This was the first time that Abigalle had seen the boys at church. Some of the boys wore shorts, and others wore long trousers. No matter what they wore, their clothes were dirty.
Before Thirteenth Sabbath:
Send home a note to remind parents of the program and to encourage the children to bring their Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on December 28.
Remind everyone that their mission offerings are gifts to spread God’s Word around the world, and that one-fourth of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go directly to help seven projects in the East-Central Africa Division. The projects are listed on page 3 and on the back cover.
To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, Dec. 28.
Narrator: Seven small boys caught Abigalle’s attention as she waited in line for lunch after the Sabbath sermon.
This was the first time that the shy 14-year-old girl had seen the boys at church. The oldest boy looked to be about 8 years old, and the youngest was around 4. Some of the boys wore shorts, and others wore long trousers. No matter what they wore, their clothes were dirty.
Abigalle wondered …
Abigalle (talking to audience): What kind of parent would allow their child to come to church in dirty clothes?”
Narrator: Abigalle decided to keep an eye on the boys.
Abigalle (talking to herself): I want to help them. But how?
Narrator: As Abigalle watched curiously, the boys reached the front of the line in the Kindergarten Sabbath School classroom, a simple wooden building with a dirt floor in Kisumu, Kenya. Several adult women piled the boys’ plates with rice, brown beans, chapati flatbread, and cabbage salad.
The boys sat together to eat in a grassy field outside the Sabbath School classroom. They didn’t talk with anyone. After eating, they left.
The next Sabbath, the seven boys came to lunch again. This time, however, they sat with the other children and made friends.
Visiting Boy 1: What is this church?
Church Boy 1: Victory Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Visiting Boy 2: What time do you come to church in the morning?
Church Boy 2: 8 a.m.
Narrator: After eating, the visitors stayed to watch Pathfinders and Adventurers march on the grassy field. A teacher invited the boys to join the march. The boys were shy and shook their heads. But when the teacher insisted, the boys smiled happily and joined the last 30 minutes of the march. Then the boys left.
Abigalle watched the boys all afternoon.
Abigalle (puzzled, to herself): I don’t understand their dirty clothes. I want to help them. But how?
Narrator: The next Sabbath, the seven boys showed up in time for Sabbath School and went to the Primary class. They listened to the sermon and ate lunch. Afterward, they participated in the Adventurers club.
Abigalle: I know how I can help the boys!
Narrator: Abigalle went to the Sabbath School teacher.
Abigalle (speaking shyly to Teacher): Excuse me. This is the third Sabbath that those seven boys have come to church in dirty clothes. Maybe they need some help. Can we help them?
Teacher: That’s a great idea! Thank you for telling me about them.
Narrator: Teacher went over to the boys and asked about their homes. The boys said they lived near the church but their parents hadn’t wanted them to attend. So, they had snuck to church for lunch the first two Sabbaths. On the third Sabbath, their parents had allowed them to come.
Teacher also learned that the boys’ parents didn’t have much money. So, she organized a fundraiser for Adventurers’ uniforms for the boys. Some church members contributed money for the blue and white cloth, and other sewed the cloth into uniforms. The boys were thrilled to receive the new clothes!
Abigalle also was happy! She was glad to see the boys making friends and learning about Jesus at church.
Seven months have passed, and the boys are still coming to church every Sabbath. But they no longer show up in dirty clothes. Their Adventurers’ uniforms are always clean and neat.
Now here’s something interesting. To this day, the seven boys don’t know that Abigalle helped them get the Adventurers’ uniforms. They don’t know that she watched them. They don’t even know that she exists. The boys and Abigalle have never spoken to each other. Abigalle doesn’t want them to know what she did. In fact, no one knows about her kindness except Teacher — and now you.
Abigalle: I don’t know why I wanted to help them. I just had this desire in my heart. I love those seven boys. I hope and pray almost every day that they will bring their friends and parents to church and that they also will be baptized one day.
Narrator: For the past three months, we have heard stories about the wonderful things that God is doing in the lives of people living in the East-Central Africa Division. Today, our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will assist seven projects in the East-Central Africa Division, including the construction of an Adventist hospital on the compound of Victory Seventh-day Adventist Church, where Abigalle helped those seven boys. Like Abigalle, we don’t need recognition to help others. Thank you for your generous offering to help spread the good news that Jesus is coming soon.
[Offering]
