Wow! What an experience! We witnessed 50 baptisms, all done in the Mara River, from babes, to grown adults.
Liz’s dad, Bill, is a Methodist pastor in Charleston, Arkansas. It a town of about 3000, in the western part of the state near Fort Smith. His church is about the size of Pam and my church, 250 members and an average Sunday attendance of about 150.
It’s so hard to describe the feelings you have watching this happen. We had started with an intent to baptize 40. That 40 was made up of some of the orphans, family of staff and staff itself. But while we were doing it, villagers were watching, coming and asking what was going on. We actually baptized 10 more. 50 river, full-immersion baptisms. If you didn’t feel the Lord working that day.....
Pictures portray more than I can say, so here are some for you to look at with some commentary.
Here we are going down to the river. The river is the tree line in the distance
Looking uphill, notice the conga line all the way back.
This is precious. That's Brother Bill on the left, Derick, his soon to be new grandson in the middle with his pastor father Eric on the right. Derick was baptized by Bill and Eric.
Arriving at the river, by the tree line in the background.
Here we are, by the river, waiting for the baptisms.
Some local children and other local people watched.
The baptisms was total immersion.
Doesn't the water look inviting? I don't think God minded a bit.
We baptized orphans and school members. Some brought family. Anna the orphanage supervisor is on the right. She had the order of names and bible.
Here's Mwita. If you remember, there was an earlier blog about our visit to his home for lunch. He's quite a guy and wanted to bring God into his life.
Here's Rhobi. Again, in an earlier blog she was the one we took to Shirrati to have her leg operated on, but the doctor prescribed another type of medicine, which worked! Tell me God and prayers from us all didn't work.
This is the youngest, Nema, an orphan who was left at the police station along with her brother. She has progressed, is now talking and playing like a "normal" kid. She is tongue-tied, meaning she needs that piece of skin under her tongue cut so she speaks better, but she is a precious little girl.
We baptized 40 orphans, staff and school kids, as planned, but when the locals that were watching found out what we were doing, we had 10 more.
Another local lady who chose God, who was really working that day!
Here's Winnie. She is in Nursery school and one that I drive daily to and from her school. You wonder what her future life will be like, but at least she has been baptized, is getting fed, having education provided and growing up in a religious environment.
It's happenings like this that give you hope for the kids here and for their future. Bless those who made this happen, especially Brother Bill and Eric.
Really TIA, Mark
