A New Beginning

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, February 28.

As told to Maika Tuima by Pasepa Finau

My name is Mrs. Finau. I’m 37 years old, married, and a proud mother of three beautiful children. I was raised in a Christian home. My parents and grandparents were strong in their faith and helped me love the Lord.

One important lesson my family taught me was to put God first in everything. Whether I faced struggles or joys, I was taught to praise and respect God. That simple teaching stayed with me through the years and helped shape who I am today.

My life began to change when I met the man who would become my husband. He was raised in a Seventh-day Adventist family. At first, we did things differently when we worshiped God. But we loved each other and built a happy life together. Now we’ve been married for 10 years!

In 2022, we lived in a good neighborhood in Fiji. That year, something special happened—meetings about Jesus were held in our neighborhood. They lasted for three weeks. Every evening, people gathered under the open sky to listen to messages from the Bible, sing songs, and pray together.

Our family decided to go. We went the first night, then the second. Before long, we hadn’t missed a single evening. The stories about God’s love touched my heart. I learned many things about God and His Word that I didn’t know before. My husband, sitting beside me quietly, was praying. I knew he was asking God to help me make a decision to be baptized.

Then came the third week. As the speaker invited people to give their lives to Jesus, I felt the Holy Spirit whispering in my heart. I knew what I had to do. I stood up and chose to follow Jesus in baptism.

I have never regretted that decision.

After my baptism, I wanted to do more to help people at my church grow closer to Jesus. I started helping out in the children’s classes. I loved working with the little ones!

In 2023, our family moved when my husband was asked to work in another area. I continue to help out in the children’s classes at our new church. I welcome children from all around the neighborhood. I share Bible stories, songs, and simple lessons about God’s love.

But more than that, I give them something I never really had growing up: feeling like part of a family.

You see, I didn’t grow up with both of my parents. I felt like something was missing. Maybe that’s why I care so deeply for the children I work with now. When they walk into my class, I give them a warm hug and treat them like my own children. I want them to feel seen, heard, and loved, just like Jesus makes me feel.

Not everyone in my family was happy that I got baptized. Some of them even said mean things to me. That hurt, but it didn’t scare me.

Every time I felt weak, God helped me be strong. Every time I felt alone, I read my Bible and was reminded He was by my side. He fixed my broken heart.

Do you feel weak sometimes? Do you feel alone? Does your heart hurt? If so, I want you to know this: God sees you, He hears your cry, He knows what you’re going through. Trust Him, and He will help you. Just like He did for me.

Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering for the third quarter of 2006 helped build a center in Fiji where people could learn more about Jesus. The offering this quarter will build a center of influence in Wallis Island, which will help Adventists make friends with the people in the New Caledonia Mission area.