The day was similar to how I imagined it would be. I woke up with that feeling in my stomach, you know when you know something exciting is going to happen. I was so excited about spending the day with my team and just celebrating all day. The big event wouldn't be until 5pm so we had the whole day to explore Northern Ireland. We started the day at one of the newly named wonders of the world, the Giant's Causeway. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. We walked along the rocks and looked out at the ocean, and although 2 of our teammates weren't there, I still felt like it was going to be a good day. When we left the causeway we were separated because of the different buses and then there were only 3 of us to move on to Dunluce Castle. We explored around the area for a bit, but I was beginning to feel more and more uneasy about the day. It wasn't going exactly like we had planned it to be. Of course these doubts were a perfect foothold for Satan to tell me that I wasn't worthy enough to have anyone want to celebrate with me and this wasn't going to be a big deal. I even thought about not going through with it at all.
We were running out of time before we were going to meet up with the rest of our team in Portstewart, so we went into the little restaurant at the castle and asked if they could call us a taxi. The woman who obviously owned the little cafe explained to us how expensive it would be to take a taxi. Before we could really respond to her a couple sitting in the back quickly said, "We can give them a lift". I was so surprised. I felt like some siren should have been going off saying, "Don't get in the car with strangers", but I honestly didn't feel anything, except relief. We soon found out that this man and wife were on holiday and they were Christians. We began to tell them our story and what we've been doing for the past 10 months. It was a wonderful conversation and the three of us felt so blessed. When we reached Portstewart and got of the car the woman handed me money from her purse to buy ourselves some ice cream. She didn't know how special this day was for me, and she will never know how much that meant to each one of us. We had just enough time to get ice cream and walk to the beach where everything would take place.
The three of us got to the beach a little before five and met up with some of the girls from the squad and some people we had met through the church. Time seemed to move so slowly and not a lot of people were there, my whole team wasn't there. I felt myself starting to get discouraged again but then I realized I just had to face it. Maybe there weren't going to be a lot of people there and by this time we knew we wouldn't be starting at 5. I had to give it up. At about 5:30 everyone finished showing up and when I looked at the crowd that had gathered I was so surprised to see almost our entire squad, minus the team that had already left. I was overwhelmed. One of the girls stepped forward and told us that we would be doing a communion ceremony to start things off. The group gathered in a circle and we began to worship, hear scripture, and share communion.
It was now time to begin. I turned to Kate, who I had asked to stand beside me, and I told her that I was nervous. I had butterflies in my stomach. For the first time all day I had realized how this day wasn't about who was there, it was about me and my betrothed, my bridegroom. Kate looked at me and asked if I was ready. At that moment I knew that this year-long journey had led me to this point. I had been pursued, betrothed, and now it was time to publicly declare that I am His. I walked into the freezing ocean (with a wet suit on) and got out to a good depth. Kate spoke amazing truth over me and then said the words, "You are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I went down into the water and rose. I heard cheering and applause coming from the shore as we made our way back to the beach. I was met with hugs and smiles as hands were laid on me to pray over me. I will never forget what was said that day. "Claire you are worthy. You are beautiful. You will influence people and God has amazing plans for your life. Everything is washed away now. Every lie that you've ever been told is gone. The arrow that was in your heart is removed and God has filled the hole." I knew it was true. I was new. I have had a relationship with the Lord since I was 19, I have known the Lord since before I can remember, but now I have been joined with Him in a new way and I have openly declared it. I am a BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS, WORTHY daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords and nothing and no one will ever come between me and my Father again. I am restored and renewed and now feel confident and ready to start this new journey back home as a changed woman, baptized by the water and the Spirit.
