Baptisms is one of my absolute favorite things we get to do here on earth as children of God. I love that God made a way for us to declare that we are his children and that we are giving all we have to him. Each and every time I get to witness baptisms I learn something new about God's heart for us and how he sees us as clean and new and pure and his.

 

I’m guessing that many of you are wondering if this is a blog about me getting re-baptized, sorry to say it’s not. God still has more to teach me and prepare me for before I step into that form of rededication. But this blog is about some people from my squad who felt called to give their yes to God in the form of baptism. Honestly getting baptized in a broken bathtub being held together by duct tape and a plastic bag isn’t what most people have in mind. But for these few their yes looked like getting baptized in what others would look at and see as trash. That day I got to watch three of my closest friends on the race give over everything to Jesus and walk into his freedom and love with no restraint. 

 

First, my friend Kalyssa was baptized, and as she stood out on the field telling us why she was getting re-baptized I could just see the pure joy exuding from her. Kalyssa is one of the most joyful people in the Lord and getting to see that explode in her, even more, was honestly a beautiful expression of God in her. As she emerged from the water and stood up her arms flew up and I could see the freedom of God coursing through her creating a new person in Christ. 

 

Later my teammate and close friend Kaili went up to get baptized and as she told us why she wanted to be re-baptized she was so beautifully vulnerable with the squad which was a big step of faith for her. Then we as a team stood beside her as our squad leader and her close friend Gretchen prayed over her and baptized her. When she came up the freedom of God was all over her and over the past week, I can see numerous accounts of her stepping into that freedom with God in everything she does. 

 

And finally for my favorite part of the day, Abisha’s baptism. As soon as Kaili’s baptism was through Abisha our team leader stepped up to get baptized. When someone asked her who she wanted to baptize her she looked over and said my name. My heart stopped, my team leader and my friend wanted me to baptize her. I said yes without a second thought. I had never baptized someone before but I believe the Holy Spirit took over because as soon as I could stop crying enough to pray words just started to flow and I was no longer praying it was God through me praying encouragement and love over my Abisha girl. After I lifted her out of the water I remember her face, the pure excitement, and love that was written all over it. And man when I hugged her it felt like I was hugging the Jesus overflowing inside her. 

 

There’s a little glimpse into my absolute favorite day of the race full of love and freedom in Christ. 

 

Also, Kalyssa and Kaili both wrote amazing blogs about their hearts behind their baptisms if you would like to read them I highly encourage it. 

 

Here are a few photos by the one and only Grace Harang of the freedom that day.