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BY CAROLYN BYERS

If you visit Maluti Hospital church in Lesotho, southern Africa, you will doubtless be impressed by the number of children who attend. But numbers are not the most significant feature of these kids. The awesome fact is that many of them are already mainstream workers for God. Let me introduce a few.

Branch Sabbath School Leaders
For nearly two years now Thabiso Sefuthi and Chaka Ntaote have left Maluti campus at 4:00 p.m. every Sabbath to conduct a branch Sabbath school at Liqoting. Around the campus fence, down the valley, over the stream, and up the other side of the mountain they scoot in the rain, cold, or sunshine. Often they recruit a band of campus children to help sing; sometimes adults come along; but not infrequently the boys go without any help. Confidently they direct the singing, tell a simple Bible story, and teach the children how to pray. They�ve learned to love their little flock, and at times they buy treats for their children out of their own pockets.

Kid Collector
Though Thabiso and Chaka direct the Liqoting Sabbath school, they couldn�t do it without an audience. And this happens because Mannana Sello faithfully every week visits her neighbors and collects 20 to 30 children, then brings them to her humble one-room corrugated iron-roofed cottage for branch Sabbath school.

Mannana is the youngest of five children who live there. Mannana�s father died a year ago, and the family is supported by her mother, who works as a housekeeper at Maluti Adventist Hospital. Mannana uses her lovely voice by singing with the children, singing until Thabiso and Chaka arrive.

Orphan-sitter
Glenrae Langford serves in a different way. When Glenrae�s family learned that Baby Sinaite must stay at the hospital because her mother had died in childbirth, they offered to keep her until the baby�s father, a local chief, could make other arrangements. Seeing the need, Glenrae personally tackled the responsibility of caring for Sinaite. Whenever she is not in school, Glenrae feeds, dresses, and bathes Sinaite and keeps her happy. In the picture Glenrae has taken Senaite to cradle roll Sabbath school.

PA Operator
Form 1 student (eighth grader) Lehlonolo Sefuthi (Thabiso�s brother) holds his own keys to the church and to the sound room with all its expensive equipment because Lehlonolo is responsible for operating the sound system.

It is no small task setting up and operating microphones for Wednesday night prayer meetings, for Sabbath opening and closing services, as well as the regular Sabbath school and church; but he carries the job competently. When the School of Nursing needs help with the graduation sound system, who do they call on? Of course, Lehlonolo!

Mr. Helpful
Nobody knows how old Thabo Chabalala is; they just know that he is the smiling boy in a wheelchair. Because of a rare medical condition, Thabo was left with paralyzed legs when very young. Thabo was brought to Maluti Hospital by Dr. Wilbert Hurlow, medical superintendent, about three years ago. At Maluti, Thabo has learned to cope with his disability and to speak good English. In spite of his disabled body, Thabo has become Mr. Helpful. He brings fellow pediatric children to Sabbath school. He answers dozens of questions for visitors and patients, sometimes even translating for them. He often tells people that he loves Jesus. If his tender heart senses a special need, he will pray with other patients. He likes best to park by the hospital gate so he can help give out information.

Thabo�s Motor
Rethabile Mofilikoane, the boy standing behind the wheelchair, observed that it was difficult for Thabo to move about, so Rethabile made it his personal mission to push Thabo to prayer meeting, to church, and around the campus. Having a boy�s heart, Rethabile intuitively knows where Thabo would like to go, so he has become Thabo�s motor. In his quest for service, Rethabile has found himself a loyal friend.

Church Pianist
Glenrae�s brother, David Langford, vibrates with music. It is wonderful that God has given him his gift, but it is incredible that David is so willing to use his talent in service for Jesus.

David is barely 9 years old, but for several months now he has played the piano for campus meetings. When the regular church pianist is absent, David ably fills in, even playing for Communion. David not only shares his gift of music; he also tutors two little girls who have no money to attend school. And, may I add, his two students are now reading well.

Miss Five O�clock
It took the adults at Maluti church at least 18 months to discover Masentle�s work for her Lord. At 5:00 nearly every afternoon Masentle Tloutle gathers her neighborhood children around her for a story hour. Steadily the numbers have grown, until there are 30 small friends coming to learn memory verses, songs, and hear the Bible stories she knows. (Only a few were available for the picture shown. Masentle is at the far right.) Masentle started her work soon after her mother died. We can see that she is eager for Jesus to come!

We�ve mentioned the names of nine children, but we could add more�such as Mokuane Lekoetje, Thatohatsi Sefuthi, Rethabile Kanela, Thandeka Tsoana, Learto and Matseliso Ntaote, who serve Jesus with their personal witness and by singing. As I watch these little ones, I can�t help but pray, �O God, bless them!�

Then humbly I ask, �Lord, what can I do for You?�

_________________________
Carolyn Byers and her ophthalmologist husband, LeRoy, served at Maluti Adventist Hospital for 12 years. They are now at the Glei Adventist Eye Hospital in Togo, West Africa.

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