The day started off like any other typical day on the World Race. And by that I mean I had no idea what the day would have in store.
The only set details were we needed to be ready by 10 AM. As we walked to what I now know is the Community Center where families live and programs are held, we were stared at the whole way. This has been a recurring theme in every country we go to and I am sure will follow us throughout the whole race; however I cant really blame these people. If I saw about 50 white people walking down the middle of the street laughing at the person next to them tripping over a rock, I would stare too. With a group like ours, its impossible to blend in.
Once we arrived at the house, we participated in worship, listening prayers, and learned more about the ministry we’ll be working with this month (Agape).
We then set out on our first trekking experience in Nepal. We jumped on a bus and then a mini bus (that we managed to fit 28 people on with less than 20 seats) that lead to the beginning of the trek to a temple. In order to get there we walked down a steep hill (where it started to rain), across a mini bridge, up a hill where rocks were the steps, up 126 stairs, and lastly up a steady incline up to more steps to enter the temple. The view was incredible. We could see over the whole area of Kathmandu. I just stared in awe at how amazing God was and how lucky was I that this was my life. Little did I know, this wouldn’t be the best part of the day.
On our way back to the beginning, we ran into a church who was doing baptisms in the river. We all decided to stick around and cheer the people on as they arose from the water. The first sound they hear is our large group clapping and cheering them on for their commitment to follow Jesus. A total of seven people from many different age ranges gave their life to God. It was a beautiful sight to see and God STILL wasn’t done yet.
The pastor looked up at us and asked, “anyone else?” From the bottom of my soul I wanted to raise my hand.
Brief background: Since month one, I have felt God calling me to be surrender my life to Him again. I felt the need to be baptized again, not as a way to commit my life to Jesus, but as a way to shed away all that I’ve been trying to control since committing my life to God. When I was baptized a year ago, I did it for all the right reasons and God did wonders in my life in this past year. The problem was, as much as He showed me I could trust in Him I still denied Him my control. I still felt like I knew better and I was an independent woman who needed to take care of herself. I challenged myself to slowly start surrendering to God and when the time was right (when God told me it was) I would be baptized again. For me, there was no time for this. It could happen on the race, after the race, or years from now. I was allowing God to control this and have Him show me when He thought it was time and when I was ready. I also didn’t care where it would happen. It could happen in a bath tub for all I cared. God had better plans.
The time was now. I felt Him calling me into the water while I was watching the baptism saying, “you should be in there.” I almost walked away not doing it. I felt scared and silly. What if what I was doing was wrong and you shouldn’t get baptized in order to surrender to God? All these thoughts were screaming in my head while I thought my heart was going to explode right out of my chest. I was either going to believe these worldly, fearful thoughts inside my head or trust that God was with me every step of the way. Finally, another racer stepped up and said she wanted to be baptized. This was my chance. Now or never. Could I handle the regret I would feel if I just walked away from this burning passion God was showing me? It was then I turned to my team leader and asked her if she would do the honors. Her, knowing my reasons for it, hugged me and cried.
My team circled around me and prayed. I got into the freezing cold temperature of this river and told my squad how God was working in my life. I plugged my nose and let the water wash over me. To everyone else it probably looked like no other change except the fact that my shirt was now wet, but inside me everything was different. I felt more on fire for God than I had ever felt. As soon as I arose from the water I felt like Jesus did in Matthew 3:16-17 when it says:
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God defending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
I made a declaration between God and I on this day. I took a plunge and this was a way of my showing God I was all in. I relinquished control over all and cleansed my heart from what breaks His. Now this obviously doesn’t mean I am from here on out going to be perfect and never make mistakes. There will be days where this life will test this declaration I made and days where I fail. I am now no longer afraid to fail though. I’m more afraid of not making the effort toward bettering my life through living like Jesus. I want to learn wisdom and understanding, to love like Jesus does, and to believe in the impossible.
This baptism was my first step in my surrendering process. I surrendered my mind, my body, and my soul in that river. I have been washed free from the bondage I placed on myself and look forward to the path of freedom ahead of me.
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