Article January 1, 2001 ISSUE

Saved!

By Ana Paula Carruba,—<i>Brazil</i>

During Carnival in Brazil, many kids go out of town with their parents. Paula's family spent the weekend at their friends’ house by the ocean.

On Sunday the sky was blue and the sea was shining. Paula, her little sister Carla, their friends, and their parents all walked to the | beach to have a picnic. But they couldn't go in the water, because the sea was too rough. The waves were so strong that not even the fishermen dared to go out in their boats.

Paula and the other kids played in the sand. Then they decided to take a walk along the beach. Paula's mother reminded them not to go into the water. They could only get their feet wet.

They walked and walked, sinking their toes into the wet sand. It felt good when the cool waves washed over their feet.

Carla was the one walking closest to the sea. She bent down to pick up a shiny white shell, when suddenly, as if from nowhere, a powerful wave came crashing onto the beach. The wave knocked Carla over and dragged her away!

Paula and her friends started to scream: "Help! Help!"

Their Mothers were far away. They didn't hear them.

"Help! Help!"

Two fishermen came running. They brought a rope to throw out to Carla as soon as she appeared on top of the waves. But she didn't appear.

Then Paula remembered what she had learned in Sunday School. She'd learned that you can pray in any situation. She knew that God is always here to rescue us when we need help. So she walked away from her friends and the fishermen. She sat down in the sand and started to pray.

Paula thought about how God is Love. He loves and cares for all His children — always. And God created the sea. So the sea was made good, Paula thought. It couldn't hurt Carla.

"Paula! Paula!" The other children shouted. "A wave brought Carla back."

Paula jumped up and ran to her sister. Carla was lying on the beach. She was exhausted, but fine. And she was so glad to be back on the sand again!

Paula picked her sister up and hugged her. She thanked God for saving Carla. Taking Carla between them and holding her hands tightly, Paula and her friends walked back to their parents.

It was the best Carnival Paula had ever had.

Later at home, Paula found this verse in the Bible: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1 ). Paula memorized these words. She never wanted to forget how close and how powerful God's help is.

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