Growing Faith

Vixie in the Lion’s Den

Vixie wanted to scream, but she couldn’t. She knew that any little noise might alert the beast outside to her presence— then she would be a goner. The animal got closer, and Vixie quickly slapped her trembling hands over her mouth. She pushed herself into the farthest corner of her tiny makeshift shelter and fought back tears. She had never been so scared in her life. Where is God? She wondered. Had He really brought her out here to die?

BEFORE THE BEAST

Vixie wanted to scream—she was so excited! She and her classmates were participating in the biggest event of the school year: Survival Week. For an entire week the students had been learning how to make fires, find food and water, and build shelters. Now each student was going to spend 24 hours alone in the wilderness to put his or her new survival skills to the test.

Vixie was excited because she loved to spend time alone with God in nature. It was quiet, so she could hear His voice, and she got to worship while surrounded by His creation. She couldn’t wait!

Just as she was getting ready to spend her day with God, all of Vixie’s dreams came crashing down. The students were divided into sections on the mountain where they would be camping, and she discovered that she had been assigned to the first section.

It’s not fair! Vixie thought. She wanted to be all the way in the last section, where she would be far from everyone but God. Just as she was about to complain, she remembered what she had prayed the night before. She had asked God to put her where He wanted her to be. Did God want her to be in the first section? I guess so, Vixie thought. With a sigh she began hiking.

THE LION’S DEN

Before long, Vixie came to a place where the rock jutted out, creating a little cave beneath. All of Vixie’s excitement returned—it was time to build her shelter! She used rocks that had fallen to make a wall on one side, and pushed a log against the other. Then she used strips of bark to close off the side with the log and shoved pine needles and leaves into the cracks to keep the shelter warm and comfortable. She cut herself a little while she was working, but she knew a little bit of blood never hurt anyone.

After spending some time with God, Vixie decided it was time to go to sleep. She climbed into her shelter and was just about to doze off when she heard a noise. Vixie’s head snapped up.

It’s probably just a deer, Vixie thought, trying to keep calm. Everything’s going to be all right. Vixie tried to go back to sleep, but she heard the noise again. Closer this time. Mustering all her courage, she peeked out of the shelter to see what the sound was. It was a little dark at first, but the moment she saw it, her heart skipped a beat. It was not a deer. It was a mountain lion! And she was sleeping in its den!

TRAPPED

Vixie did not know what to do. She could yell for help, but the mountain lion might attack her before anyone got there. She could use the knife lying beside her, but she was too scared even to look at it. Maybe if she stayed really, really still, it wouldn’t even . . .

All of a sudden the lion looked in her direction. It licked its lips and started to sniff the shelter.

Oh, no! Vixie thought, looking at the cut on her arm. It can smell the blood!

As if it could read her thoughts, the lion started scratching the log outside of her shelter. It wouldn’t be long until the only thing standing between Vixie and the lion was gone.

Horrified, Vixie knew there was only one thing left to do. She tuned out the sound of claws scraping against wood and started praying as she’d never prayed before. But she didn’t pray for herself. No, somehow that didn’t seem right. Instead, she prayed for her friends. She prayed they would find peace, be safe, and be warm. And the more she prayed for her friends, the more peace she felt.

Finally Vixie decided it was time. She opened her eyes, ready to face her fate, but the lion was nowhere to be found. She had been so busy praying that she hadn’t even heard it leave. Relief flowed all through the exhausted survivor, and she fell asleep praising God and still praying for her friends. Tomorrow morning she would wake up to find pawprints as big as her hand outside, but for tonight all she knew was that God had protected her. She may have been alone in the middle of the wilderness, but she wasn’t really alone at all.

Obituaries

ATKIN, Leeta Maree, born 13.8.1966 in Launceston, Tas; died 13.8.22 in Launceston. She is survived by her parents, Peter and Margaret (Launceston); sister, Patrina and Russell Fenton (Colinton, Qld); brother, Mark (Launceston, Tas); and nieces and nephews. She loved working with young people and helping others. She loved her job at Nature’s Works and was loved by her colleagues and the customers that she served for 36 years. She was a fantastic tour guide to her Aunty Beryl and had many friends at the Manor Nursing Home, visiting every Saturday with her precious little dog to put a smile on the resident’s faces.

David Maxwell

BURLING, Gwendoline Dawn (nee Breckon), born 12.3.1931 in Hamilton, NZ; died 21.6.22 in Launceston, Tas. She is survived by her husband, Bruce (Deloraine); daughter, Lynda Sanderson (NZ); son, Philip Sutton (Perth, WA); and brother, Lloyd Breckon. David Maxwell

BROWN, Willadelle Jeanette Grace (nee Hiscox), born 9.5.1941; died 26.10.22 in Avondale House, Cooranbong, NSW. She was married to Ewan. Delle was predeceased by her daughter, Jennifer in 1971. She is survived by her children, Gavin (Terrigal, NSW), Lynette Danker (Luxembourg) and Tim (East Ryde, NSW). Delle was a loving, gracious lady who always helped others as a mother, nurse or friend.

Ann and Webber Roberts Harold Harker

COOMBE, Elma Mabel (nee Blair), born 21.5.1920 in Hobart, Tas; died 28.10.22 in Cooranbong, NSW. She was predeceased by her husband, Les in 2012. Elma is survived by sons, Raymond and Daphne (Cooranbong) and Graham and Lorraine (Hervey Bay, Qld); daughter, Glenda and Kevin Amos (Cooranbong, NSW); eight grandchildren; and 21 greatgrandchildren. Elma’s long and eventful life was characterised by a deep love for Jesus, strong commitment to family, unselfish service to others, and an unforgettable spark of wit and determination. Together with her husband she contributed to a ministry partnership of almost 70 years. She leaves a rich legacy of love and service. Lyell Heise, Ray Coombe

MEAD, Roderick John, born 13.11.1946 in Wahroonga, NSW; died 16.7.22 in Box Hill Hospital, Vic. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette (Mooroolbark); son, Philip and Amanda (Brisbane, Qld); daughter, Bronwyn and David Kimpton (Melbourne, Vic); brother, Colin (California, USA); and sister, Irene (Warburton, Vic). Roderick had a living faith that gave him an absolute sense of assurance in Jesus. He loved his family and his church. For many years he served as an elder and treasurer, most recently at e supported Lilydale Adventist Academy choir and Edinburgh College over many years. Darren Croft

ROBINSON, Esme Doreen, born 21.3.1931; died 4.11.22 at 91 years at Port. Pirie, SA. She is survived by her husband, Ronnie; nine children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Esme was an ever-loving individual, enthusiastic about her faith. While she may have entered her rest until Jesus’ return, she has left an enduring legacy having lived the love of her Saviour shining toward all around her. Cranville Tooley, Dietrich Stahl

TUITAMA, Manoa, born 21.5.1967 in Auckland, NZ; died 17.9.22 in Bella Vista, NSW. He is survived by his wife, Karen (Sydney); daughter, Keely (Sydney); and siblings, Christina Muaiava-Tuitama (Auckland, NZ), Steven (Sydney, NSW), Adrian (Hamilton, NZ) and Heleni (Auckland). God truly blessed us as we farewelled our much-loved Manoa. The services were filled with stories, tears, laughter and a greater insight into the life of man who lived life to the full. His gift of music and passion for helping and seeing the best in others will be fondly remembered. Pablo Lillo

WEBSTER, Heather May (nee Adams), born 27.5.1949 in Sydney, NSW; died 10.9.22 in Castle Hill, NSW. She was predeceased by her son, Christopher. Heather is survived by her husband, Bill (Castle Hill); son, Andrew (Castle Hill); and sister, Shirley Bennet and family (Stirling, SA). Even though Heather suffered with poor health for much of her life, she was an outgoing, cheerful person who enjoyed keeping in touch with her many friends. Hercollection of photos was vast. Pablo Lillo, Andrew Kingston

WILLIAMSON, Christopher Norman, born 13.2.1942 in Wongan Hills, WA; died 13.11.22 in the Calvary Mercy Hospice, Newcastle, NSW. In 19161 he married Valerie Williams in Cairns, Qld. He is survived by his wife; children, Cassy and David Braggett (Merewether, NSW), and Kristen (Stroud). Chris completed his nurse training and later became Director of Nursing at the Dungog Public Hospital. He and his wife ran their own business, caring for some 34 intellectually disabled people. Chris was a loving husband and father, honest, industrious and one who really cared about people. Roger Nixon

Positions Vacant

FLIGHT OPERATIONS MANAGER—ADVENTIST AVIATION SERVICES GOROKA, PNG If you are an adventurous individual that has an interest in crosscultural ministry and you have a commercial pilots license, why not

consider coming to support this front line ministry. Our small but fun team need someone to manage the day-to-day air operations of AAS, carried out under part 119 and 135. You will need to be a practicing, baptised member of the Adventist church and have 750 hours of PNG or similar flight time along with at least 3 years’ experience in ground operations. For more information please contact the AAS CEO <ceo@ aas.org.pg>. Applications close January 31, 2023. PROJECT MANAGER—FAITH FM AUC OFFICE, RINGWOOD, VIC Do you have a passion for spreading the gospel through various media? If so, Faith FM wants you on their team! The Seventh-day Adventist Church (AUC) Limited is expanding its Faith FM team and is seeking an experienced project manager to coordinate and run an exciting three-year infrastructure project. This person will demonstrate excellent management and communication skills along with adaptability and the ability to work well under pressure. Relevant experience and/or training commensurate with the position are also a must. In this role, you will facilitate the deployment of 50 low-powered FM radio broadcast sites each year over the next three years by effectively managing these projects and coordinating associated workflows and working closely with the Faith FM Radio communications engineer. This full-time position is based at the Australian church’s administrative office in Ringwood, Melbourne, with relocation assistance if required. For the full selection criteria, please email <AUCHR@adventist.org.au>. NB: The appointing body reserves the right to fill this position at its discretion and to close applications early; only those who have a legal right to work in

Australia may apply. Applications close 5pm, January 16, 2023.

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