Boy’s Biggest Dream

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, December 13.

Kaue had only one dream. He wished to read and write.

Even though Kaue was eight years old, he had never been to school. Kaue lived in the Brazilian city of Recife, which has many schools. But Kaue had never gone to any of the schools because of a mess at home. His parents had divorced just when he was the right age to start school. So, he missed school that year. Then he was sent to live with his grandma. With the move and all the changes, he missed school for a second year.

Now it seemed to him like he would never go to school. He wondered if his dream to read and write would ever come true.

Then someone told Grandma about a church community center with fun learning programs for children. Kaue went to the church community center to find out more.

When he arrived, a kind psychologist asked for his name. That was easy.

“Kaue,” he said.

Then she asked him about his biggest wish. That also was easy.

“My biggest dream is to read and write,” he said.

The psychologist wanted to help Kaue’s dream to come true. The church community center didn’t have a program to teach children to read and write. But it had a program that taught children how to use computers.

The psychologist spoke to the center’s director, who happened to be her own mother.

“I believe in this boy,” the psychologist said. “Let’s enroll him in the computer class.”

The director sent Kaue to the computer class.

The computer teacher welcomed the boy. Then he sat the boy down in front of a computer and gave him a piece of paper with words on it.

“Type this,” he said.

Kaue sat in front of the computer. He didn’t do anything. He didn’t know how to read or write.

The computer teacher went to the center’s director, who also happened to be his own mother.

“This kid can’t read or write,” he said. “Mom, there is no way that he can take this class.”

But the center’s director believed in Kaue. She wanted to give him a chance.

“Put him with another kid,” she said. “He can learn with another kid.”

“But Mom,” the computer teacher said. “It’s impossible.”

But the center’s director insisted, and Kaue was teamed up with a boy who knew how to read and write.

The days passed, and Kaue began to learn to read and write. Slowly, he learned the alphabet. Then he learned to type the letters of the alphabet on the computer. Then he learned how to spell his name: “K-A-U-E.”

The first time he typed his own name on the computer, he was so excited.

“I can write my own name!” he exclaimed. “I can write my own name!”

Weeks and months passed, and Kaue learned to read and write more than his own name. He began to read the Bible and write down his favorite Bible verses. He also began to go to the church at the community center on Sabbaths. He joined the Adventurers club at the church, and people at the church helped him buy an Adventurer uniform.

After a while, he was able to start going to a regular school with other children.

Today, Kaue is eleven years old. Just a few months ago, he gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized. He is so happy! He is smiling all the time because his dream has come true. He can read and write.

Pray that many children in Brazil will learn to read and write at Pernambucano Adventist Academy, an elementary school and high school located in the region of Brazil where Kaue lives. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, also known as the Quarterly Mission Project Offering, will help open a church at the academy. Thank you for planning a generous offering for this important project.