Exactly one year ago from today, I had the honor of
baptizing a dear little girl named Dona Grace. I spent the month of March 2010
in the Philippines serving at Children’s Garden and also doing outreach in a
garbage dump where several families were living amongst the trash. We brought
the families food, preformed skits and shared the message of Christ’s hope as
we played with the children and built relationships. Dona Grace was one of two
young girls that captured my heart and that I invested my time in. After
performing the Lifehouse “Everything� skit and sharing a message both of my
girls came forward to accept Christ, along with many others.
A few weeks later we brought a blue barrel of water to
baptize the new believers. As a line started to form, Dona Grace asked me
sincerely, “Ate, can a little girl like me be baptized?” I asked her
if she believed that God was her Father, and Christ died for her sins. When she
responded “opo” (meaning yes), I joyfully told her “yes,
opo”. She smiled and joined the line. The pastor asked if I wanted to be
the one to baptize Dona Grace. So, my first ever baptism… was for a little
Pilipino girl in a garbage dump. Afterward, I gave her a Bible with my favorite
verses highlighted and a note to her.
Just writing this blog brings back the aching in my chest. I
love this little girl so much and it brings me such joy to know that she has
the hope of Christ. I have since heard from a friend in the Philippines that
Dona Grace still asks about me. She is doing pretty well and is attending
school.
Today, more than any, I long to be in a garbage dump!
I long to be able to tell Dona Grace in person how proud I am of her and to
lift her up to her usual place on my shoulders. I want to hear from her
firsthand how God has worked in her life over this past year. I want to tell
her that SHE IS WORTH IT! Even if I had not
impacted anyone else along the World Race last year… she was worth it. She will
always hold a special place in my heart and I am overjoyed to know I will see
her again someday, for eternity if not before.
