THE MOST EXCITING part of our time in Quito was when…
My squadmate Karaline got saved! She has an awesome testimony, and during our time here at Launch she realized the difference between a relationship with Jesus and following a religion, and let me just tell you guys, I’ve never seen someone with more joy in her heart after coming to truly know the Lord.
So… this is perhaps even more awesome, on our last night in Quito, she decided she wanted to be baptized there and then. All we needed was to find some water (obviously)… so we looked on a map and found a park with water that we thought was close (perhaps a half an hour walk when we actually did it), and snuck into the park late at night. (Seriously, this all happened. It’s the only water we could find.) We tried to be quiet, but… first off, there are sixty of us. Second, lovely Karaline was skipping with glee and giggling and saying “yay! yay! yay!” I’m telling you, the girl’s adorable.
We get to the water and stand around, while a couple of the guys stand watch for police. Billy, our squad leader tried to test the water, and could not even touch the bottom. So while I was taking pictures with my left hand, videotaping with night vision with my right, my friend Jeff was holding up Karaline while someone else held up Billy, and the girl got baptized then and there, in the freezing water, ridiculously quiet, and perhaps against the law. It was amazing. It was so right. And it was one of the best nights of a lot of our lives. Once we got far enough away from the park we let out our cheers of joy. Awesome, awesome, night.
Go therefore, and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
P.S. I didn’t want to post too many blogs, so let me just add that the next morning at church, the Ecuadorians anointed us with oil and prayed for us. Nothing is more humbling than when an old woman with a walker and a cast is putting oil on and praying over your head, hands, feet, and heart, as you head into her country to tell people about her Jesus. Whoa.
Awesome, awesome awesome!! So exciting! Not only are you ministering to the nationals in ecuador, but your fellow missionaries! Praise Jesus!
Love,
Rach
I so look forward to your updates. What a blessing to all who come in contact with that wonderful old woman with such a heart for Jesus!!I know you’ll never forget her and now neither will I. Thank you. Take care, now.
I too look forward to your updates. I really feel your excitement and it’s a blessing! Be safe Steph!
Steph, I want you to know that I’m reading all of these & PRAYING for you guys & being blessed (and taught, and reminded) by your adventures and stories and photos. I love you, and I’m so so excited for everything that God has done, is doing, & is going to do!
Love, Marissa
This filled my heart this morning from full to bursting. Praise God!
thank you so much, Stephanie, for sharing this beautiful story. karaline hasn’t shared it with me or her family yet. i’m so blessed to have such an incredible daughter. i’m so happy that she’s living in Christ now.
WOW!!! Jesus is amazing! I get goosebumps every time I read your blogs. You write with such vibrant expression – I feel like I’m right there with you. God is using you and your team in such a tremendous way, changing lives within and without – and changing the hearts of us who are the witnesses His power through you! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us – I am praying for you.