driving a moving
truck. But the friends could not stay.
Calling everyone whom they could
think of for advice, Lamphai and her
husband finally heard about a possible job
L amphai stared in bewilderment at
the confusing maze of highways
around and above her in the U.S. city of
opening in Holland, Michigan, another
750 miles (1,200 km) away. Lamphai
decided to brave U.S. highways and trust
Chicago. She had no idea how to find her
God to be with her, and the family started
husband. She looked at the four children
out on the 12-hour journey to Michigan.
seated in the car and wondered what to
do next. Her husband led the way, driving the
The couple had arrived in the United moving truck with two of the children and
States as refugees from the Southeast all their belongings. She followed with the
Asian country of Laos, and they were other four children in the car.
driving with their six children across All went well until Chicago. Lamphai
the country to find work. Leaving tried to follow her husband closely, but she
Sacramento, California, the family first got stuck in heavy traffic and lost sight of
traveled 1,400 miles (2,250 km) to Grand his truck. Overwhelmed and confused in
Adventist Mission North American Division
Island, Nebraska, where they had heard the maze of roads, unable to decide which
about a factory hiring people with limited way to go, she stopped at a gas station.
English-language skills. But when they Neither she nor her husband had cell
arrived, they learned the jobs were filled phones. She had no way to contact him,
and the company was no longer hiring. and she had no idea how to find their
There they were, in the middle of the destination. Her only hope was God. She
United States with six children, no home, was glad that missionaries had visited their
no jobs, and only limited English. refugee camp in Thailand to tell them
20about God. Together, she and the four
children prayed earnestly to God for help. Stor y Tips
As they opened their eyes, they
Pronounce Lamphai as: lum-PIE.
saw a pleasant-looking man walking
toward them. Pronounce Veuy as: VOO-ee.
“Let me guess,” he said. “Are you (oo as in “look”).
looking for your husband, Veuy?” Download photos on Facebook:
“Yes!” she acknowledged with surprise. bit.ly/fb-mq.
She wondered silently, “How does this Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
total stranger know my husband’s name?” from the North American Division at:
“Get in your car and follow me,” the bit.ly/NAD-2021.
man said, turning to get into his car. “I’ll Know that this mission story illustrates
help you find him.” the following components of the
Obediently, Lamphai followed him Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will
Go” strategic plan: Mission Objective
back onto the road and through a maze No. 2 “to strengthen and diversify
of Chicago highways until suddenly, just Adventist outreach in large cities, across
ahead, she saw her husband’s moving truck. the 10/40 Window, among unreached
Gratitude washed over her and the and under- reached people groups, and
to non-Christian religions” through KPI
children. They turned to wave their 2.9, which says, “Each conference and
thanks to the kind stranger, but he was mission outside the 10/40 Window has
gone. His car had vanished before they a five-year plan to achieve a measurable
and significant increase (e.g., 30%
could even wave good-bye. over five years) in the number of
The family arrived safely in Holland, newly planted worshipping groups”;
Michigan, and Veuy and Lamphai found and Spiritual Growth Objective No.
jobs in a local boat company owned by 6 “to increase accession, retention,
reclamation, and participation of
a Seventh-day Adventist family. They children, youth, and young adults”
began attending the Holland Seventh-day through two KPIs — “church members
Adventist Church. Soon they invited new exhibit cross-cultural understanding
R E F U G E E S
Lao friends to join them, and the church and respect for all people” (KPI 6.6)
and “evidence that local churches and
gave the small group a room where they Adventist schools are responding to
could worship in their own language. The the opportunities that mass migration
group grew and today has its own church offers for ministry, and that immigrants
where Lamphai joyfully introduces people are being integrated into local
Adventist communities” (KPI 6.7).
to the God who sent an angel to a gas Learn more about the strategic plan at
station to help her find her way. IWillGo2020.org.
N A D
Several Lao congregations have like Lamphai’s. Thank you for planning a
sprouted up across the North American generous Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.
AdventistMission.org
Division as a result of a Thirteenth Sabbath
Offering in 2011. With this quarter’s By Terri Saelee
Coordinator, Adventist Refugee and Immigrant
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, you will help Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
provide pastors and resources to groups North American Division
21NAD REFUGEES | Sept. 4
The
Dilemma
An Iraqi Family
photo: BigStock
Seventh-day Adventist.”
One day, Father visited a food bank
that distributed supplies to needy families.
While waiting to receive food, Father
began talking with a volunteer and
discovered that the man was a Seventh-
day Adventist pastor. Moreover, the
S omeone told Father about Jesus
in Iraq. Father fell in love with Jesus
and joined the Seventh-day Adventist
volunteer told him that the food bank
was organized and run by a Seventh-day
Adventist church that happened to own a
Church. Mother, however, decided to church school.
remain with her traditional religion. At home, Father told Mother the good
After some time, life became difficult news. He and Mother had been carefully
for the family in Iraq. Father, fearing for saving money so that they could return to
the safety of Mother and their two young school and get better jobs to support their
daughters, moved the family to live as family. They decided to use their precious
refugees in the United States. money to pay for their daughters’ tuition.
After living in Michigan for a year, the A short time later, Father arrived at
family moved to California. Father could the church school with Mother and their
not bear the cold winter in Michigan. The 9-year-old and 11-year-old girls. They sat
bitter temperatures caused pain to wartime in the principal’s office, their faces shining,
injuries that he had sustained in Iraq. as they waited for information about what
In California, Father and Mother sent to do next.
their daughters to public school. But Father The principal and church pastor, who
Adventist Mission North American Division
prayed that the girls would be able to study sat across from them, glanced at each
at an Adventist school. He did not have the other, and then looked at Father, Mother,
money to pay for church school and, even and the girls. The eagerness on the faces
if he did, he did not know any Adventists of the parents and the girls tugged at their
who could tell him where to find one. Still hearts. But the money that Father and
he prayed. “Please, God,” he prayed, “help Mother had saved up was not enough.
my daughters to receive a Seventh-day “We very much want the girls to
Adventist education. Help me to find a study here,” the principal said. “But,
22unfortunately, there is not enough money
to cover the tuition.” Stor y Tips
The principal paused and glanced at the
pastor again. She saw compassion in his Adventist Mission is not revealing the
names of the family members or their
eyes and felt encouraged to continue. location for privacy reasons.
“We will enroll the girls in the
school,” she said. “Let’s step out in faith Download photos on Facebook:
bit.ly/fb-mq.
and trust God to somehow provide help
with the tuition.” Download Mission Posts and Fast Facts
The four adults and two girls knelt on from the North American Division at:
the floor and bowed their heads. bit.ly/NAD-2021.
“Dear God, we need Your help,” the Know that this mission story illustrates
pastor prayed. “Please provide money for the following components of the
the education of these two precious girls.” Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will
Go” strategic plan: Mission Objective
Shortly after the family left, the principal No. 2 “to strengthen and diversify
received a phone call. It was from the Adventist outreach in large cities, across
coordinator of the Adventist Refugee and the 10/40 Window, among unreached
Immigrant Ministries for the Seventh- and under- reached people groups, and
to non-Christian religions” through
day Adventist Church’s North American KPI 2.7, which says, “Each division
Division. She was calling to announce that identifies all significant immigrant/
she had money to help pay for the tuition refugee populations in their territories
of refugee children who might want to [and] has initiatives in place to reach
study at the church school. The money, she them”; and Spiritual Growth Objective
No. 5 “to disciple individuals and
said, came from Seventh-day Adventists families into spirit-filled lives” through
around the world who had given to a KPI 5.9, which says, “Increased number
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in 2011. of children from Adventist homes and
The principal could hardly believe churches attending Adventist schools.”
Learn more about the strategic plan at
her ears. Quickly, she called Father to IWillGo2020.org.
R E F U G E E S
announce that money had been found for
his daughters’ tuition. “I knew God would
answer our prayers!” Father exclaimed. Mission Post
The North American Division is made
Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering up of eight union conferences, the
this quarter will help refugees in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
North American Division again. May Canada, and Guam-Micronesia Mission.
N A D
God use your gifts to answer more prayers There is no official language of the
like Father’s. Imagine meeting someone in United States. Almost everyone speaks
heaven who learned more about God and English, and almost all government,
decided to serve Him because you gave. education, and business is carried out
AdventistMission.org
in English. Spanish is the second most
By Terri Saelee widely spoken language and is the most
Coordinator, Adventist Refugee and Immigrant widely taught second language.
Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
North American Division
23NAD REFUGEES | Sept. 11
Rescinded
Resentment
J i m m y S h we , 5 1
I magine being 7 years old and running
for your life in a jungle. How might
that affect you?
But he saw his father’s peace and joy as
they attended a Seventh-day Adventist
church in the refugee camp. He read about
This was Jimmy Shwe’s life in the the conflict between Christ and Satan in
Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, the Bible. He realized his father was right
previously known as Burma. and decided to forgive those who had
As a boy, Jimmy developed a deep wronged him.
resentment toward the authorities because Jimmy became a Seventh-day
of his experiences. At one point, lost in Adventist pastor and later resettled in the
the jungle, he thought he would die. United States.
He decided that if he ever survived, He soon discovered that many
he would join an armed resistance Adventist refugee families whom he had
movement to get revenge. known in refugee camps in Thailand were
After two years of separation, now scattered across North America.
Jimmy found his father in a refugee They were trying to find Seventh-day
camp in Thailand. Adventist churches but did not know
Adventist Mission North American Division
But his father did not agree with enough English to understand the
Jimmy’s plan, saying it would not help to messages or participate in the services.
take up weapons. Instead, he urged Jimmy Many were becoming discouraged.
to become a pastor and tell his people Jimmy longed to visit and encourage
about the love of God and the hope of them in their faith. He wanted to help
eternal life. them to organize small groups so they
It was not easy for Jimmy to give up his could worship the God of heaven in their
anger and deep resentment. own language.
24You can also read
