Give me bush bush any day. We left on Thursday leading the optional outreach out of Pemba then down a dirt “road” for another hour till we came to our village in dire need of encouragement. Iris had visited this Muslim village only 3 months ago and were able to start a church. The time in-between allowed for some angry locals to pull the new pastor and his wife out of the house and beat them severely but they were able to greet us with thankful smiles alongside the chief of the area. Our tents hardly fit into the back yard of our host who’s family continually gave us mangos, coconut, and sugarcane.
As the Jesus film was playing on the first night Heidi showed up and just began loving the people. Some were healed from various hurts and pains, we prayed for several children who suffered from night terrors, and many received Jesus for the first time. The next morning, as part of our group helped with a children’s discipleship, we took some to the river who wanted to be baptized. The water was muddy and one of the locals said something about a crocodile but we paid no mind. People started entering and Heidi asked me to help baptize.
“One question”, I asked, “I haven’t been baptized, would that be a problem?”
I technically been baptized as a child before I ever loved Jesus and He said “repent and THEN be baptized” so getting it out of order isn’t a legal baptism, otherwise what are you baptized into? I threw Melody the stuff in my pockets and waded in. Heidi smiled big and said,
“In the name your Father who loves you, in the name of Jesus your bridegroom, and in the name of Holy Spirit who fills you” she pushed me under and I came up feeling fresh and happy. I couldn’t think of a better way to be baptized. Now I can help. Many more went under, including a blind man who received enough of his sight back that he said he could walk home by himself!
As we were celebrating in the river my wedding ring slipped off my hand. Everyone stopped moving but you couldn’t see anything. I dove down groping blind at the mucky bottom, nothing. Dove down a second time, still nothing. As I came up I said in desperation “Jesus I need my ring back!” and dove a third time grabbing my ring in the first handful of mud! Dying in the river of God takes away all sin, hopelessness, and lack; and this one even took the heaviness that made its way over our marriage from the rough season of travel. New starts are always welcome! Jesus is soo good!
No comments:
Post a Comment