After a year of work from our team, most of the blood, sweat and tears shed by our guys, we got to see a baptism in Salvatierra! We had talked to the whole group about baptism and it was clear that they really didn’t understand what would literally happen when they got baptized or what it would be like. Some were nervous about the actual process and others openly expressed concern about what others in their community would say about them when they saw them being baptized. They talked about doing it in another community to avoid being made fun of. We encouraged them to have the baptism in their own community to show everyone the decision they had made. Even though it would be difficult for them, it was their first step of obedience. We scheduled a day for the baptism but up until that day we weren’t sure if anyone was really going to go through with it. Because of the cultural barrier, we weren’t exactly sure what they were thinking.
I’ll tell the rest of the story in pictures.
The walk to the river was serious. It was obvious that the ones who had decided to get baptized where not taking this decision lightly. Humberto, one of the men baptized, is pictured here walking in front of the group, which is symbolic, since he is an obvious leader in the new church.
Pictured here is Mariluz with Trent and Ascencio, a Guarayo believer from another city who traveled out with us to help with the baptism.
Mariluz was the first one to wade out into the river and get baptized. This is very fitting since she has always been the one to initiate things. She has taken care of our team like a mother would and every time it is time for a story session, she goes around town and gathers everyone together.
Adela and Mariluz are good friends and have been in this together from the start. When I was talking to Mariluz about who she thought might get baptized, she told me, “Adela and I have decided that we are gonna do it.” I thought this was such a sweet way of showing that they will support and encourage each other in this decision and in their walk with the Lord.
Benjamin would always sit on the outskirts of the group listening to the stories but we weren’t sure how much of it he was understanding. On the day of the baptism, he said to us, “I want to change. Sometimes I get mad and hit my mom and dad and I don’t want to live like that anymore.” After Benjamin was baptized, Trent said to the onlookers that he hoped they would follow in Benjamin’s model of faith.
Humberto is Mariluz’s husband. From the beginning he has been supportive but not nearly as involved as Mariluz and up until the day of baptism I really thought he wasn’t going to be baptized. He surprised us by doing so and since then we have seen a tremendous change in him. He is a natural leader already, but now he leads during the storying sessions giving great insights and helping others learn too. I think that now that he decided he was really going to do this, he is all in. It is exciting to see.
Being a part of a river baptism in a community where the river is such a central part of life reveals one of the intentions of baptism, to be a witness to others. It would be impossible to have the baptism and not draw a crowd. After the baptism, Trent and Ascencio, the Guarayo believer, were able to share the Gospel to those standing around. Here is Trent going after it.
Prayer time with the new baptized believers
All in all, four people got baptized that day. But a bigger group of people have said they have decided to follow Christ and after seeing the baptism, many others have said they want to get baptized too. Please pray for these new believers in their new walk with the Lord and for the others that they would follow their example and be baptized. Praise the Lord for what He has done!!!
PRAISE GOD!!! This is so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!