Coalane Baptism

This past Saturday was a very exciting day for some very special people.

Five people from our Coalane church family were baptized. 

Here baptism doesn't happen quickly. 

For one thing there is so much false teaching that the pastors want to insure 

new converts understand the basic Truth. Also, there is very little water at this time of year. 

These 5 have been waiting for several months to be baptized. 

We traveled about 30 minutes out of town to a place that has a deep pond still with water.

(I was so sad that I forgot my camera. 

Therefore, I had to take pictures with my phone and they aren't great.)

Walking to the pond

Notice the arch. They do this for special occasions.  

The Believers from Cipriano's church came to celebrate with us.

The men planning the baptism....always just before the time to start....never before this time!

Cipriano asking the baptism candidates about their decisions to follow Jesus through baptism

Cipriano entering the baptism waters.

This is Paizano.
He has been saved for about a year and been on fire for Jesus ever since.
He is Lee's new portuguese teacher and a great friend of ours.

Raised to New Life!

This is Paizano's precious wife, Janina.
Actually they are not formally married.
In this culture it is thought that you cannot have a wedding
without a HUGE celebration for friends and family.
For those who have very little, this is impossible.
Therefore, they make a commitment to each other and call each other their spouse,
yet have not stood before God and made vows.
Paizano and Janina understand that God desires for them
to be commitment through the exchanging of vows
in the presence of others and have plans in the works to do just that.

This is Hortencia.
She is the mother of Regina and Amandia.
You will remember those 2 little girls from past blog posts.
She is a precious mother. I was thrilled to witness her baptism.

Many of you know this face.
This is Bionda.
She is a friend to my girls and daughter to my language teacher.
She is the only child I have ever known to be baptized here.

Suzana and her 2 daughters...Bionda and Yona.

Pray for the enemy to leave these guys alone! They need for the people of God to disciple them and for their faith to grow deep!

Tracy