Our teams first Baptism!!!!

Well it has happened. Our team has had a baptism, and we were only on the field a week. I am happy to report that my son, Kelton, was baptized this past Sunday at church, or at least he got a good sprinkle. Oh the adventures we have already had in Brazil.

On our first Sunday, March 20, we were able to visit the main local church here in Salvador. They are a great church and about 200 members strong. They are so friendly and helpful and sometimes with a language barrier you can really get carried away especially if you aren't quite 2 foot tall yet.

As most places in Salvador are, the church building was very hot and did not have a great amount of air flow. Therefore, by the end of the service most of us were sweating if not dripping. This is something we had become accustom to during the week and so we were not too surprised at the result of spending all morning in a hot building. Towards the end of the service Jennifer, who was not feeling great to begin with, and Kelton were standing near the back door trying to cool off a little. At some point Georgia, one of the fabulous people from Continent helping us get settle into Salvador took Kelton to help Jennifer out. About this time one of the Brazilian ladies was Kelton sweating began to get concerned. She suggested that Kelton was too hot and that it would help is Georgia took off his clothes. So during the worship service Georgia and our new friend begin stripping Kelton of his clothes.

This did not seem to satisfy her though. She told Georgia that he was still too hot and needed a little water to cool him off. She then takes Kelton and Georgia upstairs and then begins to take off his diaper saying he really needs a shower. Before Georgia can object Kelton is under the shower becoming the first baptized child on our team. Our new friend then takes Kelton out and ask Georgia if we have had a towel or a new diaper, a new diaper yes in the car, but a towel? So Georgia did the only thing she could, she dried him off with her dress and put his old diaper back on him.

This is about the time if finally after asking several people learn where my child is. I come up to find Kelton dripping wet wearing nothing but a diaper. I guess this is what they call baptism by fire/water.

In end, everything was fine and Kelton did not seem to mind the adventure. There is no telling what we will learn next week.

Randy