Down to the River

We were intrigued when the missionaries who work in the little town where we have been assigned on Sunday told us that there was going to be a baptism in a local river. Usually baptisms are held in a font built just for that purpose in our meeting houses, in a local swimming pool, or in a sort of portable font that is used in many parts of the world.   However, those choices weren't available this time.   A sweet man from Haiti, and a young brother and sister were going to be baptized.  (In our church, we believe that children should be at least 8 in order to be responsible for their actions before being baptized).  So we happily agreed to go out to the town on a Saturday afternoon to participate.

There is a fairly large river that runs through the town, but we were told it was too dirty 

and not private enough for a baptism.  I still thought it was a pretty river.

So we were directed several miles farther down a little dirt road.  We climbed down 

a pretty steep vine-covered little path, which reminded me a little of the movie Romancing the Stone.

through kind of a jungle forest to the little spot where a stream had backed up 

forming a pool that was deep enough for baptisms.  

Unfortunately, for those of us on the banks trying to keep the mosquitoes at bay 

with small tree branches, it wasn't the most spiritual experience. 

Elder Morris with Anul

But it was a sweet baptism and memorable to see a river baptism 

which doesn't happen very much anymore.   

(And I think that the chiggers who gave me with about 30 bites around my ankles 

must have had a great dinner that night!)