Maria de Paula Barbosa, an 85-year-old volunteer and member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has achieved a dream: receiving the Pathfinder scarf. She is the oldest person in the South of Espírito Santo, Brazil, to receive this honor. 

After her retirement, Barbosa decided to keep busy and became involved in several missionary projects. However, the Pathfinder Club really won her heart.

Barbosa, baptized in 2005, has been a faithful missionary ever since. Her dedication to the club is total, helping each child with their individual needs. Even facing age-related limitations, she finds motivation and purpose in serving God through this ministry. "God gave me this mission; for me, it is a reason for joy and a dream come true. I love the club, I love these children, I love everything that God puts in my hands to do. For me, I dedicate myself until Jesus returns," declared Barbosa.

Investiture

On July 19, 2024, in the arena of the 9th Camporee, "The Last Trail," the investiture with a scarf and the awarding of Master Leader and Advanced Master Leader took place. These are achievements of those who fulfilled a series of requirements and are now able to lead in a broader way. More than 50 people who dedicated their time to the ministry entered the arena corridors with torches, symbolizing the happiness of the achievement.

Among these stories, that of Helton Coutinho de Abreu stands out. He is a deaf young man, but that did not stop him from pursuing his dream of being invested. With the help of his friend Maria Aparecida, who learned Brazilian Sign Language, Libras, to support him, he was able to meet the requirements. Cida, as she is affectionately known by everyone, already works in the ministry within the church and dedicated herself entirely to helping this young man.

“A year ago, I started the leadership school to complete the leader card. However, Helton was starting the Grouped Class (an activity book that brings together all the training stages in a unified manner), and I had to make a decision: to continue with him. That way, I was able to continue encouraging him to conquer the Grouped Classes. I participated with him in the class modules and promised myself that I would not wear the pins (insignias given at the end of each module) until he finished. In the second module held in Guarapari, I was interpreting for him from 1 pm to 7 pm. I stopped the leader card to continue with him,” said Cida.

Ministry of Salvation

Leonardo Raimundo, leader of Pathfinders for the South of Espírito Santo, commented on the club's main objective: "There is no impossibility for those who are wearing a yellow scarf. The Pathfinder Club is a ministry of rescue, a ministry of friendship, a ministry of salvation. And those who are Pathfinders move any barrier to spread the message. Cida is an example, and Helton is an example. It is a life achieved for the kingdom."

Meet the Pathfinder Club

Leader, with a sign in his hands, carries the Pathfinders logo

Photo: Davner Ribeiro

Moment of emotion

Photo: Davner Ribeiro

The Pathfinder Club is a project of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, founded in 1950. It currently has more than 2 million participants around the world. In Brazil, there are more than 288,000 boys and girls, aged 10 to 15, who participate in social, cultural, recreational and nature activities. At the club, young people learn values ​​such as respect and citizenship.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese website.