So there we were, spending on day off on Saturday at the beach in Nicaragua. At the beautiful Pacific ocean. It was hot and sunny, a gorgeous day and the water was so warm. The hottest water that we’ve had since we left home! It was such a perfect day. We were celebrating Hannah’s 21st birthday and both teams were together. Pastor Lynne and Glenn were with us as well. We had spent the morning at a beautiful waterfall, hanging out on the rocks and in the water. Now we were spending the rest of the day hanging out at the beach. At one point as I was strolling on the beach with Sarah C I told her that I was thinking about getting baptised by Pastor Glenn. I knew I needed to pray about it so in the middle of walking in the water me, Jen and Sarah C formed a prayer circle and prayed, right there in God’s beauty. It was awesome. I found Karina to get the opinion of a leader and when I told her that I wanted to submit to what I had been fighting against for so long, to really physically make the commitment, in a way that people can hold me accountable. After hearing that, she wanted me to do it. So, at that very moment we walked up to pastor Glenn and asked him if he would baptise me! Of course he said yes! When it came time I was nervous and excited. Picture this, a freshwater river flowing toward the ocean, carving out a riverbed through the sand. Two teams of 15 supporting the ones about to be baptised. The sun starting to get lower in the sky. It’s beautiful and warm and the world seems absolutely perfect in that moment. Then I stand in the river with Pastor Glenn and Emma. He asks me a few questions about if I’ve accepted God and explains why we baptise, to make you new and cleanse you with the water. Then he says, “In the name of the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit I baptise you” and puts me down in the water. When I was finally upright again I felt alive and electrified inside. I felt new and pure. And then I see both teams there supporting all of us and I felt so loved by all my teammates. I know that they love me and that they were so proud of me. It was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever felt. Afterwards was so special, we took lots of pictures and everyone was giving me hugs and saying how happy they were for me. It was a pure and genuine love and support. Pastor Glenn gave me a huge hug. He was right when he told me that July 9th is now my new birthday. I was made new and pure and it is the first day of the rest of my life.
