After the pageant Thursday, we had the opportunity to talk with each child about God and what they knew about him. We found that most said they knew God and Jesus but had not actually trusted him with their lives yet. We discovered that some wanted to have that personal relationship with God.
The amazing thing was, that a month prior to our trip God showed Georgia, in a dream, that there were some children at the orphanage that would want to be baptized. When we talked about it, we used the usual responses, "we can't do that, we aren't pastors" and "how are we going to bring that up to the children" etc... etc... But in faith, Georgia went to the bookstore and bought beautiful baptismal certificates to bring with us. We had them the entire two weeks and mentioned nothing to the children.
On Thursday night, we told the directors of the orphanage that we were going to offer a baptism for anyone who was truly interested. They spoke with each child separately and found out 13 of the children desired a baptism! We then discovered that one of the lovely adult kitchen workers we spent the week with, asked to be baptized as well. The directors began to cry when they found out. They told us she was the first employee of the orphanage and they had been praying for her for 15 years!We were so overwhelmed at the awesome responsibility and opportunity we had before us. We prayed and asked God, "how and where do we do this?" He provided the answer right away. The owner of the orphange lives nearby in a large home and she had a sunroom with a hot tub. Her son is the pastor of Freedom House Church, Guatemala and he offered to assist us with translation.
Friday morning we piled 21 of us in a mini van (Guatemala style) and left for her home. On the way, I said to Georgia, "do you realize that right now, we are literally driving people into the kingdom of God!" It was an indescribable feeling. As if things couldn't get any better, Rebekah turned to me and said," Mom, I haven't been baptized yet, can I be baptized too?" And then Mel said, "I haven't had the opportunity yet either." We couldn't believe it! We were up to 16 people!
We arrived and the director prepared the children for the serious commitment they were about to make. Larry and I had the opportunity to get in the hot tub and begin to baptize each child and adult! It was simply amazing!! Their faces told so much, they were truly new children! After we were finished, one of the 8 year-old boys gave a testimony that before he was lowered in the water, he asked God to "deliver him from all evil". He said when he came up out of the water, he had "never felt so happy."It was truly an honor to be used by God for the transforming of lives and to be part of a miracle here on earth. The Word says that "we cannot think or imagine the great things God has for us." This has been an experience that we will never forget.
God says "some plant, some water, some reap" (michelle version). We realize that it was not us who reaped but God himself. We also know that without all of you who sowed for us to come and reap the harvest, none of this would be possible. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for partnering with us and we assure you, you will have your reward in heaven.
We have left the orphanage with tears in our eyes as the kids waved in the distance shouting "adios". I know in my heart that it is not "adios" but "see you soon" even if it means not until we get to heaven.
We know now that there will be at least 16 more in heaven!!
See you soon.
Love,
The Ziners
Georgia
& Mel
