The Beauty of Baptism

            First
was Jose. I was not surprised at all to see him going first. He has such
natural leadership abilities. He stepped forward in confidence in his
commitment to Christ and the change that has taken place in his life. I loved
watching him surrender to the Lord.

            Next
came Itzel. This girl has captured my heart! She has the most beautiful
relationship with the Lord. She  steps  into the water with a huge smile lighting
up her face. She is radiating love for her Savior! She is always overflowing
with the Lord’s love. It is her constant topic of conversation. I just love
watching what He is doing in her life.

            Elizabeth
was next. She stepped forward quietly and calmly, which is so much like her. I
love how the baptisms display each individual’s personality. The Lord is
growing Elizabeth steadily in knowledge of His Word and love for Him.

            Kenia
has been quietly praying as she awaits her turn. She steps into the water very
solemnly still in an attitude of prayer. She listens intently as Tommy is
speaking to her. As  she is raised from the water, raised to walk in newness of
life with Christ, the tears begin to flow. You can see on her face the
gratefulness that is overflowing from her heart. She is overwhelmed by the
Lord’s goodness in her life.

            Joel
comes after Kenia. His typical goofy smirk on his face showing the joyous
laughter he is trying to suppress. Joel is so excited to be solidifying this
covenant with the Lord. After his baptism, he allows himself to fall completely
into theembrace of the older guys who are praying over him. It is beautiful to
watch them pour out their love to Joel.

            Andres
is next. He steps into the water with his usual boyish grin. I can’t help but
smile with him. His baptism is especially dear to me because the Lord has given
me such a burden to pray for him this month. I have been praying for him
everyday for 3 weeks and have been woken up in the middle of the night on
several occasions to pray for him. He has just  begun a relationship with the
Lord while we have been here and I have seen such a drastic change in him! I
have seen the Lord, in His mercy; pull Andres from a point of crossroads to
grace, joy, and life in Christ. As Andres is raised from the water, I feel the
tears slide down my cheeks. The Lord is doing a beautiful work here in
Candelaria! Andres comes out of the water with joyous laughter. I know the Lord
is raising him up to be a man like David, a man after God’s own heart.

            Anthony
is the last to be baptized. I am also overjoyed for him. He just made a
commitment to follow Christ on Thursday, two days before the baptism. I know
his life is being covered in prayer. He rises from the water with a smile on
his face; I know he can feel the love of Jesus for him.

            After
the baptisms there is more worship. Everyone celebrating together the mercy of
the Lord displayed in the lives of these youth. I also had the opportunity to
pray over a  few of the youth, first for Itzel and Jose and then for Kenia and
Andres. It was an incredible moment to embrace them, lay hands on them, and
pray blessing and the filling of the Holy Spirit over them.

I don’t know how to express the overwhelming emotions I feel
on this day. My team and I have been pouring into the lives of these youth
everyday for the last 4½ weeks. It is so amazingly beautiful to a part of this
commitment that they are making. Tears of joy spill out as love for the
precious teens fills my heart to overflowing.