“We’re going to start a Sabbath School for teens this Sabbath. Would you like to come?” I asked my 16-year-old non-Adventist friend, Elsie. “I’ll come pick you up.” I added.

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll come.”

When we came to Kotale a year ago, there was only one Sabbath School class for kids of all ages. It was mostly geared for the younger children. The older ones tolerated it patiently, but I could tell that they were bored.

Sabbath morning, I headed for Elsie’s home. She came out ready for Sabbath School. We walked together back down the path toward the church. I thought she would be nervous entering the church if I didn’t accompany her.

Later, I found out that another friend, Johanna, who is a church member from the highlands of Papua New Guinea, had been studying the Bible with Elsie in the girl’s dorm at their school and telling her what Adventists believe. I was very excited when Elsie started coming to church by herself.
One Sabbath, Johanna asked Elsie if she had a Bible. “No,” Elsie answered sadly. We went home, found a Bible for her and brought it with us to the afternoon meeting. When we handed Elsie the Bible, she delightedly exclaimed, “Oh! Thank you so much!” Then she said something that really touched our hearts. “I was wishing for a Bible, so I started praying for one. God answered my prayer!” She couldn’t stop thanking us.

Now Elsie studies her Bible every morning. We gave her a sheet of sticker Bible studies, and she has been going through her Bible highlighting verses. Studying with her is fun. It gives us a chance to answer her questions and make sure she understands what she is reading.

God is blessing us. Please pray for Elsie.

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