On Easter Island in Chile, 12‑year‑old Mana overcame his fears through prayer, joined Pathfinders, and became the island’s first Pathfinder to be baptized. His decision inspired his family, leading his mother and relatives to give their hearts to Jesus.
Mana is 12 years old, and lives on Easter Island, a special territory of Chile. It’s located some 2,200 miles west of the mainland and is considered one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.
Mana began learning about God when he was a little boy, and his grandmother took him to church on Sabbaths. But he didn’t go every week. Sometimes he was tired and wanted to sleep in. Other times, he just wanted to relax at home.
Then, a missionary family moved to Easter Island. They started a Pathfinder club at the Seventh-day Adventist church and invited Mana to join. Pathfinders is a club that helps children develop physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually through activities and service. It sounded like fun to Mana, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to join. He worried it might be too hard and that he might fail.
Mana thought about the missionaries’ invitation for a long time. He wanted to say no—but first, he decided to talk with God about it. “God, what should I do?” he asked, kneeling beside his bed.
“Should I join or not?”
Then, he told God about his fears. “I’m scared,” he said. “I feel like I won’t do it right, and I don’t want to fail.”
Mana waited quietly. After some time, he felt God speak to his heart. “Don’t be afraid. If you fail, it doesn’t matter, because I’m going to lift you up, and you’re going to be able to try again.”
Instantly, Mana’s fear disappeared. He joined the Pathfinder club and loved making new friends and participating in club activities. He especially liked learning more about God.
Later, his grandmother gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized. Her sister was baptized too. Mana saw them go under the water, and he wanted to be baptized as well.
Mana spoke with the missionaries about his desire, and they were thrilled. They suggested he get baptized at a camporee on the Chilean mainland. A camporee is a big event where Pathfinders camp in tents and take part in activities that help them grow closer to Jesus.
At first, Mana’s mother wasn’t happy about the idea of him getting baptized. But when she saw how joyful he was in church and with Pathfinders, she changed her mind.
Mana was baptized at the camporee, becoming the first Easter Island Pathfinder to be baptized.
Back home, his mother noticed he was even happier than before. She wanted that same joy—so four months later, she too was baptized. Mana smiled proudly as he watched her go under the water of the Pacific Ocean.
Mana Henua’s name means “Power of the Earth.” Mana means “power” and Henua means “earth.” Still, Mana believes that true power comes only from heaven. It was the power of God that took away his fear of joining Pathfinders. It was the power of God that led his mother to be baptized. And it was the power of God that brought him true happiness.
“God can reach any part of the world,” Mana says. “No matter how far away you are, God can go there.”
Mana still feels scared sometimes. But whenever he does, he remembers what God told him that Sabbath afternoon.
“Every time I feel scared, I remember that God promises to lift me up,” he says.
Mana joined Pathfinders thanks to the missionaries from Adventist Volunteer Service. One of last quarter’s mission projects is a new Adventist Volunteer Service center at Chile Adventist University, where students will learn how to become missionaries. Thank you for giving generously to this important project.
