Why Was I Born?

Graciela’s mother never allowed her daughter to forget that day.

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, April 27.

By Andrew McChesney, AdventistMission.org

Awoman stood at the bus stop in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo.

She had money in her purse for a special purpose, and she was waiting for the bus.

Suddenly, she began to tremble. She felt something move inside her.

The bus arrived and stopped, but she turned away. Instead, she crossed the street to a bakery and used some of the money to buy cookies.

At home, her husband met her at the door.

“Back so soon?” he asked.

“Yes, I decided not to do it,” she said.

Several months later, Graciela Musetti was born.

Graciela’s mother, Maria, never allowed her daughter to forget that day.

Unusual Childhood

Graciela grew up playing among tombstones.

When she was 18 months old, her 18-year-old sister died in a tragic factory fire that killed about 20 people. Every day, Mother took Graciela to the cemetery and, as she mourned at her older daughter’s grave, Graciela darted between the tombstones. The little girl took flowers from graves with large bouquets and placed them on empty graves.

At home, Mother introduced Graciela to visitors by saying, “God took one daughter away from me and gave me this one instead.” Then she told the story about the bus stop, treating it lightly, like a joke. “Graciela wasn’t supposed to be born,” she said, smiling.

Graciela felt guilty and insecure. She felt like she had replaced a sister who was the light of the house. Several years passed, and her parents divorced. Graciela had a son at the age of 15. Then her eldest brother died of a heart attack. The death devastated Mother, and for several months Graciela accompanied her to the cemetery to visit his grave.

A few more years passed, and Graciela’s only remaining sibling, another older brother, was struck dead by a car as he rode his bicycle. Graciela didn’t have the heart to tell her mother. She felt like the sole survivor of a major tragedy.

Mother grew old, and Graciela cared for her until she died. In her last years, Mother was bedridden after suffering a stroke.

One day, Graciela stumbled across Nuevo Tiempo radio, the local affiliate of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Hope radio. Listening to a program, she was drawn to the pastor’s voice, which she found peaceful and calming.

At the same time, she listened to a pastor on another radio station who attacked Adventist Church cofounder Ellen White much of the time. His anger caught Graciela’s attention, and she decided that she wanted to read an Ellen White book. But where to find one?

Graciela visited libraries and bookstores, but nobody had any books.

One day, her adult son visited a shoe store and noticed a book lying on the chair. He glanced through it and brought it to his mother. “Look, Mother, this is something that you will like,” he said.

A Book From God

Graciela took the book into her hands and read the title, “The Great Hope.” Underneath, she saw the author’s name, Ellen White. She began to tremble.

“This is the Lord acting in my life!” she exclaimed. “He has sent me this book!”

From that moment, Graciela had no doubts about Ellen White — even before she read the book. “God used the book to call me to His way,” Graciela said.

She telephoned Nuevo Tiempo for more information, and the radio station sent an Adventist church member, Miguel Amaro Speranza, to give Bible studies.

Soon Graciela was baptized into La Teja Seventh-day Adventist Church, a church funded by a 2016 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Today, she is an active church member, giving Bible studies and helping people in her neighborhood. Through her influence, four people have been baptized.

Graciela wondered much of her life why she was born. Now she has the answer.

“Since the moment that I was in my mother’s womb, the Lord was working with me,” said Graciela, 52. “If my mother had had the abortion, who would have taken care of her? Who would take care of my father, who is now 94 and bedridden?

“God is always in control of everything,” she said. “I don’t know what He saw in me, but He saved me. I hope to make more disciples for Him.”

Thank you for your 2016 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering that helped La Teja Seventh-day Adventist Church move from a small, rented house into its own church building and community center. Thank you for your mission offerings that help lead people like Graciela to Christ.

For photos to share with this and other mission stories, visit the Facebook page for Mission quarterlies

For this and other mission stories, download the adult and youth Mission quarterly (PDF)