To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, August 24.

By Andrew McChesney

In a poor neighborhood in Trinidad and Tobago lives a girl named Destiny. She is a bright girl with a heart full of curiosity and a spirit eager for adventure. She has a special story that started when she was just a little kid.

You see, when Destiny was only 2 years old, she lived with her great-grandmother, auntie, uncle, and two brothers. Her mother had to go away for a while because of some family problems. The family was very poor.

One day, Destiny heard her two brothers talking about Adventurers, a club where children could learn about Jesus and participate in fun activities. Destiny’s heart fluttered with curiosity. She was bored at home and longed for new adventures.

Destiny asked her great-grandmother if she could go with her brothers to the club. But her great-grandmother said she was too little.

“No, sweetie, you’re a bit young for that,” her great-grandmother said.

Destiny put down her head and looked sad. It seemed like her dreams for adventure were over.

But then, on a warm Sunday evening, Destiny and her great-grandmother were coming back from the store when they saw Auntie Onessa, the leader of the Adventurer club. She was walking home with kids who had just been to the club meeting at her house.

Auntie Onessa noticed Destiny and talked to her great-grandmother.

“What’s her name?” she asked.

“Destiny,” her great-grandmother answered.

With a kind smile, Auntie Onessa turned to Destiny and asked, “Would you like to join our club?”

Destiny’s heart raced with excitement, and she nodded eagerly.

She looked to her great-grandmother to see what she would say.

Her great-grandmother smiled.

“Sure, you can go,” she said.

And that’s when Destiny’s new adventure began. Destiny joined the Eager Beaver class, which met every Sunday at Auntie Onessa’s house.

At the first meeting, she learned the Adventurer pledge and law. With enthusiasm, she declared, “Because Jesus loves me, I will always do my best!”

When she got home that evening, she happily told her great-grandmother, “I’m not bored anymore!”

As Destiny kept going to the club meetings, she began to feel like she belonged to a big family. Auntie Onessa became like a mother to her, teaching her stories from the Bible.

At first, Destiny didn’t know many Bible stories, but she wanted to learn. Slowly but surely, she discovered the stories of Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the big fish, and many more. Her favorite story was the story of Esther.

Destiny loved spending time with Auntie Onessa. She enjoyed the Adventurer meetings so much that she didn’t want to leave. After her brothers went home, she began staying at Auntie Onessa’s house for family worship. Then she spent weekends and even weekdays at Auntie Onessa’s house. She went to church with Auntie Onessa on Sabbaths, and she even sang special music in church. Her great-grandmother was happy that Auntie Onessa was taking good care of her.

The day came when Auntie Onessa gave Destiny a room to call her own. Destiny moved in with Auntie Onessa. She had a new home.

But Destiny’s adventure didn’t end there. She decided to be baptized on her 12th birthday.

Everyone in the neighborhood has seen how Destiny’s life has changed after she got to know God through Auntie Onessa and the Adventurer club. They are so happy for her, and they want to know God, too!

And so, Destiny went from a little girl with a longing heart to a bright light in her community, inspiring others with her journey.

Part of a 2018 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering went to build a church at the University of the Southern Caribbean, near where Destiny lives. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering that helps teach people about God in Trinidad and Tobago and around the world.