Brooks
We all met
at Bahize and Lillian's house (Burundi team leaders). There were about
30 people. Because transport is always an issue, Bahize had hired a bus
to take us the short distance out to Lake Tanganyika. We traveled
African style…all of us crammed into the bus…and everyone singing, which
for Africans, means a lot of clapping and gyrations (even seated) of
most body parts moving, too! It was pretty awesome. I had no idea what
they were singing, but every once in a while, I heard the word "Yesu!"
so I knew it was all about praise! When we got there, the ones who
weren't being baptized quickly ran over to a huge bougainvillea bush and
began picking stems of flowers off, which I later saw was to give each
person being baptized when they came up out of the water onto the beach.
I'm telling you, the lake was so rough, with a steep incline down into
the water, with waves crashing and the wind blowing, but no one seemed
bothered at all. Instead, each was determined and intent on the reason
we were there. It really moved me, because I know many, many Africans
are terrified of the water so to take this act involves more than just
faith, but sheer obedience and determination.
The whole day was very, very
moving, as each person was baptized, came up out of the water, onto the
beach, greeted with stems of flowers from each one singing and waiting
to kiss them. Afterwards, each was given a Bible, a donation from one of
the Burundian church planters. This is HUGE…many of them may not even
own a single book. Undeterred by circumstances, a simple piece of cloth
was held by two of the women and the drenched baptized changed and we
all piled back into the bus to head back to Bahize's for a time of
sharing and preparations for a lunch celebration. It was the best day
ever…to see firsthand the fruit of these excited and passionate and
very, very intentional church planters. I hope you enjoy some of the
short video clips we took!
Travel by bus to the lake
Exhortation by Dominique prior to baptism
One of the women showing courage in rough waters
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