Down in the River...
Last Wednesday Chris and I went with Shawn Tyler to a village about 30 km from Mbale,Uganda. We loaded up a truckload of about 18 people and took them to the nearest source of water to be baptized. It was another 20 km from there to a place where there was water that would be deep enough for baptizing. We pulled off on the side of the road that was built over a beautiful papyrus swamp. They asked me if I would like to help with the baptizing. I wasn't prepared for baptizing anyone but I stepped down into the water and got my blue jeans all wet anyways. I was excited and kind of nervous. This was going to be my first African baptism.
As I waded down into the water the first person to be baptized followed me down. It was a young girl, probably about 18 or so. She stepped into the water and then realized that her shirt was white and that everyone would see right through it afterwards. I suppose she thought it would be embarrassing to have a see through shirt so she did the next most logical thing. She took it off so it wouldn't get wet. I guess her logic was that she would only have to go without a shirt for a couple seconds and then she would have a dry shirt to wear. My logic on the other hand completely disappeared. All I knew was that all of a sudden there was a completely topless 18 year old girl standing in front of me, and I was about to baptize her! My first African baptism and my first topless baptism were one and the same.
I desperately attempted to divert my thoughts and attention to something else, the first thing that popped into my mind was "look at her nose." So I immediately looked at her nose and tried to focus all of my concentration on it then I vowed that I would not take my eyes off of it. But it was already too late, I had seen everything. I completely lost my train of thought and didn't know what to say or do or how to act and I couldn't remember where I was, what I was doing, or how to baptize someone. In fact I was so nervous and shaking so hard that I wouldn't be surprised if I baptized her several times. To tell you the truth I really don't remember what happened after that. All I remember is that nose.
As I waded down into the water the first person to be baptized followed me down. It was a young girl, probably about 18 or so. She stepped into the water and then realized that her shirt was white and that everyone would see right through it afterwards. I suppose she thought it would be embarrassing to have a see through shirt so she did the next most logical thing. She took it off so it wouldn't get wet. I guess her logic was that she would only have to go without a shirt for a couple seconds and then she would have a dry shirt to wear. My logic on the other hand completely disappeared. All I knew was that all of a sudden there was a completely topless 18 year old girl standing in front of me, and I was about to baptize her! My first African baptism and my first topless baptism were one and the same.
I desperately attempted to divert my thoughts and attention to something else, the first thing that popped into my mind was "look at her nose." So I immediately looked at her nose and tried to focus all of my concentration on it then I vowed that I would not take my eyes off of it. But it was already too late, I had seen everything. I completely lost my train of thought and didn't know what to say or do or how to act and I couldn't remember where I was, what I was doing, or how to baptize someone. In fact I was so nervous and shaking so hard that I wouldn't be surprised if I baptized her several times. To tell you the truth I really don't remember what happened after that. All I remember is that nose.
awesome journal you got here. an interesting story i must say. I decided to comment although you have yet to comment on mine. see how good i am?? i amaze myself...
Posted by Anonymous | 12:27 AM