Musaia.

A belated happy Easter!  Our family spent Easter Sunday at 'the beach' in Musaia, where we celebrated the baptisms of 17 people.  It was quite a scene.  It was quite a trip.  We made a caravan of three vehicles and as many motorcycles.  If you look at the number of people, you will be able to do some rough math and realize that I had about 30 people in our truck, whom I carried over some pretty rough roads.  We only bottomed out twice.  

Rev. M.B. Jalloh leads the 17 baptismal candidates as they process to the riverside while everybody sings, "I have decided to follow Jesus... no turning back, no turning back."

"I have decided to follow Jesus ... The world behind me; the cross before me."

Last minute instructions.  The local Missionary Church of Africa pastor kindly assisted in scattering the locals from the swimming hole for us to hold the baptisms.

First baptismal candidate.

Me capturing Ella capturing the image above ...

Freshly baptized.  

Baptized in the name of the Father ...

... Son ...

... and Holy Spirit.

Post-baptismal huddle.

"Though I may wonder, I still will follow ..."   

Holy Communion.  Yes, that is grape pop we're using (don't get any ideas, John Wiebenga).

It doesn't get much better than this:  Easter Sunday, on the beach, celebrating holy communion with established and new Christians in Sierra Leone ... (Notice the CRC logo on the book Rev. Jalloh is holding.)

This 'beach' is an hour and a half drive from Kabala.  Therefore, most of these people have never been here.  Why wouldn't you celebrate with a post-baptismal dip!