For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...

When was the last time you attended a service in which someone was baptized? Do you remember? Was it significant enough to you to be memorable? Have you been baptized? Do you remember that day and that service? What was required of you? Did you spend a Saturday in class to learn about this sacred ordinance? Were you asked to give your testimony to your church?
I have heard many stories while I have been here about different baptisms, about damming up small trickles of water to form a pool, about climbing down into a hole to chase away snakes, about having watchmen diligently look for hippos and alligators, about being surrounded by frogs in a puddle. I have not personally experienced any of these, but on Easter Sunday, I witnessed the most beautiful baptismal service I have ever attended.
There are around fifteen youth from Lyndhurst who have made the decision to be baptized, but this is somewhat of a long process for them. They must get up early one Saturday morning in order to attend a class on baptism. They learn what it is all about, what it means, why they are doing it, and what is the significance among other things. They are also required to write out and practice giving their testimony of what their lives were like before Christ, how they came to know Him, and how He has changed them. Only after they have completed the class may they be baptized.
Normally the church baptizes those who have completed the class on Easter Sunday, but because there are so many youth this time, they chose to only baptize five at a time, so the first five were baptized this past Easter Sunday. They each sat on one side of the stage as the service began and remained there as Pastor gave a sermon. Finally, though, it was their turn. Aunt Joyce gave them a blessing from their parents, and then Life walked across as the first candidate. He stood boldly before the church and gave his testimony and then walked down the few steps into the water where Tad was waiting for him. They went through a pledge together, and then he was baptized. When he came out of the water, the congregation sang, “He is Lord,” as one body. The look on his face was priceless; he was triumphant and joyful. When the song was finished, he turned around and walked back up the steps where Themba was waiting to wrap him in a white sheet. He walked into the water with his normal clothes on, but now he was wrapped in a new, clean whiteness. The rest of the boys followed him in the same manner. First Nico, then Bile, Iswamo, and Jaime. Each went into the water with their normal colorful clothing, and each walked out to be wrapped in pure white.
Tad has given his heart and soul to the youth at Lyndhurst and was given the privilege of baptizing each of these young men. He smiles a lot, but I have never seen his smile so wide. He was just like a proud father baptizing his sons. As he brought each one up out of the water, he gently wiped the water off their faces and wrapped his arm around their shoulders to hold them close as the church sang. I wonder what it would be like to see Paul and Timothy together. I wonder at the joy and pride Paul felt for him. I believe I saw what that might have looked like on Easter Sunday morning.

Prayer Requests:
That our Bible study on Thursday nights will grow and God will use it.
That I will get to spend more time with the youth during their break.
For the youth who have been baptized and who will be baptized – that they will grow in their faith and stand firm.

Side Notes:
South Africans like to eat with their forks in their left hands and their knives in their right hands.
If you put your knife and fork together on the plate, it signals that you are done eating.
If someone says, “They didn’t pitch up,” it means that they didn’t show up.