Mission Pinwheels

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, September 17.

By Patrícia Helena de Paula Mendes

H

ave you ever seen a pinwheel? Have you made a pinwheel or held one in your hands?

One morning, little Samuel found himself holding not just one pinwheel but two in his hands. How did he end up with two pinwheels?

Samuel went with his mother to a special morning worship in São Paulo, Brazil. During the worship, a man told a nice story about pinwheels and God. At the end of the story, the man gave Samuel a red, green, yellow, black, and white pinwheel. Then he gave the boy a second pinwheel.

“Give this second pinwheel to a little friend,” he said. “Tell your friend about pinwheels and God.”

Samuel knew exactly who he wanted to give the red, green, yellow, black, and white pinwheel to. There was a boy named Peter at his public school. He could give the pinwheel to him. He could tell him about pinwheels and God.

Samuel spoke with Mother.

“Can I give the pinwheel to Peter?” he asked.

Mother thought it was a good idea. Samuel could be a real missionary, sharing the pinwheel and telling Peter about God.

But first Mother spoke with Peter’s mother. She wanted to make sure that Peter’s mother wouldn’t mind the gift. Peter’s mother didn’t mind.

Then Mother had another idea.

“Samuel,” she said, “let’s make a nice present for Peter. We can put the pinwheel into a box with a fun DVD about how to be a healthy boy. Then we can wrap up the box.”

Samuel liked the idea. Mother placed the pinwheel and the DVD in a box and wrapped it in nice paper.

The next day at school, Samuel happily gave the present to Peter. He told Peter about pinwheels and God. Peter was so pleased. He liked the red, green, yellow, black, and white pinwheel very much.

A short time later, Samuel’s church held a special children’s program where all the children could make pinwheels. Samuel invited Peter to make pinwheels at the church.

It was a fun day for Peter and Samuel. In the morning, they and other children made pinwheels. In the afternoon, they sang songs about Jesus to old people in a nursing home.

From that day, Samuel and Peter became best friends. Peter went to church with Samuel every Sabbath. He joined the Adventurers club with Samuel. Peter had an older sister, Sara, and she also started coming to the Pathfinders club. Then Peter’s mother started coming to church to watch the Adventurers and Pathfinders.

Soon Peter’s older sister, Sara, gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized. After that, Peter’s mother and father gave their hearts to Jesus and were baptized.

Today, Peter comes to church every Sabbath with his whole family. His mother teaches the kindergarten class and is a leader of the Adventurers. His father is a church deacon. His sister teaches the Junior class. And Peter himself is a very good student with Samuel in the Primary class.

Peter and Samuel are best friends. Samuel is a real missionary. God used him to bring salvation to Peter’s house and family.

Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help open four new churches in Samuel’s country of Brazil.

Thank you for planning a generous offering next Sabbath.