Still Congested

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Third service today ended at about 1:00, and we had a baptismal service afterward.

7 hours later, my semi-closed sinuses and puffy eyes are reminders of how moving that service was.

Philip Cameron and a boatload of older teens rescued from the streets of Moldova made their annual appearance at church today; they come over during the summer and visit all the churches that support the work over there.

But we were privileged to see eleven of the young people baptized after 3rd service.

Now, in the U.S., it's usually not such a big deal. Oh, folks are happy enough, but for these kids it's different.

It's making a huge statement. Families disown kids who receive baptism. So each of these kids were very aware that they were breaking traditions; they were all somber and deliberate.

Out Pastor always gives baptismal candidates the opportunity to share anything before they're baptized. Most folks smile and shake their heads; a few make a short statement into the microphone. But each one of these kids took the microphone and declared their thanks to the Camerons, for bringing them the opportunity to hear about Jesus, and then they declared their love for Christ and their intention to follow him with all their heart.

Totally spontaneous. Unbelievably moving. Humbling beyond words.

I'm going to be reflecting over this for a long, long time.

Here's a bit of their story, a video shown today in church: