Dad began to cry. He was touched to hear that little Benjamin was so worried. He hadn’t spoken very much for the two weeks that he had been sick, but now he had something to say.
To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, July 12.
By Andrew McChesney
Ten-year-old Luumuno was terrified when the Covid pandemic gripped Zambia. Her school was closed. She had to stay at home. She couldn’t spend time with friends. But what scared her the most were the stories that Mom brought home from work.
Most adults couldn’t go to work and had to stay at home during Covid. But Mom worked in Zambia’s main Covid center, so she had to keep going to work. Every day, Mom came home with stories about people who were very, very sick. The stories scared Luumuno. She didn’t want anyone to be very, very sick.
Then Dad became very, very sick. The doctor said that Dad had Covid.
Luumuno had never seen Dad so sick. Usually, Dad loved to talk, but now he was silent. Usually, Dad loved to eat brown rice with soy patties and eggplant. But now he didn’t want to eat anything. Usually, Dad loved to walk, but now he was too weak to walk on his own.
Luumuno was very, very scared. What could she do?
Then a favorite Bible verse popped into her mind. The verse says, “My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2, NKJV). “That’s right,” she thought. “‘My help comes from the Lord.’” She decided to invite friends to pray with her on social media. She couldn’t meet with them in person because of Covid restrictions, but they could meet online.
That very evening, about 30 friends joined Luumuno online. They asked God to heal Luumuno’s dad.
The children got together again the next evening, and the next, to pray for Dad. They prayed every evening for many days.
Luumuno knew nobody could heal Dad except God, and she also prayed on her own.
“Dear Heavenly Father, please help Dad,” she prayed. “He’s sick. Please heal him, and send Your angels to protect him.”
Every day, she repeated her favorite Bible verse, “My help comes from the Lord. My help comes from the Lord.”
But Dad didn’t seem to be getting better.
Then Luumuno’s little 4-year-old brother, Benjamin, went to Dad with a serious question.
“Who will pay for my school if you don’t get better?” he asked.
Dad began to cry. He was touched to hear that little Benjamin was so worried. He hadn’t spoken very much for the two weeks that he had been sick, but now he had something to say.
“It will be all right,” he promised. “I’ll be fine.”
After that, Dad started to get better. He spoke more and more. He ate strawberries and grapes and oatmeal.
Luumuno and Benjamin were so happy to see him eating!
Slowly Dad’s strength came back. It took about a month before he was able to talk like before, eat brown rice with soy patties and eggplant like before, and walk on his own like before.
Luumuno was overjoyed! Surely, her help had come from the Lord! God had answered her prayers.
Luumuno has a special message for other girls and boys who might be worried about something.
She said, “God heard and answered my prayer for my dad. I want to encourage all boys and girls to pray to God always. The God who answered my prayer will answer your prayers, too. Our help comes from the Lord.”
Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help other children learn about the God who answers prayers. Part of the offering will be used to give children their very own Adventurer’s Bible in Zambia and in other countries of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. Thank you for planning a generous offering on September 27.
