BLIND ALI SEES (cont.) . . And so, Ali,” the missionary finished as he opened the white gate that led to the mission school, “ the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and died for your sins so that you could someday go to Heaven. He’s alive right now and wants to live in your heart and to be your friend. He loved you so much that He died for you.” “ Sfunny,” Ali muttered, “ I never heard anything about anyone lov ing me . . . not since my father died. And now you say you’re willing to let me stay here . . . and I think you might go blind . . . and you say Jesus L I N D A IS F I V E lla Lewis Funderburgh Linda is five; She glows with pride To walk to church by Mother's side Holding her brother's hand for he Is three. At five one shares; She gives her mite And guides her brother's hand aright; Showing her brother how, for he Is three. At five one helps; Her small sweet song Blends with the hymns that ring out strong; She holds the book for him to see, Five helping three. loves me. Say, what would happen if you DID go blind?” “ I won’t go blind,” the missionary laughed, “ But I’ll tell you. Even if I did go blind I’d just be glad I could tell you about Jesus and how He wants to be your friend.” “ Hmm, well . . .” Ali began. But then he jumped with fear as the missionary’s voice b o o m e d o u t , “SANI! SANI! come here.” Ali stopped in fright. Now what? He waited a moment. Then he could hear the voices of many boys, and suddenly there was a strange voice right beside him. “Did you want me?” the voice ask ed. “ Sani, this is Ali, he’s going to live with us,” Ali heard the missionary say. “ Hello, Ali, I’m Sani. Glad to see you. The missionary told me he was going to look for you. I saw Many Goats when he was here this after noon. Come along and I’ll take you At five one knows; She bows her head In reverence as prayers are said, Showing her brother how for he Is three.
to the kitchen and Cook will feed you.” “ Take good care of him, Sani,” the missionary said as he left the two boys. Ali stumbled along as he followed Sani over the unfamiliar path to the kitchen. The good smell of roast guinea, com porridge, and peanut gravy made little A li’s mouth water. Greedily he put his whole hand into the bowl of porridge and stuffed his mouth full. He ate two or three huge bites this way and then suddenly stopped. A stricken look came over his face. “What’s the matter, A li?” Sani asked, “ don’t you like it?” “ Oh, yes, its the best food I ever ate . . . but . . .” “Well, go ahead and eat it. There’s plenty more.” “ No, no, this is all I want . . . I’m . . . I’m not hungry.” Ali was near tears as he pushed the bowl away. “ Come on, what’s the matter with you anyway? Here eat your food,” Sani insisted. “ But, but if I eat a lot I’ll get fat . . . and then I’ll have to mn away from here very soon. And if I mn away then I can’t hear any more about the One that the missionary told me about . . . the One called Jesus who loves me. And I’d sure like to hear more about Him. And I’d like to live here with you . . . you’re nice to me, but . . . Say, aren’t you afraid you’ll go blind?” “ Of course I’m not afraid. Don’t you know that it was a sickness that made you go blind, and that you’re all over that sickness now . . . and we won’t get it from you?” “ But the chief and my stepfather said it was evil eye.” “Well, don’t worry, it wasn’t . . . and now, why are you afraid to eat and get fat?” Without really realizing what he was doing Ali’s hand reached out and felt for the bowl of porridge. Sani pushed it closer to him where he could easily reach it. Ali’s hand went into the porridge and a whole fistful of food disappeared into his hungry mouth. Ali was too hungry to resist the food; he ate the whole bowl of por ridge. It wasn’t long before he was tucked under a nice soft blanket . . . but his dreams had bowls of porridge and boxes of soap all mixed up to gether. Ali soon found himself satisfied in the school. He began to leam reading by following raised dots on paper with his fingers. He learned to play games with the other boys and sing songs and to recite Bible verses. One day Sani said, “ Don’t you
QUIZTIME BIBLE BIRDS
Since Springtime is the “ time of the singing of birds,” let us get ac quainted with some of the birds men tioned in the Bible. Place the small words listed in column two in the correct places in column one. The re sult will be the names of some of the Bible birds. By matching these with column three, you will be able to locate the birds in the Scriptures. 1. Spar _______ wall — Psalm 105:40 2. .. .. ve rich — Psalm 84:3 3. R n ail — 1 Kings 10:22 4. S ................... ows or — Job 39:13 5. Qu ............. s 09 — Job 39:26 6. Ost ................... pig —Zephaniah 2:14 7. C ____ mor .............. ha — Psalm 102:6 8. Peli ............. do — Psalm 104:17 9. S.. ..rk cock — Deuteronomy 32:11 10. E._ ..le row — Isaiah 34:14 11. . .1 ant — Luke 2:24 12. ............. e.. .. to — Leviticus 1:14 13. .. ..n led — Genesis 8:7 14. Turt ............. oves ave — Genesis 8:8 15. .. ..wks ow — Matthew 10:29 16. Pea ................... s can — Matthew 23:37 think you’d better get down on your knees and ask the Lord Jesus to for give your sins and to come into your heart and to save you? And then don’t you think you’d better go tell the missionary that you trust him?” “Yeah, I guess so . . . but— “ But what?” Sani asked. “Well, do you suppose Jesus will forgive me? Do you really think Jesus will love me, even if I am blind?” “ Don’t you remember how Jesus said that He was the Light of the World? Well, Jesus wants to come into your heart and to give you light in your heart, even if you have dark ness in your eyes.” “ And so,” Ali felt around until he’d f o u n d t he missionary’s hand, “ I don’t really think you’ll make soap out of me. And I’m glad you love me. And I’m glad Jesus loves me. And I’m not sad any more. And Jesus came into my heart and I’ve got Light in my heart even though it’s dark in my eyes.” The missionary smiled, “ I’m so glad, little Ali. And do you know— I’ve got more good news for you. Many Goats said that since I’ve not gone blind, nor any of the other boys, that you can come back to his house.” “ I’ll go back for a visit and tell them about the Lord Jesus giving me light in my heart. But I want to keep on living here with you, if you’ll let me.” “ Good, that’s what I hoped you’d say,” the missionary patted Ali on the head and winked at the smiling Sani. “ And I’ll keep right on eating a lot so that the boys in my town will see that you don’t make soap out of fat boys!” Ali laughed. END on he
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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