It’s never too late to follow in God’s footsteps. Laura Napoli Gonçalves is known affectionately by her fellow church members as Grandma Laura. At 75 years old, she learned about the Seventh-day Adventist Church through an invitation from her granddaughters.

Grandma Laura was a firm believer in spiritistic practices, but as she came to know the truth, through the study of God’s Word and participation in church services and events, her heart gradually filled with love for Jesus.

Even before descending into the baptismal waters, Laura participated actively in evangelism, helping to greet visitors at prayer meetings and collecting food for the needy, among many other activities.

She especially likes to read Ellen White’s books. The most important thing to Laura is to go to church to be with her church family. She’s always present for services, regardless of the cold weather, rain, or intense heat. Laura especially loves the week of prayer.

All this love led her to baptism on December 13, 2015, at the age of 80. Laura joined a group that was organized to take the Word of God and good news of salvation in Jesus to community members. She is a faithful Christian, missionary, and giver, and her life demonstrates a contagious joy for being part of the Adventist family. Grandma Laura is a living testimony that the best place in the world is at the feet of the Savior, and she looks forward to Jesus' return when she can be with Him forever.

Grandma Laura is engaged in the mission and social projects of the church, including the building of a new church to safely accommodate all the community members. The building currently rented by the church is too small and doesn’t have a separate room for the youth and children. They meet outside, leaving them subject to the dangers of traffic, heat, and bad weather.

This quarter’s 13th Sabbath Offering will help establish churches in South America, including one in Grandma Laura’s town. There will be so much joy when church members can worship together in this new space, and the youth and children are sheltered indoors.

Please pray for this group and others throughout South America. Thank you for giving to the 13th Sabbath Offering.

Late one night, Simone [sih-mo-nee] stopped in the restroom of the hospital where she worked as a nurse in southern Brazil.

She saw that the television was turned on in the restroom. She started to change the channel, but the presenter’s words caught her attention. He was talking about health, and Simone wanted to hear more. The program was being aired on Novo Tempo, the Brazilian affiliate of Hope Channel International.

From that night on, Simone watched the Novo Tempo channel regularly. She fell in love with its programs, and she became interested in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

For some time, Simone had been praying and asking God for a stable job. She worked as a contract nurse at various hospitals, filling shifts here and there, but she longed for steady work so she could buy a home and provide financial security for her two daughters.

As she prayed, she accepted a contract to work as a nurse in a hospital located about 900 miles (1,500 km) to the north in central Brazil. She was still watching Novo Tempo, and she decided to look for an Adventist church here. But there was none.

Simone changed her prayers. Rather than praying for a stable job, she decided to ask for God to open an Adventist church in her city.

A short time later, Simone received another contract. She and her daughters didn’t have to move very far this time. The city was located only 25 minutes away by car. Simone hoped to at last find an Adventist church here, but again there was none. So, she kept praying, asking God to open an Adventist church in the city.

One day, as she was traveling home from work at the hospital, she passed through the city center and saw a sign outside a building reading, “Novo Tempo.” In Brazil, many Adventist churches have signs reading “Novo Tempo.”

Simone couldn’t believe her eyes! A brand-new Seventh-day Adventist church had just opened. She was so filled with joy. God had answered her prayers!

Simone walked straight into the church, which had been opened a short time earlier, and excitedly introduced herself to the two pastors, Luis and Israel.

She told them that she had been praying for an Adventist church for a long time.

The pastors were happy to meet her, and they rejoiced to hear that she had learned about the Adventist Church through Novo Tempo.

Today, Simone is completing Bible studies and preparing to surrender her life to Jesus through baptism. But she is already a shining witness. Whenever she has the opportunity, she invites someone to visit the church that God opened in answer to her prayers.

Thank you for planning a generous 13th Sabbath Offering that will help establish four new churches in Brazil so that more people, like Simone, will be able to find an Adventist church in their city.