Barry the Baptizer

The little old church was on a dirt road, clustered among some half-finished houses on top of a hill.

Inside the main room was a group of some fifty people.  We sang a few tunes - or should I say they sang.  The words were foreign, but the tune was incredibly catchy! (Manny thinks this particular band would go over BIG in Florida and throughout the Caribbean)

Barry took the plunge!  Literally.  He changed into his 'baptizing clothes', and we all scrambled down the hill behind the church.  Surrounded by tropical trees, we found a small 3x6 foot 'pool', maybe 5 ft deep.  The water was maybe knee high.  The pastor needed to prime his little pump to get some water cranked up to fill the tub.  Needless to say this took a while...  :)  All the time Barry stood knee-deep in the cold water.

Then they came, first one, then another.  Barry was a natural - asking them their name in Spanish, then speaking in English while Manny translated.  I lost count after ten or so.  They just kept climbing down into the water.  Lastly a frail old woman came - the locals were afraid that immersion would hurt her heart so Manny took the time to explain why in this instance dousing would be an acceptable substitute.

Afterwards one more woman asked if she too could now be baptized.

After the baptisms we had a service where Chris (that's me) was able to exhort the group from Acts 2 - Manny translated.  More songs ensued.

The believers here are so excited to follow Jesus...!

That was yesterday.  This morning we were privileged to attend a monthly gathering of some of Manny's workers - maybe 120 of them made it.  We actually experienced our first REAL effects of Paloma in that some were unable to travel due to roads in the east made impassable by the rain.

We were each able to give our testimony, then Manny taught from Santiago (aka the book of James).  But most of the program had worker after worker coming forward to share some of the amazing things the Lord was doing in drawing people to Himself and in planting churches all across western Cuba (turns out this island is 700 miles across!!!).  The harvest here is indeed plentiful.

Tonight we will attend another church service - Steve will be bringing it...!

We are confident of your prayers - most of us reported our first good nights of sleep last night.  If you would, please pray for our health...  Thanks...